CSUSB’s History Toward Gender Equity
In 2014, former Associate Provost Jenny Zorn, who now serves as Provost at Humboldt State University, invited on-campus womxn leaders to a series of “brown bag” lunch sessions aimed at providing a safe space to have conversations about work-life balance, the next job opportunity, promotions or any topic that may have been of interest to the group. What started as an informal gathering of a dozen or so womxn became a more organized group, which planned a series of workshops offered throughout the year that empowered womxn on campus including faculty, staff and administrators. These efforts culminated with a meeting in the Spring of 2014 and 2015. The keynote speakers included Dr. Ann McElaney-Johnson, President of St. Mary’s University and Dr. Karen Haynes, President of CSU San Marcos along with a panel discussion led by women college Deans. Dr. Laurie Smith and Olivia Rosas led this womxn’s group when Dr. Zorn was appointed Provost at Humboldt State. In 2018, with the support of Cesar Portillo, Associate Vice President of Human Resources, several womxn on campus reconvened and decided to continue gender equity advocacy efforts and invite students, future leaders to attend the conference and participate in the planning of this first annual campus wide Womxn's Leadership Conference.
We continue to face many challenges but we also have a lot to be proud of and celebrate. It is important to recognize the work of influential womxn who have made a difference and changed the world, our nation and our communities. Womxn continue to rise to top roles because of their hard-work, integrity and desire to make a difference. But most importantly, they lead the way because they did not allow societal constructs to limit their potential.
In the CSU almost 50% of the Presidents are womxn. Adela De La Torre was recently appointed President of San Diego State University she will be the 9th president of the campus and the first Latina to hold this position at San Diego State. At CSUSB, Dr. Shari McMahan is the first womxn to be Vice President and Provost at CSUSB. Within the Associated Students Incorporated we have now seen 14 womxn presidents leading students!