Ray Watts has spent three decades advancing higher education with a focus on student success and community impact. A first-generation college graduate, Watts earned his degree with the help of a Cal Grant and private scholarships — an experience that shaped his commitment to creating opportunities for others.
Watts joined CSUSB in 2024 to oversee fundraising for the university and its foundation. He leads the Palm Desert Campus’s advancement team, directing philanthropic gifts toward projects such as the forthcoming Student Success Center. The first state-funded building on the Palm Desert Campus, the center will provide space for learning, advising, and collaboration.
Through his fundraising work, Watts supports the campus’ more than 2,000 students and programs, which align with regional workforce needs, including nursing, education, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, social work, and hospitality management. Applied learning — students practicing skills in local hospitals, schools, and luxury hospitality properties — encourages graduates to remain in the Coachella Valley, boosting social mobility and the local economy.
“We see philanthropy as a way to strengthen our community while giving students the tools to succeed,” Watts says. He encourages donors to invest in projects that directly impact students and the region, envisioning a future where the Palm Desert Campus is both a hub of higher learning and a catalyst for growth.
