Austin-Dillon is passionate about working with students from underrepresented backgrounds. As Sonoma State’s first DEI manager, he creates opportunities to celebrate culture, heritage and identity. He manages university-wide programs and initiatives, assists colleagues and gathers information related to campus climate, equity in policy making and overall advocacy for the most marginalized student, staff and faculty populations. During his 10 years on campus, he founded and coordinated Black Student Housing (Visionaries, Inspiring, Black, Educated, Scholars); coordinated the Male Success Initiative and serves on the Seawolf Commitment Values committee and SSU Strategic Vision Planning teams. As a first-generation student himself, he’s focused on creating opportunities for those struggling against societal barriers to success. This past year, he was awarded North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award. “The greatest thing about being under 40 is you feel invincible! You network, volunteer, create new initiatives, support your family and friends and advocate for change. You are motivated to fix the world’s problems,” Austin-Dillon says.