Chris Watson facilitates formal partnership between CSUSB and Lviv Polytechnic National University in Ukraine

– Courtesy of CSUSB

California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine announced that the institutions are developing an agreement to establish a partnership and initiate international collaborative activities to promote joint educational, scientific, and cultural development.

This international partnership will be designed to enhance international understanding and deepen friendship between CSUSB and Lviv Polytechnic National University, starting with cooperation in the area of entrepreneurship.

Tomás D. Morales, president of CSUSB stated that, “This is tremendous news and a wonderful opportunity that will ultimately benefit students, and the faculty and staff at both of our institutions. The Memorandum of Understanding reinforces my belief that students receive an incredible  benefit from international studies. I look forward to our two institutions working together.”

Yurii Bobalo, DScTech., professor, University Leadership Rector stated that “International interaction and cooperation of the world’s universities play an important role in the world today. This allows for the integration of knowledge, opens new ways of addressing the problems that humanity is facing. The cooperation of the Lviv Polytechnic with the California State University, San Bernardino will provide an opportunity to exchange experience in the educational and scientific sphere and will open up new opportunities for the development of both universities.”

The initial areas of international cooperation include developing programs with CSUSB’s School of Entrepreneurship at the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration and Lviv Polytechnic National University’s Tech StartUp School. The collaboration will promote joint activities and seminars for students and faculty from both universities focused on entrepreneurship, research activities, and innovation technology.

The partnership will help further enhance the CSUSB entrepreneurial program, which is recognized among the best in the globe. In recent national rankings from the Princeton Review, the entrepreneurial program was ranked in the Top 50 Graduate Entrepreneurship programs in the United States and globally.

“The agreement will help expand the global impact for both Lviv National Polytechnical University and the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, our School of Entrepreneurship, and the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE),” said Tomás Gómez-Arias, Dean of the Jack H. Brown College. “We look forward to working with our fellow academics and entrepreneurs with the exchange of research, best practices, and growth programs.”

In addition, conferences, seminars and academic meetings will be held virtually until the war in Ukraine is resolved. This partnership was initiated by Ukrainian-based investor Christopher Watson’s aspiration to increase international relations between universities by enhancing the proficiency of students and academic staff and increasing the business competencies of their startups.

 

 

 

‘Eternal Learning’ Mural Officially Unveiled at CSUSB’s Watson College of Education

– Courtesy of CSUSB

Designed, created and installed by students, “Eternal Learning” consists of 850 square feet of ceramic tile that depicts humans at work, study and play among larger-than-life books. The project took five years to make with the help of 20 CSUSB students.

The mission of the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education at Cal State San Bernardino could not be clearer to those passing by the ceramic tile artwork in front of the building.

Called “Eternal Learning,” the tile mural was formally unveiled during a ceremony on May 3.

Alison Ragguette, CSUSB professor of art and design, who directed the project, told the crowd that “Eternal Learning” took five years to make with the help of 20 students. She said it was first conceived by her students – now alumni – Adam Diaz and Melissa Medina.

“Their two proposals were actually merged together to create this project,” she said. “In my teaching, I always try to promote the positive impact of community artwork. It contributes to the creation of an inclusive public voice, one that can bring beauty to everyday life, resonating both personally and collectively.”

The artwork was “designed by students, made by students and for the students,” she said. “The mural is meant to inspire learning, celebrate education, achievements and continually self-reflect on our eternally learning selves.”

“The total length of 140 feet long that you will see is what I call a generational storybook,” said Judy Rodriguez Watson, as she described the images on the wall.

Watson then asked all the students and alumni who participated in the project to stand up and be recognized. The audience gave them a loud round of applause.

“You all have worked very hard for many, many years,” she said to them. “I am very, very honored to have my name associated with your names.”

Rafik Mohamed, provost and vice president for academic affairs, recognized “the generosity of CSUSB’s dedicated and longtime supporters James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson” who made the new piece of art possible.

“The artwork is a true masterpiece that captures the spirit and essence of our campus and will serve as a source of inspiration and wonder for our students, faculty, staff and visitors for generations to come,” he said.

Robert Nava, vice president for university advancement, also thanked the Watsons, with James ‘Jim’ Watson joining the event via FaceTime.

“Our appreciation – it’s hard to express it in words – all that you and Jim, the Watson family do for our university, for our college, for our programs, for art,” he said. “We want you and Jim to know our thanks and how much we appreciate this partnership.”

Rueyling Chuang, dean of the College of Arts and Letters, and Chinaka DomNwachukwu, dean of the College of Education, thanked everyone involved and acknowledged their invaluable partnership.

“For the past five years, even during the pandemic, they worked together to put this wonderful project together,” Chuang said. “This project is great example of how we integrate and how we collaborate in between departments.”

DomNwachukwu echoed Chuang.

“This project highlights the power of partnership and interdisciplinary engagement,” he said. “I hope this is a continuation of ongoing partnership to distinguish our colleagues and our university as the best place to prepare educators.”

Designed, created and installed by students, “Eternal Learning” consists of 850 square feet of ceramic tile that depicts humans at work, study and play among larger-than-life books, and included scenes of learning activities such as shared reading, conducting science experiments, playing basketball, and gazing at stars. Floating between the scenes are letters of the alphabet.

On a wall opposite the main portion of the mural is a scene depicting commencement. Called the “Selfie Wall,” it is envisioned as a place where graduates and their families and friends will pose for photos on a milestone day.

In between the two scenes is the “Language Wall,” where “Eternal Learning” will be translated in 65 languages, including sign language and Braille. And while 65 languages represent many, Ragguette said it can include more translations this way: A QR code has been created and incorporated on the wall, and visitors can make their own contributions, which will be compiled on Google list.

There is also a community component of the project.

“I always do community-based work to make sure that the community is engaged. And the offshoot of this project is that we created the Kind Art Collective Journal,” Ragguette said in a previous interview. “And Judy and Jim sponsored the creation of this book that’s a bilingual book, in English and Spanish, for children. And it’s about creativity and resilience. It’s kind of like a workbook. We’re creating art kits, handing out art supplies that go inside little tote bags with the book. And we’re also circulating copies of the book to a lot of different schools and non-profits for kids.

“And we’re about to start the next iteration that will be in Ukrainian and English,” she said.

The Watsons will be taking that over to Poland, where they will meet at the Ukraine-Poland border with officials from a Ukrainian university to present the books.

“Eternal Learning” is the fifth piece sponsored by the Judy Rodriguez Public Art Project. Ragguette worked on the first four, which are columns of ceramic art located along a median on Northpark Boulevard, west of the campus’ University Parkway entrance.

“It’s been about giving students the learning opportunity, and also the work experience,” Ragguette said. “And also, the confidence to go on to pursue careers in this area. I believe that students get to really prove to their families that there are viable projects out there, and that they can have a life as an artist.”

That ceramic was the chosen medium also plays into the concept of “Eternal Learning.”

“Students made it for incoming students. Then I have students who are currently in the credential program, and I asked them, ‘What does this mean for you to make something like this for your college. And they’re like, ‘Everything! And I can’t wait to come back with my kids some day and show them that I made this,’” Ragguette said.

“It will impact for generations. Ceramics, because it’s an archival material, is such a powerful medium for public art because of its longevity and its resilience – and relatability,” she said. “I think a lot of people have a relationship to the material, and have a sense of it. But to think decades into the future – these artists can come back and bring their children – it’s always going to be there and there will always be a connection. That connection is very vital. It doesn’t really fade because the material is so resilient.”

Involved with Ragguette, Diaz and Medina in the creation and installation of “Eternal Learning” were Judy Rodriguez Watson Public Art fellows Yvette Arguilles, Stacey Carrasco, Richard Concheri, Joanne Cuevas, Anna Delgado, Matt Dickerson, Frankie Gutierrez, John Harman, Sarah Hayashi, Keliegh McMullen, Luisa Notarangelo, Rosemary Rivas, Andrea Simpson, Holland Snipes, Evelyn Trinidad, Jocelyn Williams and Mayra Zambrano.

Assisting the artists in translating “Eternal Learning” for the “Learning Wall” were Teodora Bozhilova, Stacey Carrasco, Rueyling Chuang, Gerald Clarke, Juan Delgado, Chinaka DomNwachukwu, Dany Doueiri, Mika Efros, Riki Hayashi, Raymond Huaute, Bomi Hwang, Monika E. Justin, Ranjrani Kalra, Robert J. Levi, Thinh Li, Vai Matautia, Josephine Mendoza, Enrique Murillo Jr., Chris Naticchia, Sastry Pantula, Pinthusorn Pattayakorn, Patricia Preciado, Siska Purnawan, Golge Seferoglu, Pashaura Singh, Gulden Taner, George Antony Thomas, T ita’e Utuon and Kerstin Voigt.

 

 

CSUSB College formally named the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education

– Courtesy of CSUSB

The renaming of the college is in honor of the contributions of James and Judy Watson, longtime supporters of CSUSB, and their transformative gift of $8.4 million to support student scholarships and programs, the work of the Watson & Associates Literacy Center and a Dean’s Endowment Fund

On the day the university expressed its gratitude for the generosity and support of James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson, it was James Watson who repeatedly said how grateful he and his wife were to be part of the Cal State San Bernardino community.

The university formally unveiled the renamed College of Education as the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education on Nov. 1, in recognition of the longtime support of the Watsons and their transformative gift of $8.4 million to the college.

During the ceremony in the college’s atrium packed with university faculty, staff, administrators, local elected officials, friends and family, James Watson said, “We have enjoyed our experience here for over 20 years.

“We have been blessed more than the university has been blessed by what we have been able to provide financially and in our involvement,” he said. “It’s truly been a wonderful experience for Judy and I. We understand the value of education, and the vital role Cal State San Bernardino has in the Inland Empire in providing an affordable and world-class education.”

In naming the college after the Watsons, it becomes the second named college at CSUSB. The College of Business was renamed in 2016 to the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration to honor businessman and philanthropist Jack H. Brown.

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales said the education college is just the fourth in the California State University named for a person, and Judy Rodriguez Watson said it was the first in the entire CSU to bear the name of a Hispanic person, which brought a standing ovation.

“Jim and Judy are no strangers to philanthropy,” Morales said. “They constantly give their time and their resources to better their communities. And their continuous support of Cal State San Bernardino has been nothing short of extraordinary.”

The Watson’s gift will support student scholarships and establish a new Center for STEM Education. The STEM Center will be the hub for outreach to K-12 students in the region and will include a Model STEM Exploratorium and a teacher residency program, Morales said. The gift will also support Project Impact, a new program in the college to recruit and prepare teachers to serve underrepresented students in public schools.

Funds will also be used to enhance the Watson & Associates Literacy Center’s efforts in the Inland Empire. The center assists students in K-12 improve their reading, listening and writing skills, and is housed in the college.

And, Morales said, it will establish the Dean’s Endowment Fund to support special projects by faculty and staff. “This Dean’s Endowed Fund is the first for our campus,” he said.

“This fall marked the public launch of Cal State San Bernardino’s $200 million, Our Defining Moment: the Campaign for CSUSB,” Morales said. “And Jim and Judy’s generous donation has made outsized impact in our progress to reaching this goal.”

Since 2003, the Watsons have been contributors to and advocates for CSUSB, in particular for the College of Education and its literacy center. Their leadership and fundraising skills sparked CSUSB to ask them to serve as co-chairs of the College of Education’s capital campaign. The Watsons enabled CSUSB to enhance the then new education building and its programs, as the campaign raised more than $3 million. The Watsons also contributed the lead gift to the campaign. In recognition, the building’s student services center was named for them.

James “Jim” Watson worked as a real estate appraiser before launching his own company in 1972. As president and chief executive officer of J.R. Watson & Associates, a private commercial real estate firm based in Seal Beach, he has developed shopping centers, residential and master-planned mixed-use projects. Jim is a former chair of the board of the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation (2012-2013), where he has also been a member of the executive committee and board of directors. Cal State San Bernardino awarded him an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2010.

Judy Rodriguez Watson, who serves as senior vice president alongside Jim at J.R. Watson & Associates Development Corporation, is an ardent supporter of education and the arts. Judy was born and raised in Los Angeles, but her connection to Latino culture was nurtured early in her childhood. Her father, who was born in Veracruz, Mexico, would take her mother, three sisters and her on a two-week visit each summer to cities in Mexico. Passionate about education, in 2011, Judy served as honorary chair for the Latino Education and Advocacy Days (LEAD) summit at CSUSB and was affectionately termed, “La Madrina de Honor,” or honorary godmother. She was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2015.

The Watsons are also dynamic proponents of public art in San Bernardino and have been instrumental in partnering with the city to display CSUSB student art citywide. They have provided funding to the university’s Coyote Conservatory, a performance arts outreach project led by CSUSB’s theatre arts department.

 

Project Impact focuses on increasing the number of minority male teachers

Project Impact is the vision of James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education Dean Chinaka DomNwachukwu to locate, recruit, train, mentor and then deploy minority male teachers to classrooms throughout the inland area and the state.

– Courtesy of CSUSB

The goal of California State University, San Bernardino’s Project Impact, a community outreach initiative of the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education, is direct: Help close the academic achievement gaps in the state’s K-12 schools, which will ultimately pay dividends in the classroom and its students through the recruitment, training and deployment of minority male teachers into California’s classrooms.

Project Impact was a vision that Watson College of Education Dean Chinaka DomNwachukwu brought with him when he came to CSUSB. It was born out of his own educational journey as a public school teacher in East Los Angeles in the 1990s. He knew firsthand how it felt to be the only Black male teacher on campus at the K-12 schools where he worked.

“Also knowing how my presence had a positive impact on the young Black men who were my students,” he added.

For over two decades in California, the academic achievement gap has been talked about. DomNwachukwu saw that bringing more men of color into the classroom could have a direct impact on closing that gap by increasing both graduation and college-going rates and decreasing drop-out rates.

When he sat down with CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales for his interview, DomNwachukwu told Morales, “I would like to design a program that targets African American men in teaching.”

Morales’ response? “Absolutely.”

And Project Impact was born.

Recognizing that the Inland Empire was predominantly a Hispanic community, DomNwachukwu knew he would need to extend his vision beyond the African American population. But he also knew that Hispanic students had similar experiences and faced similar issues to the population of students he had initially focused on.

Assistant Dean Becky Sumbera was on hand at the outset to help realize the vision. She came to DomNwachukwu’s office one day to discuss one of her students with him. This student, a young African American man, was enthusiastic at the start of the semester about training to become an English teacher. However, each week she watched him retreat further and further until, one day, he came to her and told her he was considering dropping out.

“Nobody gets me,” he said. “They are surprised I can write and read. I just don’t feel like I belong.” Sumbera immediately stepped in to connect him with an African American male mentor along with other resources that he needed to complete the program. This opened her eyes to the reality of the assumptions that people make based on the color of another individual’s skin.

She has been involved with the program ever since.

The program’s dedication and commitment to helping its students succeed can be seen through the work of Gregory Richardson, who serves as Project Impact’s interim director. Richardson, who is also the director of the Watson & Associates Literacy Center and a lecturer in the Watson College of Education’s doctoral studies program, “is doing a lot of leg work, connecting with the men, mentoring them, and holding Saturday workshops to enhance their skills and competencies.”

Richardson, who is in his third year at CSUSB, said Project Impact basically locates, recruits, trains and then deploys teacher candidates working with men of color – African American, Asian American, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans.

“Our intent is to help them succeed throughout the whole process,” Richardson said.

The program helps from the beginning when the students fill out the first application to apply to CSUSB, to helping them make the transition from the undergrad program or the liberal studies program into the credential program, helping them with that application process, Richardson said.

And once in the credential program, Project Impact provides tutoring if the students are having difficulty with the academics or curriculum. The program also puts the credential students in cohorts ensuring they are working closely with their colleagues, whether they’re taking the same course at the same time, but with the same instructor, with the same semester, or they’ve completed it before, Richardson said.

Richardson said he also has monthly meetings with the students.

“Our meetings are three hours long,” he said. “The first hour, the students basically talk amongst themselves and their cohorts about what’s working, what’s not working. They talk about the instructors, the course load.

“Basically, everything is going on the assignment just so they can succeed,” Richardson said. “And then during the second two hours that are left, I either have a guest speaker come in or I will speak myself on different topics that would help them.”

DomNwachukwu said he also knew that making a vision real requires partnerships across the community. He began building those partnerships with then-superintendent for Riverside County Schools, Judy White, who is a CSUSB alumna (’79). She now serves as a member of Project Impact’s board.

White had observed the achievement gaps for African American students in Riverside County and realized that it was time to listen to these students’ voices. A key issue was not having teachers who looked like them or, even more importantly, could not relate to them. In fact, the percentage of men of color in the county’s classrooms was not only incredibly low, it did not reflect student demographics.

Riverside provided the first Project Impact cohort of 10 in the spring of 2020. Currently, Project Impact is now on its fourth cohort, which began in fall 2022 with 30 men.

Replicability is key. DomNwachukwu wished to create a model that other areas could adopt to grow the number of male teachers of color in their classrooms, too. The intent to partner with even more school districts is both for collaboration and for them to “grow their own.”

As the program has continued, a further obstacle in training male teachers of color to become successfully credentialed in California has been identified: rigorous postbaccalaureate state requirements mean teaching applicants cannot hold down another job while they are in their 16-week clinical practice stage. Two members of the first cohort, for example, had to drop out because they could not manage their living expenses during the program without paid income.

White observed the same thing. “It’s not just the cost of tuition. It also includes tuition, books and accelerating their opportunity to be hired.”

Therefore, Project Impact is looking into the possibility of evolving into a paid internship. Participants would then not have to worry about covering tuition and books as well as their living costs.

Sumbera continues to actively follow up with the program’s graduates. Current and past cohort members are invited to serve on panels at conferences, allowing participants to share their stories and serve as exemplars for men of color.

A recent Project Impact three-person panel was composed of a new cohort member, one in their second semester and a graduate.

“You could see the growth in confidence across these three individuals, confidence they had gained in telling their story over the course of their Project Impact training,” Sumbera said. “It was an amazing demonstration of the effectiveness of the program.”

White remains fully committed to this initiative. “I am so impressed by the caliber and passion of the people we are recruiting,” she said.

She said she believes this will change the lives of students, especially those who come from communities where they do not see positive role models of men of color.

“They will see those models in their classrooms,” White said.

DomNwachukwu underscored his appreciation for ongoing community support for Project Impact. Growing Inland Achievement has been on board from day one. Other entities include BLU Educational Foundation, Schools First Credit Union and the San Bernardino County Office of Education.

Project Impact is no longer a small program belonging exclusively to CSUSB’s Watson College of Education. In fact, under the college’s direct leadership, it now belongs to the Inland Empire. And maybe, soon, even beyond.

Visit the Project Impact website for additional information.

 

Generosity Helps to Launch Art Careers

Written by Alison Ragguette, CSUSB Professor, Art & Design

We are so fortunate to have incredible people who believe in our creative vision. The Judy Rodriguez Watson Public Art Project has been a huge supporter of our mural work and continues to make my job as the Professor of the CSUSB ceramics program so rewarding. James R. Watson & Judy Rodriguez Watson have supported numerous projects since 2008. They have been incredible friends to the Art department at CSUSB and true believers in the power of art to uplift society and build community. With their generosity, we have produced close to 2000 square feet of stoneware tile and have employed at least thirty students over the span of five murals. Their support has allowed me to develop these totally student-driven artworks. Our current project, Eternal Learning, was designed by two students, Adam Diaz and Melissa Medina. It is now in the fabrication process that is employing eight CSUSB students and alumni. This has proven to be a profound opportunity for students to learn about art fabrication and installation, community-based art, entrepreneurship, and so much more. These students will graduate with truly significant work experience that will make them very competitive as professional artists. In addition to these projects, Jim and Judy also support community-based projects, including the Wishing Stone Project in 2013, and currently, the Kind Art Collective Journal. With their assistance, CSUSB grad students and alumni are creating a bilingual art journal for kids to build resilience through creativity. Students are authoring, illustrating, and designing this publication that will be distributed to kids in need.

There are so many students’ success stories, due in part to these opportunities made possible by the Judy Rodriguez Watson Public Art Project. So many of these students get hired in the field of ceramics and art education, working as production artists, ceramics studio technicians, gallery curators, teachers, and professors. Our good friend and CSUSB alum, Anna Delgado believes her mural experience was instrumental in getting a full scholarship for graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is now a tenured professor at San Diego Community College. Another great story is about alumni, Nyx and Shayne Mitchell. They are two talented muralists who got their start through the Watson’s recommendation. In 2019, these artists connected with a local restaurant that commissioned them to create a mural for their interior. Since then, they have produced more than twenty murals around the state of California, and they are now doing major public art projects for city municipalities. It is totally clear to me that these opportunities make a huge difference for emerging artists and demonstrate to young artists and their families that there are viable careers in art.

Finally, I have to share how this experience has impacted me. As an artist, creative ideas are the easy part, while the challenge is funding, as well as the confidence and know-how to pursue such monumental permanent public artworks. The Judy Rodriguez Public Art Project has made this all possible. I am honored that the Watsons have such faith in my ability, and I am grateful for all their support and mentorship. It is also the most thrilling teaching of my career, to work with students on major public artworks, and then watch them go out and pursue successful careers.

Deeply Rooted Family Values Fuel Philanthropy

by Mary Kenny

Jim Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson value the importance of education and giving back to the community.

View the CSUSB Article PDF HERE

For nearly 20 years, Jim and Judy have been steadfast
friends and champions of Cal State Bernardino, and have
tirelessly demonstrated their commitment in countless ways
and in many roles – as literacy advocates, philanthropic
leaders, campaign chairpersons, foundation and advisory
board members, and as benefactors for the arts.
As founder, president and CEO of J.R. Watson & Associates
Development Corporation, a private commercial real estate
firm based in Seal Beach, Jim has developed shopping
centers, and residential and master-planned mixed-use
projects. Judy serves as senior vice president of the company.
Together, they have had a profound impact on the
university, its students, faculty and staff, and the entire San
Bernardino community.

“When I became acquainted with the university, I saw the
dedication, the talent, expertise and the warmth that the
professors and staff showed to everyone – to us, to their
students, to each other. It was very impressive,” Jim said.
“As I came to understand the university better, they are
very successful at educating the underserved youth and
their families. They’re making a significant change in the
communities that they serve.”

Both Jim and Judy’s belief in giving back and serving the
community are deeply rooted family values, passed down
from generation to generation. Jim lost his father at a young
age and was fortunate to have a loving grandfather, who
advised him, “Provide for your family and protect them. Live
a life of integrity. Work hard. Strive for success, and when you
can, and if it’s appropriate, give to others,” he recalled.

Judy, one of four daughters, was born and raised in Los
Angeles. Her father, who immigrated to the U.S. from Veracruz,
Mexico, was a kind and compassionate role model, she recalls,
who would give anyone in need “the shirt off his back.”
Reading and literacy are particularly meaningful for the
Watsons. In 2004, their $1 million gift established The Watson &
Associates Literacy Center at CSUSB, which provides one-to-one
literacy tutoring to students in grades kindergarten through 12
who have not yet achieved grade-level proficiency in literacy,
or to any student who would benefit from individual support to
advance their skills.

“It’s critical for our society to have a highly educated group
of citizens,” says Jim. “Of the various things we’ve done in our
lives, the Watson Literacy Center is the most important to us.
The genesis of it came from both of our difficulties with reading
early in life – it’s why we so strongly support the Literacy
Center.”

Judy agrees. “As a youth, I had struggles with reading. I’m
dyslexic. My problems are in reading and calculations. Numbers
are a real challenge for me.”

In 2006, Jim and Judy served as co-chairs of the College of
Education’s capital campaign. The highly successful campaign
raised more than $3 million, with the Watsons contributing the
lead gift. In recognition, the building’s student services center
was named in their honor.

Jim has served in a variety of leadership roles at CSUSB,
including chair of the board of the university’s Philanthropic
Foundation and as a member of the executive committee and
board of directors. For his dedication and commitment, Jim was
awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2010.
“As I was standing on the stage, I was feeling tremendous
gratitude, appreciation, undeserving, and I was wishing that
my father, grandfather, grandmother, my mother, my aunts,
would have been there,” he says. “But I also felt their presence.
And with this honor comes responsibility. And it’s not lightly
given, lightly taken.”

Judy, too, has also taken an active leadership role at the
university. In 2011, she served as honorary chair for the Latino
Education and Advocacy Days summit at CSUSB and was
affectionately termed, “La Madrina de Honor,” or honorary
godmother.

In recognition of her distinguished service throughout the
years, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane
letters in 2015.

“I was humbled,” she recalls. “I felt such an incredible sense
of honor, and it was a wonderful privilege. And as Jim said,
it comes with a lot of responsibilities. And I don’t take that
lightly.”

In addition to their advocacy work in literacy, the Watsons
are dynamic proponents of public art in San Bernardino and
have been instrumental in partnering with the city to display
CSUSB student art citywide.

In December 2021, the Watsons announced a
transformational gift of $8.4 million to the College of
Education. The gift will support student scholarships and
establish a new Center for STEM (science, technology,
engineering, mathematics) Education. The STEM Center will
be the hub for outreach to K-12 students in the region and will
include a Model STEM Exploratorium and a teacher residency
program.

The gift will also support Project Impact, a new program
in the college to recruit and prepare teachers to serve
underrepresented students in public schools. Funds will also
be used to enhance the Watson & Associates Literacy Center’s
efforts in the Inland Empire. In addition, the gift will create
a Dean’s Endowed Fund that will be used to support special
projects and requests by faculty and students. This is the first
such fund for the CSUSB campus.

In recognition of their generosity, the College of Education
will be named the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez
Watson College of Education during an unveiling ceremony
later this fall.

It will be only the fourth College of Education to be named
in the 23-campus CSU system, and joins with distinction
the Connie L. Lurie College of Education at San Jose State
University, the Kremen School of Education at Fresno State
and the Michael D. Eisner College of Education at Cal State
Northridge.

“We are particularly pleased that a truly fitting recognition
of their important gift – the naming of the James R. Watson
and Judy Rodriquez Watson College of Education – will
further serve as a legacy to their generosity for generations to
come,” said CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales. “Their passion
for education and its power to change lives for the better will
ensure a bright future for the countless children inspired and
transformed by the graduates of the college.”

“It’s an incredible honor to see our name on this building,”
says Judy. “We did a lot of work to get here, and it was
rewarding for us to do that.”

“Going back to what my grandfather said,” Jim says,
“[Give back] when you can and when it’s appropriate.” Jim
suggested using the Rodriguez family name, he says, “to
honor Judy, honor her family and also honor the community.”
A strategic investment in Cal State Bernardino students and
the wider community it serves, Jim and Judy’s extraordinary
generosity will be used to achieve extraordinary things in
extraordinary ways, and will have a wide-ranging impact on
the university and the region far into the future.

The Shops at University Park Celebrates Grand Opening

Original story courtesy of The San Bernardino American Newspaper Here
sbamericannews

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The community is invited to celebrate the Grand Opening of the second phase of The Shops at University Park, this Saturday, January 11, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Located at 1725 -1775 W. Northpark Boulevard, at University Parkway across the street from California State University San Bernardino, The Shops at University Park offers an array of convenient dining and services for CSUSB and the surrounding communities.

Developed by JR Watson & Associates Development Corp., the center will celebrate the recent openings of Afters Ice Cream, FireWings, Asian Fusion Eatery, Poketology and VCA Northside Animal Hospital, which join eateries Wayback Burger, Jimmy Johns, Jamba Juice, and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. It’s Boba Time will also open soon.

Visitors will enjoy a free afternoon of family fun, including a ribbon cutting ceremony, entertainment by the Cajon High School Band, a DJ from CSUSB’s Coyote Radio, face painting, a balloon artist, food samples, life-size games and giveaways. Tours of the adjacent student housing The Glen at University Park will also be available.

“We are looking forward to introducing the Shops at University Park to shoppers and exceeding their expectations,” said James R. Watson, President of JR Watson & Associates Development Corp. “I would like to thank the President and staff at CSUSB and the City Council, Planning Commission and entire staff at the City of San Bernardino for their tremendous support and all their efforts in making this shopping center a reality,” commented Jim Watson.

“Watson and Associates are committed to making a difference in the communities they serve,” said Judy Watson, who has been instrumental in spearheading the Judy Rodriguez Art program on campus. Much of the art seen in the areas surrounding the campus has been funded by this program.

Executive Suit

Family Room

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home-gallery-01
Ultra Luxury
$244
Ultra Luxury
$244
home-gallery-03
Ultra Luxury
$244

EXECUTIVE ROOM FEATUREDS

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Great Location

FREE WIFI

HAIR DRYER

Air-conditioning and heating

Free Tea and Coffee Set

STEAM IRON

Air-conditioning and heating

Free Tea and Coffee Set

$244

Single Price

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5/5
01/27/2019
Clean and comfortable. Very clean and great amenities.. Great customer service and again, very welcoming. Helped with baggage to the room and explained where everything was before leaving.. Wifi was strong. No issue at all, which was important to me for the stay.
Jose Reeves
5/5
01/27/2019
Clean and comfortable. Very clean and great amenities.. Great customer service and again, very welcoming. Helped with baggage to the room and explained where everything was before leaving.. Wifi was strong. No issue at all, which was important to me for the stay.
Jose Reeves

Releatıve Rooms

Junior Suit
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Family Room
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Deluxe Balcon
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Junior Suit

Junior Suit

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home-gallery-01
Ultra Luxury
$244
Ultra Luxury
$244
home-gallery-03
Ultra Luxury
$244

EXECUTIVE ROOM FEATUREDS

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua ut enim ad minim

Great Location

FREE WIFI

7/24 RECEPTION SERVICES

HAIR DRYER

Air-conditioning

Free Tea

Microwawe Oven

STEAM IRON

$244

Single Price

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WHAT THEY LIKED

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5/5
01/27/2019
Clean and comfortable. Very clean and great amenities.. Great customer service and again, very welcoming. Helped with baggage to the room and explained where everything was before leaving.. Wifi was strong. No issue at all, which was important to me for the stay.
Jose Reeves
5/5
01/27/2019
Clean and comfortable. Very clean and great amenities.. Great customer service and again, very welcoming. Helped with baggage to the room and explained where everything was before leaving.. Wifi was strong. No issue at all, which was important to me for the stay.
Jose Reeves
5/5
01/27/2019
Clean and comfortable. Very clean and great amenities.. Great customer service and again, very welcoming. Helped with baggage to the room and explained where everything was before leaving.. Wifi was strong. No issue at all, which was important to me for the stay.
Jose Reeves

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Executive Suit
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Family Room
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Deluxe Balcon
Deluxe Balcon Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do

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