Humboldt State University has historically had tremendous pride in providing teacher education, science for society, protecting the environment, understanding soils, forests, and marine life, and so much more.

In more recent times, Humboldt has discovered its voice and embraced many facets of social justice, providing access to those who often did not have it, and working for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Humboldt, as a campus and as part of a larger community, has also often been critical of itself in these areas. We often downplay our efforts when we fall short or when we have not achieved perfection. In some ways, you might say, this keeps us striving to do even better.

However, it is also crucial to celebrate successes and acknowledge the progress we are making. In many ways, Humboldt is defining success in social justice and we will continue to do so. For example, for many years, Humboldt has strived to improve race relations, address gender gaps, and develop a more diverse student body, faculty, staff, and administration.

Today, Humboldt has many reasons to celebrate its successes, and we are doing so more frequently, along with our friends in the broader community. This optimism, and this confidence to look upward and outward, is helping to direct us toward a bright future. It is helping us, as a campus, to build on our strengths and our diversity in a way that is less critical and more developmental.

Humboldt, today, has many firsts of which to be proud and to celebrate, and pausing to embrace successes is important. These successes should not be overlooked or marginalized.  For example:

• 50% of Humboldt students are the FIRST in their family to attend college.

• 43% of Humboldt students are an ethnicity classified as an underrepresented minority. That is up from 25% in 2010 and 13% in 2000.
Of our 6,431 students, 3.4% are African-American, 2.9% are Asian American, 1.4% are Native, 33.3% are Latinx, 44.9% are White, 6.4% report two or more races, and 7.4% have unknown ethnicities.

• For the first time in Humboldt history, the majority of our tenure-track or tenured professors are women.

• Since 2019, the eight-person President’s Administrative Team (including the Vice Presidents, Chief of Staff, Special Assistant, and Athletic Director) has shifted from 20% women to 50% women. The team has changed from 20% to 75% people of color. Nearly all are first-generation college graduates with major national experiences at multiple universities.

• We have our first African-American Athletic Director, Jane Texiera, who significantly, is among 16% of all Athletic Directors in the nation who are female. We also have our first African-American head men’s basketball coach, Coach Tae Norwood. He leads a team of young men from across the country focused on earning a degree while also representing their campus and families. And guess what, it happened here at Humboldt.

• Humboldt’s first African-American Chief of Staff and Chief Financial Officer is here, right now. Sherie Gordan is the only African-American Chief of Staff and CFO in the CSU. It happened here at Humboldt.

• Humboldt hired our first African-American Dean of Students. Dr. Eboni Turnbow guides students through the maze of campus life – both challenging and supporting students. It happened here at Humboldt.

• Our first Vice President for Enrollment Management is also African-American. Dr. Jason Meriwether is nationally regarded and renowned for his creative strategies for recruiting students. It happened here at Humboldt.

• Our new Provost and Vice President for Academic is one of many women who have served in this major role on campus. Dr. Jenn Capps oversees all academic programs and faculty, and is leading the efforts for the campus strategic planning and polytechnic aspirations along with Dr. Lisa Bond-Maupin. Lisa previously served as Interim Provost and was Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, and is now the Special Assistant to the President. It happened here at Humboldt.

• Dr. Mary Oling-Sisay, who has now served as Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies for nearly two years, is African-American. Our Dean of the College of Professional Studies, Dr. Shawna Young, and Chief Information Officer Bethany Rizzardi, are two women leading change and innovation in their respective areas. It happened here at Humboldt.

• We recently hired our first African-American Chief of Police, Anthony Morgan, who is one of only three African-American Chiefs in the CSU. Our recently hired Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Dr. Elavie Ndura, is African-American. It happened here at Humboldt.

• Our new Vice President for Administration has moved to the area and will begin work soon. Shahrooz Roohparvar is of Middle Eastern descent. It happened here at Humboldt.

• And then there is yours truly — one of only three African-American presidents in the CSU. It happened here at Humboldt.

During Black Liberation Month in February, and now Women’s History Month in March, we celebrate many amazing people from times in the past to times present. These months provide an important reminder to reflect and to allow ourselves to celebrate the amazing and diverse leadership right in front of us today. These are individuals who have chosen to be here, at this time, in this place, at Humboldt. They are leaders from diverse backgrounds who have also experienced challenge and prejudice. Yet they pursued their dreams, often becoming the first in their families to earn a degree, and they have ascended into these leadership roles to assist students and help lead a major university.

It happened here at Humboldt. Be well.

Dr. Tom Jackson Jr. is the president of Humboldt State University.