De la Torre meets South County’s education and business leaders
Thankful for the extension of friendship and partnership from South County’s business and education community, new San Diego State University President Dr. Adela de la Torre said the key to economic success for the region will be to work together.
“The future of economic development is dependent upon education,” de la Torre said Monday at a welcome reception for her at Southwestern College. “We have to work across systems. We need to cross boundaries. We need to empower this region and our partners in Mexico.”
Nearly 200 business, educational and community leaders attended the welcome reception for San Diego State’s first Latina president at Southwestern College’s Student Center Monday evening. The event was hosted by Southwestern College, the Sweetwater Union High School District and the South County Economic Development Council. The event was underwritten by IBEW Local 569, the National Electrical Contractors Association, Gensler, HomeFed and VMA Communications Inc.
South County leaders invited de la Torre to the community to share her vision for student success at San Diego State University and to offer partnerships and collaboration.
“All of our partners here tonight have worked to build strong bridges, not just throughout the South County, but also within their own families,” said Southwestern College Governing Board President Griselda A. Delgado. “We are definitely connected and we demonstrate our interconnectedness by working together to assist anyone who needs help, and we always find someone who has a solution.
“This collaboration with South Bay leaders is one you probably have not seen before and we humbly welcome you to be part of our mission to create a better future for our youth,” Delgado said.
De la Torre shared that San Diego State University has a $5.67 Billion economic impact in the region.
“For every 10,000 graduates, the impact is $2 million a year,” de la Torre said.
That is why it is critical to ensure all graduates have the skills businesses are looking for, she said.
“My vision is that graduates not just get a job, but get the right job, and that they graduate as global citizens, ethical innovators and compassionate leaders,” de la Torre said.
For Southwestern College and the Sweetwater Union High School District, San Diego State University is an integral next step for each district’s graduates. For Southwestern, more than 440 graduates transfer to San Diego State University during the 2017-2018 academic year, according to California State University data. At Sweetwater, more than 7,000 graduates have attended San Diego State University throughout the 20 years of the Compact for Success admission guarantee agreement.
“For many, college was a distant dream and thanks to the Compact for Success, it became a reality for several thousand students,” said Sweetwater Union High School District Superintendent Karen Janney. “SDSU and Sweetwater continue to produce partnerships across both of our systems that have a tremendous positive impact on the field of education.”
