California State University, Bakersfield

04/22/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/22/2025 15:37

CSUB celebrates opening of Black Student Success Center

Black students at California State University, Bakersfield now have a new space on campus to call their own.

The university celebrated the opening of its Black Student Success Center in Dorothy Donahoe Hall Room 101K during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday. The space serves as a hub for students where they can get access to resources, receive mentorship and build connections with other students, faculty and staff.

"The center gives our mission a home base, a physical foundation where the most essential ingredient for the transformation we seek can be found - and that is, of course, human connection," said President Vernon B. Harper Jr. "I have spoken to many alumni who said that they walked this campus and did not feel that this campus was their own, and part of the reason for this center is to correct that in every way that we possibly can."

The goals of the center are to foster a sense of belonging for Black students on campus and to give them more academic support to help them reach the graduation stage.

"The center's mission is clear - to make it easier for Black students to build meaningful relationships with faculty and staff, to be supported academically and culturally and to feel affirmed in their identity," said Director of Special Programs and Student Retention Initiatives Natasha Harris. "The center shall become the cornerstone for Black student success, a space where academic gaps will be closed, graduation rates will rise and Black excellence is not only expected but is celebrated every day."

During Monday's ceremony, it was revealed that the space has been formally named the Dr. Thomas D. Wallace Student Success Center in recognition of the vice president for Student Affairs and his advocacy for creating a space for Black students on campus.

"We would not be here and not think of ourselves as `Runners on this campus and in this community without the extraordinary and excellent service of Dr. Wallace for the past 13 years," Dr. Harper said. "He has brought a sense of optimism and inspiring vision of how this university should serve students that it did not have when he arrived."

The center is being funded through the California State University system's Black Student Success initiative. The CSU allocated $175,000 to CSUB last year to fund efforts aimed at providing support for Black students.

The grant also supported the creation of the SANKOFA Scholars program for Black women and outreach efforts at middle and high schools.

"This is a collective effort. This is about us coming together as an entire community," said Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Student Services Dr. Markel Quarles. "When students feel like they belong and are valued on campus, they do well. They thrive. We know that as an institution, that's our collective responsibility."