Ruben Armiñana
Encyclopedia
Ruben Armiñana is a political scientist and president of Sonoma State University
. He is the first Cuban-American
to head a campus in the California State University
system.
and his father was a lawyer. In 1961 he fled Cuba and settled in Hillsboro, Texas
, with an aunt and uncle. As he describes it, he arrived as a refugee "with a change of underwear and a dime in my pocket." He earned an A.A. degree in economics and political science from Hill College and a B.A. degree in economics, political science and Spanish and an M.A. degree in Latin American economics and political science from the University of Texas at Austin
.
. From 1972 to 1978 he worked as administrative analyst and organizational development and training consultant for the City of New Orleans. He also worked as a part-time news anchor and reporter at WWL-TV
from 1973 to 1981, and continued as a television news consultant through 1988 for the only daily Spanish-language news program on Louisiana television. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of New Orleans
in 1983.
At Tulane University
he served as executive assistant to the senior vice president for operations from 1983 to 1985, director of the Institute for the Study of Change in the Americas from 1985 to 1988, and vice president/assistant to the president from 1985 to 1988. He also held a faculty appointment in international business and political science.
He worked in the private sector from 1978 to 1983 as vice president of Commerce International Corp., a New Orleans-based international trading company.
from 1988 to 1992, where he held a faculty appointment in political science.
Armiñana was appointed the sixth president of Sonoma State University in July 1992. He is a professor of political science and teaches periodically. During his term of office, the university has constructed the US$
45 million Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center (helped by a $5 million gift from Peanuts
cartoonist Charles M. Schulz
), completed a $29.5 million renovation of the Darwin Hall science building, built a $15 million student recreation center, added residence hall units that now house a total of 2,400 students on campus, completed the Environmental Technology Center that models "green building
" techniques, and began construction on the $120 million Green Music Center complex (initiated by a $10 million gift from telecommunications entrepreneur Donald Green), the centerpiece of which is a concert hall modeled after Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood
. In addition, the university acquired the 411 acres (1.7 km²) Fairfield Osborn Preserve
in 1997 from the Nature Conservancy
, and the 3500 acres (14.2 km²) Galbreath Wildlands Preserve
in 2004.
Academic programs initiated during Armiñana's presidency include B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering Science, a wine business concentration for B.A. and M.B.A. degrees, and a highly successful Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
. Sonoma State University was accepted as the California member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges
(COPLAC).
In 2005 Armiñana was named to the list of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business Magazine.
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
. He is the first Cuban-American
Cuban American
A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...
to head a campus in the California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
system.
Early life
Armiñana was born in CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and his father was a lawyer. In 1961 he fled Cuba and settled in Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County in Central Texas. The population was 8,232 at the 2000 census.Hillsboro, located on Interstate 35 where I-35E and I-35W meet south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the primary center for trade and commerce in Hill County...
, with an aunt and uncle. As he describes it, he arrived as a refugee "with a change of underwear and a dime in my pocket." He earned an A.A. degree in economics and political science from Hill College and a B.A. degree in economics, political science and Spanish and an M.A. degree in Latin American economics and political science from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.
Education and career in New Orleans
Armiñana moved to New Orleans in 1969, and worked for three years as director of operations and training for the Inter-American Center at Loyola University New OrleansLoyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
. From 1972 to 1978 he worked as administrative analyst and organizational development and training consultant for the City of New Orleans. He also worked as a part-time news anchor and reporter at WWL-TV
WWL-TV
WWL-TV, virtual channel 4, is the CBS-affiliated television station serving New Orleans, Louisiana, southeast Louisiana and parts of southern and coastal Mississippi, and is the primary CBS station for South and Coastal Mississippi. It broadcasts on UHF digital channel 36...
from 1973 to 1981, and continued as a television news consultant through 1988 for the only daily Spanish-language news program on Louisiana television. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
in 1983.
At Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
he served as executive assistant to the senior vice president for operations from 1983 to 1985, director of the Institute for the Study of Change in the Americas from 1985 to 1988, and vice president/assistant to the president from 1985 to 1988. He also held a faculty appointment in international business and political science.
He worked in the private sector from 1978 to 1983 as vice president of Commerce International Corp., a New Orleans-based international trading company.
Career in the California State University
In 1988 Armiñana moved to California to serve as vice president for finance and development at California State Polytechnic University, PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
from 1988 to 1992, where he held a faculty appointment in political science.
Armiñana was appointed the sixth president of Sonoma State University in July 1992. He is a professor of political science and teaches periodically. During his term of office, the university has constructed the US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
45 million Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center (helped by a $5 million gift from Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
cartoonist Charles M. Schulz
Charles M. Schulz
Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz was an American cartoonist, whose comic strip Peanuts proved one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium, and is still widely reprinted on a daily basis.-Early life and education:Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Schulz grew up in Saint Paul...
), completed a $29.5 million renovation of the Darwin Hall science building, built a $15 million student recreation center, added residence hall units that now house a total of 2,400 students on campus, completed the Environmental Technology Center that models "green building
Green building
Green building refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition...
" techniques, and began construction on the $120 million Green Music Center complex (initiated by a $10 million gift from telecommunications entrepreneur Donald Green), the centerpiece of which is a concert hall modeled after Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
. In addition, the university acquired the 411 acres (1.7 km²) Fairfield Osborn Preserve
Fairfield Osborn Preserve
The Fairfield Osborn Preserve is a 411 acre nature reserve situated on the northwest flank of Sonoma Mountain in Sonoma County, California. There are eight plant communities within the property, oak woodland being the dominant type...
in 1997 from the Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
, and the 3500 acres (14.2 km²) Galbreath Wildlands Preserve
Galbreath Wildlands Preserve
The Galbreath Wildlands Preserve is a nature reserve in Mendocino County, California established in 2004 in honor of Fred Burckhalter Galbreath . Professionally, Galbreath made his mark in the marine insurance business in San Francisco and spent decades working with some of the biggest names in...
in 2004.
Academic programs initiated during Armiñana's presidency include B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering Science, a wine business concentration for B.A. and M.B.A. degrees, and a highly successful Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes
Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes offer noncredit courses with no assignments or grades to “seasoned” adults over age 50. Since 2001 philanthropist Bernard Osher has made grants from his foundation to launch OLLI programs at over 120 universities and colleges in 49 states and the District of...
. Sonoma State University was accepted as the California member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges
Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges
The Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges or COPLAC is a consortium of 26 public colleges and universities in 24 states and one Canadian province...
(COPLAC).
In 2005 Armiñana was named to the list of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business Magazine.