By Cynthia Hubert

March 27, 2024

Timothy Fong, a Sacramento State Ethnic Studies professor and director of the University’s Full Circle Project, has been named the inaugural executive director of a new CSU program serving Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.

The California State University Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Student Achievement Program’s central office will be located at Sacramento State Downtown and housed administratively within the Division of Inclusive Excellence.

Fong, who will begin his new duties later this month, was chosen after a “comprehensive, robust and national search,” said Vice President of Inclusive Excellence Mia Settles-Tidwell.

“Dr. Fong brings multiple years of proven success in serving AANHPI populations, raising supplemental funding for innovative programming and services, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, access and culturally rich experiences,” Settles-Tidwell said.

Since 2011, Fong has directed the Full Circle Project, an academic support and leadership program for AANHPI students. The program has been recognized as a “Model of Success” by the Center for Minority Serving Institutions at Rutgers University and highlighted in academic books and scholarly reports.

The new CSU central office will receive $8 million annually from the state, and will oversee academic, social and other programs and services that help AANHPI scholars succeed in college and beyond.

It will also provide grants, technical help, outreach, training and curriculum development to other CSU campuses to support their work to attract AANHPI students and help them graduate and launch careers.

“There are a lot of programs out there, but in some cases, we don’t know if they are actually helping in retaining and graduating students,” Fong said. “At Sac State, we have the knowledge, the experience and the data to show that we are succeeding. Our goal is to help others in the CSU achieve the same thing.”

Sac State’s graduation rates have risen dramatically since 2016, to about 28% last year. Gains have occurred across the board, including among Asian American students. More than 22% of students identify as Asian American Pacific Islander.

“I would like the CSU AANHPI student achievement program to be the hub for all CSU campuses to improve student services and curriculum development, especially for Asian American and Pacific Islander students, but really for all students.”

-- Timothy Fong, Ethnic Studies professor, Full Circle Project director and inaugural executive director of the AANHPI Student Achievement Program

Students who identify as AANHPI have traditionally been underserved in college, Fong said. Many are the first in their families to pursue higher education and are looking for resources to guide them through college.

Fong’s first order of business at the new CSU center will be to hire staff and furnish offices. The center’s primary work will be to review proposals from the system’s 23 campuses and allocate funds.

“I would like the CSU AANHPI student achievement program to be the hub for all CSU campuses to improve student services and curriculum development,” Fong said, “especially for Asian American and Pacific Islander students, but really for all students.”

“The center will help campuses across the state develop these things in whatever way works for them,” he said. “But I do want to see results.”