Stanislaus State Storylines, Aug. 26, 2026

Turlock, CA (08/26/2026) — Here's what's happening at Stanislaus State that might interest your readers or viewers. Stan State has experts available to discuss all topics mentioned in this edition of our media tip sheet. High-resolution images are available upon request.

University News

A $293,250 investment from the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation will support Stanislaus State's training of community health workers serving eight California counties, including San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced. The three-year partnership will help community health workers connect residents with behavioral health resources and expand awareness of available services. The effort comes as state projections show every California county faces a shortage of behavioral health professionals, with the San Joaquin Valley expected to experience some of the most severe workforce gaps.

President Britt Rios-Ellis highlighted several developments during her Fall 2026 Welcome Address, including the University's 2026-2031 Strategic Plan, a 48 percent increase in competitive grant funding and expanded short-term study abroad opportunities in Mexico. She also announced that Stan State is a finalist for the Seal of Excelencia and provided an update on the University's exploration of a new academic site in Tracy, which external partners have offered more than $100 million in donations to support. This fall also marks the third consecutive year Stan State has welcomed more new Warriors than the year before.

Stanislaus State has been included in The Princeton Review's annual Best Colleges guide for the 21st consecutive year, extending more than two decades of national recognition. The 2027 edition profiles 392 colleges - about 14 percent of the nation's nearly 2,800 four-year institutions. In surveys used for the guide, Stan State students highlighted the University's value, supportive environment, interactive and experiential learning and connections with faculty that prepare them to enter the workforce.

Stanislaus State Associate Professor of Psychology Esteban Montenegro is working to make advanced statistical methods more accessible to students. One of 11 California State University STEM-NET Faculty Fellows selected for 2026-27, Montenegro plans to develop interactive instructional materials on Bayesian inference and create resources combining statistical reasoning with R and Python programming, skills he says are increasingly important as AI and large language models become more widely used.

Stanislaus State's summer included new programs, partnerships and achievements with ties to education, workforce development and the region. Computer science students presented the Virtual Turlock platform to the Turlock City Council; a new VALLE pilot program helped incoming students and families navigate the transition to college; and 24 Stanislaus County high school students participated in the University's inaugural biotechnology workshop among other highlights.

California State University, Stanislaus

Stanislaus State Storylines, Aug. 26, 2026

University News

Stanislaus State, Anthem Blue Cross Foundation Partner to Expand Community Health Worker Training

President Britt Rios-Ellis Celebrates Momentum and Charts Stan State's Future at Fall 2026 Welcome Address

Stanislaus State Earns Its 21st Consecutive Appearance in The Princeton Review's Annual 'Best Colleges of 2027'

Associate Professor of Psychology Esteban Montenegro Selected as 2026-27 STEM-NET Faculty Fellow

Stan State's Summer of Impact

Coming Up at Stan State

California State University, Stanislaus

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