Happy Spring 2025! Happy 4th week of classes!
Great seeing many of you at our Welcome Back meeting Friday, January 24th, and at our Welcome Back event with students on February 5th.
In meeting with our College of Ethnic Studies Chair’s council retreat this winter, we are continuing our discussion on ways to consistently increase enrollment in our majors and provide ongoing support for our students as they move through our classes.
The university is experiencing a "financial emergency." An Institutional Review Committee has been formed. Due to declining enrollment and a reduction by the state based on the California state budget situation, there is a projected decrease of 17.2 million dollars in the 2025-2026 campus budget. The Dean's office is committed to supporting our college through these discussions and transitions and ensuring that the work of the college is valued and recognized, especially the high numbers of students that we serve in our General Education courses.
We encourage everyone to attend the following meetings regarding the budget and other pressing matters:
University-wide Budget Committee meeting on Thursday February 27th from 10-12 noon on ZOOM
College of Ethnic Studies Mid-Semester Check in on Friday, March 7th from 12-1pm on ZOOM and in-person
In addition, we have some new initiatives that we are doing this Spring including college-wide career programming through our capstone courses. These are some of our upcoming events:
-
COES Alumni and Student Networking Event, Wednesday March 5th, 2:00-3:15pm
-
COES Career Faire, Wednesday, April 2, 2:00-3:15pm
We are also searching for our Associate Dean this Spring. More information is listed below.
Please also save the date for our all-college retreat scheduled for June 2-3, 2025 at Westerbeke Ranch in Sonoma, California.
In Solidarity,
Grace J. Yoo, Dean
Mai Nhung Le, Interim Associate Dean
Announcements
We welcome a new member in our Dean's Suite Ricardo Sarmiento. Ricardo will serve as the Assistant to the Dean. He is a SFSU Alumni, a double major in Latino/Latina Studies & Chemistry B.A. He also is graduate of UC Berkeley with a Masters in Public Health Concentration in Health Policy and Management, Lecturer Fall 2024, LTNS 110.
On Wednesday, February 5th, the College of Ethnic Studies hosted a Welcome Back Lunch for all majors and minors within the college. During this event, students had the opportunity to connect with peers from various departments, engage with faculty and staff, and learn about the numerous resources available to them. The event was well-attended, successful, and accompanied by enjoyable food. Below is a picture of the students who participated in the event.
College searching for an Associate Dean
The College of Ethnic Studies Associate Dean search is occurring this Spring semester. The job posting is listed here. The position is open until filled.
The Search Committee includes the following members:
Falu Bakrania (RRS)
Mark Davis (AFRS)
Jane Dewitt, Associate Dean of Academic Planning
Melissa Guzman (LTNS)
Ty Manuilit (Deans office)
Baligh Ben Taleb (AIS)
Wesley Ueunten (AAS)
The Search Committee will be convening job talks and will invite those in the college to attend.
Congratulations to our Sabbatical Award Recipients:
- Dr. Mai-Nhung Le - Asian American Studies Spring 2026
- Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade - Latina/o Studies Academic Year 2025-2026
- Dr. Eric Pido - Asian American Studies Spring 2026
Faculy and Staff Lounge: EP 113
Our lounge is now open and has tables, a couch, a microwave, and a refrigerator. It is a place for community and rest. Your mailroom key will open the door.
We would also like your thoughts on the mailroom. Please complete the mailroom survey by Friday, February 21, 2025.
Are you interested in working on climate change and justice in your research, scholarship or creative activities?
Through the Climate Justice Leaders Initiative, SF State’s Climate HQ aims to strengthen climate justice teaching, research and outreach at SF State. Climate HQ supports efforts to mitigate climate change and to address climate impacts through interdisciplinary mini-grants that bring researchers from different fields together to address climate justice goals.
These one-time mini-grants will seed and support interdisciplinary research, scholarship and creative activities. Three to six grants between $5,000 and $12,000 each will be awarded (award period is June 2025 – May 2026). Applications are sought from teams comprised of at least two people who specialize in different disciplines, including at least one tenured/tenure-track faculty.
The mini grants goals are to:
- support faculty members incorporating climate change/justice into their research, service and creative activities (RSCA) for the first time.
- deepen their inquiries into climate change/justice in a new way.
- facilitate connections among faculty engaged in climate RSCA across campus and in the community.
For questions, please contact Carolina Prado.
College-Wide Events
This semester the College of Ethnic Studies will be holding events to support students network with alumni and employers and will also provide students the opportunity to showcase their research.
Meet and Greet and Network with Ethnic Studies Alumni
Wednesday, March 5th from 2 to 3:15 pm in EP 116
Resume Writing and Career Faire
Wednesday, April 2nd from 2 to 3:15 pm in EP 116 and EP 113
If you know of employers or alumni who can participate, can you complete this link.
Undergraduate Research Symposium
Wednesday, May 7th in EP 116 and EP 113 and Halls of Ethnic Studies Building
We are asking that each class organize one 5-minute oral presentation and 2-8 individual/group poster presentations
College of Ethnic Studies Scholarships
The College and departments have numerous scholarships available for our majors and minors. Please encourage your students to apply. Applications for scholarships are open from January 25 through March 25, 2025. Application details can be found at https://sfsu.academicworks.com
Awarded by the College of Ethnic Studies
- Dean's Scholar Award
- James Akira Hirabayashi Person for All Seasons Scholarship
- Jerry Wayne Varnado Ethnic Studies Scholarship
- Phillip McGee Memorial Scholarship
- Jolivette Family Empowerment Scholarship
- Queer Ethnic Studies Endowed Graduate Student Scholarship
- Queer Ethnic Studies Scholarship - Undergraduate Award
- Kenneth P. Monteiro - Associated Students Scholarship in Ethnic Studies
- Maria P.P. Root Scholarship Award in Critical Mixed Race Studies
- Meredith Morgan Eliassen Fellowship in Women Shaping California Communities
- Richard and Mildred Loving Scholarship Award in Critical Mixed Race Studies
- Philip M. Klasky Climate Justice Scholarship
- Comfort Women Research and Creative Scholarship Fund - Student Award
- Student Activist and Advocate Endowed Scholarship
Awarded by Asian American Studies
- Anantha Sudhakar Memorial Scholarship - Undergraduate Award
- Anantha Sudhakar Memorial Scholarship - Graduate Award
- Mark B. Kertz and Minnie Look Scholarship in Asian American Studies
- Paul Whang Memorial Fellowship
Awarded By Africana Studies
- Africana Studies Scholarship
- Dr. J.E. "Penny" Saffold Leadership Award
- Joseph L. White Endowed Scholarship in Africana Studies
Awarded by American Indian Studies
- Betty Parent Achievement Award
- Jessica Mae Orozco Memorial Scholarship
- American Indian Studies Scholarship
- Jacques E. Johnet Trust Scholarship for Native Americans
Awarded by Latino/a Studies
- Latina/o Studies Scholarship
Awarded by Race and Resistance Studies
- Edward Said Scholarship
- Race and Resistance Studies Scholarship
College-wide Mid-Semester Check in
We will be hosting an all-college mid-semester check in on Friday, March 7, 2025, from 12 to 1:00pm in EP 116. The meeting will be in person and on Zoom. We will be serving a light lunch for those that can attend. The Dean will share updates to the campus budget. Kyle Wallace-Jordan, our academic counselor will also join us as we check in on the semester and our students. Please RSVP here.
All College Retreat: Save The Date June 2-3, 2025
Funded through AAPI cares, the college is hosting a retreat for faculty on teaching, pedagogy and racial solidarity. The retreat is scheduled from June 2nd to June 3rd, 2025. In Westerbeke - Sonoma.
We are extending this invitation for all faculty in the college. Please RSVP here by March 1, 2025.
College Budget
San Francisco State University is experiencing a “Financial Emergency"
This Spring 2025, an Institutional Review Committee (IRC) has been convened. As per the Academic Discontinuance Policy #S24-177, the dollar target reduction to be cut from academic programs is $15.5 million dollars over 4 years.
Our college-wide representatives include the following:
Faculty
Falu Bakrania (RRS)
Joanne Barker (AIS)
Staff
Gabriela Segovia-McGahan (AIS/LTNS)
Colleagues throughout the College are invited to attend the February 27th University Budget Committee meeting from 10-12 noon and the College-wide Mid semester Check in on Friday March 7th from 12-1pm.
Departmental Updates
The Africana Studies department has the following updates for Spring 2025:
The department is hosting The Nathan Hare Speaker Series on Wednesday February 19th. Professor Sharon Jones will be speaking and presenting Herstory: Living the Legacy. Register for the zoom meeting here.
The department is hosting an Africana Studies Mixer on February 26th.
The department has a Visiting Assistant Professor search happenng this Spring.
Africana Studies will have a Open House in Spring 2025.
The department is developing an Africana Educational Studies Certificate, stay tuned for more information.
The American Indian Studies department has the following updates for Spring 2025:
The department is hosting the Global Indigeneity working group - first meeting is February 20, 2-3 pm, place TBA (*will serve food and gift books).
The department is in collaboration with SF American Indian Cultural Center for several programs (announcement forthcoming - youth, basketball, and culture event in mid-spring). All welcome.
Baligh Ben Taleb has been awarded a grant for research related to the Alcatraz Occupation.
Robert Keith Collins has published the following chapters:
"Local Knowledge in Museum Exhibits; The Relevance of Native America to Black History." In The Future is Indigneous: Stories from the new Native North American Hall at the Field Museum, edited by Alaka Wali and Tom Skwerski. Bar Publishing. 2024. Pp. 4-10.
"Native Knowledge and Changing Museum Paradigms." In The Future is Indigneous: Stories from the new Native North American Hall at the Field Museum, edited by Alaka Wali and Tom Skwerski. Bar Publishing. 2024. Pp. 152-158.
Using Person-Centered Ethnography to Explore African and Native American Intersections in the Unites States. In Sage Research Methods. Sage Publications. 2024.
The Asian American studies department has the following updates for Spring 2025:
Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Distinguished Endowed Chair in Nikkei Studies search is happening this Spring. Campus visits will take place in March,
The department is hosting Brown Bag Hangout events at EP 116 on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2 pm. This semester we plan to continue to work with student organizations such as ASU, LFS, NSU, VSA, PACE, and others to have more structure to explore themes of community-building both on and off campus, activism, time management, performance arts, etc.
The department is hosting the AAS ASU Graduation celebration on May 25 (Venue TBA)
The Latino/a/x Studies department has the following updates for Spring 2025:
The department welcomes back Teresa Carrillo back after sabbatical.
The department has launched $2000 LTNS Scholarships in which 3 awards will be given.
The department has received approval for revised major requirements that will be effective Fall 2025.
The department has revised faculty retention/tenure/promotion requirements to be effective Fall 2025.
The department is launching a search for our next chair.
The Race and Resistance Studies department has the following updates for Spring 2025:
The department is launching 2 RRS schoalrships ($500/each) and 1 QTE undergraduate ($1k) scholarship
Leora Kava and Levalasi Loi On received a $750,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, “Building Critical Pacific Islands & Oceania Studies at SFSU.”
Ponipate Rokolekutu co-edited a special issue of the Okinawa Journal of Island Studies (OJIS) titled “Our Sharpest Tools: Unsettling Empire from Islands and Oceans.” and published: “Interrogating British Colonial Benevolence and the Annexation of the Fijian Islands” (Nov 2024)
Omar Zahzah published “Terms of Servitude: Zionism, Silicon Valley, and Digital/Settler-Colonialism in the Palestinian Liberation Struggle” (published by the Censored Press) already available to pre-order (Pub. date 2025)
Rama Kased is part of a group that worked with the university towards divesting from weapons manufacturers and companies involved in violations of human rights and international law. They succeeded!
METRO has the following updates for Spring 2025:
Metro has entered a reorganization after Mary Beth and Phonita's retirements.
The focus this Spring is on outreach and recruitment into Metro’s 13 academies for Fall 2025.
The data team found statistics that complete all Metro courses graduate at 68% in 6 years.
Teacher & Student Resources
Starting Monday, February 3, 2025, and continuing Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM in the Ethnic Studies & Psychology Building, Room 100.
Study Circles are an open space for students to receive one-on-one support for their classes, study, collaborate, and build community with one another. Encourage students to come!
Library Services for Faculty
Spring Tips for Faculty! https://library.sfsu.edu/spring-2025-faculty
Request Instruction
To request instruction, please email me, or submit our Instruction Request Form. We ask that you make your requests at least two weeks in advance, but feel free to make your request earlier.
I am available for in-person and synchronous instruction via Zoom. I can discuss asynchronous support as well, such as video tutorials, or research guides.
Scaffold research skill building through your course
Our Teaching Research Toolkit contains a variety of activities for each step of the research process, including crafting a research question, selecting search terms, finding sources, reading sources, and using sources. These activities are available for your to use and modify, and could serve as a compliment to libraryinstruction, and a way to build low-stakes practice of research skills into your class.
Library resources on Canvas
Our Library resources and research guides can now be integrated directly into Canvas course sites and modules. Please reach out with questions or refer to this handout.
Course Reserves
The library can place SFSU library or professor copies of textbooks on reserve as a no-cost option for students to access the course texts. You can set the loan duration of the material - 2, 4, 24, or 48 hours. Faculty may place physical and electronic materials on Course Reserves for their students using the Course Reserve Request Form. Please note that the form also allows you to request materials for purchase to be placed on reserve, however, books requested for purchase now will not be available at the start of the semester.
Individual Research Support
I am available for individual research consultations to students and faculty. Schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with me here. For immediate assistance chat with a librarian via the chat widget on the library website.
For more information, reach out to:
Talía Guzmán-González, PhD, MLIS
Research & Instruction Librarian
J. Paul Leonard Library
San Francisco State University
Email: tgg@sfsu.edu
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Hear my name: https://namedrop.io/taliaguzmangonzalez
Contact Information
Staff
- Ty Maniulit
- Assistant to the Associate Dean
- tymaniulit@sfsu.edu
- Ricardo Sarmiento
- Assistant to the Dean
- ricksarm@sfsu.edu
- Jack Mao
- Chief Fiscal Officer/Business Manager
- jackym@sfsu.edu
- Marlena Jung
- Fiscal Specialist
- mjung1@sfsu.edu
- Laura Chelliah
- HR/College Scheduler
- laurac@sfsu.edu
- John Cleary
- Operations/Facilities
- jcleary@sfsu.edu
AOCs
- Gautam Baksi
- Race & Resistance Studies Academic Coordinator
- gautam@sfsu.edu
- Madeline Flamer
- Africana Studies Academic Coordinator
- madeline@sfsu.edu
- Gabriela Segovia-McGahan
- American Indian Studies Academic Coordinator and Latina/Latino Studies Academic Coordinator
- gsegovia@sfsu.edu
- Becky Mou
- Asian American Studies Academic Coordinator
- aas@sfsu.edu
Important Dates
First Day of Instruction
Monday, January 27
Last day to Drop/Withdraw classes without a W grade
Monday, February 17
Withdrawal from Classes or University for serious and compelling reason
Tuesday, February 18 - Monday, April 21
Grading Option Deadline (This includes Cr/No CR or Letter Grade)
Friday, May 9
Withdrawal from Classes or University by exception for documented serious and compelling reasons
Tuesday, April 22 - Friday, May 16
Last Day of Instruction
Friday, May 16
For more information on add/drop dates, please visit the Registrar webpage on deadlines.