"Given faculty acknowledgement that they didn't go to "professor school," we need to provide mandatory new faculty teaching training with ongoing training throughout faculty career."

"Always helps to be reminded what many of our students are experiencing outside the classroom and that many of them are attending college in very different circumstances than I did."

2024 Event Program

2:00 PM: Laxson Auditorium

Welcome: Graduation Initiative 2025, Advancing Equity, and a Focused Tipping Point
Vice Provost Kate McCarthy and Assistant Vice President Kaitlyn Baumgartner Lee

“Not Just Numbers: Black Student Success at Chico State”
Associated Students President Autumn Alaniz-Wiggins

Keynote Address
Kimate Richards, Senior Strategic Architect, Amazon Web Services (Class of 2005, 2023 Distinguished Alumni)

Student Panel: “Young Males of Color Cultivating Cultural Change"
Facilitated by Thembi Mawema, Director of The Shade Room (Class of 2015) Darnell Lee
Panelists: Tyrek James Edwards, Chris Sullivan, Humberto Partida, Ermelindo Salgado Hernandez

Program note: Our featured alumna Thembi Mawema is unfortunately unable to be with us due to illness. Darnell Lee, STAR Center Student Services Coordinator, has generously stepped in to facilitate the “Young Males of Color Cultivating Change” Panel. Thembi prepared a brief video message that will be shared during the event.

Stretch Break

Faculty Research Spotlight: “Elevating Excellence: A Holistic Journey to Black Success and Well-Being”
Dr. Lateasha Meyers, Assistant Professor of African American Studies, Department of Multicultural and Gender Studies

“Black Student Success: Chico State Action Plan”
Vice President for Student Affairs Isaac Brundage and University Diversity Officer Joseph Morales

Campus Commitment and Call to Action: President Steve Perez

4:15 PM: Selvester's Café

Happy Hour: Connect, Debrief, Celebrate