Dr. Stephen L. Weber
|
|
|
Stephen L. Weber, the seventh president of San Diego State University, provides dynamic leadership to an institution that ranks among the largest in the nation. Educated as a philosopher, President Weber began his tenure at SDSU in July 1996 and shortly afterward initiated a broad-based dialogue intended to set the course for the university's future.
Under President Weber's guidance, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders participated in shaping this "Shared Vision." SDSU is now moving boldly ahead toward goals set by those discussions: reinforcing academic excellence, nurturing students, honoring diversity and social justice, carefully stewarding resources, and further developing global programs.
In the process, SDSU has become an increasingly popular and selective choice among college-bound students. For fall 2006, some 52,000 undergraduate applicants competed for 8,707 vacancies. Not surprising, the overall academic quality of SDSU students is also rising. In addition, alumni involvement and private financial support of the university have never been stronger.
A champion of community involvement as well as academic excellence, President Weber has been an advocate for community service. Leading by example, he is a past chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Board of Directors and cochair of Partners for K-12 School Reform. He also serves on the boards of governors of The Peres Center for Peace and the San Diego Foundation, and on the boards of directors of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation and the San Diego Science and Technology Council. He co-chairs the College Presidents Forum of the San Diego County Policy Panel on Youth Access to Alcohol.
President Weber is a member of the international advisory board for the Foundation for Children of the Californias, the advisory council of the San Diego Performing Arts League, the Community Advisory Board of Union Bank of California, and the advisory board for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).
He serves on the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors and served on the Presidential Oversight Committee for the Bowl Championship Series. He is a member of the San Diego Rotary Club, an honorary director of the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana, and an honorary advisor to the Asia Desk of the San Diego World Trade Center.
Born in Boston, President Weber is a graduate of Bowling Green University with a B.A. in philosophy. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 1969 and is the author of numerous articles on philosophy and higher education.
President Weber's many awards include an honorary degree from Beijing Capital Normal University, and distinguished alumnus at his alma mater, Bowling Green University. He was named among the 1997 Headliners of the Year by the San Diego Press Club. Also in 1997, the San Diego Mediation Center honored him with its Peacemaker Award. In 1999, President Weber received the Executive Director's Award from the San Diego Education Association and the Gold Key Award from the San Diego Hospitality Association. He was recognized as a Leader of Vision by the league of Women Voters of San Diego in 2000.
Before coming to San Diego State University, President Weber served as interim provost of the State University of New York (SUNY); he previously served seven years as president of the SUNY Oswego campus. Prior to that, he was vice president of academic affairs at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, dean of arts and sciences at Fairfield University in Connecticut, and assistant to the president of the University of Maine. While a faculty member at the University of Maine, he was recognized as the outstanding professor in humanities.
President Weber is married to Susan Keim Weber, who shares his enthusiastic commitment to SDSU. They have two sons.
