A year ago, the Grandstaff family from Northern California was busy touring college campuses. This fall, their son, Alex, began his academic journey at Cal State Fullerton.
A first-year music major, Alex was excited to join CSUF’s well-established jazz program led by notable faculty like Bill Cunliffe, Grammy Award-winning pianist and professor of music, and Rodolfo Zuniga, drummer, composer and associate professor of music.
The university’s close proximity to Disneyland was another deciding factor for Alex, who aspires to write and arrange music for The Walt Disney Co.
“We visited different universities with music programs, and Fullerton had exactly what he was looking for,” said Kyle, Alex’s father.
The Grandstaffs, who are part of the university’s Titan Parent and Family Association, were among 5,000 invited guests at this year’s Fall in Love With Cal State Fullerton open house.
The event was an opportunity for the family to visit their eldest son while introducing their three younger sons to a college campus. Their sons, Johnny, 13, Benji, 8, and Tommy, 5, expressed early interests in geology, baseball and firefighting.
Kyle shared that the experience of sending their firstborn away to college has been reassuring. “I’m 100% comfortable,” he said. “He loves living in the dorm. It’s a safe community and he’s made fast friends — friends that I think will last a lifetime.”
This year’s Fall in Love With Cal State Fullerton event, coordinated by Outreach, Recruitment and Orientation, featured presentations by the university’s eight academic colleges and a vibrant lineup of student performances.
“For many students and their families, visiting a college campus is the moment when they decide where to spend the next two to four years,” said Vince Cardenas, assistant director and events lead for Outreach, Recruitment and Orientation. “This event offers an incredible opportunity to experience our campus. Our community is ready to answer questions, showcase our programs and share the Titan spirit that makes Cal State Fullerton feel like home.”
Gabriela Nuñez, associate dean of student relations for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, kicked off a presentation highlighting the college’s more than 20 departments and academic programs.
“We want to be part of honing your passions into your future careers and experiences in higher education,” said Nuñez. “Our professors and dedicated academic advisers prepare graduates for a variety of careers. Some are teachers, lawyers, therapists, data analysts, program managers, criminal investigators and nonprofit executives, just to name a few. Not only does our curriculum prepare students to enter fulfilled careers, but our programs shape future leaders.”