CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Chapter
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program at CSUSB’s Palm Desert Campus (PDC) is one of only four Ford Fellows programs in the United States—and the only one of its kind in California.
This program at PDC is part of the Gerald R. Ford Leadership Forum founded in 2022 as an initiative of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. In addition to the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Chapter, there are three other chapters -- University of Michigan, Hope College (Michigan) and Middle Tennessee State University.
President Ford had two places he called home: Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Rancho Mirage, California. As noted by the Gerald R. Ford Leadership Forum, Grand Rapids and the Coachella Valley “are bounded together by [President Ford’s] legacy of hard work, public service, personal integrity, bipartisan cooperation and courageous action.” Due to President Ford’s affinity for the people and communities of the Coachella Valley, the Palm Desert Campus was selected in Spring 2025 to serve as the fourth chapter of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program.
Core Values of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program
Rooted in the values that guided the 38th President of the United States, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program is dedicated to developing virtue-anchored leadership among college students and educating them to be citizens that “understand and exercise the virtues necessary to sustain a constitutional republic.” (Our Vision, Gerald R. Ford Leadership Forum) Fellows are challenged to grow as ethical leaders who embody the core virtues that President Ford lived and governed by:
- Civic Engagement – building stronger communities through active participation
- Ethical Decision-Making – leading with honesty, integrity and accountability
- Bipartisan Cooperation – working across differences with respect and humility
What Fellows Will Experience
Students who choose to participate in this one-of-a-kind college experience will:
- Participate in leadership training workshops
- Contribute to public service projects in the Coachella Valley
- Receive training in civil dialogue and bipartisan cooperation
- Receive one-on-one mentorship from community leaders in the Coachella Valley
- Participate in a variety of learning opportunities via seminars, lectures and panel discussions at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus that focus on the core values of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program
- Gain hands-on experience interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, strengthening their ability to lead in a pluralistic society
Why It Matters
The Ford Fellows Program provides students with more than professional development—it offers an opportunity to grow as leaders of character. By connecting academic learning with civic responsibility, Fellows are prepared not only to succeed in their careers, but to serve as thoughtful, engaged citizens. They are preparing to become the next generation of leaders in the private and public sectors of life in the Coachella Valley, in California, in the United States and in the global community.
This program honors President Gerald R. Ford’s enduring legacy of decency, dialogue and democratic responsibility—and ensures that legacy continues to shape the next generation of leaders.
How Do PDC Students Become Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program is open to any major and student at any level of their education. To become a Ford Presidential Fellow, there is a two-step process. This process is driven by a Point System created by the Gerald R. Ford Leadership Forum.
Step One: Becoming a Member and a Fellow Candidate
Students interested in becoming a Ford Presidential Fellow will join the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Chapter of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program. This chapter will be a student organization registered with the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement at CSUSB. (The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program is currently going through the chartering process at CSUSB.) For those students interested in joining the program, they can contact Dr. Kevin E. Grisham (kgrisham@csusb.edu or 909-537-8276), faculty advisor for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program at PDC.
Upon joining the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program PDC Chapter, all members begin as Fellows Candidates. During their candidacy semester, students will need to accrue 10 points in three categories of participation.
Once students have accrued the 10 points as outlined, they will be transitioned to being a Ford Presidential Fellow.
See the table below for more information on the Points System:
| Participation Type | Missional Reasoning | Points Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Meeting Attendance | Pursuant to the mission of the Ford Fellows to build community, the Ford Fellows hold regular social meetings once per month. All members are expected to attend all social meetings and are required to communicate with the leadership team if attendance is not possible. | Each regular meeting attended during the course of a semester is worth: One (1) point Minimum three (3) points from this category required |
| Event Attendance | Pursuant to the mission of the Ford Fellows to develop skills, network, and navigate political differences, members are required to attend public-facing events hosted by or affiliated with the Ford Foundation. | Each event attended during the course of a semester is worth: One (1) point Minimum two (2) points from this category required |
| Service | Pursuant to the mission of the Ford Fellows to serve and engage deeply with the local community, members are required to perform community service activities. | Every one hour of recorded service during the course of a semester is worth: One (1) point Minimum two (2) points from this category required |
Step Two: Becoming a Ford Presidential Fellow and Maintaining That Status
Once a student has accrued 10 points in the three categories of participation, they become a Ford Presidential Fellow. To maintain that status, students need to accrue 7 points every semester to remain a Ford Presidential Fellow. Additionally, Ford Presidential Fellows are expected to network within the Ford Fellow community and also maintain the relationship with mentors assigned to them from the Coachella Valley community.
For more information about the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program, please contact Dr. Kevin E. Grisham, faculty advisor, at kgrisham@csusb.edu or 909-537-8276, or come see him at his office in the Indian Wells Center for Educational Excellence (IWC), Room 110.