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Dear campus community,

I am writing today to provide the most current update on plans for the Cal State East Bay Office of Diversity.

As previously announced, I will launch a national search for a Cabinet-level University Diversity Officer early in the fall with the goal of welcoming our new diversity leader to the East Bay community in fall 2022. This new leader will report directly to me and will be allocated a budget and staff to advance our DEI priorities. As is customary in our leadership searches, we will organize open forums, giving the broader campus community an opportunity to interact with and provide feedback on the finalists.

I am delighted to report we have engaged  to serve as my DEI Advisor over the summer to ensure we do not lose our momentum in our vital diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism work. I have asked Dr. Bobby to assess our current DEI structure and to make recommendations on how Cal State East Bay can best expand our DEI and anti-racism impact in the future—and position our new University Diversity Officer for success. Dr. Bobby brings vast experience as a DEI leader, facilitator and strategist. Our paths overlapped at the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C. and, among other positions, Dr. Bobby previously served as a faculty member and administrator at Sacramento State. She is no stranger to the CSU.

In addition, I want to remind you that our Diversity and Inclusion Student Center (DISC) continues its great work in concert with our four new Affinity Centers (AAPI Student Success Center, Black Student Success Center, Latinx Student Success Center and Undocumented Student Resource Center) under the leadership of Dr. Martin Castillo in Student Affairs.

Our Title IX and Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation (DHR) compliance units continue their important work under the direction of Interim VP Andre Johnson.

Robust DEI development and training opportunities will continue over the summer as well. Academic Affairs will fund and organize DEI training for search committees, and we will continue to offer various DEI training sessions to staff and managers, organized through HR/Development and Training. Please check your email for additional information about these opportunities.

We will develop plans for our “Muwekma Innu” (Muwekma Path) project, adjacent to the CORE Building, in concert with the Muwekma Tribal Council and our Tribal Liaison, Professor Enrique Salmón. I look forward to sharing some conceptual drawings with the campus community in early fall.

In closing . . .

I was deeply honored to have been part of our cultural graduation celebrations this past weekend and look forward to celebrating the hard work and achievement of the Class 2022, and recognizing the Classes of 2020 and 2021 over the coming days. Seeing the joy in the faces of our students and their families reinforces for me the importance of working together to create an inclusive environment where every student, faculty and staff member who joins our community has the opportunity to thrive.

My commitment to our DEI, belongingness and anti-racism efforts is unwavering and our work here will continue undeterred. I appreciate the opportunity to describe my plans and concrete next steps to maintain our momentum and to guide us forward over the summer as we prepare for a successful and impactful Academic Year 2022-23.

All my best,

Cathy Sandeen
President