Keynote speakers include investigative reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, scholar-activist Yaba Blay, and author Ibram X. Kendi.

A delegation of 25 Cal State Fullerton students, faculty, staff, and administrators will attend the California State University’s second biennial Juneteenth Symposium June 13 – 14 at Sacramento State to elevate African American history and achievement while building on the anti-racism work taking place at Cal State Fullerton and the 22 other CSU campuses. 

The symposium will showcase contributions of the African American community, highlight the anti-racism work taking place across the CSU system, and provide a space for dialogue on actionable steps the CSU — and colleges nationwide — can take to strengthen the success of Black students.

Nine CSUF students will attend the symposium, including Associated Students Inc. Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Andrea Ramirez-Rivera, Black Student Union President Seyi Alli, and Ujimaa program mentee Joseph Lagaud.

Other campus areas that are represented include the Office of the President and the divisions of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Diversity, and Inclusion.

“The inaugural symposium created such a great launching point for so much Black student success work — such as the Elevating Black Student Success Action report — in the CSU,” said Interim Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Programs and Chief Diversity Officer Cecil Chik. “I look forward to deepening my knowledge so we can better leverage the $250,000 that was allotted to Cal State Fullerton to maximize impact for our Black faculty, staff, and students at Cal State Fullerton.”

Cal State Fullerton in April was awarded a one-time grant of $250,000 to advance Black student success and elevate Black excellence. The grant was part of a systemwide initiative led by the CSU’s Black Student Success Workgroup to reimagine how the nation’s largest four-year public university system supports Black students and addresses persistent trends in low Black student enrollment, retention and graduation rates.

The two-day symposium features world-class speakers and thought-provoking panel discussions highlighting CSU’s efforts to elevate Black student success since the inaugural symposium in 2022. The CSU’s inaugural Juneteenth Symposium in 2022 provided a platform for sharing high-impact practices, fostering community, and bringing attention to the unique challenges faced by Black students, faculty, and staff.

Following the 2022 symposium, the CSU formed the Black Student Success workgroup — co-chaired by CSU Dominguez Hills President Thomas Parham and Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval — to develop a strategic plan that would position the CSU as a national leader in Black student success. After consulting with more than 250 Black students, faculty, and staff, as well as other community partners, in June 2023, the group issued an action plan of 13 forward-thinking recommendations for championing inclusive excellence, closing equity gaps, and advancing social mobility for Black students across the university system.

Continuing its momentum and commitment to elevating Black excellence, earlier this year, the CSU conducted a systemwide inventory and asked each university to identify one to three meaningful action items to achieve within the 2024-25 academic year that would support Black student success.

In April, the CSU announced an allocation of $4.6 million in one-time catalyst funding to aid in the implementation of more than 65 action items systemwide. 

In May, the CSU also announced the launch of its first-ever statewide central office for Black Student Success. The new central office will cultivate and innovate transformative practices across the system’s 23 universities, as well asunderserved communities.

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