Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis: Growing the Stockton Campus

Photos by Jas Khaira, Stanislaus State Photographer

Passing out paletas, or popsicles, to students on the Turlock campus, Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis interacts with a diverse and active student body at California State University, Stanislaus. Her Paletas with the President event is one of many happenings on the lively campus; tables of student-led organizations promote their academic and social causes, families take photos to celebrate a quinceañera with the beautiful campus grounds for a backdrop, and students trek to their next class passing through the quad. As the 13th president of Stanislaus State, Dr. Rios-Ellis knows the university is not only a beacon of transformation but serves as the corazón, or heart, of the community, cultivating careers and education while elevating and accentuating the positives of the San Joaquin Valley. Her efforts extend across both Turlock and the growing

Stockton campus, nestled in California’s fastest-growing urban county. There, Stan State is launching a visionary Health Sciences and Human Services Education Hub, a much-needed initiative designed to address workforce shortages and expand culturally relevant care for Valley families. Only a year into her presidency, she collaborated with students, faculty, staff and alumni as well as community partners to elevate a university whose national rankings by the Wall Street Journal College Pulse America’s Best Colleges 2025—second in the country for social mobility and ninth among public universities—reflect a commitment to accessibility, support and transformation. As a bilingual and bicultural education and public health leader rooted in service, Dr. Rios-Ellis brings her extensive background to elevate this diverse community, one paleta, one partnership at time.

Background
From the start, Dr. Rios-Ellis knew she wanted to make a significant impact, and that route would come through a career in higher education. Born in San Francisco, she moved to Portland, Oregon, with her family at the age of two. At the University of Oregon, she earned bachelor’s degrees in both Spanish and political science. During a study abroad experience in 1982 at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, Dr. Rios-Ellis fell in love with the Mexican culture and the great people she met. It was here her Spanish grew more fluent,and her interest in Latino issues blossomed. After two years abroad in Australia and Japan, she returned to Oregon to finish her undergraduate studies, going on to earn a master of science and a doctorate in community health.

After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., and for the next two years would work on Hispanic health issues while teaching at the University of Maryland. In 1992, an opportunity at California State University, Long Beach drew her back to her California roots. There, she spent the next 20 years teaching, conducting research and developing opportunities for Hispanic and Latino health education and leadership. “I wrote and led the grants that facilitated Cal State Long Beach becoming a Hispanic-serving institution,” she said proudly, seeing those efforts help establish the Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training and the community-based Centro Salud es Cultura. Her passions continued to gravitate to higher education leadership, roles in which her work could have greater impact. For the next six years she served as the founding dean of Cal State Monterey Bay’s College of Health Sciences and Human Services, where she co-founded its Master of Science Physician Assistant program, the first of its kind in the CSU system. In 2020, days after she and her family lost their home and belongings in the Carmel fire, she made a leap of faith and accepted a position as provost at Oakland University outside of Detroit, Michigan. She served in the position for three years before returning to California where she accepted her current role as president at Stanislaus State. “I’m back and I’m loving it. I often hear the words ‘valley tough’ and to those words I like to add, ‘valley kind,’ because everyone my husband, Enrique, and I have met has been overwhelmingly warm and helpful.”

Dr. Rios-Ellis views her presidency at Stan State not merely as the next step in her career, but as a chance to advance her life’s work, creating strategic teams, championing student success, building equitable access and highlighting the assets of underserved communities while transforming every place she serves for the better.

Central Valley Praiseworthy
Dr. Rios-Ellis’ vast education and experiences have certainly shaped her ability to uplift the university, and she shares this credit with the diverse community of faculty, staff, alumni and volunteers who wrap their support around Stan State’s student body. “What has become crystal clear is that when Stan State thrives, so does the Central Valley,” Dr. Rios-Ellis affirmed.

While Dr. Rios-Ellis promotes some of the great accolades the university has achieved, often sharing a bookmark listing impressive rankings from across the country, including being the 24th-best university in the nation, she also shares her belief in the value of higher education. “When someone comes to Stan State, they are likely to earn enough within seven months of graduation to recoup the cost of their education,” remarked Dr. Rios-Ellis. “This is a tremendous return on investment. Our students will thrive and soar to new heights. And that’s what we want them to do.” With the support of local businesses and agencies, many Stan State graduates are actively filling positions within the community and elevating their social mobility with clear purpose and direction – and without educational debt.

Shared Values
And there’s still more work to do. While the campus is known for its strong nursing, teaching and psychology programs, Dr. Rios-Ellis envisions new programs in the near future. She willingly listens to the community to make those expanded opportunities a reality. “Everyone here has a voice, and every voice matters,” she said. “We will move forward together. Stan State is a catalyst for opportunity; through strategic partnerships, we can create pathways that will serve our students and our region.”
Part of this vision is the university’s continued impact in Stockton and San Joaquin County. With construction of the Stockton campus’s new academic building nearing completion and as the only public four-year degree option in San Joaquin County, Stan State is further solidifying its presence as a dynamic and accessible hub for education and community engagement.

Dr. Rios-Ellis’ commitment to the Valley can be summed up in her two strongest values: integrity and legacy. She believes that when you work with integrity, truth will come forth in all that you do. She also acknowledges that real legacy does not solely depend on her efforts, but collaborative work within the campuses and broader communities. “If you lead well, it’s less about you. What matters more is what you build and leave behind 10 years, 20 years, 30 years down the line. It should be about a leader bringing others along with them to create an opportunity that is transformative.”

She welcomes everyone to be a part of the great things taking place at Stan State and appreciates those who can bring their ingenuity and knowledge to help make the university and community successful. “Together, we have the talent, the vision and the heart,” Dr. Rios-Ellis said. “I have no doubt that when we work hard collectively, we’ll achieve great things for Stan State and the entire Central Valley.”