‘Still I Rise’: 29 Stories of Excellence & Achievement

The accomplishments of African American students, faculty, alumni and staff of the CSU are too numerous to mention, let alone do justice.

Still, on the occasion of Black History Month, we pause to acknowledge 29 exceptional people who have helped to make the California State University what it is today: a place of academic rigor, exceptional achievement and pioneering inclusiveness.

Check back throughout the month to meet more exceptional African Americans of the CSU.

Meet the first 20

Dr. Joseph White

Alumnus, San Francisco State, Founder, Educational Opportunity Program & Former Professor, Cal State Long Beach

For opening the door to higher education to thousands of California students

Josh Kelly

Student, Cal State Fullerton & Member, Male Success Initiative

For paying it forward to other young male students of color

Caitlin Dickerson

Alumna, Cal State Long Beach & National Immigration Reporter, The New York Times

For continuing to break news about one of the defining topics of our times

Jonathan Henderson

Alumnus & Staff, CSU Dominguez Hills & Regional Coordinator, Umoja Community Education Foundation

For working to make African American student success a priority in higher education

Dr. Claudia Hampton

Trustee Emerita, California State University

For serving as the first African American trustee of the California State University

Phillip Boutté Jr.

Alumnus, Cal State Long Beach & Concept Costume Artist

For costumes that transport moviegoers into new worlds

Dr. Blenda Wilson

President Emerita, CSUN

For being the first African American woman to lead a U.S. campus with 25,000 or more students

Elliott Powell

Alumnus, CSU San Marcos & First African American Director of the White House Situation Room

For dedicating his second act to educating middle-schoolers

Judy Belk

Alumna, Cal State East Bay & President & CEO, The California Wellness Foundation

For a career devoted to improving the health of the traditionally underserved

Honorable Willie Brown

Alumnus, San Francisco State & Former Mayor, City and County of San Francisco & Former Speaker, California State Assembly

For serving as the first African American mayor of San Francisco & first African American Speaker of the California State Assembly

Sandra Jackson-Dumont

Alumna, Sonoma State & Director & CEO, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

For making museums more relevant and inspiring

Raynor Carroll

Alumnus, Cal State LA, & Former Co-Principal Percussionist/Timpanist, Los Angeles Philharmonic

For decades of making beautiful music

Violet Palmer

Alumna, Cal Poly Pomona & Former NBA Referee

For leading the way for female referees in the NBA

Ryan Coogler

Alumnus, Sacramento State & Filmmaker of “Black Panther” and “Fruitvale Station”

For storytelling that’s reshaping how we see the world

Dr. Marvalene Hughes

President Emerita, Stanislaus State

For becoming the first female and first African American president of Stanislaus State

Victor Glover

Alumnus, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo & NASA Astronaut

For dreaming of the stars, and working hard to get there

Dr. Krishna Foster

Faculty, Cal State LA

For making science accessible to more students and students of color

Dr. Soraya Coley

President, Cal Poly Pomona

For always believing she could

Dr. Harry Edwards

Alumnus, San José State & Professor, Author & Activist

For an unparalleled legacy of courageous activism in sport and well beyond

Dr. Rashida Crutchfield

Faculty, Cal State Long Beach

For quantifying at last the problems of housing and food insecurity for college students

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Check back throughout the month to meet more exceptional African Americans of the CSU.

‘Still I Rise’: 29 Stories of Excellence & Achievement

The accomplishments of African American students, faculty, alumni and staff of the CSU are too numerous to mention, let alone do justice.

Still, on the occasion of Black History Month, we pause to acknowledge 29 exceptional people who have helped to make the California State University what it is today: a place of academic rigor, exceptional achievement and pioneering inclusiveness.

Check back throughout the month to meet more exceptional African Americans of the CSU.

Dr. Joseph White

Josh Kelly

Caitlin Dickerson

Jonathan Henderson

Dr. Claudia Hampton

Phillip Boutté Jr.

Dr. Blenda Wilson

Elliott Powell

Judy Belk

Honorable Willie Brown

Sandra Jackson-Dumont

Raynor Carroll

Violet Palmer

Ryan Coogler

Dr. Marvalene Hughes

Victor Glover

Dr. Krishna Foster

Dr. Soraya Coley

Dr. Harry Edwards

Dr. Rashida Crutchfield

Share a Story

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