Mark Arabo has a history of documented lies and a checkered past — but that won’t stop San Diego State University from awarding him an honorary doctorate degree next month.
Arabo came to prominence locally advocating for other Iraqi Christrians a decade ago. He was a major political player, supporting several local candidates, and he counts the governor and former President Joe Biden as close associates.
Arabo’s fortunes began to turn because of how he ran the Neighborhood Market Association, an industry group representing corner stores and other industries in San Diego. The group ran into trouble over multiple political donations and eventually Arabo was forced out of the group’s leadership. A judge said he used the nonprofit association like “his own personal bank account” and ordered him to pay back $248,000.
Yet next month, SDSU will give him one of its highest honors. The Board of Trustees of the California State University system — rather than individual universities — makes decisions about who will receive honorary degrees.
Jack McGrory is a trustee for the CSU system. McGrory said he had never heard of Arabo when the nomination came before the board.
“There was a weakness in the system. All the information was not discussed with the trustees. We’re going to have to fix that in the future. We’re going to have to change the process so that when recommendations are made it’s with the full knowledge of the issues that could come up,” he said.
McGrory also said San Diego State shouldn’t take any blame for the honorary degree.
“This was not a recommendation that came out of San Diego State, so I would not want them to get tagged with any issue here,” he said.
But exactly how SDSU did or did not take part in the process is unclear.
When I asked CSU officials about the process, they pointed me toward a webpage that explained how it is supposed to work.
“A campus president and the chancellor will consult when a trustee submits a nomination for conferral at the president’s campus. The president will advise the chancellor of any concerns,” the page reads.
I asked SDSU officials whether President Adela de la Torre had conferred with the CSU chancellor over the honorary degree.
They did not answer my question.
The CSU Board of Trustees “selects and confers honorary degrees,” wrote La Monica Everett-Haynes, a university spokesperson, in an email. “Universities are asked to recognize honorary degree recipients selected by trustees during commencement ceremonies, and we will do so next month.”
Arabo’s image, as a passionate and articulate advocate for Christian refugees, began to crack after a series of stories by Voice of San Diego.
In 2015, Arabo was at the height of his advocacy. The Islamic State was capturing massive swaths of territory across Iraq, after U.S. troops pulled out of the country. Arabo had been advocating for the United States and other countries to resettle Christians, who faced serious danger from the group.
Arabo also credited himself for Obama ordering airstrikes on the Islamic State. He said that during a meeting at the White House he pressed national security advisers to bomb the Islamic State — and then it happened.
Arabo said he felt “an everyday American” could “really do real change.”
But there was a catch. Four other people at the White House meeting said Arabo — nor anyone else in the group — ever mentioned air strikes.
That wasn’t the only time Arabo’s honesty has been in question.
While Arabo was working for the Neighborhood Market Association, the group committed multiple campaign finance violations and was fined $14,000.
Arabo told investigators for a city Ethics Commission that his group was not involved with a political committee that opposed banning alcohol on San Diego beaches. Documentary evidence, however, showed that the group clearly was involved.
Arabo then told a Voice reporter the city’s Ethics Commission had not interviewed him but notes from the investigators showed clearly he had.
The biggest blow to Arabo’s reputation came in 2017.
A group of members of the Neighborhood Market Association sued Arabo for receiving improper payments from the group. A judge agreed that Arabo had received improper payments and ordered him to pay back $248,000 to the organization, related to a real estate deal and credit card reimbursements.
The judge, Richard E.L. Strauss, said he was astounded by the number of lies he heard in the case.
“This is one of the most unusual cases I’ve had in my 22 years on the bench,” Strauss said. “I’ve never heard so much fiction under oath. It’s really unbelievable. I don’t even know where to start.”
Strauss accused Arabo of blatantly lying about his own handwriting and then backtracking when he was about to be caught in the lie.
In a brief phone conversation, a representative for the Neighborhood Market Association said Arabo is no longer involved in the organization.
Arabo currently serves on the board of the organization which oversees the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the 22nd District Agricultural Association. A spokesperson for the district did not respond to a request for comment from Arabo for this story.
Arabo is set to receive his honorary doctorate on May 17 at the Fowler College of Business commencement ceremony.
The question is: Who nominated him and what was the basis for the nomination? Surely there must be some process.
Agreed. Specifically who nominated him. He continues to donote to campaigns for local office within SD County.
The Voice of San Diego used to be a trustable platform before Will Huntsberry, money hungry and will report on any story possible. At this point is this even a nonprofit? Arabo earned his spot and Will thinks he’s the IRS or something. He needs to learn his place.