7 Things About Lou Murillo

Lou Murillo, San Diego State University's director of the Compact for Success, has beenimproving the program since 2007.

1. What inspired you to do this kind of work?

I was a teacher intern in the first class of the National Teacher Corps Program – one of the great society programs of the mid-1960’s and this is what inspired me to dedicate myself to work with diverse students.

2. How long have you worked at SDSU?

I started my job in February 2007 — over six years ago.

3. What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

“Do your best.” This is what my mom always told me.

I do recall that my high school basketball coach used to intimidate me and my teammates by threatening to show us where the bear went through the buckwheat. He was from southern Indiana so it must have been a regional saying. To this day I have no idea what he was talking about.

4. What is your favorite thing about your job?

I really like to work with SDSU students who continue to inspire me with their dedication to education, their dreams and their strong sense of giving back to the community. A close second is the fact that I get to work with different organizations whose mission it is to encourage students to go to college. This point of contact has led to collaboration with several non-profit organizations in the area and to also connect with the mariachi community in the region.

5. What about your field or position do you think would surprise people the most?

People might be surprised to know that SDSU may be one of the first universities in the nation to offer a guaranteed admission to students from a school district through Compact for Success.

Now in its 14th year, Compact for Success has become a national model of how to work with a school district to assure that their graduates are college ready. Since the inception of Compact for Success other universities have started similar programs in California and in other states. I believe this is quite a tribute to our success to see others implement what we have done improve the college going rates for a very diverse student population and our work with parents and the local community.

6. What is the most interesting or surprising thing about you?

That I come from immigrant Mexican parents who settled in northwest Indiana and that I only spoke Spanish when I started school. Because my mom enrolled me in a Polish Catholic school, I actually learned Polish before I learned English.

This experience, although curious to others, is not too surprising at all because this area of Indiana was a melting pot of ethnicities and races due to the vast employment opportunities made available through the steel mills, oil refineries and other manufacturing from the 1920’s through much of the 20th century.

7. If you could only rescue one thing from your burning office, what would it be?

I would save pictures of my family.

Bonus Questions

8. What is your favorite kind of music/what are your favorite bands?

You can't beat the sound of Motown. This music will endure forever. Marvin Gay, Aretha and The Temptations are just a few of my favorites.

9. Favorite sports team or athlete.

I’m a Chicago sport fan and love "da Bears." My favorite athlete is the late Walter “Sweetness” Payton.