Closing the Opportunity Gap: California State University, Sacramento Earns 2020 Seal of Excelencia

In creating programs to serve students who often have no supports, California State University, Sacramento (CSUS or Sacramento State) has changed the trajectories of many Latinx families.

Deborah A. Santiago, CEO of Excelencia in Education, says CSUS’ focus on Dreamers and migrant students stands out on this very diverse campus. 

“Their comfort levels in serving community students where they’re at — especially these students who are seen as so much more vulnerable because they don’t have the support systems or structures that are generally assumed or expected in higher ed — speak to why they’ve seen such a powerful impact,” says Santiago.

When assessing the impact of CSUS’ programming, people need to look no further than the person overseeing much of that programming, says Dr. Viridiana Diaz, associate vice president for strategic student support programs at CSUS. As an undergraduate, she participated in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), a federally funded program designed to help students from migrant and seasonal farmworker backgrounds succeed at CSUS.

“For me to oversee the CAMP program, when they’re the ones who recruited me out of high school and provided me with the support that I needed through my undergrad, is full circle for me,” Diaz says. “Now I create programs and services that serve people that I can very much connect with and understand.

“It’s reassuring to help students that typically don’t have these opportunities to advance their lives, and, by doing that, transforming their families and communities,” she adds. “The people at Sac State are incredibly invested and personally committed to the work that they do.”

Campus engagement