Gift Endows Leadership Center
SDSU held a ceremony to name the Jeffrey W. Glazer Center for Leadership and Service.
Glazer, a long-time supporter of leadership programs at San Diego State University, has endowed the formerly named Center for Leadership and Community Service and its programs for students across campus.
He was joined by SDSU President Elliot Hirshman and Vice President for Student Affairs Eric Rivera, along with a group of student leaders today for the naming of the Jeffrey W. Glazer Center for Leadership and Service.
“Jeff’s incredible generosity will enable us to support, enhance, transform and sustain our center and provide ongoing support of students and leadership initiatives for years to come,” Rivera said.
Glazer, who taught in the College of Business Administration, served on the boards of the SDSU Alumni Association and the Campanile Foundation. He hopes his gift will lead to greater collaboration among SDSU’s academic and cocurricular departments to provide additional leadership opportunities for students.
A variety of opportunities
The Glazer Center, located in the southwest corner of the second floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, offers students a variety of leadership and service opportunities.
They range from training workshops, to community service activities, to full-day leadership seminars such as the annual SDSU Leadership Summit that took place February 21. More than 500 students attended the summit.
In addition to a variety of programming, the center also offers students the opportunity to earn a Leadership Certificate through completion of trainings, workshops, community service projects and reflective exercises. Nearly 600 students have completed the certificate program or are in the process of completion.
Glazer’s gift has been a factor in the university’s plans to offer an academic minor in leadership. Students enrolled in the interdisciplinary minor will take courses in leadership development, most of which are specific to their major. The courses will enhance the students’ professional resumes as they prepare for careers after graduation.
Long-standing commitment
Glazer’s involvement with the leadership center dates back to 1987 when he first connected with an advisory board for the center through the SDSU Alumni Association.
“To this day, the vision for the leadership center is the same,” Glazer said. “It’s the same vision I’ve always had and it has never changed, only the execution has changed.”
Randy Timm, director of Student Life & Leadership, the department in which the Glazer Center is housed, said Glazer’s support of the center for more than 25 years has guided it to its current successful status.
“See those books over there?” Timm said, pointing to shelves filled with leadership titles. “Those books, and so much more of this center are because of Jeff Glazer and his dedication to leadership education for students.”
In addition to encouraging more connection between alumni and students through leadership and service programs, Glazer hopes his gift will enable SDSU to provide more coordinated leadership opportunities for students.
“The more opportunities we have for students to do things, the more the students will learn,” Glazer said. “Being a leader requires a lot of work, but it also requires passion. Helping students find what they are passionate about and develop their leadership skills builds great leaders for our future.”
