scholarship

Anthropology professor establishes student scholarships with donations to SF State

Dawn-Elissa Fischer creates awards in honor of scholar Marcyliena Morgan, civil rights attorney Walter P. Riley

Extending an academic family tree to today’s students and future generations, a professor at San Francisco State University has created two scholarships for students.  

With two generous donations to San Francisco State, Anthropology professor Dawn-Elissa Fischer has established the Marcyliena Morgan Scholarship and the Walter P. Riley Radical Change Scholarship. Both awards are eligible exclusively to SF State students. 

Fischer created the awards to respectively honor Morgan, a Harvard University professor and renowned scholar of hip-hop, and Riley, an Oakland civil rights attorney and activist. Both Morgan and Riley have fought injustices and opened doors with global impact. 

“Dr. Marcyliena Morgan and Walter Riley are revolutionaries in their own distinct ways,” Fischer said. “Their steadfast efforts have brought about widespread recognition for activists and hip-hop artists as organic intellectuals with integrity.”

With both awards, students will gain opportunities to meet mentors, join professional networks and establish their own. As a faculty member, Fischer says that mentorship is critical to engender success in students, particularly those from underrepresented groups without equitable access to professional networks. She learned the value of networking from mentors like Morgan, but also through her personal academic family tree: Fischer’s parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were all educators. 

“There are so many layers and roles that faculty play in helping students build scholarly community,” Fischer said. “In my family, it comes from a Historically Black College and University tradition, and it recognizes structural factors that often block access for talented individuals to plug into success networks,” Fischer added. “And when that happens, society loses.” 

Marcyliena Morgan Scholarship 

The Marcyliena Morgan Scholarship provides stipends for activities related to student professional development, such as travel, lodging and conference fees. These experiences enhance students’ knowledge, but perhaps even more importantly, also allow them to build their own professional networks.  

At Harvard, Morgan is the Ernest E. Monrad Professor of the Social Sciences, a professor in the Department of African and African American Studies and the executive director of the Hiphop Archive and Research Institute. Her books include “Language, Power and Discourse in African American Culture,” “Speech Communities: Key Topics in Linguistic Anthropology” and “The Real Hiphop: Battling for Knowledge, Power and Respect in LA’s Underground.” 

In December, Fischer was among the invited presenters at a tribute to Morgan at Harvard, alongside other notable mentees in academia. Fischer’s presentation makes note that Morgan’s multigenerational, worldwide impact has reached SF State: Fischer has worked with Morgan at the institute, directing special programs and collections for two decades and — along the way — connecting SF State students with Harvard fellowships.

Marcyliena Morgan

Marcyliena Morgan. Photo by Melissa Blackall/Courtesy of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research.

Walter P. Riley Radical Change Scholarship 

The Walter P. Riley Radical Change Scholarship honors students committed to pursuing radical social change through community involvement.  

An activist since high school in the Jim Crow South, Riley attended SF State in the 1960s and became involved in Students for a Democratic Society, Black Students for Open Admissions and the student strike for Black and ethnic studies. His work is centered around labor, education, housing access, anti-apartheid, anti-war, police misconduct, voter registration and cultural issues. He has worked with the Black Panther Party and in grassroots efforts to prevent urban displacement of Black and other working-class communities. Riley’s numerous recognitions include the 2015 Law for the People Award from the National Lawyers Guild.

Walter Riley

Walter P. Riley

Learn more about supporting SF State scholarships.

For more information about donating to the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, contact
Bonnie Feinberg at bfeinberg@sfsu.edu

Rising star: University researcher Berenice Baca achieves firsts in sea star research

With faculty support, a scholarship award-winning student expands class project into a graduate research project

It’s not often that one gets to throw starfish a birthday party. Some species — like the six-rayed sea star Leptasterias — are notoriously difficult to keep alive in the lab, making even first birthdays a rarity. So when San Francisco State University researcher Berenice Baca achieved the seemingly impossible feat of raising Leptasterias specimens for an entire year, her lab made sure to celebrate.

Baca is among the first in her field to successfully rear Leptasterias embryos to reach the one-year milestone in the lab. And to think, this project started in an undergraduate class with San Francisco State Biology Professor Sarah Cohen.

“Because of that study I started as an undergrad, I was able to grow [Leptasterias] up to a year, which is really exciting,” said Baca, who joined Cohen’s lab as an undergraduate researcher and is now an SF State master’s student. She’s been with this project for less than two years but she’s already shared her work at national and international conferences, won research awards, attended research workshops and worked with KQED to highlight these sea stars.

Baca’s work could help Leptasterias and other species feeling the impact of grave challenges. Sea stars face the constant threats of climate change and sea star wasting disease, a mysterious condition wiping out entire species. “We tend to notice or shift our attention towards certain species when it’s endangered or almost gone,” Baca explained. “We should try to address [these issues] now rather than wait until the species is almost completely gone.”

Headshot of SF State student researcher Berenice Baca
SF State student researcher Berenice Baca

Berenice Baca

Happy birthday, dear Leptasterias…

Baca studies the developmental patterns of two species of Leptasterias sea stars (Leptasterias pusilla and Leptasterias aequalis). These species reproduce via brood-fostering, which is akin to a hen sitting on her eggs. While somewhat common among other animals, it’s a rare approach among marine species. In the wild, maternal sea stars protect 50 – 1,500 embryos on their underside until their young stars are ready to be independent. Baca successfully raised these embryos to a juvenile stage in the lab without maternal care (i.e., without brooding). As part of this project, she developed protocols for this process and gleaned unique insight about Leptasterias development.

“As I was starting this project, I realized there’s no information on this, which drove me a little crazy,” Baca said, noting that the knowledge gap fueled her curiosity and determination.

Her first step was to give the sea stars a laboratory home as cold as their native habitat. Baca first raised the stars at 9 to 10 degrees Celsius in a classroom cold room before moving them to a dedicated deli fridge set at 12 to 13 degrees Celsius. Next, she needed to ensure that the stars didn’t starve. This was quite the saga, Baca explains, because the stars kept losing interest in readily available fish food. It turned out Baca’s microscopic juvenile starfish — approximately 0.2 cm in size — required live sea snails, copepods and barnacles they could hunt.

“I ended up getting these microscopic snails that required really fine tweezers to get them out of barnacles. I was doing this at 5 in the morning or very late at night because I have to correlate [my work] with the tides,” she explained.

six-rayed sea star Leptasterias

Juvenile Leptasterias less than 2 cm in size.

six-rayed sea star Leptasterias

Sea star next to a finger for scale.

six-rayed sea star Leptasterias

Sea star hunting a sea snail.

Comparable studies on Leptasterias failed to grow the early juveniles in the lab and only one known study was able to hatch these stars. Extending Leptasterias’ lifespan in the lab gave Baca the opportunity to document their development as early as eight hours to 31 days, allowing her to capture beautiful images of fertilized eggs and snapshots of intermediate stages. By day 44, her juvenile stars began taking on a familiar six-armed star shape, and by 10 months the stars were 1.3 cm or bigger and started exhibiting hallmark coloration and patterns. Sharing her work at conferences, she was heartened to hear other scientists share excitement for her work and give her words of encouragement.

Baca and the Cohen lab even worked with KQED to feature Leptasterias in a new episode of its science video series “Deep Look.” Scroll to end of story to see the video. 

Growing up alongside her stars

Coming to SF State, Baca knew she wanted to do research, but she’s still a bit awestruck by how her research experience has evolved. When she enrolled in Cohen’s “BIOL 586GW: Marine Ecology Laboratory — GWAR,” Baca wanted research experience, but she didn’t anticipate it would lead her to pursue a master’s degree.

“It’s really nice that Sarah [Cohen] is really good at figuring out your interest and connecting you with the right people,” Baca said, explaining that Cohen encouraged her to apply for grants and scholarships, participate in conferences and attend science workshops.

Happy birthday cake and candles for the six-rayed sea star Leptasterias

Baca’s honors included the Achievement Reward for College Scientists (ARCS), Step to College and University scholarships. “That really helps. Sometimes you feel lost and having that [support] really helps in initiating your own project or research. It actually makes you feel like a scientist.”

With daily lab work, field research and conferences, being a scientist has become a big part of her life. Baca, a first-generation student, previously maintained multiple jobs and worked full-time in the fields picking blueberries and grapes to support her University education. Growing up in a small town that lacked proper science education, she had an unsatisfied desire to learn more. It’s that natural and unwavering curiosity that’s driven her throughout her research, especially when it gets hard.

“I’m really thankful for the entire Cohen lab,” Baca said, adding that Cohen’s and her lab mates’ support and encouragement have been instrumental. “I believe without them I wouldn’t have anything.”

For more information about donating to the College of Science & Engineering, contact 
Holly Fincke at hollyfincke@sfsu.edu

Donor Profile: Kenny and Maria Chin

Providing opportunities through investing in education
In 2022, Kenny Chin (M.A. ’78, Political Science) and his wife Maria Chin generously gave to the College of Liberal & Creative Arts to establish two scholarships, one for undergrad/grad students in International Relations and the other in Philosophy. They also funded the Chin-Plaisance Colloquium Series at SF State, which featured Angela Davis as a speaker last year. Kenny and Maria are both first-generation Americans who come from modest means and are happy to find themselves in a position to give at this point in their lives.

Kenny Chin: From Renegade Radical to a Ph.D.
In the 1960s, Kenny Chin was involved with the counterculture movement and generally more interested in having fun than studying in college. He squeaked by graduating from the University of Houston in 1971, and was later unfortunately rejected by graduate schools in Texas. After leaving college, he was a self-described “renegade radical” and worked odd jobs to better understand the travails of the working class. Eventually, Kenny got a job as a train porter, which allowed him to extensively travel around the U.S. This exposed him to the diversity and politics of the country, which eventually made him want to continue his studies in political philosophy. Fortunately, a second chance for graduate school happened at SF State.

At SF State, Kenny met Dr. Wayne Bradley, who told Kenny that he would allow him into the graduate political science program if he was able to score well on the Miller Analogies Test, an admissions test that many graduate schools used at the time. Kenny studied for the exam for an entire year, got a good score, and has remained grateful to Dr. Bradley and SF State for giving him a second chance in life. He received his M.A. in Political Science from SF State in 1978—learning much from Dr. Matthew Stolz and Dr. Gerard Heather—and a Ph.D. in Political Science from UC Berkeley in 1986, majoring in China’s “Open Door to Foreign Investments.”

Maria Chin: Guided by a Catholic ethic of mercy and love
Like Kenny, Maria’s parents immigrated from China. Her parents landed in Lima, Peru, where she grew up. She and Kenny met at a party in San Francisco while she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business and marketing at the University of San Francisco. Maria was and is a devout Catholic, and the two were not an immediate match because of Kenny’s radical beliefs. However, they soon came to care for one another, and Kenny realized that Maria’s values and cultural roots provided a deeper connection than politics for him.

Kenny went into business around the time that he met Maria, finding success in the import/export trade with China. Maria, now retired, worked in the accounting department of Bechtel for 38 years, and the couple has two grown sons.

“Forget injuries; never forget kindness.” –Confucius
Kenny had always envisioned running for politics once he got older and retired, but, when the time came, he decided to invest in education instead. “I believe the best path forward for me is to help young people, to open curious minds,” says Kenny. Guided by their shared values of compassion and love, Kenny and Maria began to look for opportunities to give back to the community and share the result of successful investments that they had made over the years.

In keeping with Confucius’ teachings which Kenny adheres to, and grateful for the opportunity that SF State had given him in the past, the couple decided to fund the Chin-Plaisance Colloquium Series; the Benny & May Chin Scholarship in International Relations; and the Benny & May Chin Scholarship in Philosophy (named after Kenny’s parents) at SF State in 2022. Maria and Kenny understand that the need for scholarships amongst SF State students, many of whom work in addition to pursuing their education, can be great, which inspired their choice.

“There's a lot of kids that go to SF State—they work while they are trying to get ahead by getting a degree. At the same time, they often try to provide for and help their families,” says Maria. “So, I think that SF State students may need more than [students] at other universities. I hope that this will help somebody to open up the world to become more peaceful.”

Kenny, who aspires to fund projects that improve relations between the U.S. and China in the future, shares Maria’s sentiments: “I'd be really happy if one day some of our giving makes an impact and helps some students or professors to become very successful and have a positive impact on the world. That's my hope.”

For more information about donating to the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, contact 
Bonnie Feinberg at bfeinberg@sfsu.edu

 

Michael Bien Establishes Scholarship Fund for Project Rebound students in memory of his late wife Jane E. Kahn

Michael Bien and the late Jane E. Kahn

Jane E. Kahn (1954-2018) was an illustrious civil rights lawyer who fought tirelessly to improve the rights and well-being of incarcerated people in California and beyond. She often partnered with her husband and fellow attorney Michael Bien, whom she met in her first year as an undergraduate at Brandeis University. Together, they diligently advocated for the protection of the basic and constitutional rights of incarcerated people, resulting in major reforms to the California penal system. Jane’s wins included a landmark 2011 Supreme Court ruling requiring a significant reduction of the overcrowded California prison population to allow systemwide improvements in mental and health care.

Jane Kahn

Civil rights attorney Jane E. Kahn (1954-2018)

After a struggle with cancer, Jane passed away at the end of 2018 at the age of 64. Michael continues the couple’s trailblazing work through class action lawsuits that are designed to protect the disenfranchised and make our society more equitable. “Jane had always been interested in law as a vehicle for social change and for improving society,” says Michael. “She cared a lot about improving the lives of incarcerated people and formerly incarcerated people and worked to make sure that they had reentry opportunities and a fair shot. She was a real believer in education as a tool for people to transition back to society and to have the tools to succeed when they come out of prison.” Jane served on the Board of the Prison University Project at San Quentin—now renamed Mount Tamalpais College—and Michael has continued to support the College with gifts in Jane’s memory.

Jane and Michael were dedicated donors to San Francisco State University’s Project Rebound program before she died. Project Rebound is one of the first in the country to provide currently and formerly incarcerated people with alternatives to the revolving door of the criminal justice system. Working inside prisons and on campus, it provides tools and resources to scaffold incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students in pursuing college and graduate degrees. It is very successful, with high graduation rates and low recidivism amongst its students and alumni.

In 2023, Michael deepened his commitment to Project Rebound and made a generous gift to provide scholarships for Project Rebound students by establishing the Jane Kahn Endowed Memorial Fund. The fund will further Jane’s legacy by providing formerly incarcerated graduate school students—who are often less eligible for grants and loans than undergraduates—with scholarships.

“Jane believed that we need to allow people to bring their best self forward, to give them an opportunity to rejoin society in a meaningful way,” says Michael. “Project Rebound connects to individual human beings in a way that makes a difference in their lives. In a broader sense, it helps defeat the myth that people who have been found guilty of doing something bad at one point in their lives should be ‘thrown away.’ People can change, and we have to give them the tools to do that, and to rejoin and be contributing members of society.”

After decades of advocating for systemic change, supporting Project Rebound has a poignancy for Michael. He hopes that his gift will inspire others to give to the program as well. “By supporting these students, we’re showing them that society has not given up on them,” says Michael. “And then they become great messengers in turn to their peers and to people that they can reach, that there is a path forward, you're important people in society and people believe in you.”

“I hope that others who have the means to give will see this program as deserving of their support. That they will join us in supporting Project Rebound because I know the need is much greater than what we can address with this one gift.”

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DONATING TO PROJECT REBOUND:

Contact Anjali Billa, Associate Vice President of University Development, at anjalibilla@sfsu.edu

San Francisco Foundation Announces Scholarship Program for Black Students at San Francisco State University

Announcing the SFF Black Excellence Scholarship for SF State

The San Francisco Foundation (SFF) has announced a new scholarship program for San Francisco State University students who identify as Black and demonstrate financial need. The San Francisco Foundation Black Excellence Scholarship for SF State will offer $2,500 scholarships to 35 SF State students each year.

“SF State students are a vibrant part of the Bay Area community,” said Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation. “By creating this scholarship program, we are helping to ensure that all SF State students have a fair chance to complete their studies and contribute their talents to an inclusive, thriving Bay Area.”

Since 1948, the San Francisco Foundation has dedicated itself to advancing social justice in the Bay Area by partnering with donors, nonprofits, and community leaders to create a region where everyone thrives. The foundation is thrilled to support students at SF State, one of the pillar universities in the Bay Area and the first in the nation to establish a college dedicated to ethnic studies.

Of all racial groups in the Bay Area, Black residents have the highest percent of completing some college education, but not obtaining a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bay Area Equity Atlas, which is supported by the San Francisco Foundation. Recent data also shows that the six-year graduation rate among Black students at SF State is 48 percent. This new scholarship aims to not only boost enrollment for Black students but also increase graduation rates among this group.

“One of the biggest barriers to earning a degree is the total cost of attending college. With the Bay Area’s high cost of living, we can see why these scholarships will help our students tremendously,” SF State Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Katie Lynch said. “We are grateful that the San Francisco Foundation has created this program that’ll help close long-standing equity gaps in higher education.”

Today’s announcement underlines the foundation’s ongoing commitment to racial equity and economic inclusion in education. In 2018, the San Francisco Foundation created a scholarship program for Black students at UC Berkeley, as part of the university’s African American Initiative. Now in its sixth year, the scholarships have supported more than 100 students to date, ensuring that they have equitable access to an education at UC Berkeley.

The foundation encourages donors to join us in contributing to the San Francisco Foundation Black Excellence Scholarship for SF State and UC Berkeley’s African American Initiative Scholarship to help Black students thrive at both universities. To support these scholarship programs, visit sff.org/give or contact donorservices[at]sff.org.

The San Francisco Foundation Black Excellence Scholarship for SF State application, selection, and awards process is managed by Scholarship America, a nonprofit organization that specializes in scholarship administration. The application process opens on March 11, and applications are due on April 10. Recipients will be announced in May, and scholarship awards will be issued in fall 2024. Students interested in learning more details should visit learnmore.scholarsapply.org/sff.

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The San Francisco Foundation is committed to a Bay Area where everyone can get a good job, live in a safe and affordable home, and exercise their political voice. The foundation advances its work through grantmaking, partnerships with donors, policy advocacy, and impact investing.

 

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