June 7, 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Dr. Stephen Weber, the retiring president at San Diego State University, has been selected as a recipient of the Dr. Albert C. Yates Distinguished Service Award. Named in honor of the former Colorado State University president, the award is bestowed upon an individual who has successfully supported, promoted and exemplified the ideals of the Mountain West or a member institution.
Weber is just the eighth individual to receive the award, joining Linda Estes, former New Mexico senior woman administrator; Elaine Michaelis, former Brigham Young head volleyball coach and women's athletics director; LaVell Edwards, former BYU head football coach; Rudy Davalos, former New Mexico athletics director; Dr. Larry Gerlach, former Utah faculty athletics representative; Marsha Smeltzer, former Colorado State senior woman administrator and Barbara Burke, former Wyoming deputy athletics director.
Weber was instrumental in the formation of the Mountain West in 1998, and has since helped cultivate and develop a strong athletic conference with universities that hold similar goals of athletic and academic excellence. In his 15 years at SDSU, Weber served on several conference and national boards, including the MW Board of Directors, NCAA Board of Directors, NCAA Executive Committee and NCAA Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues. In addition, he served on the Presidential Oversight Committee for the Bowl Championships Series.
During his tenure at SDSU, Weber provided visionary leadership on every front, from expansion of facilities to enhancing the academic and general well-being of the student-athlete. Under his guidance, the Aztec athletics department saw a 20 percent increase in female participation, an 84-spot jump in the Learfield Sports Director's Cup standings and a 27 percent decrease in the need for institutional financial support. Weber was also instrumental in securing gifts and raising over $67 million in funds for improving and building new athletics facilities, including the Fowler Athletics Center, Viejas Arena, Tony Gwynn Stadium, SDSU Softball Stadium, Aztec Tennis Center, Aztec Aquaplex and The Sports Deck. Revenues generated for athletics during Weber's appointment have increased by over 300 percent.
A native of Boston, Mass., Weber is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a B.A. in philosophy. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 1969 and is the author of numerous articles on philosophy and higher education.
Before coming to San Diego State University, President Weber served as interim provost of the State University of New York (SUNY); he previously served seven years as president of the SUNY Oswego campus. Prior to that, he was vice president of academic affairs at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, dean of arts and sciences at Fairfield University in Connecticut, and assistant to the president of the University of Maine. While a faculty member at the University of Maine, he was recognized as the outstanding professor in humanities.
President Weber and his wife, Susan Keim Weber, have two sons.