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Positioning Sacramento State as a National Brand
Name recognition is more than institutional pride—it is a vehicle for communicating who Sacramento State is, what we value, and whom we serve. A stronger national profile expands access to prospective students, philanthropic partners, and policy audiences. This presidential imperative intersects with multiple strategic plan imperatives, including learning and student success, dedicated community involvement, and justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as the university's identity and reputation are inseparable from the communities it serves and the values it embodies.
Dedicated Community Involvement
Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging
Academic Distinction
Sacramento State’s academic achievements are powerful drivers in helping us become a national brand. Our university continues to earn recognition for the quality of our programs, faculty, and student success, demonstrating that Sacramento State is not only a destination for opportunity but also a leader in academic excellence.
A prime example is Sacramento State’s Master of Arts program in Communication Studies, which earned the prestigious Outstanding Master's Degree Program Award from the National Communication Association (NCA), one of the highest honors in the discipline. This national recognition highlights the program’s innovation, rigor, and impact on the field. Our reputation is further enhanced by distinguished faculty such as Kathy Kasic, whose Emmy Award-winning documentary, The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice, exemplifies the caliber of expertise found throughout Sacramento State.
Additionally, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing unanimously approved Sacramento State’s Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) Teaching Credential Program, whose first cohort began Summer of 2025. This program fills a vital need for qualified DHH educators, and serves as the only DHH teaching credential program in Northern California. Together, these accomplishments and many others showcase Sacramento State’s ability to produce nationally recognized scholarship, teaching, creative work, and student excellence—key elements in building a recognizable and enduring national brand.
Alumni Engagement
One of our strategic action items for this presidential imperative is establishing a five-year initiative for alumni engagement that prioritizes internships, mentorship, giving, and participation in campus events. Our world-class Sacramento State Alumni Association creates lifelong connections between the university and its graduates by fostering active engagement and transforming alumni into ambassadors, mentors, and advocates. Strong alumni engagement helps expand our influence across industries and regions, and works to strengthen our visibility, credibility, and recognition.
Athletic Programs
Sacramento State’s athletics department is a cornerstone of President Wood’s imperative to establish the university as a national brand. Our student athletes are among our best university ambassadors, as they exemplify important life skills including time management, resilience, discipline, and teamwork.
Through partnership with UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, Sacramento State launched the Combat Sports and Martial Arts University (Combat U). This public-private partnership between Sacramento State and Faber's Ultimate Fitness Club is designed to give students who are interested in combat sports a pathway to a first-rate education. Through Combat U, Sacramento State is building upon its culture of intensity, pride, and competitiveness, elevating Hornet programs and increasing the university’s visibility on the national stage.
Adding to this momentum is the transition of Hornet Football into the Mid-American Conference, a move that expands Sacramento State’s exposure to new regional rivalries and national media markets. Coupled with plans for a new state-of-the-art stadium, these investments position Sacramento State to host premier athletic events and deliver a top-tier fan and student-athlete experience.
Downtown Capital Campus
Located in the heart of California’s government and economic center, Sacramento State's downtown economic development initiative positions us squarely at the intersection of policy, public service, and industry—creating a highly visible platform for academic programs, partnerships, and innovation that extend far beyond the main campus.
The downtown capital campus will strengthen the university's presence in one of the most influential civic corridors in the country, allowing us to more directly engage with state agencies, private sector leaders, and nonprofit organizations. This proximity amplifies opportunities for collaboration, leadership, and student engagement, while showcasing Sacramento State as a model for how public universities can drive regional development.
Sacramento State Downtown Economic Development Project
