SDSU IV RISE Center gets established
The establishment of the SDSU Imperial Valley RISE (Research, Innovation, Student Engagement) Center has been approved by the SDSU Academic Deans Council.
The SDSU Imperial Valley RISE Center will serve as a hub dedicated to fostering innovative community and academic collaborations focused on creating a healthier Imperial County. The Center is the brainchild of its founders and Co-Leaders, Helina Hoyt, PhD, RN, PHN, SDSU Imperial Valley’s Coordinator of Nursing Programs, Beverly Carlson, PhD, RN, CNS,
CCRN-K, FAHA, SDSU School of Nursing Associate Professor & Graduate Advisor and Michael Gates, PhD, RN, SDSU School of Nursing Associate Director.
SDSU Imperial Valley Dean Gregorio Ponce approved $100,000 of seed money to support the work of the RISE Center.
“With the SDSU Imperial Valley RISE Center our goal is to build futures and save lives,” said Hoyt, who was appointed to be the RISE Center Director by Dean Ponce.
The three have long been engaged with the rural border community in facing the challenges related to persistent poverty and disproportionate health disparities. Many governmental, non-profit and community groups
are working to overcome specific health, socioeconomic, educational and environmental challenges facing the region.
The SDSU IV RISE center will add a coordinated community- academic effort developed around a clear vision, common goals and a common communications structure that can develop transformative, sustainable and cross- disciplinary solutions for the region.
“The RISE Center will connect community stakeholders with aca
demic researchers so they can collaborate and work together to facilitate data- driven change,” said Gates.
Added Carlson, “This really is a grassroots-driven process because community stakeholders know the issues of concern. The RISE Center brings academic research to the table.”
Student involvement is a key component of the SDSU Imperial Valley RISE Center.
“By engaging students in the work of the Center,” Hoyt said, “we will be training the leaders of the future who will keep the work alive.”
Carlson, Gates, and Hoyt will co- lead the three cores of the SDSU IV RISE Center. Carlson will lead the Research Core and Gates will lead the Innovation Core. Hoyt will lead the Student Engagement Core and serve as the Director.
The Center was recently featured in a video showcase of SDSU’s Big Idea projects that embody the university’s most innovative ideas from faculty-led research teams that also include students and community members. In all, 17 projects were highlighted. The SDSU Imperial Valley RISE Center video can be seen at https:// president.sdsu.edu/moving- forward/ big- ideas/ proposals/sdsu-rise-center.