Fowler Alumna Builds 40-Year Career Serving SDSU’s Research Community
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When it came time for Michèle Goetz (’86, finance/ ’92, MBA) to begin her college search, she had three criteria in mind: She wanted to study business; she wanted to stay in California; and she needed a school that was affordable.
Goetz ultimately chose to attend San Diego State University based on those specifications and the outstanding reputation and rankings of what is now SDSU’s Fowler College of Business.
Once Goetz arrived on campus, she never left. Forty years later, Goetz leads the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) as the organization's associate vice president and CEO where she plays a significant role in the university’s growing research culture.
Her amazing career path started with a simple classroom announcement during her sophomore year: One of Goetz’s professors mentioned that the Salk Institute for Biological Studies was looking for a finance major to work as a student assistant in their research administration department.
“Research administration requires financial, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills while supporting researchers who are doing impactful work that benefits our communities,” said Goetz. “I thought it would be the perfect job fit for me.”
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After graduating, Goetz applied for a position as a grants specialist at the SDSURF, which is one of five auxiliary organizations at the university. Goetz was offered the position shortly after completing her degree in 1986 and she credits her SDSU education for giving her the skills necessary for the job.
“Being an SDSU alumna was definitely a plus when I applied for that job,” she said. “My finance education gave me the technical knowledge needed to plan to manage budgets, understand accounting processes, and to work within the myriad of regulations that come with state and federal funding.”
Now that SDSU has attained R1 research status, Goetz enjoys serving the university’s researchers even more. And she continues to draw on the lessons learned as a finance major, as well as the leadership skills she developed as an SDSU MBA candidate while she oversees SDSURF’s operations, finances, sponsored research services and human resources.
Though she has completed her formal schooling, Goetz says the most rewarding part of her career is her on-the-job education. “I am able to learn something new every day and I work with an amazing team who are committed to supporting SDSU,” she said. “Whether it is research, scholarship, creative activities or community service, SDSU faculty are engaged in interesting and innovative work that I’m proud to support.”
