On Saturday, Dec. 7, the San Francisco Bay University community celebrated the institution’s 40th year anniversary. In addition to over 120 guests gathering to commemorate both the achievements of the past and the exciting future ahead, the event honored Fremont Mayor Lily Mei. Mei received the inaugural Transformational Leadership Award in recognition of her contributions to innovation and positive change in Fremont.
“Her tireless advocacy for affordable housing and sustainable development has transformed how we grow, ensuring that Fremont remains a place where families and businesses alike can thrive,” President Nicholas Ladany said. “Her efforts in championing diversity, equity and inclusion have created a more welcoming and vibrant community. Through programs that celebrate our city’s multicultural heritage and initiatives that prioritize social justice, Mayor Mei has helped unite our residents in a shared vision for a brighter future.”
The campus was transformed into an international-focused festival as guests enjoyed live music, delicious food, a 360 photo booth, colorful decor and more. When faculty, staff, students and neighbors stepped into the building, they looked up to see lofty flag posts that showcased the numerous countries students come from.
Eight student groups led stations featuring family-friendly, fun activities and games from their countries. From henna and Chinese calligraphy to friendship bracelets and Lotería, guests experienced the opportunity to learn something new from the diverse, global community.
“One of the things I love most about SFBU is its longstanding multicultural identity,” said Lisa Laymon, SFBU’s operations coordinator and main organizer of the event. “Since we were inviting the public to help celebrate the 40th Anniversary, I felt that having guests engage with students who were willing to share something of their culture was the best way to give people a sense of the overall school culture.”
From top left and across to bottom right: Students playing Ludo at the table representing Ghana, students playing Carrom at the table representing Bangladesh, a guest receiving henna at the table representing India, a guest practicing calligraphy at the table representing China.
Along with the festivities, Provost Bradley Fuster led an engaging faculty panel that allowed guests to learn more about the Academic Affairs team. Meanwhile, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation Heather Herrera, paired up with Acting Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jamie Ceman to lead a presentation on “The SFBU Promise,” covering the six pillars that enable SFBU to prioritize the holistic growth of each student. Students also learned about the infinite capabilities of artificial intelligence in a hands-on workshop, and spoke to several Startup Scholars as they presented their transformative takeaways from the inaugural “How to Design Your Life” course from our general education curriculum.
To close the evening, President Ladany delivered inspiring remarks on the strength and unity that make SFBU so special, honoring the long-term staff and faculty who have contributed to the university’s 40 years of history.
“As we reflect on our journey, it’s clear that this celebration is about more than the passage of time. It’s about resilience, vision and the shared belief in the transformative power of education,” President Ladany said. “As we move this exciting next chapter of our story forward, we carry with us the relationships we’ve built and the excitement for what’s yet to come. Today is a celebration of the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.”
Left: Mayor Lily Mei preparing to receive the Transformational Leadership Award.
Right: President Nicholas Ladany addressing the audience.