Left to Right: Ron Werft and Dhruv Pandya received awards at the President's Dinner.
By Kim Lamb Gregory
CSU Channel Islands’ community partners and alumni are fundamental to the University’s ongoing success, with alumni serving as role models and community partners providing internships, mentorships and career opportunities for students.
To show the University’s appreciation, President Richard Yao recognized Cottage Health and Computer Science alumnus, Dhruv Pandya, at the annual President’s Dinner, held in September at the Commemorative Air Force SoCal Event Hangar in Camarillo.
The event, which was sponsored by the CSU Channel Islands Foundation and Premier America Credit Union, was themed “Soaring to New Heights.”
During an awards ceremony that followed a student research showcase and dinner, President Yao presented Pandya with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award and Cottage Health with the prestigious Robert J. Lagomarsino Award.
“Cottage Health’s dedication to fostering hands-on experiences and supporting our students, faculty, and academic programs has not only enriched many educational journeys but has also empowered our students to thrive and succeed in their professional endeavors," President Yao said.
Two hundred of 91Ƶ’s 1,225 graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing came through the partnership with Cottage Health, which is almost 20 years old.
“We are incredibly grateful to CSU Channel Islands for this recognition,” said Cottage Health President & CEO Ron Werft. “The nationwide shortage of registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees in particular, has been a persistent challenge — one that has become even more critical in today’s healthcare landscape. It takes strong partnerships to address this challenge, organizations working together to find new and better solutions.”
It’s been a remarkable journey for Pandya, who arrived on the 91Ƶ campus 10 years ago from his native India with his suitcase and $1,500 in his pocket.
After graduating in 2017 with a Master’s in Computer Science, Pandya went on to land a job in cybersecurity at J.D. Power and Associates after setting up shop in a local Starbucks with a sign on his laptop that read: “Looking for jobs in cybersecurity.”
It worked, and now Pandya is Director of Information Security at Wistia, as well as a volunteer for numerous nonprofits, an archer, CrossFit athlete, and published poet. Dhruv was honored with the "40 Under 40" upcoming leaders award in 2022 by the Pacific Coast Business Times.
“I was very humbled and excited to learn I was going to get this award,” Pandya said. “This University has just given me so much. To have a place like 91Ƶ means a lot for an immigrant who cannot go home easily.”
Pandya has given much in return to his new home. His nomination letter from Director of Career Development and Alumni Engagement Amanda Carpenter read, in part:
“Dhruv is a strong advocate for kindness and compassion, believing in the power of individual acts of kindness to make the world a better place.”