Adela de la Torre

Dr. Adela de la Torre became the ninth president of San Diego State University in 2018, following a distinguished career of more than three decades as an accomplished economist, public-health researcher, and higher-education leader in California and Arizona.Under her leadership, SDSU has greatly improved the breadth and depth of academic programs and community assets across the university’s five campus locations in San Diego and Imperial Counties, and in 2024 she championed new state approval of independent doctoral programs at SDSU and other California State University campuses. De la Torre brought to SDSU a global perspective and a mission of building on the university’s unique leadership role in bridging the San Diego region’s and the world’s communities, launching a five-year strategic plan to grow the university’s research enterprise and global presence and impact. In 2025, SDSU furthered its ascendance as one of the nation’s leading research universities, reaching de la Torre’s strategic goal of earning “R1” classification as one of the top five percent of American universities for research activity.De la Torre’s student-centric strategy focuses on driving opportunity, access, and success for all students, which has led to unprecedented measures of achievement. Along with soaring graduation rates, SDSU has been recognized nationally for the career readiness and social mobility of its graduates. With a proud and active alumni network of more than half a million, along with deep ties to its regional community and business ecosystem, the university has grown external research funding by 65 percent in the last three years and received more than $650 million in philanthropic giving in the last five years.Today, SDSU consistently ranks among the top institutions in the nation for applications received and has set new records in national rankings and enrollment, now serving nearly 40,000 students each year. It has also reached new heights and broken records in athletic success, regional expansion, and economic and community impact. Notable achievements include the development of the mixed-use SDSU Mission Valley, featuring a new stadium, a 1.6-million-square-foot Innovation District, and 80 acres of open space. Additionally, in 2025, a new $80 million STEM facility at SDSU Imperial Valley is scheduled to open its doors to the region’s first STEM students, and construction is beginning on housing for 4,500 students across both San Diego and Imperial Counties.