College of Ethnic Studies News and Stories

Jeff Duncan-Andrade outside SF State Ethnic Studies Building

Inspiring Students to Dream Through Positive Leadership

As the new Chair of Latina/Latino Studies, Jeff Duncan-Andrade is forging a new kind of leadership that is connected to the values of Ethnic Studies. Read about his thoughts on equity in education and donorship.

Lisa White

Lisa D. White (B.A., '84): Carrying on a Gator Legacy

In honor of their alumni parents, Lisa and her sister have created the first endowed scholarship in the Department of Africana Studies and one in the School of the Environment.

Grace Yoo

Dean Grace Yoo: A Healthy Vision for CoES

“Building the college’s capacity for care will center students' experiences, and will aid in our continually supporting them, as they are in our classes and are our majors and minors in the college.”      

Professor of Asian American Studies Russell Jeung

$10 million from California budget goes to Stop AAPI Hate nonprofit co-founded by SF State professor

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed this week the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Equity Budget, which includes $10 million to the nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate co-founded by San Francisco State University professor of Asian American Studies Russell Jeung.

Clay Heironimus & Connell Persico

Alumni Clay Heironimus & Connell Persico Bequeath $400,000 to College of Ethnic Studies

Connell Persico and his husband Clay Heironimus created the C&C Fellowship in Queer Ethnic Studies Endowment, with a planned gift of $400,000. 

Picture of Amy Seuyoshi

Interview with Former Ethnic Studies Dean Amy Sueyoshi

Now Provost of the University, former dean Amy Sueyoshi, Ph.D. discusses goals for the College of Ethnic Studies

Alicia Garza speaking at SF State graduation

Alumna Profile: Alicia Garza (M.A., Ethnic Studies, '17)

While a graduate student at San Francisco State, Alicia co-founded Black Lives Matter and was instrumental in the development of the anti-racism movement. Listen to the inspiring speech she gave to her fellow graduates at the 2017 commencement and read more about Alicia in the links below.

Jeff Andrade

College of Ethnic Studies Associate Professor Featured in the NY Times

As part of their "Visionaries" series, the New York Times published a feature article about San Francisco State University College of Ethnic Studies associate professor Jeff Duncan-Andrade on November 21, 2019.

Belva in her youth

Belva Davis: Donor Profile

Belva Davis was accepted into SF State in the 1950s, but could not afford the cost of college. Instead, she began a career in journalism, eventually becoming the first female African American television reporter in the Western U.S. Belva worked as a news anchor for a number of Bay Area radio and TV stations in a career that spans nearly five decades. In 2018, Belva donated $10,000 to the College of Ethnic Studies to honor Ken Monteiro's long tenure as Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies, and the college's 50th-anniversary celebrations. 

Picture of Juanita Tamayo Lott

Juanita Tamayo Lott: A Woman For All Seasons

An original SF State striker, Juanita Tamayo Lott (B.A. ’70) played an instrumental role in the creation of the College of Ethnic Studies. She is also a generous donor to the college, and the author of a book about the strike: "Golden Children: Legacy of Ethnic Studies, SF State. A Memoir." In November, 2019, Juanita was inducted into the SF State Hall of Fame.

Arianna Vargas speaking at her commencement

Arianna Vargas: An SF State Student Since Childhood

Arianna’s relationship with the College of Ethnic Studies began way before she enrolled as a student. Starting at the age of two, her mother, Venecia Margarita (B.A., ’02; M.S.W., ’05), was a Raza Studies major and occasionally attended class with her baby in tow. Venecia learned from an early age that education is empowering, as evidenced by her impressive practice of community empowerment through education.