Page 12 - January 2026 Insider

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INSIDER January 2026

Page 12
SDSU Philanthropy Night
(October 20, 2025)

On a beautiful mid-October evening, San
Diego State University hosted its annual
Celebrating Philanthropy Dinner honoring donors
who have contributed more than $1 million to
the university—a group that proudly includes
ARCS San Diego. This year, marking our 40th
anniversary, ARCS has surpassed $3.5 million in
total contributions to SDSU—an extraordinary
milestone! Representing ARCS at the event
were Cathie Atkins (VP, University Relations),
Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins (President
Elect), Robin Luby (ARCS member and major
SDSU donor), and current SDSU ARCS Scholars
Robin Luby, Elizabeth Becker, Morgan Farrell, Elizabeth Becker and Morgan Farrell
Cathie Atkins
(2025–2026).

New Member Profile

Meera Venkatesh is a long-time resident of San Diego having
come from India in 1970. She retired three years ago after a
successful career at General Atomics and Fujitsu before that. She
is a strong supporter and passionate about women in STEM and
has mentored many female professionals in their careers. She

came to the US as an American Field Service exchange student in
1966 and has received a Bachelor Degree in Physics from India and
a Masters Degree in Computer Science from Loyola Marymount
in Los Angeles. She loves to be with family and friends and has
traveled extensively with her husband.