Dear Otter community,

I am so pleased to welcome you to the first day of the 2023 academic year at California State University, Monterey Bay! As we start a new year, we have so many possibilities ahead. 

We have more than 1,130 new first-year students in the class of 2027, nearly 700 new transfer students, and more than 200 new graduate students joining us this fall. We also offer a warm welcome to our six new tenured-tenure track faculty.

I am looking forward to this year with excitement. The beginning of a new academic year is always a whirlwind of activity and that is certainly true of the last week. We had a tremendous showing for our second annual Otter Plunge at Del Monte Beach in Monterey on Aug. 20, followed by New Student Convocation and College Mixers, and we mingled together at the Campus Cookout yesterday. I hope that you continue to find ways to gather together as part of our Otter Raft throughout the semester. See our newly launched event calendar or MyRaft for everything happening on campus.

CSUMB continues to move forward with investments to strengthen our Otter raft and create an environment of success for all members of our community. As we collaborate and work together, I know we will accomplish many great things this academic year. I look forward to hearing your ideas, thoughts and initiatives as we engage throughout the year.

As we continue to make our Otter Raft strong, you have my very best wishes for this new academic year.

Go Otters! 

Vanya Quiñones, PhD
President
California State University, Monterey Bay