SDSU Mission Valley River Park
Fiscal Year 2024-2025
Dear Donor,
This past fscal year, SDSU Mission Valley continued to garner design accolades and attract the San Diego community as a vibrant open-space destination—made possible in no small part by the generous support of donors like you.
Your contributions help ensure that the park and open space at SDSU Mission Valley remain a lasting resource for our community, ofering the people of San Diego meaningful experiences and lasting memories.
The park has thrived, evolving into a lively stage for a wide variety of events, including Aztec Football and Holiday Bowl tailgating, Associated Students rugby and ultimate frisbee tournaments, and dozens of community and youth recreational activities.
Thanks to your generosity, this dynamic site has become more than just open space—it is now an extension of SDSU’s mission to serve, engage, and inspire. From community gathering areas to spaces designed for future research and innovation, every corner of the park refects a community coming together to create something enduring.
Gina Jacobs Associate Vice President for SDSU Mission Valley Development
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward
Supporting Public Art Planning at SDSU Mission Valley
Thanks to philanthropy, SDSU was able to make a meaningful investment in the cultural and visual landscape of SDSU Mission Valley.
Under the direction of President Adela de la Torre, resources from the SDSU Annual Fund for Excellence—which empowers university leadership to respond strategically to emerging opportunities— were used to help hire a public art consultant, an essential frst step in developing a comprehensive Public Art Master Plan for SDSU Mission Valley. This plan will guide the integration of art throughout the site, helping ensure that SDSU Mission Valley becomes a place of inspiration, refection, and community connection.
Your support made this possible. Thank you for fueling excellence, creativity, and lasting impact at SDSU.
A photo of one of the more iconic murals at Snapdragon Stadium
Thriving in the Aztec Experience
Ashleigh Edwards, Class of 2025 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: School of Journalism and Media Studies Major: Journalism
Ashleigh Edwards joined the SDSU Mission Valley team in the Fall of 2024 as a student assistant while pursuing her degree in journalism with a focus on digital media and strategic communication. Her expertise and initiative have been instrumental in shaping our social media presence— particularly in building a consistent brand voice and identifying key stakeholders.
In addition to her strong skills in digital storytelling, Ashleigh excels in visual branding, caption writing, and cross-platform campaign development. Her attention to detail and creative approach to messaging have elevated the quality and reach of our social content.
Ashleigh’s ability to align visual and written elements with strategic objectives has resulted in a cohesive and compelling online presence for SDSU Mission Valley.
“Ashleigh’s creative storytelling and strategic vision have transformed our social media, building a consistent brand voice and elevating the impact of SDSU Mission Valley’s digital presence.
Celebrating Shared Success
Statistics of Interest
The park’s impact has been recognized beyond campus, as featured in Landscape Architect and Specifer News in an article titled “The Transformational Power of Open Space,” and was honored by the California Park and Recreation Society with a Creating Community Award of Excellence.
The SDSU Mission Valley river park has quickly become a vibrant destination for San Diegans of all ages. In just the past year, it has hosted:
The Holiday Bowl and Aztec Football tailgates that brought thousands together in spirited celebrations.
Associated Students rugby and ultimate frisbee tournaments that energized the rec felds with student life.
A youth soccer tournament in partnership with San Diego FC, along with 53 individual coaching sessions that nurtured the next generation of athletes.
A community seed swap that fostered sustainability and connection through gardening.
Community gatherings, including 16 birthday parties, 14 private lawn rentals, and two basketball games that turned the open space into unforgettable memories.
Recent Highlights
The river park is home to MAKE Farm, a half-acre urban farm operated by MAKE Projects, a nonproft that equips participants with essential job skills while supplying fresh produce through a community-supported agriculture program. In partnership with the San Diego Bird Alliance, MAKE Projects also hosts MAKE Farm Camp, an immersive, hands-on experience where kids build friendships, connect with nature, and learn through play.
Groundbreaking took place this summer on a mixed-use residential building developed by AvalonBay, featuring 621 apartments and 30,000 square feet of leasable retail space, including a grocery store.
SDSU is also entering into a memorandum of understanding with the San Diego Community College District to strengthen pathways from local community colleges to SDSU by developing a shared academic building that includes lab space for both institutions.
Thriving
SDSU Mission Valley River Park is a vibrant community hub, hosting sports, celebrations, and events that foster connection, wellness, and sustainability for people of all ages.
George Youssef, Ph.D.
Title: Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Principal Investigator of Experimental Mechanics Laboratory College: College of Engineering
Achievement: SDSU Mission Valley’s Innovation District will serve as a hub for applied research and entrepreneurship.
"At SDSU’s Experimental Mechanics Lab, we push the boundaries of science and engineering while training future leaders," shared Dr. George Youssef. "Our work includes developing advanced protective padding, printable medical implants, and materials for energy harvesting."
A key initiative of the lab is the Advanced Manufacturing Hub—a public-private partnership supported by the Ofce of Naval Research and others. It features a robotic platform for additive manufacturing and 3D printing of biomedical implants. Dr. Youssef and student researchers aim to expand its capabilities across a range of material systems and technologies.
SDSU’s Experimental Mechanics Lab is pioneering advanced materials and biomedical 3D printing, driving innovation through research, entrepreneurship, and public-private collaboration.
