The Perfect Opportunity to Give Back

“You see the future, and how bright and driven they are and seeing that makes you want to help those students achieve their dreams.”

San Diego State University alumna Chiloh Baty (’08) remembers attending her first basketball game in 2011 at Viejas Arena. It had been her first time back on campus since graduating three years prior. She recalls the roar of the crowd, the energy flowing through the building and a victory for the Aztecs.

“Being in the arena and feeling pride for the university, I wanted to feel that joy all the time,” said Baty. “From there, I couldn’t get enough.”
The experience led Baty to reconnect with the university by becoming a lifetime member, eventually joining the SDSU Alumni Board of Advisors — where she now serves as president — and volunteering at various campus events where she frequently interacted with students and marveled at their drive to succeed and willingness to help other students. 

Her interactions with students led her to continue supporting SDSU students through financial gifts through SDSU Alumni’s crowdfunding platform, culminating in a $1 million planned gift of her estate to create the Cultural Identity Centers Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will provide support for students who are participating members of any of the SDSU Cultural Centers in the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity.

The opportunity to provide financial need-based support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and the opportunity to contribute a gift in alignment with the university’s strategic plan resonated with Baty. 

“As things in the world change, understanding the university’s strategic plan and where SDSU was focusing a lot of energy, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give back.”

Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in research, teaching and in community engagement is at the forefront of the university’s new five-year strategic plan, "We Rise We Defy: Transcending Borders, Transforming Lives."

“I’m hoping it allows for a leveling of the playing field to the point where the playing field no longer needs to be leveled. I know it's not going to happen overnight, but if it’s a small step in the right direction, that’s my intention.”

Wanting students to succeed

When Baty was a student at SDSU, she worked full-time at a law office. As a result, she was admittedly not on campus much except for attending primarily night classes. 

“When I took my first public administration course, it was the only one of the classes I needed that wasn’t offered at night. It was then when I got to be on campus during the day that I felt the energy. Being a part of that energy two days per week was pretty amazing. You just felt it.”

Now in her sixth year on the SDSU Alumni Board of Advisors, Baty relishes in the opportunities to volunteer on campus to this day, notably Aztec Proud, and hopes to inspire other young alumni to reconnect with the campus. 

“Being on campus and interacting with the students just makes you want them to succeed. You see the future, and how bright and driven they are and seeing that makes you want to help those students achieve their dreams.”