Alumnus Michael McCabe Gives Back to School of Public Affairs

McCabe graduated from the School of Public Affairs in 1974 and is now working to support future graduates.

by Aleah Jarin

March 23, 2021

San Diego State University alum Michael McCabe graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the School of Public Affairs’ public administration program in 1974. After graduating, he earned his master’s degree through the School of Public Affairs’ city planning graduate program.

Now retired and living in the city of Chula Vista with his wife Lily, McCabe continues to show his Aztec pride by giving back to his alma mater.

McCabe committed $25,000 of his estate plans to support the McCabe Family Fund within the School of Public Affairs in October 2019. This gift is intended to support the greatest needs of the school’s city planning program.

City planning has always been McCabe’s passion, and was “the career that [he] always had an aptitude or orientation towards.”

After being employed for 35 years as an urban planner for several public agencies, McCabe retired in 2013. McCabe has also been a member of the American Planning Association and American Institute of Certified Planning (AICP) since 1979.

When McCabe was a student at SDSU, he was impacted by the support he received from the school so he wanted to pay it forward.

“SDSU has contributed a great deal to my life experience and my continued professional development throughout the years. Both my undergraduate and master’s degrees that I completed in the School of Public Affairs have prepared me to pursue a successful career in urban planning in several different locations within California,” McCabe said.

“In recognition of the part that my SDSU experience and studies have played in my life, I want to give something back that is meaningful and lasting to my Alma Mater.”

McCabe says he hopes this gift will support and enhance SDSU’s master in city planning program as a whole and help contribute to scholarships. This contribution supports SDSU’s strategic plan and its key priority, “Students at Our Core” which states, “SDSU commits to a future where all students are able to achieve their greatest potential.”

McCabe has also made the effort to become acquainted with the Director of the School of Public Affairs, Dr. Sherry Ryan, to stay connected with the school further.

“I just think it’s good to have a connection with my past development,” McCabe said. “I think this [gift] will benefit graduates who will follow in the same profession as me and do some good for the [School of Public Affairs’] future.”

For more information on how to support public affairs students through gifts and donations, visit the School of Public Affairs website. Learn more about university relations, development, and philanthropy at give.sdsu.edu.

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.

More PSFA Stories