Affinity-based Student Success and Resource Centers

Students pose at graduation

In a step to provide targeted support to address equity and graduation rates as part of Graduation Initiative 2025, President Cathy Sandeen announced on Feb. 24, 2021 that 缅北禁地 will establish three new student success centers: Black Student Success Center, Latinx Student Success Center, and an Undocumented Student Resource Center. Additionally, significant renovations to the Diversity and Inclusion Student Center (DISC) will create dedicated spaces for other affinity-based student success units including a center to support Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander and other student populations that have achievement and equity gaps.

President Sandeen created a Task Force to provide transparency into the planning process and to provide specific implementation recommendations related to these centers and the programs and services that will be provided. In her charge to the Affinity-based Student Success and Resource Centers Task Force, President Sandeen called for recommendations grounded in data examining and assessing learning support, student demand, staffing, space usage, future advisory committees, and dedicated marketing and outreach to students. 

The Task Force members were: 

  • Kimberly Baker-Flowers (co-chair)
    University Diversity Officer
  • Suzanne Espinoza (co-chair)
    Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Rocio Camarena (representing Undocumented Student Task Force)
    Admin Support Coordinator, University Diversity Office
  • Martin Castillo
    AVP Campus Life
  • Danika LeDuc
    Associate Dean, College of Science
  • Anjelica deLeon (representing ASI)
    Student
  • Saleem Gilmore
    Dir, EOP & Student Access Prog, Educational Opportunity Program
  • Balvinder Kumar
    Dir. of Special Sessions Programs, University Extension
  • Fa'aalu Lealaimatafao
    Director Budget & Operations, Student Affairs
  • Jessika Murphy
     DISC Coordinator, Diversity Center
  • Erica Wildy
    Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
  • Andrea Wilson
    AVP, Student Support Services & Equity
  • Meiling Wu (representing Faculty Senate)
    Dept Chair AY, Modern Languages & Literatures