“Do you want to make a point, or do you want to make a difference?” asked CSUDH alumna and Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass to a room full of students, faculty, staff, and community members. On Nov. 15, Bass was the featured speaker for the Presidential Distinguished Lecture Series, where she delved into her vision of civic engagement and leadership, guiding principles, and hopes for the future. CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham established the Presidential Distinguished Lecture Series to welcome prominent public figures to campus and discuss society’s most pressing issues. Bass’s invitation was doubly significant: she is the first alum to take part in the program, and the visit marked her ... Read More
Lecture
Robin DiAngelo Challenges White People To Be Anti-Racist
To help dismantle systemic racism, white people need to first acknowledge that it exists–and how they personally benefit from it. That was the central argument delivered by Robin DiAngelo to an audience of CSUDH students, faculty, staff, and community members at the University Theatre on February 1. DiAngelo, a bestselling author and academic specializing in whiteness and racism, was invited by the CSUDH Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute for its Distinguished Speaker Series. Dymally Executive Director Anthony Asadullah Samad kicked off the event by acknowledging that having a white featured speaker on the first day of Black History Month might ... Read More
Amber Riley Shares Struggles, Triumphs at Presidential Distinguished Lecture Series
Vulnerability is power. That was one of the key messages imparted by Amber Riley, the featured speaker for CSUDH's Presidential Distinguished Lecture Series on November 30. Riley, a Grammy-nominated singer, award-winning actor, producer, and author, spoke candidly about her personal journey of self-care and mental wellbeing, as well as the tools and lessons that have helped her along the way. The Presidential Distinguished Lecture Series program, established by CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham, invites celebrated public figures to discuss their experiences within the context of society's most pressing issues. Riley is a vocal advocate of mental health and speaks openly about her ... Read More
