SACRAMENTO STATE
to address the entire student , the entire person , so that the student can be successful .”
On-campus centers include the MLK Center , a hub for the exploration of African American heritage and culture , and the Dreamer Resource Center , where pro bono attorney services are available for undocumented students and students with mixed-status families . Other centers and services include the Pride Center for LGBTQIA students , the Veterans Success
FOUNDATION FOR A MULTI-FACETED CAREER
HORNET PRIDE
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
As the Interim County Executive for Sacramento County , Ann Edwards is responsible to the Board of Supervisors for planning , organizing , directing and coordinating county activities . In this position , she oversees the more than 30 departments , offices and agencies that provide services to Sacramento County residents .
With such intense responsibilities , Edwards draws upon personal strength that ’ s been key to her success dating back more than 30 years to her time as a Sacramento State undergraduate . She earned her bachelor ’ s degree in Social Work in 1991 and her master ’ s degree in Counselor Education in 1993 . “ I was a single parent and working 20 to 30 hours a week in addition to attending Sacramento State ,” Edwards says . “ That helped me develop a strong work ethic and learn to manage time and priorities .”
Edwards feels fortunate to have had a local university to attend while working and raising her daughter , noting that her professors were all quite supportive of her life circumstances . She says of one of her most cherished memories , “ I ’ m so grateful my dad was able to present me with my master ’ s degree , as he was chair of the Education Department at that time . It was a special moment .”
As a proud Sac State graduate , Edwards concludes , “ I believe education has inherent value and helps develop critical thinking skills , which have helped me both professionally and personally .”
SACCOUNTY . NET
Center , the Serna Center for Chicanx and Latinx students , assistance for foster youth scholars and programs that reach across these groups to promote skills like financial wellness .
The goal is to integrate students into the university and the community at large in a way that feels safe , Diaz says . She first came to Sac State as a student through the College Assistance Migrant Program , which recruits children of migrant seasonal farm workers . These children have often experienced interruptions in their education from kindergarten through high school .
“ They ’ re usually coming in with lower SAT scores , with lower GPAs ,” Diaz says . She explains that the university offers these students extensive support and works to create a sense of belonging . “ At the same time , they ’ re graduating at a higher rate than the average Sac State student , so it ’ s quite impressive .”
Diaz has worked at Sac State for 20 years in various capacities and now holds two master ’ s degrees and a doctorate . She says she might not have completed college without CAMP and the environment it provided . “ It ’ s that sense of family , it ’ s that sense of home that the students feel ,” she says . “ For me , it was the only space where I felt like I could be myself .”
Last summer , as a national reckoning on race was taking place , Sac State President Robert S . Nelsen called for the creation of a campus anti-racism and inclusion plan by the end of the spring 2021 semester . The administration solicited feedback from students and faculty about their experiences — where they thought the university was doing well and where it wasn ’ t . The goals of the Antiracism and Inclusive Campus Plan are to ensure that the students are provided a curriculum that includes a diverse range of scholars , that the culture and learning experience are affirming , and to foster dialogue across racial lines .
Vermiere says the university will use the plan to determine if there are roadblocks for certain groups and to avoid unintended consequences that create disparity . The plan will establish an ever-evolving platform to promote dialogue , ensure equal access and promote the success of students , faculty and staff . “ We ’ re not going to do this campus anti-racism plan and we ’ re done — this is ongoing , lifelong work ,” Vermiere says . “ Because we ’ ll never be done .”
Ken Smith is a freelance writer , public relations consultant and video producer who is also managing editor of Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine magazine . More at kdscommunications . com .
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