More California State University, Bakersfield faculty and staff members stepped up last year than ever before to support the students they serve.
CSUB’s Faculty and Staff Initiative collected donations from 402 faculty and staff during the 2022-23 academic year, a university record and a 25% increase over the 322 who participated in the initiative last year.
CSUB was able to raise more than $190,000 to support student success across various funds and programs. These include the CSUB Fund, the Food Pantry Fund and the Roadrunner Club.
“The Faculty and Staff Initiative embodies a community on campus who deeply care about the students that we serve,” said Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship Eric Weis. “As an alumnus and employee of CSUB, I see the importance of giving back. CSUB has made an impact on my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. There is something unique about this campus, its employees and its students. We look forward to building upon the success of this initiative and extend our heartfelt thank you to those who were involved with creating meaningful opportunities for our students.”
Faculty and staff have the option to make one-time online donations or monthly gifts through payroll deductions.
Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Rhonda Dugan said she likes to donate to programs and initiatives such as the Multicultural Alliance and Gender Equity Center because they help students from diverse backgrounds feel more connected to the campus.
“As a faculty member, it is incredibly rewarding for me to observe students experience transformational growth through academic achievement, and through co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities during their time at CSUB,” she said. “Faculty and staff should not feel that they have to make a large donation in order to support student programs and initiatives — any amount contributes to making significant, positive, life-changing outcomes for our students!”
Chad Morris, a CSUB alumnus and the director of financial aid and scholarships at the university, has also donated to the initiative.
“CSUB has a big impact on this community, and it has impacted my family. I’m invested here. I have received my master’s here, my wife received hers and now my daughter is attending to complete her BA,” he said. “The education we received here has benefitted both our careers and hopefully will benefit my daughters. I support CSUB because there is a great need in this community, and I believe in the power of education to change lives for the better.”
Assistant Professor of Management Dr. Pratigya Sigdyal gives to the Faculty and Staff Initiative because she feels a deep connection with the students and empathizes with the challenges they face, some of which she said she’s encountered in her own life.
“I give because I am deeply passionate about education. I have personally witnessed its transformative power in my life journey,” she said. “Regardless of their background or current economic circumstances, when students wholeheartedly invest their time and energy in education, they have the potential to lead projects and achieve feats they may not have even dared to dream of before.”
Click here to learn about how you can participate in the Faculty and Staff Initiative.
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