California State University, San Bernardino president Tomás D. Morales received the 29th Senate District Man of the Year award from state Sen. Eloise Gómez-Reyes at an evening event on Sept. 18 at the ThinkWise Credit Union in San Bernardino.

Morales said he was deeply honored and humbled to receive the recognition. “I’m grateful to my colleagues and community — and as always, my family — who have shaped and supported my journey.”

He defined leadership as being about “service, vision, building connections and communities and lifting others as we grow in our careers.” It also “includes the responsibility to inspire, invest in, and guide the next generation of students and professionals,” he said. He shared that those who served as his mentors inspired him to dedicate his life to giving back and keeping the door open for those who came after him.

“I believe fiercely in the power of higher education,” he said. “Because it has been the driving force behind my life’s achievements.”

He identified the elements in institutions of higher education that have made the nation’s colleges and universities “into one of this nation’s superpowers.” Those elements are: access; excellence in programming; and dedicated faculty, staff and administrators.

Morales emphasized that, to him, “higher education plays a critical role in transforming lives, building opportunity and shaping the future of our communities.” He said that it is by coming together that “we can build infrastructure and programs that collectively make us stronger and increase the impact of those efforts.”

He ended his remarks with these words: “I accept this honor with gratitude and hope it may encourage and empower others to lead.  There is always more work to be done.”