News and Announcements
SFSU has been named one of the top institutions in the nation for supporting women, ranking fourth in California and 29th overall on Newsweek’s “America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026” list.
The ranking evaluates how effectively colleges advance gender equity and create environments where women can thrive. Only institutions that award bachelor’s degrees, enroll at least 1,000 students and employ 20 or more women in academic roles are considered. Colleges are scored across four key areas: leadership, pay and policies, safety and opportunity.
SFSU stood out in several of these measures. Women make up 55 percent of SFSU’s student population and 57 percent of its faculty. Women also hold many senior leadership positions: The president, provost and five of the University’s seven college deans are women.
“This recognition reflects who we are and what we value,” said SFSU President Lynn Mahoney. “Our commitment to gender equity is embedded in our leadership, our academic community and the opportunities we strive to create for every student. I’m proud of the work our faculty and staff do every day to make SFSU a place where women can thrive.”
Mahoney added that the ranking highlights the importance of continuing efforts to support women from all backgrounds, particularly those who face additional barriers due to race, income or caregiving responsibilities.
SFSU’s national recognition also reflects the University’s long-standing infrastructure supporting women. The Associated Students Women’s Center provides advocacy, peer support, educational programming and referrals for survivors of violence, as well as resources focused on reproductive health, parenting and gender-based equity. Academically, SFSU is home to one of the nation’s earliest Women and Gender Studies departments, established in 1976, which continues to offer interdisciplinary courses examining gender and sexuality while preparing students for leadership and service across fields.
Newsweek’s list aims to identify universities that have put in place the structures needed to advance equity, including safe learning environments, fair compensation practices, child-care access, inclusive hiring and broad opportunities for women faculty and students. For SFSU, the ranking serves as national validation of longstanding work to ensure that women feel represented, supported and empowered throughout their academic journeys.
Actor and SFSU alumnus Delroy Lindo (B.A., ’04) has earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Ryan Coogler’s genre-bending horror film “Sinners,” marking a milestone moment in a career that has spanned more than four decades across film, television and theater.
Lindo’s nomination is his first Oscar nomination and comes for his portrayal of Delta Slim, a role critics have praised for its emotional depth, complexity and humanity. “Sinners” emerged as one of the most celebrated films of the year, earning multiple Academy Award nominations.
A proud Gator, Lindo returned to SFSU later in life to complete his bachelor’s degree in Cinema, graduating in 2004. He has spoken about how meaningful that decision was, describing SFSU as a place that welcomed him not simply as a successful actor, but as a student eager to deepen his understanding of storytelling, film language and craft.
Lindo has said he was drawn to SFSU’s mission, its diverse student body and its emphasis on social consciousness — values that closely mirror his own approach to acting. He credits the University with giving him space to reflect, grow and engage intellectually with his work.
That sense of belonging keeps Lindo closely connected to the University. He serves on the SFSU Foundation Board, supporting student success and institutional advancement, and has returned to campus to speak with students.
During a recent visit, Lindo met with Cinema and Project Rebound students, sharing insights about his career and emphasizing that empathy and curiosity are central to meaningful performances. He encouraged students to remain grounded in their humanity, regardless of the industry paths they pursue.
Lindo has been celebrated for roles in films such as “Malcolm X,” “Crooklyn,” “Get Shorty” and “Da 5 Bloods.” He was inducted into the SFSU Alumni Hall of Fame in 2021.
Two other Gators were also nominated for 2026 Oscars: Christopher Scarabosio (nominated in the Best Sound category for his work on “One Battle After Another”) and Conall Jones (a nominee in the Best Documentary Short category for “All the Empty Rooms”).
The Academy Awards ceremony will take place in March, when Lindo, Scarabosio and Jones will join fellow nominees in celebrating a year of standout cinematic achievement — with the SFSU community proudly cheering them on.
Learn more about SFSU’s School of Cinema.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
SFSU has received the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious national honor recognizing institutions that demonstrate deep and sustained commitment to community partnership, civic learning and real-world impact.
The distinction, awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, honors colleges and universities that intentionally integrate community engagement into teaching, research and service. SFSU is one of 10 California State University campuses to earn the designation this year, joining Chico State, Fresno State, CSU Monterey Bay and others across the system.
Community engagement is a long-standing part of SFSU’s mission as an urban university. Across disciplines and programs, students connect classroom learning with real-world experiences through service-learning courses, community-based research, internships and civic participation activities. Faculty and staff work in partnership with community organizations to support student learning while addressing community-identified priorities. These collaborations reflect a shared commitment to reciprocal relationships, student learning and community impact.
“This recognition affirms the work our students, faculty, staff and community partners do every day to build meaningful relationships across the Bay Area,” said Jennifer L. Gasang, executive director of SFSU’s Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE).
ICCE supports this work by helping to coordinate partnerships, expand engaged learning opportunities and align community engagement efforts with institutional priorities.
Learn more about ICCE and SFSU’s community engagement efforts.
Photo by Paul Asper
Super Bowl week is Tuesday, Feb. 3 – Saturday, Feb. 7. Expect congestion, traffic and transit delays. Please give yourself extra time for travel. For more information, please visit the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Super Bowl Experience event page.
Instructors: Have you taken steps to reduce the costs of instructional materials for students in your courses? If so, you may be eligible for funding as part of the Affordable Instructional Materials (AIM) program. The application to submit proposals is now open.
AIM awards grants to individual faculty members and full departments to support the adoption of no- or low-cost instructional materials to make quality education accessible for all students. Funding ranges from $250 to $750 for individual faculty and increases for departmental initiatives, depending on the projected impact and savings for students.
Please visit the AIM website to learn more about the program and apply for a grant. To discuss potential cost-reduction projects, please email Academic Technology at at@sfsu.edu.
The Division of Undergraduate Education and Academic Planning is searching for an interim associate dean of Academic Planning.
The successful candidate will have experience with program review/accreditation, program learning assessment and curriculum development. The role also supervises several staff members and works closely with the faculty directors of Experimental College and General Education. This interim position will be for no more than two years beginning summer 2026.
For more information, please email Associate Dean Kim Altura at kwidic@sfsu.
The University invites nominations for the Trustee Wenda Fong and Mr. Daniel Fetterly Staff Award, a systemwide California State University (CSU) recognition honoring the extraordinary contributions of CSU staff. This historic, board-level award celebrates staff members whose work demonstrates innovation, equity-centered leadership and a deep commitment to student success across the CSU’s 22 campuses. This is the inaugural year of the award program, and recipients will be honored at the CSU Board of Trustees meeting in May, providing a meaningful opportunity to recognize the vital role staff play in advancing the CSU mission.
The program includes:
- Three individual awards of $25,000 each
- One team award of $25,000, shared among up to five team members
Award categories:
- Affordability Advocate and Driver of Transformative Change: Honors an individual whose efforts have had a profound impact on making a CSU education more affordable and accessible.
- Fostering an Inclusive and Equitable Learning Environment: Honors an individual dedicated to student success while advancing equity and inclusion within the university community.
- First Generation Belonging and Community: Honors an individual who excels in fostering a sense of belonging and building a supportive campus environment for first-generation students.
- Trailblazing Team: Honors a team of no more than five individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in service of students and the CSU mission.
All nominations must be submitted by Friday, Feb. 6, via Qualtrics.
Academic Technology and the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) invite faculty members to submit a 250-word letter of interest in joining a faculty learning community this spring semester to explore AI-related topics more deeply. Communities of four to five members will meet weekly and spend eight to 10 weeks researching and experimenting with a topic. Members will receive a stipend. Amount will be determined based on response.
Please use the Qualtrics form to learn more details and submit your letter of interest. Please apply by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6.
The Faculty Care Fellows Program provides proactive, faculty-led outreach to students at critical points in the semester when data indicate elevated risk for academic disengagement, underperformance or stopping out.
Trained faculty fellows will engage in paid high-impact, relationship-centered outreach by calling students to offer support, clarify next steps and connect them to campus resources. Through meaningful phone conversations, faculty can affirm students’ sense of belonging and confidence in navigating the institution through targeted contact. The program operationalizes SFSU’s strategic plan commitments to student success, equity, belonging and data-informed decision-making through deliberate actions.
For more information, please view the call for applications via Box. Applications are due no later than Monday, Feb. 9.
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) Small Grants program supports new or ongoing research projects and scholarly activities. Grants are up to $14,000 and are open to all SFSU faculty (see request for proposals for restrictions). The application deadline is Friday, March 13, at 5 p.m.
More details, including the request for proposals, are available on the application site. For questions, please email Grant Development Specialist Thien Lam at ttlam@sfsu.edu.
Grant preparation workshops will be held Monday, Feb. 16, 3 – 4:30 p.m., and Friday, Feb. 27, 10 – 11:30 a.m., via Zoom. Please email Kate Hamel, faculty director for Research Engagement and Development, at hamelk@sfsu.edu to RSVP.
Have a question about the night sky? Want to see your favorite constellation, talk about black holes or witness the Milky Way in all its glory, as it appears far from city lights? You can do all that in the Charles F. Hagar Planetarium (Thornton Hall 422). Shows are free and open to all. It is open Mondays and Fridays at 1 p.m. (last admittance at 1:10 p.m.). Shows last about 45 minutes.
February will be the last month to see and learn about the night sky with SFSU’s vintage star projector. The planetarium is scheduled to close for renovation in March.
Program:
- Mondays: “Tracing Humanity Through the Stars,” presented by Gillis Lowry
- Fridays: ”Exploring Tonight’s Night Sky and the Motions of Celestial Bodies,” presented by Jim Gibson
For questions, please email Jim Gibson at jimg@sfsu.edu.
The College of Science and Engineering (CoSE) and the Study Abroad programs in the Division of International Education will hold an information session about study abroad opportunities Tuesday, Feb. 3, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., in the Fishbowl (SEIC 110). Associate Dean Teaster Baird will speak with CoSE students who have studied abroad about their experience.
Encourage your CoSE students to attend. Pizza will be provided.
Please RSVP via Qualtrics for the CoSE International Experience event.
Encourage your Lam Family College of Business students to learn more about studying abroad in Germany at EBS University. The Division of International Education will host a special session on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at noon via Zoom. Dean David Windsor from EBS will give a presentation on his university and its unique location in Germany.
Please RSVP for the EBS University information session via Zoom.
The “AI Literacy Essentials: Introduction to Generative AI” course introduces generative artificial intelligence (AI) to those with little or no prior experience engaging with this emerging technology. It will be held Thursday, Feb. 5, 11 a.m. – noon, via Zoom.
Participants obtain a foundational understanding of generative AI, its associated opportunities and implications and basic strategies for composing and iterating prompts. Participants will engage in hands-on interaction with AI chatbots (Microsoft Copilot or OpenAI’s ChatGPT) to begin generating practical outputs for a variety of use cases.
This course is an elective that counts toward receiving a digital badge for the AI Literacy Education Program.
The Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace hosts an open house event on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2 – 6 p.m., in Library 260. It is open to all SFSU students, faculty and staff. Learn about 3D printing, virtual reality (VR), podcasting, audio mixing, internet-of-things/micro-controllers/robotics and video/audio equipment checkout. The open house will also feature special presentations of student projects with edge computing, artificial intelligence and more.
Human Resources offers a presentation on “Key Conversations” on Friday, Feb. 6, at 11 a.m. via Zoom. A marriage family therapist with our Employee Assistance Program will give the presentation.
A key conversation is a discussion between two or more people where the stakes are high, opinions may vary and emotions run strong. These conversations — when handled poorly or ignored — may lead to strained relationships and poor results. The presentation will help you plan for the interaction and outline specific steps for conducting the conversation.
Please RSVP via Qualtrics for the “Key Conversations” presentation.
Encourage your students to stop by the Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 10, and Wednesday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., on the Quad next to Malcolm X Plaza.
At the fair, students can:
- Visit country tables showcasing destinations where SFSU students can study abroad.
- Meet international students from those countries.
- Hear directly from SFSU students who have studied abroad.
Why study abroad with SF State Abroad? It offers:
- Lower cost of living in many countries
- Access to financial aid while abroad
- The same SFSU tuition
- SFSU resident credit
The application deadline is Sunday, Feb. 15.
For questions, please email studyabroad@sfsu.edu or stop by the SF State Abroad table at the fair.
Join the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2 – 3 p.m., in Library 242 for part two of the Transparency in Learning and Teaching Series (TILT). A Zoom link is available on request.
Instructors will learn to apply TILT to an assignment, keeping at the forefront transparency in the use of artificial intelligence (AI), workforce-readiness skills learnt through the assignment and any other of the instructor’s “purpose” of an assignment. There will be peer-review and collaborative TILT-ing of assignments. Instructors are encouraged to bring an exam, assignment or rubric that they have TILT-ed for peer-review.
CEETL encourages participants to review the recording from TILT Series part one that will be posted after the Monday, Feb. 2, workshop and to do the minimal homework that will be assigned.
Please visit the CEETL website to register and for more information.
Join the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) for its first spring 2026 “WE Wednesday” featuring a hands-on vegan kimchi-making workshop. It takes place Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2 – 3 p.m., in Student Services 206.
In this interactive session, participants will learn how to make delicious vegan kimchi from scratch while exploring the cultural significance and techniques behind this beloved fermented dish. You will get to take home a jar of kimchi.
Dean Grace Yoo will lead the workshop, giving a step-by-step guide through the kimchi-making process. Whether you’re new to fermentation or a seasoned home cook, this workshop offers a fun, engaging and flavorful learning experience centered on food, culture and community. Spots are limited so please RSVP by Wednesday, Feb. 11. RSVP is required.
CSU International Programs (CSUIP) is accepting applications to participate in a faculty seminar in Ensenada, Mexico. The seminar will be held Monday, June 22 – Friday, June 26, in partnership with the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California and Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior. The topic for the seminar is “Two Regions One Future: Exploring the California-Mexico Scientific, Economic and Cultural Ties.”
Faculty members from all CSU campuses and all disciplines are encouraged to participate. Applicants must hold a full-time tenured or tenure-track appointment at a CSU campus. Faculty members participating in the Faculty Early Retirement Program on or before July 1, 2025, are not eligible for selection. Applicants are only allowed to participate in a CSUIP faculty seminar once every five years.
When describing their involvement in international programs, applicants must make a clear distinction between CSUIP and private or faculty-led study abroad programs. Selection of CSU participants will be the responsibility of the Faculty Affairs Committee. Approximately 20 faculty members will be selected to participate. The committee will seek a broad distribution of disciplines and participation from across campuses.
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m., Sunday, March 1. The Seminar Selection Committee will meet during February; selection decisions will be announced by Wednesday, April 1.
SFSU Spotlight
President Lynn Mahoney was recently named to the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the board of directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). She continues as a member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors.
Scott Siegel, associate professor of International Relations, appeared on KGO-TV on Jan. 21 while the World Economic Forum was taking place in Davos, Switzerland. Siegel discussed the consequences of President Donald Trump’s “America first” agenda.
“It will make things more expensive. It will make it harder for us to travel abroad. It will make it harder to invest abroad,” Siegel said. “It affects my own school, in that it’s harder for students to come here and get an education. It will make it harder for our students to get an education abroad.”
Political Science Professor Nicole Watts is among 38 educators selected to join the International Teacher Liaison Program of the Space Foundation.
International teacher liaisons comprise a community of more than 400 educators in 25 countries and 40 states working to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators. Established in 2004, this internationally recognized program provides benefits that improve teaching skills, provide an encouraging community for educators and influence space and science education at a global level.