Fabian Morales Medina wears a Pacific polo to work every Wednesday. 

Morales (COP ’04) is an assistant high school principal in Silicon Valley. He hopes the Pacific shirt prompts students to ask about his alma mater—Why are you so committed to your school? What’s so special about it? 

Those same students will see the diploma proudly displayed in his office. Eventually, he’ll encourage them to visit Stockton during their college search.

Planting these seeds is one of many ways Morales gives back to Pacific. As president-elect of the Pacific Alumni Association, he spends many hours engaging fellow alumni in the life of the university, helping them connect with students and with each other.

He also supports students philanthropically: In 2022 he established the Fabian Morales Medina Endowed Scholarship, aimed at helping Latinx students complete their education. 

“Pacific has always been very generous to me,” he said. “It’s exciting to be able to give back to the place that gave me opportunities, to look to the future and to help other students.”  

Morales is vice principal for the Mountain View Los Altos High School District just north of San Jose. He grew up in nearby Gilroy and transferred to Pacific from a local community college, drawn to the university by its small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and the glowing reviews of two alumni cousins. His financial aid package also was a contributing factor.

“While it might have been more convenient to stay closer to home, Pacific came through with some great financial aid, and made a private school education much more accessible,” he said.

He earned a BA in social sciences, and after exploring social work, juvenile probation and classroom teaching, found his calling as a school counselor and later, as a school administrator. He earned master’s degrees and credentials from the University of San Francisco and Santa Clara University.  

Morales’ guiding philosophy as an educator is inspired by the Pacific faculty who uplifted him. He remembers one particularly impactful experience: A mistake on a final paper made him doubt his place in the classroom, but Dr. Robert Benedetti, a former College of the Pacific dean, stepped in to restore his confidence.

“To be seen, valued, acknowledged, and assured that I belonged—to me, that was so important,” he said. “And as an educator, that's my benchmark. My job is to make my students feel like Dr. Benedetti made me feel in that moment. 

“That’s what drives me to be part of the PAA,” he added. “Whether you’re well-resourced or not, there’s a space for you, an opportunity to be a member of a community.”  

Morales gives back to Pacific—as both a volunteer and a donor—so future students can experience that same sense of belonging. He looks forward to seeing the first Morales Scholarship awarded in 2027. 

He recently made an additional commitment supporting the renovation of Southwest Hall. Though he never lived on campus, the project was yet another opportunity to give back.

He encourages fellow alumni to be involved at Pacific, however they’re able, and emphasizes that recent graduates, too, have something to give.

“Engagement is huge. It’s reconnecting to something that brought you to Pacific, and then volunteering time, donating money, or just showing your support so that future generations have the space to exist here,” he said.  

Meanwhile, he continues wearing that polo shirt every Wednesday, proudly pointing students and their parents toward Pacific.

“Just knowing, as I’m making the recommendation, that somebody’s child is going to be well taken care of—because I’ve been there—is incredible. It reinforces why I’m so committed to Pacific,” he said.  

An endowed scholarship can be life-changing for Pacific students, while also offering tax benefits for you. To learn more, contact Molly Byrne, senior associate vice president for development, at 209.946.2780 or mbyrne1@pacific.edu.