About the Serna Center

The Serna Center at California State University, Sacramento held its Grand Opening in the Spring of 2003. The Serna Center, a center at California State University, Sacramento named after the late Sacramento Mayor and Government Professor Joe Serna and the late university administrator and Ethnic Studies Professor Isabel Hernandez-Serna who were dedicated to political activism and engagement, academic access and excellence, and service to the community.

Located in California's capital, the Center's proximity to the California Legislature, other State and federal government agencies, and numerous community-based organizations present unlimited opportunities for faculty and students to participate in various numerous joint projects. The Center sponsors original research, studies, and reports; conferences, symposiums, and workshops; scholarship support for student internships; as well as social and cultural programs and events, all with a focus on the needs and issues facing Latinos.

The Latino population has increased dramatically in this area from 12 percent in 1990 to 26 percent in 2000. This increase has public policy implications for a wide range of issues including but not limited to politics, the arts, education, employment, health, and immigration. The role of the Center is to report on the conditions of Latinos in the region and to make public policy recommendations for consideration by public and private agencies.