One of our many goals here at the Palm Desert Campus (PDC) is to build academic programs to increase access for students. Currently, PDC offers a total of 30 academic programs - 19 bachelor’s degrees, 10 master’s and post-graduate credential programs and a doctorate in educational leadership. Students are able to complete all of the courses required for these degree programs here at the Palm Desert Campus. If undergraduate students choose a program that is not offered at PDC, they can still complete all required general education courses during the first two years on our campus.
When Dr. Sharon-Brown Welty was the dean, she began the process of working with the local community to bring new and relevant programs to PDC. As a result, the hospitality management and entrepreneurship programs started to enroll students in fall 2019. We are currently in the process of recruiting a cybersecurity professor to lead the development of the cybersecurity program at PDC. These new programs are gamechangers for PDC and will continue to elevate PDC’s reputation in the community and meet the needs of the region.
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Speaking of hospitality management, I am proud to welcome Dr. Joseph Tormey to PDC as the founding director of the hospitality management program in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration. Joe is a 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry, and an educational leader with 17 years of administrative and educational experience. Joe joins us from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, where he served as an assistant professor and former director of the International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Joe received a BBA in finance from Pace University, a master’s degree in hospitality management from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a doctorate degree in hotel and tourism management from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in China. As director, he oversaw the expansion to the Vancouver Campus, increased outreach to colleges in Asia, achieved membership in the United Nations World Tourism Organization and successfully led efforts to achieve hospitality accreditation, a distinction that 70 hospitality programs share worldwide.
Joe has taught at the university, community college and vocational high school level in the areas of hospitality, tourism and culinary arts. His professional experience includes having worked in a variety of management and consulting positions in the foodservice, travel and tourism, casino, and lodging sectors in the United States and abroad. He has served on numerous advisory committees and professional organizations such as the New Jersey State Division of Travel and Tourism, the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association and the New Jersey Club Management Association Education Foundation.
Since arriving at the Palm Desert Campus, Joe has cultivated impressive outreach to the region’s hospitality industry, high schools, community colleges and colleges overseas. Joe’s vision and immediate focus has been to build relationships with local stakeholders, grow enrollment and develop a destination program at PDC. His goal is to create a dynamic learning environment and exceptional academic and professional experiences for students. He is developing robust co- and extra-curricular activities, as well as domestic and international travel and learning opportunities that secondarily include attracting students from other states and overseas. Joe serves on 14 advisory boards, committees, academic and professional development associations and organizations, and he is taking business students on a study abroad trip to Italy this March.
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Building academic programs at PDC is meaningful, yet challenging. Our success largely depends upon the collaborative backing of our academic colleges and departments on the San Bernardino campus for which we are very appreciative. For the hospitality management program in particular, I want to thank Dean Lawrence Rose, the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, Dr. Victoria Seitz and other colleagues in the marketing department for their leadership in making this happen, and for their continued support.
Thank you as we continue to create and enhance our academic programs at PDC to meet the needs of students, and to be relevant to local needs and the local economy.
Sincerely,
Jake Zhu, Ph.D.
Dean, CSUSB Palm Desert Campus
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Rancho Mirage Writers Festival
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We were fortunate to have two Rancho Mirage Writers Festival authors present to students at PDC on Jan. 30.
Elizabeth Cobbs discussed her book, “The Tubman Command” and the movie based on her novel on Harriet Tubman’s involvement in the 1863 Combahee Ferry Raid.
Tara Westover discussed her book, “Educated” via livestream from the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival.
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Male Student Leadership Summit
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On Jan. 25, a collaborative of educators, non-profits, philanthropists, and business and civic leaders hosted the inaugural Male Student Leadership Summit at PDC to engage 8th grade boys from all three Coachella Valley school districts in workshops and presentations designed to curb the decline in high school and college completion rates among young men in the region.
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On Jan. 30, students played in the snow and enjoyed food, activities, giveaways and music at our annual Snow Day event.
Students were also given the opportunity to participate in an envisioning workshop which will help shape future student services at PDC.
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Spreading the word about WorldQuest
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KESQ aired a story this week highlighting the great work some of our nursing faculty and students are doing in the community providing healthcare to homeless and unsheltered people in the Coachella Valley.
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Academic WorldQuest
Students from 12 public and private high schools in the Coachella Valley will compete on Feb. 4 to win scholarships and the chance to compete nationally in Washington, D.C. Come cheer for your favorite team!
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Looking to earn a doctorate degree? Attend an Info Session!
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The CSUSB Doctorate in Educational Leadership program is currently recruiting for the Fall 2020 cohort!
Info Sessions will take place at PDC on Feb. 11 and March 17.
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Art reception for scholarships
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Artist and CSUSB alumna Jean Vezzalini will host a reception on Feb. 19 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to showcase her paintings in the lobby of the Indian Wells Theater, with all proceeds from the exhibition to be donated for student scholarships.
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Mardi Gras Moonrise Magic Reception
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Celebrate our new hospitality management program at this fun and unique event at The Rancho Mirage, Ritz-Carlton!
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Join us for our 21st Annual Golf Classic, benefiting student scholarships.
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Feb. 6-March 15
This hit New York comedy is an outrageous evening of jokes, skits, songs, one-liners, double entendres and hysterical routines that pay tribute to, and reinvent classic jokes of the past and present. Like rye bread, kosher pickles, and bagels, this show is for everyone! You'll laugh until you plotz!
Warning: Adult (Bawdy) Humor! For audiences 18+.
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California Desert Chorale presents "Bach to Broadway"
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March 22 and 29
California Desert Chorale's 2020 spring concert, “Bach to Broadway,” will feature four of J.S. Bach's most famous works including “Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring” and “Sheep May Safely Graze”, along with a host of the very best of Broadway.
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At OLLI, you'll find a wide variety of stimulating courses to keep you engaged intellectually, challenge your thinking and build your knowledge.
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Cal State University Associates
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Attend monthly entertaining and informative presentations in our Indian Wells Theater - each with a reception. Plus, the majority of membership dues benefit student scholarships!
The February 11th presentation will be about human trafficking.
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