Cal State Fullerton’s Vision & Visionaries awards recognize those who go above and beyond for the Titan community.
Established in 1994, the awards are the highest honors that the university bestows on alumni and community supporters. This year, four Titan alumni and two honorary alumni received the award for their dedication to student achievement, professional accolades and support of Cal State Fullerton.
This year’s honorees are:
Laura Archuleta ’86, ’91 (B.A. criminal justice, M.P.A.)
Titan alumna Laura Archuleta serves as the president and CEO of Jamboree Housing Corp., a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and resources to working families, seniors, veterans, formerly homeless and those with special needs.
With a passion for creating healthier communities, Archuleta spearheaded an in-house resident services group at Jamboree Housing Corp. that fosters learning, healthy living and community building for residents. An active member of such organizations as the California Building Industry Association and the United Way Orange County Leadership Council, Archuleta also stays connected to her alma mater, serving on the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors.
Watch this video to learn more about Archuleta.
Scott Coler ’85 (B.A. business administration-finance and management information systems)
With over 35 years of experience in the residential building industry, Scott Coler is the president and owner of Capital Pacific Real Estate Inc. Throughout his time with the company, he served as president of the Las Vegas division and led the growth and expansion of the company’s Southern California operations.
Coler brings his expertise to Cal State Fullerton’s Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors and chairs its Finance and Investment Committee. A graduate of the College of Business and Economics, Coler has continued to support the university as a donor and volunteer. He holds positions as a board member for the Center for Real Estate, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, and mentors students in the Executive in Residence program.
Watch this video to learn more about Coler.
Jose Lara ’02 (B.A. business administration-management)
Jose Lara got his start as a student in CSUF’s College of Business and Economics. Today, he is the president of SchoolsFirst Credit Union, where leads the service and operational divisions, overseeing such areas as information technology, strategic initiatives, lending and member experience.
Passionate about service, he’s lent his expertise to a number of community organizations, including Comunidad Latina Federal Credit Union, CU4Kids CHOC Advisory Committee and the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation. Along with his wife, Priscilla, Lara also advances student success through his support of CSUF’s Guardian Scholars Program, which provides current and former foster youth with career development, academic coaching, educational resources and network connections to help them reach their goals.
Watch this video to learn more about Lara.
Pamela Schweitzer ’82 (B.A. biological science)
During her 30-year service in public health, Rear Admiral Pamela Schweitzer was the assistant U.S. surgeon general and the first woman to serve as chief pharmacist officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. In her role as chief pharmacist officer, Schweitzer led more than 1,300 pharmacy officers within the Office of the Surgeon General and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Schweitzer is a member of the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors and a graduate from CSUF’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Passionate about public health, she and her husband, Paul, established the RADM Pamela and Mr. Paul Schweitzer Undergraduate Research Endowed Fellowship, which supports biological science students who are pursuing careers in public health or are conducting health-related research.
Watch this video to learn more about Schweitzer.
Francis Colwell
With over 40 years of experience in conservation, Francis Colwell retired as director of public services for the San Bernardino National Forest. Throughout his career, Colwell worked in wildfire, timber, resource and recreation management all over the West, employed by such organizations as the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Southern California, and the Big Bear Discovery Center.
In his retirement, Colwell has stayed connected to the outdoors in the Fullerton Arboretum, where he has logged several thousand volunteer hours. His gift helped create and sustain the Engaging Environmental Experiences Internship Program, which gives students the opportunity to develop leadership and team management skills while they learn horticultural practices and general ecological principles. He also is a member of CSUF Music Associates and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Watch this video to learn more about Colwell.
Margaret Faulwell Gordon
From 1998 through her retirement in 2012, Margaret Faulwell Gordon served as dean of the College of Extended and International Education and an anthropology professor at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
She was married to CSUF President Emeritus Milton Gordon and served as first lady to Cal State Fullerton during his 21-year tenure. The Gordon family has made several gifts to the university, supporting the MAMM Alliance for the Performing Arts, Music Associates, Art Alliance, Guardian Scholars, President’s Scholars, and the African American Faculty and Staff Association. To honor her husband’s legacy, she established the President Milton A. Gordon and Dr. Margaret Faulwell Gordon Endowed Scholarship, which recognizes students who have demonstrated academic excellence, dedication to community service and financial need.
Watch this video to learn more about Gordon.