Here’s a look at notable news and activities at California State University, Turlock.

A schedule of Stan State events can be found on the University Events calendar. View Online: http://csustan.meritpages.com/news/Stanislaus-State-Storylines-Dec-2-2025/56226

Techno-Pop Party

The Stanislaus State Department of Theatre brings the Broadway favorite “Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” to the Central Valley with an immersive Mainstage Theatre premiere opening Dec. 3 and running through Dec. 7. The fully sung-through musical by composer Dave Malloy, inspired by Leo Tolstoy, features 22 students and a 10-person orchestra of students, alumni and Central Valley professionals on a 360-degree diamond-shaped stage with a “techno-pop party” vibe.

Business Forecast

The Central Valley faces rising recession risk due to tariffs, slowing job growth and mounting financial stress, according to the Fall 2025 San Joaquin Valley Business Forecast led by the Foster Farms Endowed Chair in Business Economics Gokce Soydemir at Stanislaus State. The forecast finds a 50 percent recession probability and projects Valley unemployment climbing above 10 percent in early 2026, but notes that Federal Reserve rate cuts starting late 2025 will have limited impact until the second half of 2026. Soydemir’s econometric model points to 2027 as the first realistic window for regional stabilization in housing, wages and community banking trends.

Counselor of the Year

Before school counselors were common, Diego Castro felt their absence firsthand, a gap that shaped his calling to education. Now named the 2026 California School Counselor of the Year, the Stanislaus State graduate from Delhi leads a student-centered counseling transformation from his hometown classrooms to a districtwide mission. His work reflects his core belief that guided support, adaptable systems and community trust help students and families blossom.