From the Chancellor's Office to campuses across California, the California State University's Black and African American leaders are driving historic advances in student achievement, equity-centered policy and institutional transformation. Their collective impact is evident in rising graduation rates, pioneering student success programs, bold infrastructure investments and national recognition for educational leadership.
This Black History Month, we honor a few of the individuals whose dedication, innovation and advocacy continue to elevate the CSU—and the communities it serves—to new heights.
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Jack B. Clarke Jr.
Chair, CSU Board of Trustees
As chair of the CSU Board of Trustees, Jack B. Clarke Jr. leads the body that collectively establishes the regulations and policies that guide all CSU campuses, setting priorities for academic programs, student access, campus development and long‑term systemwide strategy.
A partner in Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo's Student Services and Disabilities Practice Group, Clarke handles matters concerning education law, special education disputes and public agency litigation. His contributions as an attorney and human and civil rights advocate have been celebrated by the Riverside County Bar Association and the NAACP, among others.
Clarke was the first African American to become an equity partner in the Litigation and Schools Departments of the Riverside office of Best Best & Krieger LLP—where he served with distinction on the firm's subcommittee on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion—and he was the first African American to chair the Board of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce.
Berenecea Johnson Eanes, Ph.D.
President, Cal State LA
Berenecea Johnson Eanes, an acclaimed scholar who has been widely published in the field of social work, became the first woman to serve as president of Cal State LA when she was appointed in September 2023.
Her appointment marked a return to the CSU for Eanes, who previously served as vice president for Student Affairs at Cal State Fullerton, earning the CSU's Wang Family Excellence Award in 2018 for achieving transformative results in this role.
Under her leadership, Cal State LA has worked to develop a comprehensive strategic enrollment plan that centers on historically marginalized Los Angeles communities and launched one of the largest in-person bachelor's degree programs in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, among other advancements.
Eanes has also served as president of York College, City University of New York, and as a faculty member and administrator at several institutions including Columbia University, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Morehouse College.
Mildred García, Ed.D.
CSU Chancellor
When Mildred García was appointed to serve as the CSU's chancellor in 2023, she became the first Afro-Latina to lead the CSU or, in fact,
any four‑year public higher education system nationwide.
As chancellor, García has led the development of a comprehensive systemwide strategic plan and student success framework, and launched a landmark initiative to become the nation's first and largest AI-empowered university system, among other achievements.
From 2018 until she was appointed as chancellor, García served as president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, where she was a strong and internationally renowned advocate for public higher education, working to influence federal policy and regulations on behalf of 350 member colleges and universities. She previously served as president of Cal State Fullerton, where she drove record graduation‑rate gains and tripled philanthropic commitments, and CSU Dominguez Hills, where she boosted retention and eliminated a $2.8 million deficit.
García has received numerous national honors recognizing her as a leader and a lifelong champion for equity and student success, including being appointed to several federal advisory boards. In September 2024, she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. And in February 2025, García was honored with the prestigious TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award for her outstanding leadership of the CSU and positive impact on higher education more broadly.
Vernon B. Harper Jr., Ph.D.
President, CSU Bakersfield
Before he became president of CSU Bakersfield, Vernon B. Harper Jr. served as CSUB's provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, and as interim president from December 2023 until his permanent appointment in September 2024. He also held a variety of senior leadership roles in academic administration at CSUB, West Chester University and Wilkes University.
During his time at CSUB, Harper has launched several initiatives that support increased access and student success, including the middle and high school pre-admit program, the Umoja Black Student Success Transfer Program in partnership with Bakersfield College, and CSUB's Black Students Success Center.
Harper also served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve and is the recipient of the U.S. Army Achievement Medal and the Martin Luther King Unity Award.
Dilcie D. Perez, Ed.D.
CSU Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success
With more than 23 years of experience in student affairs, Dilcie D. Perez leads the CSU Office of the Chancellor's division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success. In this role, Perez provides executive leadership over the areas of student success and inclusive excellence; strategic enrollment management; student affairs, equity and belonging; institutional research and analyses; and international education. She oversees systemwide initiatives to advance student success, close equity gaps, improve retention and increase graduation rates.
Prior to joining the Chancellor's Office, Perez served as vice president and assistant superintendent of Student Services for the Cerritos Community College District. She previously held leadership roles as dean of student life and judicial affairs at the MiraCosta Community College District, and as dean of students at Cal State San Marcos.
Perez is a double alumna of the CSU, having earned a bachelor's degree in political science from CSUSM and a doctorate in education from San Diego State. She also holds a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University.
Ronald S. Rochon, Ph.D.
President, Cal State Fullerton
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Ronald S. Rochon is a first-generation college graduate who has dedicated his decades-long career in higher education to advocating for educational excellence, student success, access and equity.
Since joining Cal State Fullerton as its president in 2024, Rochon has helped implement the university's Fullerton Forward Strategic Plan; strengthened its role as an anchor institution and intellectual, cultural and economic hub for Southern California; and led, with his team, the approval of a new $67.5 million Engineering and Computer Science Hub.
Prior to joining CSUF, Rochon served as the president of the University of Southern Indiana and held several leadership appointments at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Texas A&M University, Buffalo State College and Washington State University.
Tony K. Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Ex Officio CSU Trustee
Tony K. Thurmond is an educator and social worker who has served Californians for more than 15 years in elected office. Before being sworn in as the 28th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2019—the second African American to be elected to the role—Thurmond served on the Richmond City Council, the West Contra Costa Unified School Board, and in the California State Assembly representing District 15.
Growing up, Thurmond's family relied on public assistance programs and public schools to get out of poverty, and a public school education allowed him to attend Temple University where he became student body president. He went on to earn dual master's degrees in law and social policy and social work from Bryn Mawr College and began a career dedicated to service.
Over the course of Thurmond's tenure as superintendent, he has championed and created many historic initiatives on behalf of California's students, including securing money to implement the nation's first statewide universal meals program in 2022.
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Luke Wood, Ph.D.
President, Sacramento State
A former foster child and transracial adoptee, Luke Wood grew up in a large foster home that served more than 350 children—an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to educational equity. He is also a two-time alumnus of Sacramento State.
During his tenure as Sacramento State's president, the university has attained Research II status, achieved record-high graduation rates and welcomed the largest incoming classes in its history. Wood also launched pioneering initiatives including the nation's first Black Honors College and the Wileety Native American College.
Wood previously served as vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, and Chief Diversity Officer, at San Diego State. As a faculty member there, his groundbreaking research on student success and equity earned him the distinction of being the first Black Distinguished Professor in the university's 125-year history. Wood has also authored 16 books and more than 200 publications, and he has influenced state policy on foster youth and school discipline.
The leaders who oversee the CSU system are responsible for maintaining the institution's promise of access and quality to the students of California. Learn more about these individuals.