2024 Year in Review
From the unveiling of the Spartan Village on the Paseo to the launch of the Digital Humanities Center and an impressive list of research accolades, grants and awards, 2024 has been an epic year for Spartans. Relive some of our greatest moments below.
2024 Year in Review
From the unveiling of the Spartan Village on the Paseo to the launch of the Digital Humanities Center and an impressive list of research accolades, grants and awards, 2024 has been an epic year for Spartans. Relive some of our greatest moments below.
SJSU Climbs the Ranks
SJSU is a world-class institution on the rise — just ask the Wall Street Journal.
#1
Most Transformative University
Money Magazine
#3
Top Public Schools, Regional West
U.S. News & World Report
#4
Public University in the Nation
Wall Street Journal/College Pulse
#12
In Social Mobility, Regional West
U.S. News & World Report
SJSU Is On the Rise
Nina Chuang, '23 Nutrition and Food Science, celebrates SJSU’s rise with a heartfelt tribute to the City of San José — a city where Spartans thrive, innovate and succeed. From AI and robotics to nursing, marine research and the arts, SJSU students are equipped to lead in Silicon Valley and beyond. The proof is in the numbers.
Reported annual average starting salary of SJSU graduates responding to the Career Center's First Destination Survey
90%
of Career Center graduate respondents reported securing impactful jobs
$76,786
Reported annual average starting salary of SJSU graduates responding to the Career Center's First Destination Survey
The Year in Events
From honoring SJSU’s 31st president at Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson’s investiture to opening the doors to the Spartan Village on the Paseo to hosting Spartan icons Tommie Smith, ’69 Social Science, ’05 Honorary Doctorate, and John Carlos, ’05 Honorary Doctorate, campus hosted a number of memorable events and celebrations in 2024.
Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson was sworn in as the 31st president of San José State University this spring.
SJSU, City of San José Honor John Carlos and Tommie Smith
October 16 is now recognized as Tommie Smith and John Carlos Day in San José, in honor of legendary Spartans Tommie Smith, '69 Social Science, '05 Honorary Doctorate, and John Carlos, '05 Honorary Doctorate, whose iconic civil rights salute at the 1968 Olympics established a legacy of social justice at SJSU and beyond.
A Visit From U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra visited SJSU in October to describe the new ARPA-H Emerging Health Innovators (EHI) Initiative, which aims “to increase access to government research funding and address health care gaps in the U.S."
Spartan Village on the Paseo Welcomes Inaugural Cohort of Residents
Nearly 700 students moved into the Spartan Village on the Paseo (SVP) home this fall, nine months after the announcement of a unique student housing concept that will position San José State as a national model for urban residential living.
The Year in Research
2024 was a banner year for SJSU research, from the opening of a new college to the awarding of grants to student and faculty collaborations with NASA, the Department of Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Active principal investigators
Students employed on sponsored research projects, grants, or contracts
Peer-reviewed manuscripts, articles, abstracts, books, and theses published
*Preliminary Data from Jan. 1–Nov. 20, 2024
For FY 2024
Total amount of research expenditures
Total grants awarded
The new College of Information, Data and Society (IDS) is the first of its kind in the CSU system, formed as part of a cross-campus strategy to expand access to degrees that crosscut information and data sciences.
No one knows what the future will bring. What we do know is that San José State will be a part of it, as our Spartans help shape the future through patents, scholarship, business ventures, community projects and much, much more.
As part of Tyler Yuen’s Europa Clipper internship program, he visted NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena with his fellow interns.
In Their Element
When scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory discovered a new way to make livermorium (element 116) this summer, it made national news. An SJSU professor and his four student researchers were part of this incredible team.
An Internship to ASPIRE To
Students in the ASPIRE program study in NASA research labs to help unlock the secrets of exobiology and astrobiology. ASPIRE students are paid to work on NASA internships all summer and then remain connected with their internship mentors throughout the following two years.
CHiPPing Away at the Future
In the space of two years, Danitza Hernandez, ’25 Materials Engineering, went from sleeping in a restaurant next to a grease trap while attending community college, to working in the prestigious Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on a project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Year in Partnerships
In 2024, SJSU partnered with industry, government and other universities to help students, faculty and the wider world.
Flying High: SJSU Aviation Partners With Alaska Air Group for Pilot Development Program
In early September, the SJSU Aviation Department and Alaska Air Group formally announced their partnership to help graduates get on the fast track to becoming commercial pilots.
SJSU to Collaborate with NVIDIA and the City of San José on AI-Focused Innovation Initiatives
San José State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson and San José Mayor Matt Mahan announced groundbreaking AI-focused collaborations with NVIDIA to cultivate a future-ready workforce. San José State University and the City of San José have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with NVIDIA.
San José State Joins Aqueous Battery Consortium for Clean Energy Storage
San José State joined the Aqueous Battery Consortium, an energy hub research project supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) and led by Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The project aims to find a reliable, sustainable way to store electricity, partially by creating a rechargeable battery made mostly of water (the “aqueous” part of the consortium) and other abundant materials.
The Year in Media
Top Media Stories
Along with stories told on the SJSU NewsCenter and Washington Square magazine, local and national media outlets have featured SJSU students, faculty, staff and alumni throughout the year. Here are some of our favorites from 2024.
Talking leadership: Cynthia Teniente-Matson on running ‘Silicon Valley’s university’ - Times Higher Education
Couple with young baby graduates together at San Jose State - CBS News Bay Area
Media Inquiries
The number of media inquiries fielded by SJSU.
Media Experts
The number of faculty who can be called upon to provide their expertise for a story.
Meet an Expert: Melinda Jackson
Melinda Jackson is a dean of undergraduate education and professor of political science. Her research focuses on public opinion and political engagement in American politics. She is an expert on polling and the importance of Silicon Valley in U.S. politics. In 2024, she gave 71 interviews.
The Year in Creativity
Through its growing humanities, arts, social sciences and education curriculum, SJSU provides a high-quality liberal arts education focused on creativity, innovation and problem solving.
Introducing the Digital Humanities Center
Thanks to generous donors and a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Challenge Grant, SJSU's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library’s Digital Humanities Center opened in fall 2024.
Art as Catharsis: Introducing the Record Clearance Project’s First Exhibit of Client Artwork
The Record Clearance Project, a record expungement initiative led by the Justice Studies Department, hosted its first exhibit of artwork produced by RCP clients at the DiNapoli Gallery at King Library.
Learning From the Scene of the Crime
This year, SJSU celebrates the 20th anniversary of its forensic science program within the Department of Justice Studies. Faculty members like Assistant Professor Shawna Bolton and Lecturer Mary Juno are among those leading the next generation of crime scene investigators and forensic scientists.
Exploring the Spartan-Verse: How Immersive Storytelling Cultivates Empathy
How can virtual and augmented reality help people tell stories and support the public good? The Immersive Storytelling Lab at San José State offers unique opportunities for Spartans to create compelling stories using the latest tools and technologies.
The Year in Community Impact
Community development is central to the Spartan ethos.
A City on a Hilltop
SJSU nursing students spend a semester visiting a senior living facility called Hilltop Manor, bonding with residents and learning how to help the community and let the community help them.
Lurie College Becomes First in the State to Offer PK-3 Teaching Credential
Like many of the Lurie College’s teaching programs, the PK-3 credential offers multiple pathways for educators, including the option of adding a master’s degree in teaching or bilingual authorization.
Spartans At Your Service
Spartan Athletics received the 2023-24 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Community Service Award in recognition of 20,000 hours of community service by Spartan student- athletes, ranging from toy drives to mentorship programs and more.
Male Educators of Color Initiative (MECI): Funded Teaching Preparation and Master’s Programs
A new program in the Connie L. Lurie College of Education provides aspiring educators who are committed to improving educational equity while diversifying the teaching workforce.
The Year in Humanity and Civic Engagement
The Future of Humanity and Civic Engagement framework is an actionable initiative to shape collective learning as students confront new experiences, tensions and differing perspectives.
Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN)
SJSU hosted the first PIT-UN conference on the West Coast, and one of the first to feature corporate panelists as well as government and academia. The two-day event featured a fireside chat with SJSU President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, esteemed scholar Safiya Noble of UCLA and Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, entitled “Meeting the Moment."
Day of Remembrance Recognizes the Impact of the Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II
San José State President Cynthia Teniente-Matson issued a Presidential Directive to commemorate the Day of Remembrance. On Monday, February 19, members of the SJSU community attended this year’s Day of Remembrance at the Hammer Theatre, co-sponsored by the Center for Asian Pacific Islander Student Empower (CAPISE), Asian American Studies and other departments across campus.*
Free Speech at the Crossroads
San José State hosted Georgetown University's Free Speech Project in September for "Free Speech at the Crossroads: A Silicon Valley Dialogue." The two-day event was made possible by Georgetown University, San José State, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University.
Top Social Posts
Our social feeds were full this year. Feast on some of the 2024 highlights from our @SJSU accounts.
🏈✨ What a win for our Spartans against the Nevada Wolf Pack! 🎉 Parents Weekend made it even more special with families coming together to cheer us on. The stadium buzzed with energy, and it was incredible to see our hard work pay off! 💙💛 Big thanks to all the fans, students, parents, and alumni for your support—it truly makes SJSU feel like home. Let’s keep this momentum going! Go Spartans! 🥇🙌 #SJSU #SpartanPride #Victory #ParentsWeekend
Hey Spartans! Looking for ballot boxes on campus?🗳️Follow Sammy on his map tour!
This year’s Veterans Day Celebration at SJSU was both meaningful and unforgettable. Today, we gathered to honor our veterans with a ceremony on the West Patio, where speakers shared powerful reflections on their service and sacrifices.
Join Jay and Sammy the Spartan at the SU Bowling Center to train for Spooky Bowling & Baskets!
🎶 "Sammy will walk 500 miles, and then 500 more, just to be the Spartan who walks a thousand miles to fall down at your door!"🎶 Happy National One-Hit Wonder Day! Celebrating with The Proclaimers and their iconic hit "I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)" today! Who else can capture the spirit of a classic like this? 🚶💚 #SammySpartan #SJSU #OneHitWonderDay #TheProclaimers #500Miles
The Year in SJSU Athletics
For the third consecutive year, a school-record number of San José State student-athletes received a 2023-24 Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award as 128 Spartans are honored for their performances in the classroom during their athletic career.
The SJSU Beach Volleyball team finishes the 2024 season with the most wins in school history (14).
Since graduating from SJSU in 2023, the Spartan soccer player has launched a career at Adobe.
Scholar Athletes
For the third consecutive year, a school record number of SJSU student-athletes received 2023-2024 Mountain West Scholar Awards (3.5 GPA or higher) as 128 Spartans were honored for their performances in the classroom during their athletic career. 96 Spartans were named Dean's Scholars (G.P.A. of 3.65 or higher) and 48 were recognized as President's Scholars (G.P.A. of 4.0).
Recognizing Greatness
San José State recorded a program-best 256 points in the LEARFIED Directors' Cup standings, finished second among Mountain West schools for the first time in school history and led all other CSU institutions. The Spartans finished 81st in the annual competition that awards points based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships.
Find Your Path Forward at SJSU
Choosing San José State University will propel your life and career forward. As a Spartan, you’ll cross any finish line ahead of you.
The Year in Giving
502
Corporations and foundations
donated to SJSU in 2024
$7,800,000
Given to support SJSU
318
Programs supported
4836
Scholarships awarded
$2250
Average scholarship amount awarded each semester
Corporations and foundations
donated to SJSU in 2024
Given to support SJSU
Programs supported
Scholarships awarded
Average scholarship amount awarded each semester
Silicon Valley is changing the world. Support the students who are changing Silicon Valley.
Early Childhood Education: The Ultimate Investment
Jim and Becky Morgan are dedicated supporters of the Connie L. Lurie College of Education’s early childhood education initiatives.
A Legacy of Learning: The Rauen Family’s Transformative Gift
The College of Health and Human Sciences at San José State received a transformative gift from the late Molly and Gene Rauen to support the creation of the cutting-edge Molly and Gene Rauen Nutrition Science Research Center, adding to the legacy they began with the Molly and Gene Rauen Endowment for the Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging Department, established in 2003.
All Together Now
Celebrated choir director, conductor and Professor Emerita of Music Charlene Archibeque believes music education empowers Spartans to discover new perspectives.
Read the Award-Winning SJSU Magazine
Washington Square serves as SJSU’s university and alumni magazine, sharing compelling and inspiring stories that embody the Spartan pride and resilience we all treasure. Check out this year's issues!
Images and videos courtesy of Robert C. Bain, Jim Gensheimer, Javier Duarte and SJSU Athletics
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