![10_04_12_News_Shojai_AZ](https://www.thedailyaztec.com/content/uploads/10_04_12_News_Shojai_AZ-300x204.jpg)
San Diego State lost a member of its community on Sunday. Director of Disability Services Mary Shojai, 66, was found killed in her home in Santee.
SDSU will never forget her 37 years of service as a dedicated faculty member.
During Shojai’s time at SDSU, she secured multi-million dollars in federal and state grants that provided critical services for students with disabilities.
A colleague told SDSU NewsCenter that Shojai was a “transformational leader…(who) got things done.”
Shojai was recognized in 2011 with an SDSU Staff Diversity Award.
“She taught us that our campus belongs to our entire community, and the barriers to success—no matter how small—are everyone’s responsibility to address,” SDSU Chief Diversity Officer Aaron Bruce told SDSU NewsCenter. “She will clearly be missed by our entire campus community.” According to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department press release, officials found Shojai murdered inside her home after responding to a 911 call.
The suspect, 64-year-old Paul Tomasini was found inside Shojai’s home suffering from non-life threatening stab wounds.
Tomasini, an acquaintance of Shojai’s, was arrested on suspicion of murder and hospitalized under guard.
Authorities disclosed no suspected motive for the murder and no explanation of how Tomasini suffered his wounds.
According to the District Attorney’s office, his arraignment was scheduled for yesterday afternoon but has been postponed because of a jail medical hold.