CSU Advancing and Expanding Ethnic Studies Awards Symposium 

Join us at the CSU Chancellor's Office for a one-day symposium, generously funded by the Mellon Foundation, to celebrate and showcase some of the incredible advancements by award recipients in Ethnic Studies pedagogy and research and intersections with Women's Studies, Sexuality Studies, and Trans Studies. 

 2026 CSU Advancing and Expanding Ethnic Studies (AEES) Awards Symposium

(Generously Sponsored by The Mellon Foundation)

Join By Zoom!

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.

(Note: Rooms are available for working during the event.)

Agenda

9:00a.m. – 10:15a.m. – Welcome & Refreshments

10:20a.m. - 10:55a.m. Opening Session

Symposium Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Robert Keith Collins, PhD, Mellon Project Manager, CSU Advancing and Expanding Ethnic Studies Awards (AEES) Program, Professor, American Indian Studies, SF State University.

Welcome from the CSU Board of Trustees

Wenda Fong, Former Chair, CSU Board of Trustees.

Welcome from the CSU Board of Trustees

Darlene Yee-Melichar, Ed,D, Faculty Trustee Emerita. 

11:00a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Ethnic Studies Minors as Pathways to Advancing a Relevant Education

PI: Dr. Jenell Navarro, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Co-PI:  Dr. Grace Yeh, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

11:35a.m. – 12:05p.m.

Roots of Solidarity and Intersectionality: Program & Curriculum Development for Asian American, Black, Chicana/o, and Native American Indigenous Studies at CSUCI

PI: Dr. Jennie Luna, CSU Channel Islands

Co-PI: Dr. Eva Nicole Vines, CSU Channel Islands

Co-PI: Dr. Bridget Groat, CSU Channel Islands

Co-PI: Dr. Lily Tamai, CSU Channel Islands 

12:05p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Break

1:05p.m. – 1:25p.m.

Welcome from the CSU

Junius J. Gonzales, Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs 

Caron Inouye, Associate Dean, Academic Programs, Curriculum and Assessment

Memories of Ethnic Studies Impact: Marci Sanchez, Assistant Director, Undergraduate Transfer Programs.

1:30p.m. – 2:00p.m.

Building Decolonized Internship Pipelines to Advance and Expand Ethnic Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at San Diego State University

PI: Dr. Alvin Henry, San Diego State University

Co-PI: Dr. Adisa Alkebulan, San Diego State University

Co-PI: Dr. Anne Donadey, San Diego State University

Co-PI: Dr. Maria Ibarra, San Diego State University

Co-PI: Dr. Esme G. Murdock, San Diego State University  

2:05p.m. – 2:35p.m.

Weaving Together: Ethnic Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at CSUB

PI: Dr. Tiffany Tsantoulas, CSU Bakersfield

Co-Presenter: Dr. Jeremiah Sataraka, CSU Bakersfield

2:40p.m. – 3:40p.m. -

Affirming and Expanding Ethnic Studies at Puvunga through Curriculum Development and Alignment 

PI: Dr. Theresa Gregor, CSULB

Co-PI: Dr. Maulana Karenga, CSULB

Co-PI: Dr. Barbara Kim, CSULB

Co-PI: Dr. Rigoberto Rodriguez, CSULB

3:45p.m. – 4:00p.m. - Closing Remarks: Advancing and Expanding Ethnic Studies in the 21st Century

Robert Keith Collins, PhD, Mellon Project Manager, CSU Advancing and Expanding Ethnic Studies Awards (AEES) Program, Professor, American Indian Studies, SF State University.

Please let us know if you will attend

 in-person or online! 

(Please email questions to rcollins@calstate.edu)