'It's very gratifying': CSU Channel Islands renames building in honor of former president

Cytlalli Salgado, Ventura County Star
·2 min read
CSU Channel Islands renamed its University Hall to honor founding president Richard Rush.
CSU Channel Islands renamed its University Hall to honor founding president Richard Rush.

A CSU Channel Islands building will bear the name of former president Richard R. Rush for his guidance and contributions of more than a decade.

Rush retired in 2016 after 15 years as the university's top leader.

The building to be renamed, University Hall, serves primarily as a space for administrative functions, including the office of the president. The California State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously last week to change the building's name to Richard R. Rush Hall.

Rush served as president of the university in Camarillo starting in 2001. Its doors officially opened in 2002 and was the 23rd campus to open in the CSU system.

CSU Board Trustee Lillian Kimbell, from left, CSU Channel Islands President Richard Yao, CSU Channel Islands President Emeritus Richard Rush and CSU Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester stand together after a CSUCI building was named for Rush.
CSU Board Trustee Lillian Kimbell, from left, CSU Channel Islands President Richard Yao, CSU Channel Islands President Emeritus Richard Rush and CSU Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester stand together after a CSUCI building was named for Rush.

During his tenure, Rush's accomplishments included "establishing an array of public-private partners that helped garner nearly $49 million in contributions to support student scholarships," said Executive Vice Chancellor Steve Relyea in a video posted of the meeting.

Rush said Friday by phone that he sees himself and this achievement as a "representation of the students and faculty that helped build the campus from scratch."

“It's very gratifying,” he said of the name change.

For over a decade, Rush laid the groundwork starting with about 13 faculty members to expand their resources to launch new academic programs, renovate or build the spaces needed and to get the institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

"It's always a delight to visit campus," said Rush, now president emeritus. "They're wonderful people and a very committed staff to student success," he said of his colleagues.

Current President Richard Yao led the renaming effort in appreciation for the foundation Rush laid for the entire campus community.

CSU Channel Islands is a higher education institution with more than 7,000 students, 1,200 employees and 22,000 alumni.

The former University Hall, now named Richard R. Rush Hall, sits in the heart of the campus at CSU Channel Islands.
The former University Hall, now named Richard R. Rush Hall, sits in the heart of the campus at CSU Channel Islands.

Cytlalli Salgado is a breaking news reporter for the Ventura County Star. She can be reached by calling 805-437-0257 or emailing cytlalli.salgado@vcstar.com.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: CSU Channel Islands renames building for founding president Rush