CSUF Emeriti: 50 Years of Fellowship and Supporting Student Scholarships – CSUF News
For the past five decades, retired faculty and staff honored with emeriti status have gathered for fellowship and paid it forward to support students with scholarships.
Through the Emeriti of California State University, Fullerton, many emeriti remain active with the campus community beyond their retirement years.
Paul Miller, director emeritus of Disability Support Services, had a 41-year career at the university and retired 10 years ago. He has been involved with the emeriti organization ever since, serving as vice president and now president.
“What we all have in common is camaraderie. It’s an opportunity to continue to be engaged at the university with the people we worked with, many of whom are close colleagues and friends,” Miller said.
Miller said in October 1975, the association’s bylaws were adopted to create a formal organization on campus.
To be eligible for membership in the organization, informally called the Emeriti Association of Cal State Fullerton, faculty and staff must be awarded emeriti status by the university’s president.
“It’s one of the biggest honors for teaching faculty and staff,” said Miller, the founding director of Disability Support Services who also served as police chaplain.
Dorothy Heide, professor of management and associate dean emeritus of the College of Business and Economics, retired in 1998. She first served on the scholarship committee, then became treasurer and is a past president.
Heide, who taught for nearly 20 years, remains involved as a way to maintain social relationships.
“When you get older, you lose that contact with others. It’s important intellectually and mentally to maintain connections with people,” she said.
CSUF President Ronald Rochon recognized emeriti at the association’s annual scholarship luncheon and lauded members for supporting students and the university.
“Emeriti are individuals who have given their lives to this place and dedicated their craft to making students better — and the world better.
“You have earned this title because of your body of work and your collective contributions. Thank you for being an example and sharing your gifts with us.”
During the academic year, emeriti members meet for luncheons and arts and sports events. They also volunteer on the association’s executive committee and staff the Patrons of the Library Book Sale Center at Pollak Library.
The most important endeavors for emeriti members are their commitment to students and the library, in which an endowment fund supports the Pollak Library.
Funds from two endowments support scholarships to undergraduates, graduate students and former foster care students in the Guardian Scholars Program.
Over the decades, emeriti have provided approximately $350,000 in scholarships to 175 outstanding Titans, said Hart Roussel, senior director of planned giving. The Emeriti Association awards $2,000 scholarships to 10 to 12 students each academic year.
Established in 1987, the Emeriti Memorial Scholarship Fund was initiated by the late Gertrude Reith, professor emeritus of geography, during her association presidency. Members and friends of deceased emeriti support the fund.
The Benson Scholarship Endowment Fund was created in 2014 and is part of a gift from the estate of Russell Benson, professor emeritus of mathematics.
Sandra Rhoten, senior associate dean emeritus for student conduct, retired in 2016 and serves as chair of the scholarship committee. Rhoten said the monetary awards help students realize their career aspirations.
“Scholarships not only provide needed financial assistance and a reward for excellence, but support and encourage students with their academic goals,” Rhoten said. “Being recognized boosts students’ self-confidence going forward.”
Contact:
Debra Cano Ramos
dcanoramos@fullerton.edu
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