Connections

For Alumni and Friends

February 2024

Featured

KTLA features President Eanes as a history-maker

KTLA's Chis Schauble interviewing President Eanes.

In honor of Black History Month, President Berenecea Johnson Eanes discussed her journey and historic appointment as president of Cal State LA with KTLA’s Chris Schauble. Despite being told by a guidance counselor that she’d never attend college, Eanes went on to earn a Ph.D. in clinical social work. The president also shared her aspirations for the University, including increasing graduation rates and closing the achievement gap. Watch the full interview.

Campus News

Cal State LA receives $2.5 million in grants to enhance services for children with visual impairments

Cal State LA students simulate being visually impaired

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Cal State LA a total of $2.5 million in grant funding to help prepare professionals to teach orientation and mobility to school-aged children with visual impairments. The five-year grants will enable the University’s College of Education to prepare orientation and mobility specialists at the master’s degree level to provide culturally-responsive services to a diverse population of students with visual impairments. Read more about the grants.

Geology professor receives Fulbright Scholar award

Cal State LA Professor Jennifer Garrison sits in front of a large mountain.

Jennifer Garrison, professor of geology in the College of Natural and Social Sciences, recently received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to collaborate with scientists in Ecuador on an exchange program. As a Fulbright Scholar, Garrison is developing a pathway that will offer travel and cross-cultural research experiences for Cal State LA students and students who attend Escuela Politécnica Nacional, a national polytechnic university in Quito, Ecuador. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. Read more about Professor Garrison.

New archive at Cal State LA features history of Latinx theatre in Los Angeles

The front entrance to the Cal State LA library.

The University Library at Cal State LA has partnered with the Latinx Theatre Alliance/Los Angeles to create an oral history archive of Latinx theatre in L.A. This groundbreaking project, the Voces del Teatro Oral History Archive, features more than 40 video and audio interviews with key theatremakers who founded and developed the genre of Latinx theatre in L.A. from the late 1960s to the present. The Latinx Theatre Alliance/Los Angeles was founded in 2012 as a service organization advocating for local Latinx theatremakers. Read more about the archive.

Cal State LA selected to participate in National College Attainment Network’s Ascendium Fellowship Program

Graduates tossing their graduation caps into the air.

Cal State LA has been selected as one of eight outstanding organizations to participate in the National College Attainment Network (NCAN)’s inaugural Ascendium Fellowship Program. The two-year fellowship program is aimed at supporting students who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated in pursuing postsecondary education. Since 2016, the University has offered an in-person B.A. degree program for incarcerated students as part of the first cohort of universities to participate in the Second Chance Pell federal pilot program. The University’s Project Rebound program assists formerly incarcerated individuals with re-entry, including helping them continue attending school following their release. Read more about NCAN fellowship.

Community Focus

Cal State LA selected to serve as Vote Center

Cal State LA student housing building and the location for the voting center in 2024.

Cal State LA has been selected by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to serve as a Vote Center in California’s March 5 Presidential Primary Election. The Cal State LA Vote Center will be open to the campus and surrounding communities through Election Day on Tuesday, March 5. Individuals will be able to cast their ballot in person or drop off their vote-by-mail ballot. The center will be located in room 2117 of the South Village residence hall on the north side of campus. Visit the University’s Vote Center website for more information.

Follow the president’s journey during her first 100 days

With the start of President Berenecea Johnson Eanes’ tenure as the University’s ninth president, Cal State LA enters a new era. The First 100 Days website chronicles the president’s engagements and initiatives during her first 100 days in office. Check back regularly to join President Eanes as she becomes acquainted with the Cal State LA community. Visit the 100 Days website.

Cal State LA shares the importance of college with congregations during Super Sunday

Presidents Eanes meets with community members at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church.

President Berenecea Johnson Eanes, joined by CSU Board of Trustees Chair Wenda Fong, EOP’s Associate Director Steven Wilson, and a team from Cal State LA, visited local churches on Feb. 25 for the CSU’s annual Super Sunday. They met with community members from St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, First African Methodist Episcopal Church, and West Angeles Church of God in Christ to share how a college education at the CSU is affordable, attainable, and life-changing. Graduate student J.T. Chestnut also represented the University and shared his story at Glory Christian Fellowship on Feb. 18. Super Sunday 2024 marks the CSU’s 18th consecutive year of partnering with predominantly Black and African American faith-based organizations during the month of February to increase the college preparation, enrollment, and graduation rates of students from these underserved communities.

Women’s History Month at Cal State LA

A flyer advertising Women's History Month in March 2024.

Join us as we celebrate Women’s History Month with a series of events. During March, the Cal State LA community can participate in critical discussions and reflection, with the intention of making the University a place where women-identifying Golden Eagles can be their full selves. Visit the Women’s History Month website for the full calendar listing of events.

Alhambra Lunar New Year festival

President Eanes posing for a group photo during a Lunar New Year celebration on campus.

President Berenecea Johnson Eanes and a team from Cal State LA celebrated the Year of the Dragon at the Alhambra Lunar New Year festival on Feb. 18. In addition to meeting members of the community and local officials, the president shared remarks and the Office of Admissions and Recruitment distributed promotional Cal State LA items.

Engagement, Service, and the Public Good

Cal State LA receives $6.9 million College Corps grant

A large group of students from the College Corp pose for a photo.

Cal State LA has been selected to receive a $6.9 million grant to continue implementation of the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program for 2024-2026. College Corps is a statewide paid service program that aims to provide meaningful work to underserved college students, helping them graduate on time and with less debt while benefiting the local community. The University leads a consortium that includes Cal Poly Pomona, East Los Angeles College, and Rio Hondo College. College Corps is administered by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor in partnership with California colleges and universities. In its first year, more than 3,000 College Corps Fellows served over 1.15 million hours in their communities tutoring and mentoring students, addressing hunger and taking climate action, while learning new skills and earning money to help pay for college.

Cal State LA heads to Sacramento for CSU Advocacy Day

Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo with our students, Daria Smith and Yahir Flores

A delegation from Cal State LA traveled to Sacramento for CSU Advocacy Day. The annual event is an opportunity for campus representatives to meet with legislators and discuss crucial legislative priorities. The delegation, headed by President Berenecea Johnson Eanes, included ASI president Yahir Flores and graduate student Daria Smith. Our delegation underscored the CSU’s pivotal role in providing affordable and quality education to California students and communities. The delegation met with Assemblymembers Wendy Carrillo (’05) and Mike Fong, and the offices of Assemblymembers Isaac Bryan, Lisa Calderon, Miguel Santiago, and Senator María Elena Durazo.

Athletics

Golden Eagle hoops prepare for postseason play

Cal State LA women's basketball team celebrating on the court.

Both Cal State LA basketball teams have earned a postseason berth and are headed off to the CCAA Tournament March 7-9 at Cal State San Bernardino. The men’s team (21-7, 16-6 CCAA) set a new program record for wins this season and will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. The women’s squad (16-11, 13-9 CCAA) clinched a fourth-place finish and will face the No. 5 seed Cal State San Bernardino on the opening day of the tournament.

Sjoerdsma, Golf shine in spring opener

The Cal State LA women's golf team poses for a group photo with their coaches.

Cal State LA golf put in an outstanding performance in their season opener at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout on Feb. 27. Senior Morgan Sjoerdsma won the individual championship with a program record 5-under-par 139, and the Golden Eagle team finished second overall. The tournament win – the third of Sjoerdsma’s career—earned her Golfer of the Week honors from the California Collegiate Athletic Association and catapulted Cal State LA into the nation’s top-25 for the first time in program history.

Alumni Spotlight

Black Alumni Network Mixer

Students, staff, faculty and alumni and the Black Alumi Mixer in February 2024.

The Black Alumni Network hosted a mixer on Feb. 26 in celebration of Black History Month. Guests were able to connect with alumni, staff, faculty, students, and the greater Cal State LA community. During the gathering, President Berenecea Johnson Eanes expressed gratitude for attendees’ continued involvement and contributions to fostering a sense of belonging across the University.