Denise Ducheny Honored
SDSUs Ambassadors for Higher Education gave this years Public Service Award to the former California state senator and assembly member.
For years, she worked on behalf of San Diegans and those in the Imperial Valley. She frequently collaborated with President Stephen L. Weber to address critical challenges facing SDSU.
Honoring Denise Ducheny
On Monday, the SDSU Ambassadors for Higher Education (AHE) honored Denise Ducheny, former California state senator and assembly member, with its annual Public Service Award.
“It’s been good to have a solid partner here to work on issues together, both here and in Imperial Valley,” Ducheny said in accepting her award during the event held at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center.
Ducheny served as a state senator from 2002-2010, representing south San Diego County, parts of Riverside County and all of Imperial County. From 1994-2000, she served as a member of the California state assembly, chairing the Assembly Budget Committee from 1997-2000.
Jeff Marston, event emcee, AHE chairman and SDSU alumnus, noted that “there's a big hole up there without (Ducheny).” Ducheny and Marston have known each other for a number of years.
Key player
President Weber praised Ducheny’s willingness to work with the university, noting “Denise has always been a player.”
According to Weber, Ducheny played a key role in helping the California State University system and SDSU obtain approval to grant independent doctoral degrees in education, nursing and physical therapy. She also supported and helped grow the university’s Imperial Valley campus, located in her former state senate district.
While Ducheny no longer serves in state government, she’s still working with SDSU.
“Every day, in one way or another, I’m hooked up with something at this institution,” she said, noting a project she’s working on with Paul Ganster, director of the SDSU Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias and associate director of the SDSU Office of International Programs.
About the Ambassadors for Higher Education
The Ambassadors for Higher Education (AHE) play a leading role in promoting higher education issues on behalf of the California State University system (CSU), and specifically, San Diego State University.
