President Richard Rush

2001-2016

President Richard R. Rush was the founding president of CSUCI, serving from June 2001 to May 2016. Rush built the framework of CSUCI, pioneering its creation and path to success. In building this framework, Rush and CSUCI’s founding members established four pillars in which our University’s mission and values are based upon.

“Interdisciplinarity was something I wanted right from the very beginning,” Rush explained. “Disciplines in silos do not connect all of the perspectives that students are going to need as they go forward in developing creative and critical thinking. We put together a program so students could see how questions or problems could be addressed from a number of different perspectives rather than simply one. Having required interdisciplinary general education courses is one way that students can become more creative in their critical thinking and expand their views on various subjects–and be more prepared for the real world.”

The other three Mission Pillars were derived from an observation of the world around us. Multicultural, International, and Community Engagement reflect the type of experiences and skills students need to be successful in a diverse world, as technology connects our world and introduces us to an endless number of ideas and perspectives. Looking at education through an international lens allows students to gain skills that will allow them to compete professionally and live wholeheartedly. Studying internationalism inevitably leads students to cross paths with multiculturalism. “We are enriched by the various cultures that are on our campus and in the world, and if we embrace them we are better for it.” Being exposed to different cultures and ways of life will open students’ minds, peak curiosity about differences, and help individuals towards embracing diversity at a local and international level.

Community Engagement makes up the fourth pillar, connecting the University’s founding values of interdisciplinary studies, multicultural engagement, and international affairs to the local community. CSUCI is here to serve students and the community--the community who has greatly supported CSUCI since its creation. Now, students return that generosity through service-learning and volunteerism.

President Rush has always been involved in the public. In his immediate circle, Rush gave back to his daughters’ schools and participated in a service club where they performed a number of generous activities such as candrives, serving at non-profit Christmas tree lots, and other community efforts.

With this mindset, it is no wonder why community service plays such a large role in CSUCI’s education today.