News and Announcements
SFSU’s Summer Training Academy for Research Scholars (STARS) recently concluded another eight-week program, providing 21 community college students from the greater Bay Area with immersive, hands-on engineering research experiences in the Science and Engineering Innovation Center.
Led by program director Kwok-Siong Teh, STARS brought together students from eight community colleges, including participants traveling from as far as Modesto Junior College. Throughout the summer, the scholars worked alongside six SFSU Engineering faculty advisers — Xiaorong Zhang, Alyssa Kubota, Kenya Mejia, Zhuwei Qin, David Quintero and Zhaoshuo Jiang — as well as SFSU Engineering student research mentors.
Participants contributed to research projects spanning human-robot interaction, rehabilitation robotics, community-based makerspace design, local artificial-intelligence agents, gait and biomechanics and neural-machine interfaces. Students met weekly with their faculty advisers and research mentors, gaining experience in research methods, technical problem-solving, collaboration and scientific communication.
The program also emphasized community building. Weekly activities gave participants opportunities to connect outside the laboratory, including a group picnic at Golden Gate Park, helping create a supportive cohort experience while introducing students to life at SFSU.
STARS culminated in final presentations in which the scholars shared their research accomplishments, lessons learned and results with faculty, mentors and fellow participants. The presentations highlighted both the technical progress made during the eight weeks and the students’ growth as emerging researchers.
Over the past 32 years, SFSU has honored more than 150 outstanding Gators at our annual Alumni Hall of Fame celebration. Past inductees have included artists, activists, scientists, politicians, business leaders and more. This year, six more distinguished alumni will join the Hall of Fame.
The 2026 inductees include a mental health advocate, a “Sesame Street” puppeteer, San Francisco’s fire chief, an Academy Award-winning documentary film producer and two nurses and friends who founded a nonprofit benefiting Black women and girls in Oakland.
SFSU President Lynn Mahoney and the University community will honor the newest inductees at a celebration and dinner Friday, Nov. 6, at the InterContinental San Francisco. The Alumni Hall of Fame celebration is the University’s second largest event of the year (behind Commencement) and one Mahoney looks forward to annually.
“This event is imbued with Gator spirit, and I relish my role in inducting these distinguished alumni into the SFSU Alumni Hall of Fame,” Mahoney said. “Each of these alums, when they graduated from SFSU, possessed the same promise as our current students. It’s wonderful to see their full-circle journey and celebrate the contributions they’ve made to their communities.”
Visit the SFSU News website to learn more about the 2026 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees.
Paris (B.A., ’02) and James Williams’ (B.S., ’02) courtship was a classic “opposites attract” tale that began at San Francisco State University. Both Gators, she was the bubbly free spirit; he was thoughtful, reserved, studious and driven. Even their majors reflected their differences: She studied Speech and Communications; he studied Accounting.
Yet they clicked, and after dating for six months, they married while still working toward their degrees. On Aug. 18, 2026, they celebrated 25 years of marriage.
Since college, they’ve built a life together, raising three children and making moves to Sacramento, Chicago and, most recently, Atlanta. They each built successful careers — James in finance and Paris in education — before joining forces to launch the CFO and accounting firm Next Level Financial.
In honor of their anniversary, they shared memories of the early days of their relationship, reflected on how SFSU helped them achieve their goals and revealed what has kept their marriage strong for 25 years.
What was your first impression of James?
Paris Williams: He used to study in the library quite a bit. I had never been to the library. ... He was studious and always wore the same leather jacket, no matter the temperature.
When did you first really notice Paris?
James Williams: She was with her friend at a party at a roller rink. We ended up dancing together for the first time. She was a wild dancer, so that was a little bit of a moment for me. The next time I saw Paris, she was stepping in a step show. I saw her up there and afterwards I said, “Let’s connect,” and she gave me her number. ... That same week, I called her and we got together and went on our first date to an ice cream shop in Oakland — Fenton’s Ice Cream.
When did you know he was the one?
Paris: We are people of faith, so looking back, God was working it out for us. … James was serious and studious, and he knew what he wanted. I was partying, having a good time, and realizing this is not going to lead anywhere. I think I was also just having a transition point in maturity. The timing to connect with someone who was serious about life and the future was perfect. [Once, after I complained that I didn’t have time to clean my car, James] came to my work and washed my car for me. That’s one of the things that stood out. He’s super-consistent, thoughtful and he takes care of things that need to be taken care of.
How did you propose?
James: I knew I wanted to, but I didn’t know when. When I did it, it was kind of spontaneous. We were at Paris’ apartment together, and I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me.
How did your experience at SFSU change your life?
Paris: Helping me to just enjoy life and see what it was like to be, like, in a more urban environment. I took a lot of Black Studies classes and made a lot of good friends. The University was leading the way in that. There was just a good community in the Black Student Union. I had a good time with that. I also found great connections through the communications department. There were so many professors who encouraged me along the way.
James: I was part of NABA — National Association of Black Accountants. I joined that organization while I was in school. I was on the board of the school chapter, and we would do things with different other schools like Hayward or Berkeley. [SFSU] gave me a lot of exposure and helped open the door for my career. Because of these contacts I went on to intern and work for one of the big five accounting firms.
What’s the secret to long-lasting love?
Paris: Keep God first, and making sure our values are aligned. I’m not trying to over-spiritualize it, but marriage and family life get hard. We’ve been through some really difficult seasons, and apart from my faith, I’m not sure that I would have what it takes to be committed on the level that I feel called to be committed. Additionally, keep working on yourself.
James: Having God as our foundation is critical but also having an appreciation for her and how she is different. I had to grow into this [idea] — that there is a different perspective, and that’s not wrong. There is beauty that comes from having different perspectives and approaches to life.
Whether or not you use artificial intelligence (AI), the CSU wants to hear from you. Take the survey for a chance to win a $25 gift card or an iPad.
Your answers will be anonymous. The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. The CSU AI survey is open to all SFSU students, faculty and staff. It is available through Monday, Oct. 19.
Applications are open for SFSU Climate HQ’s paid Climate Justice Internship Program through Thursday, Oct. 1. Undergraduates from any major at SFSU can apply as long as they will be full-time in spring 2027.
Students will participate in semester-long internships where they will be matched with partner organizations committed to climate justice. They will complete a project that advances that organization’s work and gives them the opportunity to learn from seasoned organizers, activists and other professionals.
The SFSU Academic Senate met on Tuesday, Sept. 15, via Zoom. A summary of the meeting follows.
The Senate:
- Adopted by general consent unit reduction for the minor in Japanese.
- Rescinded the following items by general consent:
- Student and Applicant Complaints Policy, No. S12-26
- Qualifications for Student Government Officials, No. S82-68
- Passed the following item in second reading:
- Grade Appeal Practices and Procedures, No. F24-230
- Heard in first reading:
- Bylaw Amendment: Student Affairs Committee Membership
- Certificate in Entertainment Design and Production: new certificate
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentration in Decision Sciences: name change and curricular changes
- Heard a presentation from:
- Senators Rob Collins and Dipendra Sinha, Academic Senate of the CSU (ASCSU) senators: “ASCSU Update”
SFSU Observatory Open Nights take place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights when skies are clear. Observatory Open Nights are free and open to all students and members of the public.
Highlights include the rings of Saturn (and its large moon Titan), the beautiful blue and gold double star Albireo, and the Ring Nebula — star enriching our galaxy in carbon, nitrogen and oxygen as it nears the end of its life. Docents will be on hand to point the telescopes, talk about these astronomical wonders and more.
The SFSU Observatory is in Thornton Hall 1004. Before attending, please check on Instagram to find out if the weather on campus is suitable for the observatory to open. It will be closed in case of fog, clouds, rain or high winds.
Join the Annex II furniture open house on Tuesday, Sept. 22, – Wednesday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. A selection of surplus used furniture will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis strictly for SFSU campus and departmental use only.
Attendees wishing to claim items must bring paper, tape and a marker to label their selections clearly on-site with their full name, contact information and designated SFSU delivery building and room number. While smaller pieces can be transported directly by recipients, any furniture requiring campus moving assistance will require the recipient to submit a Facilities work order for relocation.
The campus community is invited to an event with Beth Howard on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., in Coppola Theatre (Fine Arts 101).
Howard is the author of the memoir “Song for a Hard-Hit People: A Memoir of Antiracist Solidarity from a Coal Miner’s Daughter” (Haymarket Books) and the cultural strategist for Showing Up for Racial Justice, the largest national organization bringing white people into the fight for racial and economic justice. She grew up in a rural working-class community in Eastern Kentucky and has organized in the American South for two decades, primarily in her beloved home state.
The University Budget Committee (UBC) invites all employees to its next meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. – noon, via Zoom. Agenda items include: “Budget Planning 101,” the department chair time base, the College of Professional and Global Education annual report and UBC work groups.
UBC members also host a drop-in office hour Friday, Sept. 25, 11 a.m. – noon, via Zoom, for faculty and staff for conversations about budget-related concerns.
To RSVP for the UBC meeting, please email UBC at ubc@sfsu.edu.
The Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace hosts events for the SFSU community.
This week:
- Thursday, Sept. 24, noon – 1 p.m., Library 260: “Podcasting 101.” Learn the basics of podcasting, including recording, editing and publishing. The event is open to all SFSU students, faculty and staff. An RSVP is required. Please RSVP for “Podcasting 101” via the Academic Technology website.
- Thursday, Sept. 24, 3 – 6 p.m., Library 260: “Crochet Hours” workshop. Relax, create and crochet with others. Tools and materials will be provided, and staff will be happy to help if you need assistance. All experience levels are welcome, including beginners. Please visit the Academic Technology website to learn more about the “Crochet Hours” workshop.
The “AI Literacy Essentials: Prompting for Practical Applications” course offers a focused exploration of prompting and iteration strategies for generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots like Microsoft Copilot. It will take place Thursday, Sept. 24, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., via Zoom.
Through collaborative, hands-on activities and interactive exercises, participants will learn to write clear, effective prompts, apply refinement techniques such as prompt chaining, and assess AI-generated outputs for accuracy and relevance to achieve more reliable and useful results in a variety of academic and non-academic contexts.
This course is required to receive a digital badge for the AI Literacy Education Program.
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 that in SFSU’s Charles F. Hagar Planetarium (Thornton Hall 422). But there’s not much time left to see our classic 1973 star projector in action. The planetarium is scheduled to close for renovation this fall and reopen next year.
Jim Gibson will present “Exploring Tonight’s Night Sky and the Motions of Celestial Bodies” on Friday, Sept. 25, and Friday, Oct. 2 (possibly the last show before closing for renovation), at noon. Doors close at 12:05 p.m.; shows last about 45 minutes. Shows are free and open to all students, staff, faculty and members of the public.
For questions, please email Jim Gibson at jimg@sfsu.edu.
The SFSU community is invited to come together for a memorial honoring our students, staff and faculty members who have passed away. It will take place Wednesday, Oct. 7, noon – 1 p.m., in the Garden of Remembrance.
This gathering will offer a space for remembrance and reflection as we recognize their lives, contributions and lasting impact on our University community. All are welcome to join as we honor their memories and support one another in community.
Join Marco Ballesteros of SFSU’s Taqueria Girasol for “Marco’s Cantina,” a culinary experience on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., in Studio One (Creative Arts 128). Ballesteros will share how to prepare two beloved Peruvian classics: arroz con pollo (chicken) and papa a la huancaína (potatoes).
Following the cooking demonstration, enjoy an arroz con pollo dinner with Gator alumni.
Human Resources will host a presentation on the Employee Tuition Reduction/Fee Waiver program on Friday, Nov. 13, 2 – 3 p.m., via Zoom. This employee benefit provides an opportunity for eligible employees or their dependents to take classes or pursue degrees at any CSU campus at a reduced rate. For employees, this can help with career development, undergraduate or graduate degrees.
Please RSVP via Qualtrics for the presentation on the Employee Tuition/Fee-Waiver program.
SFSU Spotlight
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) congratulates these faculty members and others for their recent grant awards.
Sharon Bliss, director of the Fine Arts Gallery: $10,000 from Zellerbach Family Foundation for “‘Life and the Inevitable’ Exhibition.” Funds are provided for the Fine Arts Gallery exhibition “Life and the Inevitable,” on view through Thursday, Oct. 15, guest curated by SFSU Museum Studies graduate student Keone Nakakura. The exhibition reframes death through a lens that embraces both tenderness and urgency, understanding mourning as a practice shaped by love and, at times, demanded by injustice.
Katharyn Boyer, executive director of the Estuary and Ocean Science Center: $45,032 supplement from Merkel and Associates/National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for “Cosco Busan Eelgrass Restoration.” This additional funding extends work for eelgrass restoration research following damages from the Cosco Busan oil spill. The work involves eelgrass whole shoot collection from several naturally occurring locations (sources) around San Francisco Bay, rigging the plants into transplant units in the baywater tanks and tables, planting into multiple locations in the bay with an experimental design allowing evaluation of the use of different sources of plants or mixtures of sources and conducting monitoring to determine efficacy of the restoration overall and per source.
Maarten Golterman, professor of Physics and Astronomy, and co-investigator Jeff Greensite, professor emeritus of Physics and Astronomy: $240,000 renewal from Department of Energy for “Research in Theoretical High-Energy Physics.” The research effort in theoretical high-energy physics is directed at a wide range of topics in lattice gauge theory, non-perturbative quantum chromodynamics and hadronic physics. Current investigations include:
- anomalous magnetic moment of the muon
- hadronic τ decays, the strong coupling and spectral functions
- light scalar in walking theories
- chiral gauge theories on the lattice
- machine learning and confining configurations
- particle excitations in gauge Higgs theories
- combining Hartree-Fock and RVB in the 2D Hubbard model
Sepideh Modrek, professor of Economics: $32,958 from University of California, Riverside/Russell Sage Foundation for “Do Local Admissions Guarantees Reduce Inequities in College-Going for Black and Hispanic Students? Evidence From the California State University System.” This collaborative study between SFSU and UC Riverside investigates whether the CSU’s local admissions priority — wherein the CSU has guarantees for academically qualified students to have priority admission to their assigned local CSU campus — and its weakening through impaction have altered college enrollment for underserved student populations.
Jenna Wong, associate professor of Engineering: $4,000 from American Institute of Architects for “Safety Assessment Program Virtual Reality Project.” The project concerns developing a virtual reality platform related to structural damage for training purposes. It consists of expanding an existing virtual reality rapid building assessment prototype through targeted enhancements. The core work includes development of a single-family residential structure affected by flooding, complementing the current three-story apartment building prototype targeted for seismic damage. Additional improvements may include aesthetic and functional updates to the existing model.
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Professor Richard Harvey and Professor Emeritus Erik Peper, with alumna Lauren Mason, authored an article published Sept. 15 by Townsend Letter. The article is titled “When Screens Replace Connection: Impacts on Children’s Brains.” Townsend Letter Innovating Health Perspectives.”