|  | | 6/7/2023 12:01 PM |  Thropay, Janessa | 6/7/2023 | 6/7/2023 10:10 AM | In honor of Pride Month, learn about the many ways universities across the CSU system are celebrating the LGBTQIA community. | Diversity | Story | While June is Pride Month, students, faculty and staff across the CSU celebrate Pride year-round. From OUTober to GAYpril to LGBTQ+ History Month, see the many ways our universities are recognizing the valuable contributions of the CSU's LGBTQIA community:
- During commencement season, many universities hold affinity graduation ceremonies for various groups, in addition to the larger campus-wide ceremonies. Lavender graduation events honor students who are part of the LGBTQIA community in a fun and inclusive environment.
Photo courtesy of Cal State San Bernardino
- Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year is the CSU San Marcos Pride Center, which will invite campus community members to walk together for the San Diego Pride Parade for the 15th year. (The Pride Center also offered a lineup of events throughout April In celebration of gAyPRIL.)
- For the first time, Sonoma State had a contingent march in the Sonoma County Pride Parade, celebrating the theme, "United Through Diversity."
- Cal Poly Pomona's Pride Center hosted events throughout April and May to promote awareness and equality for the LGBTQIA community, including a prom-like Pride Formal, training for allies to support LGBTQIA students and staff, and a talk presented by CPP sociology professor Anthony Ocampo about his latest book, "Brown and Gay in LA."
- In May, the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Pride Center hosted a queer history exhibition, curated by Cal Poly student assistant Jessica Steward, and in June, the Cal Poly Gender Equity Center hosted its first Queers in Careers panel to help soon-to-be grads navigate career barriers as they begin their post-college lives.
- In April, Cal State Long Beach celebrated its Trans Week of Joy, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and engage in learning experiences in support of transgender and nonbinary students and employees.
- CSU Channel Islands celebrated its PrideFest in March with art, music, dancing, food and a drag show.
- In October, CSU Bakersfield held several events to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month and OUTober, from a Pride flag-raising ceremony to a volleyball game, as well as dance, yoga and cycling classes. Cal State San Bernardino's Queer and Transgender Resource Center hosted several community-building events, including workshops and recreational activities. Additionally, Cal State Fullerton's LGBT Queer Resource Center celebrated 10 Years of Pride with art, music and the curation of a time capsule.
Photo courtesy of CSU San Marcos
Student Belonging
Each CSU campus offers dedicated resources, often standalone centers, to provide support, community and foster a sense of belonging for students who identify as LGBTQIA:
- San Diego State's Pride Center has a LGBTQIA peer mentorship program, called Pride House, in which upperclassmen are paired with newer undergrads to help them become successful and engaged members of the SDSU community.
- Campus Pride centers and similar affinity groups help students find community and build a support network while they navigate their academic careers at the CSU. A Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student recently shared her own experience in a digital artifact that won second place in the inaugural Cal State CREATE student competition. In her digital piece, How I Found Belonging at Cal Poly as a Queer Woman of Color, the student explored her personal identity and shared how working with Cal Poly's Student Diversity & Belonging collective empowered her to find her own voice and help build community for other students.
Photo courtesy of Cal State Fullerton
CSU Community Pride
Alumni and faculty across the CSU continue to serve as champions for Pride and diversity. Here are just a few ways they are making an impact: - Chico State nursing alumnus Jonathan Gurrola is creating the change he wants to see in LGBTQIA patient care. As a clinician at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, Gurrola established the first-of-its-kind LGBTQ+, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming patient care guidelines, and helped coordinate a patients' rights policy for the hospital's LGBTQIA patients. With his work, all seven Sharp Healthcare hospitals received a perfect score of 100 from the 2022 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), an LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool developed by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
- CSU Dominguez Hills chemistry lecturer Barbara Belmont was named in 2022 a LGBTQ+ Trailblazer by Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the publication of the American Chemical Society. The award recognizes her excellence in teaching, as well as activism with Out to Innovate, a professional society dedicated to LGBTQIA visibility in the sciences, as well as mentoring and scholarships for students.
- Chico State alumna Sarah Weiss launched the e-commerce apparel business 'Queer Gear' to offer inclusive and empowering clothing for the LGBTQIA community. "Queer Gear is about representation and awareness, and to allow people to be uniquely, proudly, and unapologetically themselves," Weiss told Chico State Today in April.
- CSU San Marcos alumnus Nathan Serrato founded a wellness and life coaching venture, Queer Conscious, dedicated to supporting the LGBTQIA community. "Not only do we create the environment for people to create authentic connections, but also for them to really look inside of themselves and heal any of the societal or cultural shame that is still present within them," Serrato told CSUSM NewsCenter in September.
- San Francisco State alumnus Juan Acosta was one of 30 youth advocates invited to Washington, D.C., in 2022 for a national forum on young Americans' mental health. Their goal was to improve representation, get organizations to uplift diverse communities and voices, and make mental health resources more accessible.
- A team of Cal State LA faculty members were awarded in 2022 a $100,000 grant from the American Council of Learned Societies to support the continued development of an interdisciplinary LGBTQ digital storytelling map. The arqive is a free interactive, global online map of user-generated LGBTQ stories, history, current events and community resources.
- Cal State Fullerton professor Eric Gonzaba and his research team continue to capture important LGBTQIA historical data as part of the Mapping the Gay Guides project. Since 2020, Gonzaba and his team have been plotting thousands of businesses and bars that were listed in several decade's worth of Damron's gay travel guides.
Take a look back at the CSU's 30 Days of Pride month-long celebration and Portraits of Pride.
Photo courtesy of CSU Bakersfield
| | | Cal State Celebrates Pride | | | | 6/8/2023 10:00 AM | Ruble, Alisia | 6/6/2023 | 6/6/2023 9:20 AM | Independent professional Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree will support advanced careers in community health. | Degrees | Story | The California State University will soon offer Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degrees, educating a new generation of highly skilled and diverse professionals to address California’s—and the nation’s—vital community public health needs. Senate Bill 684, signed into law in September 2022, grants authority to the CSU to offer independent DrPH programs. In January 2023, the CSU Board of Trustees voted to amend the California Title 5 education code outlining the DrPH degree and admission requirements. And in March 2023, trustees approved four CSUs to move forward with plans to develop and offer a DrPH program on their campuses in the coming years. The DrPH is an advanced professional degree that prepares individuals for leadership roles in community public health across a variety of settings, such as health departments, communications, health advocacy, community organizations, marketing and others. The Council of Education for Public Health is the accrediting body for the DrPH degree. Nationally, there is a significant shortage of trained DrPH-level public health professionals. This need became more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. In California as well, there is a shortage of advanced trained public health professionals, especially those who are ethnically and racially diverse. “As a greater realization of disparities in public health continues to emerge, the popularity of health degree programs, such as the Master of Public Health, and now the Doctor of Public Health, will continue to grow,” said Brent M. Foster, Ph.D., assistant vice chancellor and state university dean of CSU Academic Programs. “As the nation's largest and most diverse four-year university system, the CSU is uniquely positioned to prepare California’s workforce for professional, advanced careers in health care.” The Doctor of Public Health represents the latest addition to the CSU’s independent professional doctoral degree offerings, with their unique focus on workforce placement and social and economic mobility. Existing CSU doctoral programs include the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Audiology (AuD) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). The CSU currently awards more than 600 doctoral degrees each year in these disciplines. Since 2005, the CSU has sought legislative authority to offer independent professional doctoral degrees in areas where there is an identified workforce or accreditation/licensure need that may not be fulfilled through existing educational opportunities in California. In addition to offering select independent professional doctoral degrees, the CSU is authorized by California Education Code to offer joint doctoral programs with other accredited California universities.
| | | New CSU Doctoral Program will Train Leaders for Critical Public Health Workforce | | | | 6/5/2023 1:27 PM | Ruble, Alisia | 6/5/2023 | 6/5/2023 9:00 AM | The 37th annual CSU Student Research Competition showcased student-centered research, scholarship and creative pursuits. | Research | Story |
Unlocking Doors to Exciting New Ideas The 37th annual CSU Student Research Competition showcased student-centered research, scholarship and creative pursuits.
Julian Hernandez
Campus: Sacramento State
Major/Program: Engineering and Computer Science, Senior
Project: Searching for Litter with Computer Vision
Americans have greater access to ways to recycle than ever before, but it can be confusing when there are multiple bins to choose from.
Sacramento State senior Julian Hernandez is on a mission to reduce litter by educating the public on the different types of materials trash items are made of and in which bin they belong. "Our program uses computer vision artificial intelligence technology on a smartphone to take a picture of the trash and tell you whether it's meant for the landfill, recycling or compost," Hernandez says. "I'm hopeful it will help people understand the problems behind not sorting their recyclables and help them make an actionable difference." Hernandez helped create a mobile app with fellow computer science majors Christopher Allen, Santiago Bermudez, Bryan Burch, Travis Hammond, Jeffrey de Jesus, Kenta Miyahara and Daniel Smugly under the direction of faculty mentor Clark Fitzgerald, an assistant professor in Sacramento State's department of mathematics and statistics.
He and his team worked with the city of Sacramento's Public Works department to educate themselves on the possible items people may dispose of and build a database for the program. The team's aha moment came when one member, Hammond, discovered they could use zero-shot object detection, which requires no visual training data, to avoid having to collect 10,000-plus photos for the app to work. The app is currently live at Sacramento State and Fitzgerald and his students will begin work in the fall to develop a similar identification tool that will affix to a trash can, using funding from the university's Office of Sustainability.
Hernandez credits Fitzgerald and the McNair Scholars program for giving him a platform to not only perform research but to practice presenting his findings, and to educate people on sustainability.
“A lot of my research is focused on how to build technology that helps clean up the amount of litter that's spread in the environment and increase the amount that's recycled," Hernandez says. “The project I did before this was all about creating maps of where litter is so we can install trash cans in the highest-need areas." Hernandez graduated from Sacramento State in May with a bachelor's degree in engineering and computer science and will begin a master's program at UC Berkeley in the fall to study sustainable transportation engineering.
Jaedyn Rollins
Campus: San José State
Major/Program: Systems Physiology, First-Year Graduate
Project: Utilization of the RhD Locus as a Safe Harbor for Gene Editing Applications
San José State student Jaedyn Rollins' prize-winning project focused on evaluating a DNA location that could be safe for therapeutic gene insertion for monogenic diseases, like hemophilia A and B, which are bleeding disorders. In these disorders, the patient is missing a single gene, such as FVIII or FIX, that produces a protein that helps with forming the blood clots. Rollins started her educational journey with an interest in forensic science, but when looking for a lab on campus to help her hone her laboratory techniques she came across the
Johnston Lab, a genome editing lab of Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Jennifer Johnston, who is also Rollins' faculty mentor.
"Dr. Johnston was extremely welcoming and encouraging, and she was so patient in showing me the techniques," Rollins says. "The idea for this project was actually Dr. Johnston's when she was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. She's had graduate students work on the hypothesis over the years and we made some significant breakthroughs this year."
Rollins' interest in helping people overcome diseases and disorders was amplified when her grandmother was diagnosed with a blood disorder. She has since recovered, but Rollins says the news inspired her passion for this project. In the lab, students utilize the CRISPR-Cas9 system, which Rollins explains is a molecular scissor that can cut at a precise location in the genome or in DNA so that they can insert a gene for therapeutic purposes. With this strategy, Johnston's undergraduate and graduate researchers hope to change the prognosis of numerous individuals across the globe. Rollins says they're evaluating a safe spot to insert a gene that won't cause an unintended mutation, which can often lead to cancer or the loss-of-function of an important gene. By inserting a missing or deficient gene, scientists could reverse the effects of monogenic diseases and allow patients to be able to produce that gene's expression on their own rather through injections of the protein that's missing.
“We were able to show that a proof-of-principle fluorescent gene could be expressed at this location," Rollins says. "That gives us really high hopes that this can work with a therapeutic gene like FVIII or FIX for hemophilia, and even other genes for several different monogenic disorders."
Rollins will continue her work with the Johnston Lab this summer and plans to finish her master's degree in spring 2024.
Aysa-Monae Collins
Campus: CSU Dominguez Hills
Major/Program: Health Science, Public Administration and Women's Studies, Senior
Project: The Impact of Maternal Pregnancy Complications and Prenatal Care on Infant Mortality
CSU Dominguez Hills senior Aysa-Monae Collins earned the top spot in the health, nutrition and clinical sciences category for her research with College of Health, Human Services and Nursing Associate Dean Enrique Ortega. Her research focused on analyzing the impact prenatal care and conditions has on infant mortality rate, especially for non-Hispanic Black women. “Women of color, and especially non-Hispanic Black women, are at the highest risk of experiencing poor maternal outcomes, whether it be from maternal mortality, pre-term birth, fetal mortality, or infant mortality—even if they have early and adequate prenatal care," Collins says. Collins hopes to combine her interests in public administration, health care and social justice to make a difference in communities of color, adding that “I want my research to change the narrative and improve the experience that people of color and indigenous people have with the health care system." Using the CDC WONDER database, a system for disseminating public health data and information, among other sources, Collins analyzed the data to identify possible reasons for the high infant mortality rate among women of color, draw conclusions and make recommendations for improvement across the field.
"There are many contributing factors including social determinants of health like structural racism, how an expectant mother perceives their care, language and health literacy and even the community in which they live," Collins says.
Collins says she was surprised and disappointed to discover these statistics had not changed much since previous research was done in the 90s but hopes that with a larger focus on the disparity, and a more diverse health care workforce, change will occur.
In addition to winning first place in her category at the systemwide conference, Collins won three first-place honors at CSU Dominguez Hills' 18th annual Student Research Competition in February. She will continue her work with Ortega this summer and plans to graduate in spring 2024.
José Maldonado
Campus: Fresno State
Major/Program: Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Graduate
Project: Fostering Familismo: Creating Community to Support Transfer Students
Working with Liberal Arts Assistant Professor Selena Van Horn, José Maldonado studied how universities can improve support for students transferring from community colleges, focusing on strategies that build community at the university level for first-generation Latinx transfer students. “Seventy-five percent of students coming into a community college say they plan to transfer to a four-year university, but only 20% of them actually do," Maldonado says. “There are clearly barriers we must address." A professor in the Department of English at Oxnard College, Maldonado says he sees first-hand how difficult it can be for community college students to transfer and, if they do reach a four-year university, to find a sense of belonging. Maldonado performed qualitative research with Latinx students and alumni who had successfully transferred to a four-year university to find out what worked for them. The theme, he says, was that they built familismo, or a community, by forming informal peer groups. “The Latinx culture is a collectivist culture, rather than individualistic," Maldonado says. “Those who formed community—by joining a club or sorority or getting a job on campus, for example—were much more successful and more likely to persist to graduation because they had a network of support." One of Maldonado's key recommendations is to launch community college alumni networks on four-year university campuses, groups that would serve to welcome transfer students and help them navigate the higher education system. He also recommends hiring more diverse faculty members and counselors who engage more with students as well as bringing Latinx students' families into their higher education experience. “This is a social justice issue as so many folks from marginalized communities use community college as a launch pad to their dreams," Maldonado says. “It's about improving quality of life, boosting lifetime career earnings and determining whether or not someone has health insurance and can afford to live in a safe neighborhood and to eat healthy food." Maldonado graduated from
Fresno State in May with a doctoral degree in educational leadership, earning the university's 2023 Most Outstanding Dissertation Award for the Kremen School of Education and Human Development. He also holds a master's degree in fine arts from Cal State Long Beach.
Hana Foo
Campus: San Diego State
Major/Program: Applied Design – Jewelry and Metals, Third Year
Project: Gemstone Apothecary
Hana Foo, a jewelry major in San Diego State's School of Art and Design, participated in a practice-based research project creating a series of art jewelry titled "The Gemstone Apothecary." Foo helped develop the series while participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) as part of an internship with Professor of Jewelry and Metalsmithing Sondra Sherman.
Foo and Sherman's research examined the stronghold gemstones and adornment have had across cultures and generations through their attributed meanings, which was particularly interesting to Foo who says healing stones have deep significance in her own Asian culture.
The works featured layered or engraved elements inspired by the chemical diagrams of conventional medicines, embellished with gemstones like rose quartz and amethyst, which have long been associated with healing or medicinal properties. The pair conducted informational research on the psychology of superstitions and the history of healing stones as well as visual research of both popular culture and historical examples of gemstone healing in jewelry. "We utilized mind maps to guide the research that inspired the designs," Foo says. "Once designs were formed, we worked on skill building like learning lapidary [engraving, cutting or polishing] and, eventually, working on the metalwork structures."
Foo says the entire process showed her how to take a concept and turn it into a physical series. As Sherman's assistant, she gained knowledge and practice that built on what she learned in the classroom and which influenced her own work as a designer and artist. "Jewelry is inherently a performance art which tells a story, and the messages behind these pieces resonate with many," Foo says. "My mentor, Sondra, imagined the pieces to not only represent the ideas of inspiration, but also to validate the feelings of people who use jewelry for healing."
After earning her bachelor's degree, Foo plans to travel abroad to Southeast Asia to research her heritage and culture through creating her own jewelry series.
Take a look at the
complete list of the 2023 CSU Student Research Competition winners, and view
more coverage from CSU campuses.
Story: ALISIA RUBLE
photos: C/O SAN DIEGO STATE RESEARCH & INNOVATION, CONTRIBUTED
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| | | Unlocking Doors to Exciting New Ideas | | | | 5/31/2023 11:40 AM | Ruble, Alisia | 5/30/2023 | 5/30/2023 8:55 PM | Overcoming obstacles and making a positive impact are the stories of these six graduates in the Class of 2023. | Commencement | Story | As the 2023 commencement season is in full swing, the California State University (CSU) celebrates graduates from all backgrounds and life experiences who are receiving their college degrees. For many, this accomplishment is the result of defeating the odds, overcoming obstacles and pursuing the change they want to see in the world.
With the CSU's support both inside and outside the classroom, these students have been able to discover their passions, grow in their knowledge and participate in opportunities that have prepared them for the next level in their educational or professional careers.
Meet just a few of the CSU's inspiring graduates from the Class of 2023 and learn how the university helped equip them to reach their goals for the future.
Ramadhan Ahmed
Cal State Fullerton
Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences Immigrating to California from East Africa when he was five years old, Ramadhan Ahmed is the first in his family to earn both high school and college degrees, graduating summa cum laude with a 3.91 GPA.
“The chances of me being here are nearly impossible," Ahmed said in a Cal State Fullerton news story. “I was born in the rural village of Wajir, Kenya, where most of the land is covered in sand and the nearest city, Nairobi, is a 12-hour bus ride away."
During his time at Cal State Fullerton, he was involved in the Bridges to Stem Cell Research program and mentored two community college students in Project RAISE (Regional Alliance in STEM Education). He also worked several jobs to support himself and volunteered for such organizations as StandUp for Kids Orange County.
For his scholarly achievements and community service, Ahmed was named the Alumni Association's Outstanding Senior. The honor comes with a $1,000 award.
Reading Malcolm X's autobiography greatly inspired Ahmed's decision to become a doctor. He developed a habit of asking himself: “What can I do for others?"
“I believed that medicine was the career that fit me the best, so I started delving into experiences that would help me confirm that belief," Ahmed said. “The power and beauty of medicine stems from the fact that its practice can touch many lives, not just that of your patient."
In August, Ahmed will begin his first year of medical school at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine with a full-ride scholarship that includes tuition and living expenses. He was offered a total of 12 scholarships, six of which were full rides.
Read more about Ahmed in the CSUF Newsroom.
Michelle Gradowitz.png)
Cal State Bakersfield
Master of Arts Degree in Social Work Michelle Gradowitz was recently awarded the President's Medal at Cal State Bakersfield and recognized as the university's top graduate student for the Class of 2023. After stepping back from her pursuit of higher education for more than two decades, Gradowitz decided to put her career on pause after the birth of the first of her three daughters.
She spent much of that time working for the Kern County Department of Human Services in several areas, including in Child Protective Services. The abuse and neglect she saw persuaded her to devote herself to her growing family. “During that time, I found that I liked to keep busy, so I started a food pantry and eventually returned to the Department of Human Services," Gradowitz said in a Cal State Bakersfield news story. "I was there for two years and decided to get my Master of Social Work (MSW) degree."
While completing the MSW program at CSUB, Gradowitz also helped care for her brother who was in hospice. He died about a month after her return to school, and the experience shattered her.
“That's when I started rethinking things. He was only 53. I just thought: 'If I really want something, I should go for it and do it now,'" Gradowitz said. "Then in my second year, my mother's lung cancer returned. So, with the help of my husband, I decided to devote myself to my studies, and he carried the load financially."
Despite the demands of being a mother and caregiver, Gradowitz organized several initiatives while at CSUB that benefited the community and her fellow social work students. She led a drive to collect goody bags for foster children last December and worked with Drug Free Kern to provide Narcan training for students, who are now able to administer the life-saving drug to overdose victims in the community.
On June 5, Gradowitz will join Clinica Sierra Vista as a Healthcare for Homeless therapist, working with the community health center's street medicine team in serving the homeless in encampments around the city.
Read more about Gradowitz in the CSUB Newsroom.
Natalie Castillo.png)
CSUN
Bachelor of Science Degrees in Biology and Central American Studies Natalie Castillo came to California State University, Northridge in 2018 as a first-generation college student and has since become a role model for young, underrepresented students in STEM. She recently graduated from CSUN with bachelor's degrees in biology and Central American studies.
Named this year's Wolfson Scholar, the top honor given to a graduating senior, Castillo has an exceptional academic record and has made significant contributions to CSUN and the community through co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
During her time at CSUN, Castillo was heavily involved in research on the invasive Brown Widow spider and presented her research at CSUN and at regional and international conferences. She was awarded the
CSUN NSP Presidential Scholarship two years in a row, which supported her research. Last summer, Castillo researched the potential effects of climate change on Andean pollinators in Colombia, work that was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Though she was a full-time student, Castillo helped support her family with work as a tutor and as an assisted living coach for adults with intellectual disabilities. These additional responsibilities did not interfere with her academic success as she held a 3.96 GPA in her double major while also volunteering in the biology department.
Castillo plans to eventually enter a Ph.D. program in entomology, where she hopes to further explore biological control of pests and vector-borne diseases.
“Hopefully I can do research in Central America and apply everything I've learned at CSUN to make a difference in communities where there is great need," Castillo said in a CSUN news story.
Read more about Castillo in CSUN Today.
Sofia Rosales.png)
Cal Poly Pomona
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science The first in her family to obtain a college degree, Sofia Rosales believes that a good education opens doors to making a difference in the community. Rosales earned her bachelor's degree in political science, along with a minor in psychology, and will be pursuing her Ph.D. this fall at Michigan State University. She received a full scholarship for a program that is only accepting five students this year.
Beyond her academic accomplishments, Rosales has demonstrated a clear commitment to doing good deeds. Over the past two years, she has spent her time interning at the
Food in Need of Distribution (FIND) Food Bank, where she assisted low-income families in accessing essential food resources.
She served as a mentor in Cal Poly Pomona's Bronco Navigators Program, and helped guide freshman and transfer students through their educational journeys.
Rosales also taught an "Introduction to Autobiography Writing" class at the California Institution for Women as part of the Prison Education Project (PEP), the
largest volunteer-based prison education program in the United States.
She hopes to continue to make a positive impact on society in the future.
Read more about Rosales in the Fontana Herald News.
Joseph Valadez.png)
Cal State Long Beach
Master of Arts Degree in Applied Sociology Joseph Valadez spent most of his adolescent years addicted to drugs and in and out of juvenile facilities, but this spring he earned his second degree from Cal State Long Beach.
At age 18, after graduating from high school, he was offered the option to join the military or go to prison. Valadez spent four years in the U.S. Army before he was honorably discharged, after which he resumed his previous behavior. Throughout the following 30 years, he found himself still struggling with addiction and was in and out of prison.
Valadez began his journey of recovery over 10 years ago, and almost nine years ago, his educational journey. Starting at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, Valadez transferred to CSULB in 2018 and graduated with his bachelor's degree in sociology in 2020.
While at The Beach, he got involved in Project Rebound, a program that recruits and supports formerly incarcerated students looking to advance their education at the CSU.
During Valadez' last two years in undergrad, he made straight A's and was placed on the President's Honor List his final two semesters, finishing with a 3.67 GPA. Now having obtained his Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, Valadez will start his employment with an organization that works with system-impacted adolescents, formerly incarcerated young adults and older adults.
“This is my dream job, to give back to the community that I had robbed for so many years." Valadez said in a Cal State Long Beach article. "I really do have a life beyond my comprehension."
Read more about Valadez in CSULB's "Beach Voices."
Nina Chuang.png)
San José State
Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition and Food Science When Nina Chuang started her freshman year at San José State, she longed to find a physical space that would allow her to feel safe and be authentically herself. But when she arrived on campus, she soon realized that space simply didn't exist. It wasn't until 2019, when she joined Associated Students (AS) during her second year as a College of Health and Human Sciences representative, that she began to align to a deep purpose. Since then, Chuang has driven numerous efforts to support students and effect change on campus. She was elected director of student resources affairs in her third year, vice president of AS during her fourth year; and in June 2022, Chuang officially took the reins as student body president. One of her proudest achievements is having worked with students, staff and faculty to advocate and lay down the vision for a center that would serve as an empowering space for students who identify as Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA).
In fall 2022, the Center for Asian Pacific Islander Student Empowerment (CAPISE) opened its doors for the first time and the safe space Chuang had been searching for finally came to life. “The advocacy for CAPISE has actually been happening for a long time," Chuang said in a San José State news story. “It started during the third world liberation movement in 1968 and 1969, where student activists here at SJSU were advocating for ethnic studies and a space on campus." In alignment with her passion for advocacy, Chuang also played an instrumental role in the planning of SJSU's inaugural Day of Remembrance, which received a great deal of support and media attention in February. Chuang also introduced a Sense of Senate resolution — a call for SJSU to institutionalize the Day of Remembrance. By making this day a permanent fixture on campus, Chuang hopes to see future students carry on the work that she and others have started.
Read more about Chuang at the SJSU NewsCenter.
Special thanks to campus writers and photographers: Lynn
Juliano, Jennifer
Self, James Burger, Albert Baker, Rhoda Shapiro.
| | | CSU’s Inspiring Grads of 2023 | | | | 5/30/2023 2:15 PM | Thropay, Janessa | 5/24/2023 | 5/24/2023 10:05 AM | The following statement can be attributed to CSU Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester: "I state this in the strongest and most unequivocal terms: The CSU is committed to this work." | Leadership | Story | The following statement can be attributed to CSU Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester:
“I thank Cozen O'Connor's Institutional Response Group for its methodical, inclusive and comprehensive assessment of the California State University's implementation of Title IX and other anti-discrimination programs across our 23 universities and at the Chancellor's Office.
I also thank the many CSU employees who supported Cozen's work on our university campuses and at the system office.
But most important, I offer my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the many CSU students, faculty and staff who – courageously and, undoubtedly, sometimes painfully – provided their input to help guide this critically important work.
As is often the case with honest, frank and unflinching self-reflection, some of the findings were uncomfortable and difficult to hear. Many of the report's recommendations are challenging and complex, influenced by a multitude of interconnected factors, including deep-rooted and underlying societal issues.
It is clear: This work will take time. It will take significant resources. And it will require the Chancellor's Office to reconsider its role in terms of its oversight and support of our universities in this regard. I'll provide just one example on this point. It is evident that allegations made against campus executive leadership must be referred to the Chancellor's Office.
While the work will indeed be difficult, it also presents a unique and invaluable opportunity to strengthen our culture of compliance and our culture of care as we strive to create and sustain safe, welcoming and inclusive environments across the CSU, where students, faculty and staff can thrive personally, professionally and intellectually, free from discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct.
I state this in the strongest and most unequivocal terms: The CSU is committed to this work. The systemwide and university recommendations outlined in the full report to be published in the coming weeks will provide a vital and necessary path forward, and they will hold us accountable to our commitment. But make no mistake, to bring about meaningful, authentic and sustainable change, the entire Cal State community – trustees, Chancellor's Office and university leadership, Title IX and DHR professionals, faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends and supporters – must walk this path together.
We will not squander this opportunity. We will get this right. The CSU's mission and core values demand it."
CSU Title IX website
CSU Systemwide Assessment by Cozen O'Connor website
About the California State University The California State University is the largest system of four-year higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, nearly 460,000 students, and 56,000 faculty and staff. Nearly 40 percent of the CSU's undergraduate students transfer from California Community Colleges. The CSU was created in 1960 with a mission of providing high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of California. With its commitment to quality, opportunity and student success, the CSU is renowned for superb teaching, innovative research and for producing job-ready graduates. Each year, the CSU awards nearly 130,000 degrees. One in every 20 Americans holding a college degree is a graduate of the CSU and our alumni are 4 million strong. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU NewsCenter. | | | Statement on Cozen O'Connor Board of Trustees Presentation on Systemwide Title IX and DHR Assessment | | | | 5/25/2023 9:21 AM | Thropay, Janessa | 5/24/2023 | 5/24/2023 8:35 AM | The California State University Board of Trustees has appointed , Stephen Perez to serve as president of Chico State, J. Luke Wood as president of Sacramento State and Ming-Tung "Mike" Lee to serve as president of Sonoma State. | Leadership | Press Release | The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has announced three presidential appointments. Stephen Perez has been named president of California State University, Chico, J. Luke Wood has been appointed president at Sacramento State and Ming-Tung “Mike" Lee will serve as the permanent president at Sonoma State University. Perez currently serves as interim provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Chico State. He will become the university's 13th president and will succeed Gayle E. Hutchinson. Wood currently is vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity and chief diversity officer at San Diego State University. He will become Sacramento State's ninth permanent president, succeeding Robert S. Nelsen.
Lee has served as Sonoma State's interim president since August 2022. He assumes the permanent position immediately.
Perez will begin his appointment on July 1, and Wood's first day will be July 16.
Read the full press releases:
Stephen Perez Appointed President of California State University, Chico J. Luke Wood Appointed President of California State University, Sacramento
Ming-Tung “Mike" Lee Appointed President of Sonoma State University | | | CSU Trustees Appoint Presidents of Chico State, Sacramento State and Sonoma State | | | | 5/26/2023 9:52 AM | Ruble, Alisia | 5/22/2023 | 5/22/2023 8:00 AM | The university’s first Asian American woman to serve as chair of the CSU Board of Trustees shares stories and lessons from her leadership journey. | Leadership | Story | You may think sitting on the board of a public university is a far cry from working in the entertainment industry, but there is one similarity—the jam-packed schedule. Whether attending a board meeting, participating in leadership interviews, meeting with students or sharing the California State University's impact with legislators in the nation's capital, Wenda Fong is full of energy and passion.
“Every day is CSU!" she says with a wide smile. Throughout her life, Fong has been an advocate for Asian American and other marginalized communities through her 40-plus-year career in the entertainment industry, and since 2018, through her service to higher education as a member of the CSU Board of Trustees. “Since high school, I worked to raise representation and visibility of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans," Fong says. “My work in diversity, equity and inclusion has been a parallel career as I worked in the entertainment industry, and I am deeply honored and grateful for the privilege to now serve the CSU." Fong's trajectory to higher education leadership began 120 years ago when her grandparents immigrated to California from China. Her grandparents all made sacrifices to support their families and to provide them with better opportunities, like her maternal grandfather who even worked four jobs as a cook. Growing up, Fong's mother, Margaret Choy Fong, would often tell her the reason her grandparents left China was so that their children and grandchildren would not have to lift anything heavier than a pencil. “Higher education changes lives; it changes entire family trees," Fong says. “My grandparents' hardships and backbreaking work resulted in their granddaughter being given the opportunity to serve as the first Asian American chair of the CSU Board of Trustees—can you imagine how proud they would be to know that?" HONORING PAST AND PRESENTIn addition to being a proud first-generation American, Fong's mother celebrated her Chinese heritage and instilled the same sense of admiration in her five children. She taught them about Chinese traditions and customs in tandem with Wenda Fong (center) with her mother, Margaret Choy Fong (right), and siblings. American ones, celebrating the Chinese New Year as passionately as the Fourth of July holiday. She also taught them to revere Ching Ming—a day to remember and honor deceased relatives.
Fong says conversations with her mother were sprinkled with tidbits that were lessons in respect for her Chinese culture. When prompted by a subject, she would proudly list the myriad inventions by the Chinese such as paper, the compass, printing, fireworks and paper money. “She also told me stories about my grandparents and my father that filled me with enormous pride, but also sometimes sadness and anger. Stories about their sacrifices, hard work and perseverance to overcome and succeed in the face of obstacles like racism, and laws like the
Chinese Exclusion Act." From an early age, Fong loved to watch television and was an avid movie goer. But she quickly became aware of the lack of Asian influence in the entertainment industry. Fong would often make her mother stay with her to watch a movie's closing credits to seek out Asian names. There often weren't any, she says, and if there were, many times the roles were quite small and even harmful to the characterization of Asian people. Fong eventually co-founded Asian Americans for Fair Media to help combat these negative depictions, and she and other members would write letters or make calls to movie studios when they saw a negative depiction of an Asian character. And, later in life, she says whenever she had an opportunity to hire people, she made sure there was a diverse selection. She continues to use her influence to change the perception of the APIDA community. In 2021, Fong
produced a public service announcement (PSA) to combat anti-Asian hate that included leading actors like Ken Jeong, and an A-list production team who joined her in volunteering their time, talent and more. The PSA played in AMC Theatres across the country for the month of May, and it was so popular that AMC decided to run it again this May.
 Wenda Fong working as the producer of a television special, "Opening the Lost Tombs: Live from Egypt," in 1999. After getting her start as the host of her own live talk show series in Los Angeles, Fong went on to produce and direct musical variety and reality specials, awards shows, sitcoms, talk shows, documentaries and even live events—launching productions across the United States and around the world, including China, Canada, Europe and Africa.
She has worked with luminaries such as President Barack Obama, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Madonna, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and even Elvis Presley. She also holds the dual distinction of being the first person of color and first woman to have produced the Emmy Awards—a feat that wasn't seen again until 30 years later. Of her career, Fong says: “It's been an extraordinary adventure—one beyond my wildest dreams." And one that required an extreme level of dedication and commitment. STANDING OUT
Like any pioneer inevitably does, Fong faced some challenges. At the beginning of her career in 1974 and for many years, she was the only Asian American woman working on the set. She clearly stood out. “I felt a responsibility to my community," Fong says. “I had to stand tall and be aware of how I carried myself because I knew that I was being judged for all Asian people." Fong also experienced gender discrimination and was even passed over for a job as the producer of a new sitcom after the showrunner told her point-blank that he was uncomfortable working with a woman. “I actually learned a lot from people who put up barriers—who made things very difficult for me—and I learned how to overcome challenges," she says. The barriers she faced inspired her to create her own support networks, including the
Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), which began in 1991 and is the largest, longest-running and one of the most influential organizations for APIDAs in the entertainment industry. “Being the first and only inspired me to help others follow me and climb onto my shoulders," she says. “It's why I co-founded CAPE and the Asian American Committee for the Directors Guild of America, and why I left producing to launch the Creative Diversity Development Department at the Fox Broadcasting Company." While in her role at Fox, Fong launched a writers assistant program as an entry into the writer pipeline and, specifically, into the hallowed and all-important writers room. “I am so proud that several of those diverse writers assistants did well and were hired permanently and moved up the ladder," Fong says. “Several became producers, and one is a very successful and well-respected showrunner." FROM HOLLYWOOD TO THE BOARDROOMWhile Fong may have been slightly surprised at her appointment to the CSU Board of Trustees in 2018, she is thrilled and grateful for the opportunity.
“When I say that this is the greatest honor and privilege of my life—advancing the CSU's mission to elevate lives and communities through the transformative power of higher education—I truly mean it.".jpg) Wenda Fong (right) and Interim CSU Chancellor Jolene Koester supporting San Diego State's men's basketball team at an NCAA National Championship game.
The
Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of the CSU, adopting rules, regulations and policies governing the university. It is made up of 25 members, 16 of whom (including Fong) are appointed by the governor. And it's an unpaid position. No trustee—except for the chancellor and the faculty trustee—receives any salary for their service. During her time as a member, vice chair and chair of the Board of Trustees, Fong has helped to advance educational equity, and she is proud of the progress the university has made regarding support for APIDA and otherunderrepresented students.
Most recently, the CSU celebrated the opening of the university's newest
APIDA Student Center at Sacramento State in February and announced the establishment of the
CSU Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Student Achievement Program in April. “This [progress] is reflective of the CSU's broader goal to help all of our students establish a sense of well-being and belonging on their campus where they can be successful and progress to graduation, so they can join the over four million living alumni who are making a positive impact in their communities, in our state and for our nation." Never one to be afraid of standing out, Fong is easy to spot at the bimonthly meetings of the CSU Board of Trustees. She's colorfully clad in professional attire, and her warm smile and positive attitude brighten any room. Fong says she hopes she is a role model worthy of inspiring California's college students. “If you can see it, you can be it," she says. “That's the message I hope to convey—as a woman and as an Asian American—to the students of the CSU."
Read Chair Fong's biography to learn more about her career accomplishments and her contributions to the CSU.
Interim CSU Chancellor Jolene Koester (left) and Chair of the CSU Board of Trustees Wenda Fong (right) presenting Cal Poly Pomona student Chiefe Mo with a Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement. Mo was the 2022 CSU Trustee Chair Wenda Fong and Daniel Fetterly Scholar.
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As of March 2023—for the first time in the CSU's history—all four of the university's top leadership positions were held by women: (from left) Chair of the Academic Senate CSU Beth Steffel, Interim CSU Chancellor Jolene Koester, Chair of the CSU Board of Trustees Wenda Fong and Executive Vice Chancellor for CSU Academic and Student Affairs Sylvia A. Alva.
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Chair of the CSU Board of Trustees Wenda Fong (third from left) in Washington D.C. in April 2023 for CSU Hill Day. Pictured here with (from left) SF State Associated Students (AS) Director of Government and Community Relations Steven Lee, SF State AS President Karina Zamora, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Interim CSU Chancellor Jolene Koester and Vice Chair of the CSU Board of Trustees Jack B. Clarke Jr.
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Chair of the CSU Board of Trustees Wenda Fong (center) and Cal State East Bay President Cathy Sandeen (left) at a systemwide alumni event at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.
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CSU Dominguez Hills President Thomas A. Parham (center) cutting the ribbon at the opening of the Toro Esports Academy in April 2023, aided by Chair of the CSU Board of Trustees Wenda Fong (second from right).
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Wenda Fong serving as the emcee of the Social Mobility Symposium presented by CSU San Marcos in 2022.
Photo courtesy of CSU San Marcos/Andrew Reed.
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| | | CSU Trustee Spotlight: Wenda Fong | | | | 5/15/2023 9:13 AM | Ruble, Alisia | 5/15/2023 | 5/15/2023 8:40 AM | Revisit these historic speeches that proved to be crowd pleasers. | Commencement | Story |
5 CSU Commencement Addresses Worth RewatchingRevisit these historic speeches that proved to be crowd pleasers.
Story: Alisia Ruble
photography/videography: C/O CSU campuses, paul asper/san francisco state, San Diego State University Library Special Collections & University Archives
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| | | 5 CSU Commencement Addresses Worth Rewatching | | | | 5/12/2023 10:27 AM | Thropay, Janessa | 5/12/2023 | 5/12/2023 9:15 AM | California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the May Revision of his administration's 2023-24 state budget proposal, including funding for the California State University. | Budget | Press Release | California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the May Revision of his administration's 2023-24 state budget proposal, including funding for the California State University (CSU). The May Revision maintains the same level of additional unallocated, ongoing funding for the CSU—$227.3 million—that the governor had proposed in January as part of the multi-year compact. “We are very grateful for the ongoing support of the CSU represented in the revised budget proposal, especially given the state's worsening fiscal challenges," said Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester. “By maintaining the commitments of the multi-year compact, the administration has demonstrated its belief in the CSU's mission and the transformative power of higher education for Californians from all backgrounds."
About the California State University The California State University is the largest system of four-year higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, nearly 460,000 students, and 56,000 faculty and staff. Nearly 40 percent of the CSU's undergraduate students transfer from California Community Colleges. The CSU was created in 1960 with a mission of providing high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of California. With its commitment to quality, opportunity and student success, the CSU is renowned for superb teaching, innovative research and for producing job-ready graduates. Each year, the CSU awards nearly 130,000 degrees. One in every 20 Americans holding a college degree is a graduate of the CSU and our alumni are 4 million strong. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU NewsCenter. | | | CSU Statement on Governor’s May Revision 2023-24 Budget Proposal | | | | 5/12/2023 10:20 AM | Ruble, Alisia | 5/8/2023 | 5/8/2023 8:00 AM | The CSU recognizes Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month. | Diversity | Story | Comprising one of the most diverse student populations in the nation, the California State University encourages students to embrace the rich culture and heritage they bring with them as sources of individuality and strength. This, in turn, helps further the university's mission to prepare all students for a multicultural society and workplace.
CSU has also established programs, initiatives and partnerships with the local community to increase enrollment and retention of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds and help them realize their dream of earning a life-changing degree. One way the university helps Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) students succeed is through the establishment of dedicated support centers that provide culturally responsive services and support to increase students' sense of belonging. The CSU also recently established the CSU Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Student Achievement Program. The new program, which will be housed at Sacramento State, seeks to enhance student educational experiences and promote higher education success for underserved and first-generation AANHPI and other underrepresented students.
And, fourteen campuses are federally designated as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), which enables them to apply for grant and funding opportunities that strengthen academic programming and support for students from traditionally underserved communities. About 17 percent of CSU students identify as APIDA, many of whom also identify as first-generation college students.
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Sacramento State's new APIDA Student Center celebrated its grand opening with speeches, tours and entertainment such as dancing dragons. (Photo courtesy of Sacramento State/Bibiana Ortiz)
Stingers Up! Sacramento State celebrated the grand opening of its APIDA Student Center in February 2023, one of a dozen such campus facilities across the CSU. The center educates and engages with students to foster holistic, academic and personal development to raise cultural awareness and advocacy needs.
“The mission of the APIDA Center is to foster students' academic and personal growth and serve as a hub of campus connections and community resources," says Chao Vang, Ed.D., director of educational equity access and equity strategist at Sacramento State. The center builds on the tradition of Sacramento State's Full Circle Project and Project HMONG, existing programs that support APIDA students. At the center, students can receive help transitioning to college, referrals for resources on and off campus and referrals to graduate schools, among other services. Dr. Vang says the center helps advance the university's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and provides a place for the exchange of cultures. Staff plan and host events geared towards APIDA students that include a welcome week, a leadership summit and a speaker series as well as outreach events like APIDA Fest that invite the entire university community to learn about and celebrate APIDA culture. Andrew Yang, who serves as the APIDA Center coordinator and student academic success counselor, says the center also serves as a centralized location for academic and career mentorship, professional development and health and well-being. “Students tend to feel more comfortable seeking support services when they know there are individuals who come from similar backgrounds as them, especially when it comes to mental health—a taboo subject in all APIDA cultures," Yang says. “One of the unique things we're doing is working with our Student Health & Counseling Services (SHCS) to provide an in-house counselor who will be here every Tuesday."
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Sacramento State APIDA Student Center coordinators were intentional about choosing art for the space that celebrates the diversity of APIDA culture. (Photo courtesy of Sacramento State/Chao Vang, Ed.D.)
Laying the Groundwork
“We couldn't have done this without the leadership of [Sacramento State] President Robert Nelsen, Vice President of Student Affairs Ed Mills, Ph.D., and Associate Vice President for Student Retention & Academic Success Marcellene Watson-Derbigny, Ed.D., but really the groundwork was laid by faculty, students and staff," Vang says. Conversations started about two years ago amongst 20 faculty and staff and an advisory group of about 30 students from different majors and different APIDA groups. “We performed a student needs assessment to learn what they wanted in the center and discovered the most important things were to have a space to build community and to seek professional and peer-to-peer mentorship," Yang says. The planning committee also held two round tables to gather feedback on what the surrounding community wanted, because, according to Vang, “while the center mainly serves students, the success of it will also be the support of the community." More than 300 students, employees and community members attended the grand opening event in February despite pouring rain. And the community is excited for what is to come, Yang says. “Since the center opened in February, we've received hundreds of phone calls from alumni, community partners and even potential students and parents looking to learn more about the center's work and how to get involved. It's a testament to the commitment of our community who wants to leverage their expertise and resources in support of student success here at Sacramento State."
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Hundreds of students from Sacramento-area high schools and middle schools visited Sacramento State in March for APIDA College Day. (Photo courtesy of Sacramento State/Belen Torres)
Being Inclusive The term APIDA encompasses people from more than 40 countries who speak multiple languages and dialects and recognize different traditions. Center administrators say they want to amplify and appreciate that diversity and provide culturally responsive services, but they also want to form a united front.
“Helping a first-generation Vietnamese student is very different from helping a fifth-generation Chinese or Korean American student," Vang says. “One of the biggest challenges is understanding the role their cultural identity plays—the intersectionality of being a member of their community as well as a college student."
The APIDA community is the fastest-growing ethnic group in the City of Sacramento and grew 40 percent over the last 10 years to more than 97,000 residents. Center staff say they recognize their role in not only serving current students, but also in building additional capacity for future APIDA students. The university has also experienced this growth and now enrolls nearly 7,000 students who identify as APIDA. Vang attributes the increase in enrollment, in part, to the university's K-12 outreach and events like APIDA College Day, which happens every spring and has grown to become one of the larger Pan-Asian outreach events in the Sacramento area. The daylong event, designed to promote early awareness of college for APIDA students, attracted about 700 scholars this March, representing six school districts in the Sacramento area.
Explore some of the CSU's APIDA centers and resources:
Learn more about the CSU's work to support Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) student success and find ways to celebrate APIDA Heritage Month at CSU campuses across the state.
| | | Cultural Connections | | | | 5/4/2023 11:32 AM | Kelly, Hazel | 5/4/2023 | 5/4/2023 8:50 AM | 'You Belong Here' was the theme of the virtual creative event for CSU students across the system. | Student Success | Story | From April 5 through April 19, 2023, students, staff and alumni from across the California State University community participated in the first-ever Cal State CREATE—a virtual event and competition in collaboration with Adobe and Apple. Similar to Adobe Creative Jams, Cal State CREATE invited CSU students to explore what it means to belong in unique digital projects designed using Adobe creative tools. The kickoff event opened with a welcome by CSU Board of Trustees Chair Wenda Fong, followed by keynote speakers Michael J. Payton and Christopher J. Moore, both CSU alumni who are active in the film and TV industries. The opening speakers each shared their experiences with belonging as they navigated their creative career journeys after college. After the inspirational opening speeches, Adobe design professionals hosted design bootcamps to give participants a foundation in the creative tools needed to complete their competition deliverable—a single webpage created with Adobe Express telling their own story of finding belonging. Cal State CREATE received more than 50 entries from both individual students and groups. Submissions were reviewed by a team of volunteer judges from the CSU, Adobe and Apple who evaluated projects on visual storytelling, design elements and format. 
The event concluded on April 19th with a closing ceremony to announce the winners and highlight the diverse ways student participants depicted belonging. Jessica Nare, San Diego State's associate vice president for Community and Belonging, and Dilcie Perez, Ed.D, CSU associate vice chancellor of Student Affairs, Equity and Belonging, reflected on themes from the student submissions and personal anecdotes on belonging and community. Faith Sidlow, associate professor in the Department of Media at Fresno State, announced the student competition winners.
Here are the winners and a breif description of their work:
First place: “To My Self" by Juan Carlos Mosqueda Rosales | Fresno State Rosales explores a non-traditional sense of belonging as a Dreamer and undocumented student, illustrating the challenges and loss of family and community. In the piece, he writes, “Although I might not share in the traditional sense of 'belonging,' I am assured by the sense of belonging to my self."
Second place: “How I Found Belonging at Cal Poly as a Queer Woman of Color" by Anusha Sowda | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Art and design student Sowda explores her personal identity and shares how working with Cal Poly's Student Diversity & Belonging collective empowered her to find her own voice and help build community for other students. In the piece, Sowda writes, “I know that wherever I go from here, there will be a place for me. I took an active role in creating one, here at Cal Poly, and proved to myself that if I am authentically myself, I will always be okay."
Third place (tied): “Where Do I Belong?" by Imani McEwan | CSU Dominguez Hills McEwan shares how she found her own style and her own people and decided to stop hiding who she was. “After all these years of creeping, I've recently been able to walk proud knowing I belong to people who actually want me around. I finally belong somewhere," she writes in the piece.
Third place (tied): “Asian-American Artists United" by Samuel Louie, Katie Tam and Lyndsey Park | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo In this visual diary, three Cal Poly graphic design students explore how they each have different stories, different cultures, yet share the same dream. “Our passion for designing and connecting with others allowed us to find our sense of belonging, community and togetherness."
Prizes for the winning entries included Apple AirPods Pro (first place), Adobe-branded swag and Amazon gift cards. “We are grateful for the collaborative partnerships with Adobe and Apple and to CSU colleagues who helped to plan and promote the event, and hope to host the event again next spring," said Kate Miffitt, director of ITS Innovation at the CSU Chancellor's Office and lead coordinator for the event by Cal State Innovate. Learn more about how the CSU supports student success and a sense of belonging as part of Graduation Initiative 2025. | | | Inaugural Cal State CREATE Student Competition Celebrates a Sense of Belonging | | | | 5/4/2023 10:46 AM | Thropay, Janessa | 5/2/2023 | 5/2/2023 3:45 PM | Mental Health First Aid training has equipped more than 600 faculty members to become allies for students. | Wellness | Story |
The
National Council of Mental Wellbeing honored the California State University with the Mental Health First Aid Momentum Award on April 30, 2023, for its work in accelerating positive community change through education and faculty-led support for
those experiencing mental health challenges. Using the council's
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program, a group of dedicated CSU faculty have trained over 600 of their colleagues systemwide to become mental health allies for students, equipping them to identify, understand and respond to symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges. “On college campuses, teaching and caring for the whole student have sometimes been separate activities. Mental Health First Aid—taught by faculty for faculty—is enabling us to foster a culture of caring," said Emily Magruder, Ph.D., CSU's director of Innovative Teaching and Future Faculty Development, who accepted the MHFA Momentum Award on behalf of the CSU.  From left: Tramaine El-Amin of the National Council of Mental Wellbeing, Emily Magruder of the CSU Chancellor's Office and Deanna Roepke of the National Council of Mental Wellbeing. Much like first aid training, the MHFA program prepares lay people to aid individuals in distress until they can be connected to professional help. In addition to reducing the stigma around mental health, the curriculum teaches participants how to respond to common mental health and substance use issues that can be exacerbated by the high-stress environment of college, while also equipping them to assist students in finding social support and resources for recovery within and beyond their campus community.
“The whole idea is to enable faculty to feel that they can intervene. They can deescalate. They can have de-stigmatizing conversations and they can get that person to the appropriate professional to find the help that they need," said MHFA-certified trainer Bonnie Gasior, Ph.D., in a
2021 Calstate.edu article.
Gasior, a professor of Spanish at Cal State Long Beach, along with CSU San Marcos modern language studies professor Darci Strother, Ph.D., and Cal State San Bernardino psychology instructor Sailesh Maharjan, first
introduced the program to the CSU in 2020.
From left: Emily Magruder of the CSU Chancellor's Office, Darci Strother of CSU San Marcos, Bonnie Gasior of Cal State Long Beach and Sailesh Maharjan of Cal State San Bernardino.
Due to the high demand for MHFA training across the system, the CSU's
Innovative Teaching and Learning Programs (ITLP) expanded the trainings in 2021-22 by increasing the number of faculty instructors to meet the need of those interested in participating in the developmental sessions. With a completion rate close to 100 percent, CSU faculty have demonstrated a clear desire to increase their mental health literacy and provide support to students who may be struggling in this way.
Each CSU campus offers
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for students who may be facing difficulties with their mental health. But some may initially seek a more familiar confidant, such as an instructor, to begin talking about their mental health. In light of this, MHFA-certified faculty help to strengthen the university's mental health and substance use safety-net systems.
Supporting
students' well-being is critical for student success and is an operational priority of Graduation Initiative 2025, the university-wide effort to increase graduation rates for all CSU students while eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps.
MHFA training has empowered CSU faculty to be advocates of students' mental health and well-being. Learn more about how the CSU
supports students' basic needs.
| | | CSU Recognized for Promoting Mental Health Literacy | | | | 5/1/2023 9:04 AM | Beall, Alex | 5/1/2023 | 5/1/2023 3:55 PM | See how CSU commencement ceremonies will celebrate this year’s graduates. | Commencement | Story | As the spring semester once again comes to an end, the California State University prepares to honor more than 100,000 graduates across its 23 campuses, recognizing their academic achievements, extracurricular accomplishments, service work and perseverance. “This celebration marks a new beginning for you—a time to commence a new life, filled with opportunities and prospects made possible by your degree from the California State University,” Interim CSU Chancellor Jolene Koester says. “I ask that—in the Cal State spirit—you use the knowledge, skills and personal qualities you have developed to work for justice, seek opportunities to foster equity and always uplift and empower others.”
Check each campus’s website for commencement dates, locations and more.
Go | | | Get Ready for Commencement 2023 | | | | 5/1/2023 9:06 AM | Ruble, Alisia | 5/1/2023 | 5/1/2023 8:00 AM | Annual Hill Day events brought students and university leaders together in the nation’s capital to advance federal legislative priorities. | Impact | Story | California State University students, alumni, staff, trustees and leadership met with federal legislators April 19 to advance top CSU federal priorities, including doubling the maximum Pell Grant and providing support and stability for undocumented students and employees, as part of the university's annual Hill Day events.
Among those who met with members of the CSU community were Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal, U.S. Representatives Nanette Barragán and Jimmy Panetta and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.
During a Hill Day kick-off event, CSU Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester and Cal State Long Beach President Jane Conoley led a discussion with U.S. Congressman and CSULB alumnus Robert Garcia ('02, '10) in which they discussed issues pertaining to higher education policy and topics impacting the CSU. Congressman Garcia also offered anecdotes about his priorities and experience in government as well as how his time at CSULB prepared him for his career as a public servant. He noted that the politics of campus leadership prepared him well for the politics of Congress.
“As an immigrant, pursuing my degree at CSULB allowed me to learn to lead," Congressman Garcia said. “The perspective I gained there informs me now as a legislator and advocate for our community. I am so proud to be a Cal State alum and look forward to all the great work they will keep doing. As always: Go Beach!"
In speaking with CSU delegates, Chancellor Koester emphasized the critical need to double the maximum federal Pell Grant to $12,990—and permanently index the grant to inflation—to enable students to pursue the security, promise and prosperity that come with a college degree. Approximately 225,000 CSU students rely on Pell Grants to be able to attend college and more than 64,000 CSU Pell recipients earned bachelor's degrees in 2021-22—about 58 percent of the total graduating class. “It is no overstatement: the Pell Grant is an American success story, but more must be done," Chancellor Koester said. “The Pell Grant continues to fall well short of meeting our students' needs, a circumstance exacerbated by inflation and soaring housing costs throughout California." Established in 1972, the Pell Grant is the largest financial aid grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Education to help undergraduate students from low-income households pay for college and has benefitted more than 80 million students across the country.
Over time, though, the purchasing power of the Pell Grant has eroded from covering more than 75 percent of a student's total cost of attending a public four-year university to covering only about 28 percent of the cost. “[Doubling the Pell Grant] will deliver a powerful return in the form of increased access to higher education and in improved student persistence, higher completion rates and enhanced basic needs support for students from modest financial means," Koester said. “It also helps our state and nation fulfill the workforce needs of the future with dynamically diverse and highly educated graduates, and it drives economic prosperity for all of us." In meetings with legislators throughout the day, CSU delegates also championed a permanent fix for young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as small children, known as Dreamers, many of whom are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. The DACA program has enabled hundreds of thousands of undocumented students to work and go to school in the U.S. and make significant contributions to the country. As the nation's most ethnically diverse public four-year university, the CSU is deeply committed to ensuring academic opportunities are available to all the state's students, regardless of citizenship status. As of fall 2021, the CSU enrolled nearly 10,000 AB 540 and undocumented students, and counts approximately 500 DACA recipients among the CSU employee family. Each of the university's 23 campuses provides resources for undocumented students and employees, and the provision of permanent legislative protection and support for Dreamers has been a federal CSU priority for several years. Additionally, delegates urged legislators to provide more support for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) like the CSU, of which 21 campuses are designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and 14 campuses are designated Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). These designations enable campuses to apply for federal and private grants that help strengthen their efforts to assist underserved communities. The CSU's Hill Day events highlight the importance of having close relationships with legislators in the nation's capital who fully appreciate and believe in the power of higher education to transform lives, elevate families and communities, Koester said. “It's only with the support of our federal leadership that we can fully realize our extraordinary promise and potential as a force for prosperity, equity, compassion and understanding, and as the nation's greatest engine of social mobility." To learn more about the CSU's federal priorities, visit the Federal Relations website, and explore social media posts from Hill Day events on Wakelet.com. | | | CSU Community Advocates in D.C. for Doubling Pell and Protecting Dreamers | | | | 4/26/2023 11:07 AM | Kelly, Hazel | 4/25/2023 | 4/25/2023 10:35 AM | The state-funded office will provide culturally responsive support for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students across the university system. | Diversity | Press Release | The California State University (CSU) has announced that the central office of its new Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Student Achievement Program will be housed at Sacramento State. Established by California legislation and added to the California Education Code in 2022, the CSU AANHPI Student Achievement Program seeks to enhance student educational experiences and promote higher education success for underserved and first-generation AANHPI students and other underrepresented students. The legislation also established a similar program at the California Community Colleges. The new Sacramento-based systemwide office will receive $8 million annually from the state, much of which will be distributed to CSU campuses in the form of grants to create culturally appropriate academic and social programming and other services. The statewide central office will also support campuses through outreach, statewide and regional trainings and curriculum development. “The launch of this exciting new program enables the CSU to expand critical support for our AANHPI students across California," said Dilcie Perez, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs, Equity and Belonging at the CSU Chancellor's Office. “With its proven track record of support for Asian American and Pacific Islander students, Sacramento State is well-positioned to serve as the systemwide hub for these efforts to improve student success, close equity gaps and enhance student well-being for the CSU's diverse student population." Sacramento State was selected as the program's systemwide central office following a CSU-led RFP process. The university enrolls one of the largest AANHPI student populations in the CSU and has been a federally designated Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) for more than a decade. In addition, a number of programs on the Sacramento campus are recognized for fostering student achievement, including the university's nationally recognized Full Circle Project that works to retain and graduate APIDA and low-income students through peer support, community engagement and a heightened sense of belonging. In February 2023, the university expanded these support efforts with the opening of its Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Center. The CSU educates the most ethnically, economically and academically diverse student body in the nation, with more than 16 percent of its 460,000 students being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Fourteen of the CSU's 23 campuses are designated AANAPISI, allowing them to compete for federal and private grants that strengthen student success for underserved communities.
About the California State University The California State University is the largest system of four-year higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, nearly 460,000 students, and 56,000 faculty and staff. Nearly 40 percent of the CSU's undergraduate students transfer from California Community Colleges. The CSU was created in 1960 with a mission of providing high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of California. With its commitment to quality, opportunity and student success, the CSU is renowned for superb teaching, innovative research and for producing job-ready graduates. Each year, the CSU awards nearly 130,000 degrees. One in every 20 Americans holding a college degree is a graduate of the CSU and our alumni are 4 million strong. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU NewsCenter. | | | CSU Establishes Statewide AANHPI Student Achievement Program Based at Sacramento State |
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