Hi , I ’ m Ken .
And as a proud alumnus of UC San Diego , I ’ m honored to serve as Chair of the International Leadership Committee for the Campaign for UC San Diego .
THIS $ 2 BILLION comprehensive fundraising effort is our university ’ s most ambitious endeavor to date . We ’ re at a point in our history that calls for that kind of ambition — the time to stand up , to be bold , and to make the case to support our ideals and our work for the world . The time is now — not just for our university , but for us as alumni as well .
Why is this the right time ? There are three reasons , which make up the central priorities of the Campaign :
The first is students — enriching their experience and ensuring that education is accessible and affordable for all . Our university is developing and fostering the next generation of disruptors , the next generation of innovators , the next generation of thought leaders . We ’ re teaching our students to take a nontraditional approach to problems and develop collaborative solutions … “ breaking things better ” as we like to say . That ’ s the kind of education we received , and it ’ s what UC San Diego gives to our future . It ’ s a public education to be proud of , and it needs the support of those who received it .
The second is our campus , and the enhancements needed to better meet the living and learning needs of our students and the research needs of our faculty and staff . In transforming our campus , we also aim to deepen our engagement with the community and make our cultural , academic and social experiences more widely available , so that the greater community knows the phenomenal wonder and intellectual stimulation that you and I know lives at the heart of our campus .
And the third is continuing to spark unique research collaborations that can only happen here , driving innovative solutions and converting discovery into impact . Put simply : the world is a better place because UC San Diego exists . It ’ s one of the greatest public investments on the planet , encouraging understanding and making our world more sustainable and livable . Our alma mater is a powerhouse of experimentation and one-of-a-kind assets — of students , teachers and healers all coming together to continue our longstanding legacy of pursuing the greater good in a nonconventional fashion .
As alumni , we ’ re a part of this legacy . And we must be the ones who push and drive this work into the future . The success of the Campaign for UC San Diego relies on alumni spreading the word and broadcasting the achievements of UC San Diego , by evangelizing and introducing the university to those who may not know . Because the achievements of UC San Diego are your achievements . And who else can better tell the world what our university has to offer than the sharpened minds and pioneering spirits it has already produced ?
Now is the time for UC San Diego — and for us as alumni . The future of our university and the futures of students who walk in our path depends on us . Learn more about the Campaign for UC San Diego and how you can become involved at campaign . ucsd . edu
With Triton pride ,
Ken Kroner , PhD ’ 88
Chair , International Leadership Committee The Campaign for UC San Diego
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