This year, San Diego State University celebrates the 120th anniversary of its founding as a teacher training school. Now a top public research university, SDSU is an economic driver of San Diego, a source of the region's workforce and a community of faculty, staff and students committed to serving the city. San Diego State University marks its 120th anniversary this year with campus events, a dedicated website and a series of
feature stories in SDSU NewsCenter about the university’s shared history with the San Diego region.
The stories published this semester recount
the beginnings of SDSU as the San Diego Normal School; review faculty and student
research throughout the decades; and profile some of the donors whose
gifts have supported the university’s growth.
120 Years of Leadership is the tagline for the 120-day celebration, which kicked off Aug. 25. On that day, new SDSU students took part in Templo del Sol and the ceremonial “Hello Walk” through the arches of Hepner Hall—a walk that symbolizes the beginning of their journey as Aztecs for Life.
Additional planned events include a lecture in November by anthropology professor and unofficial SDSU historian
Seth Mallios about the university’s long and distinguished history, guided tours of campus and an SDSU community photo shoot. SDSU also
“wrapped” an MTS trolley with an invitation to San Diegans to join the celebration.
Visit the
120 Years of Leadership website to learn more, read responses from alumni and friends and share a memory of your favorite moment in SDSU’s history.