Each camping and hiking trip that Fran Colwell took with his family as a kid in Arizona fueled his passion for the environment. And when the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, he knew that he wanted to pursue a career in public service where he could protect it for future generations.
“That led to an exciting, challenging and rewarding 40-year career as a professional forester managing our nation’s public lands,” said Colwell, who was employed by the U.S. Forest Service at duty stations across the West. During his career, he also served as director of the Big Bear Discovery Center and manager of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains National Monument.
After retiring in 2012 as the public services staff officer for the San Bernardino National Forest, Colwell found his next outdoor adventure in the Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton.
In addition to logging several thousand volunteer hours in the 26-acre botanical garden, Colwell and his wife, Sandy Koizumi, have committed more than $1 million in total gifts to the university. This includes a $900,000 planned estate gift that will help fund the arboretum’s world-class living collection, student scholarships, horticultural and conservation research, and community engagement activities.
“Sandy and I are enthusiastic about student success and climate change-related programs, projects and research,” said Colwell, who was recognized with a 2024 Vision & Visionaries Award for his willingness to go above and beyond for the Titan community.
“Giving back to Cal State Fullerton is a way to engage and stay involved in the world. Our family’s blended support includes volunteering, annual financial support and a legacy bequest. It is deeply gratifying for us to help strengthen the institution and support education.”
For nearly a decade, the couple’s gifts have contributed to the arboretum’s development as a center for community, conservation and hands-on research in Orange County. With their support, the Arboretum and Botanical Garden at CSUF completed the construction of its new Friends Terrace and launched a Strategic Initiatives Fund to help execute the garden’s future strategic and landscape management plans.
“Fran does so much for the arboretum, from pulling weeds and raking pathways to leading tours, developing plans and documents that help tell our story, mentoring student interns, and providing strategic financial support,” said Greg Pongetti, living collections curator for the arboretum.
The couple’s donations also helped launch the Engaging Environmental Experiences internship program, where students develop leadership and team management skills while they learn horticultural practices and general ecological principles.
During their internship, students work alongside arboretum staff, volunteers and experts to solve pressing environmental issues and conduct research on such topics as climate change, plant conservation and horticulture.
Colwell noted that the Engaging Environmental Experiences internship program provides him with an opportunity to share his knowledge with aspiring environmental leaders.
“The students I’ve mentored in the program have all been bright, spirited scholars with a desire to learn more about society’s impact on our planet,” said Colwell. “I’ve been so fortunate to have opportunities to make a difference in the world and this is a rewarding way for me to pay it forward to the next generation of conservation leaders.”
Colwell is also a member of the CSUF Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, where he serves on the board of trustees and chairs the Development and Philanthropy Committee.
“What stands out to me about Cal State Fullerton is the positive energy that I feel when arriving on this campus, which is reflected in the university’s commitment to intergenerational learning.”