In February, a CSUDH delegation traveled to the California State Capitol to discuss the critical need for investment in the CSU with government officials and policymakers. This year’s visit included meetings with Secretary of State Shirley Weber, State Senators Steve Bradford and Lena Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Mia Bonta, and also marked the first time that CSUDH brought a corporate partner to advocate for higher education. The delegation included CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham, administrators, Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) President Edgar Mejia-Alezano, ASI Director of Legislative Affairs Adilene Tinoco, and Glenn Choe from Toyota Regulatory Affairs.
Throughout their conversations, the CSUDH representatives emphasized the importance of prioritizing state resources to maintain and modernize campus infrastructure, as well as the vital need to support student success and wellbeing. Mejia-Alezano and Tinoco, who are both DACA and Cal Grant recipients, spoke from personal experience about the necessity of these programs and how they put higher education within reach for students at CSUDH and beyond.
“As a student, it was incredible to collaborate with campus leadership and speak to legislators about the challenges our population faces,” said Mejia-Alezano. “We need to talk more about our students’ struggles, and I want my fellow students to know that their voice is being represented and heard.”
Vice President for University Advancement Eva Sevcikova, who was part of the delegation, said: “Every year we are intentional about including students’ voices in our advocacy efforts, because we know they make a lasting impression on the government leaders.
“On this trip we also invited our Toyota partner, who for years has been working with us side by side to create more opportunities for students. Together we told a powerful story about this campus being an engine of economic mobility that is worthy of continued investments to help the state of California thrive and our communities flourish.”