[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING CSUCI PRESIDENT DR. RICHARD RUSH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JULIA BROWNLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2016

  Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize 
Dr. Richard R. Rush, a remarkable visionary and extraordinary leader in 
our community. Dr. Rush has served as the inaugural President of 
California State University Channel Islands for the past 15 years, and 
has dedicated himself to higher education as both an educator and 
administrator for over 40 years. As the founding President of 
California State University Channel Islands, Dr. Rush played a vital 
role in the growth and development of Ventura County's first four-year 
public university.
   Since his first day as President, Dr. Rush has sought to ensure that 
the students of California State University Channel Islands receive a 
world-class college education. Dr. Rush developed programs that have 
positively shaped the identity and commitment of the university to 
students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Thanks to his outreach to 
underserved students in the community, California State University 
Channel Islands earned the federal designation of a Hispanic-Serving 
Institution.
   Furthermore, a cornerstone of Dr. Rush's time at California State 
University Channel Islands has been building meaningful and significant 
partnerships throughout the community. From forging relationships with 
Cottage Hospital, which led to the expansion of the nursing program, to 
developing a cooperative agreement with the Channel Islands National 
Park, which began the establishment of the Santa Rosa Island Research 
Station, Dr. Rush has been a strong leader in creating local working 
partnerships that will continue on as his legacy. Acting as a 
collaborative relationship builder, he sought partnerships with 
businesses in the community to ensure a strong curriculum and create 
greater learning opportunities for students.
   Dr. Rush exemplifies true visionary leadership and is a treasure to 
our community. Throughout his lifetime dedication to higher education, 
Dr. Rush has been recognized with accolades regionally and nationally, 
including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators' 
President's Award, the California State Student Association's President 
of the Year Award, and the Distinguished Community Leader Award from 
the Ventura County Leadership Academy.
   I graciously applaud Dr. Rush for his dedication to California State 
University Channel Islands, and to Ventura County as a whole. It has 
been my great honor to work with Dr. Rush throughout the years. The 
legacy Dr. Rush has built extends past the university and well into the 
roots of our community. I thank him for being instrumental in creating 
an institution of higher education in Ventura County that will educate 
generations to come.

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