Diversity

Claudia Ruiz wears a two-piece burgundy suit and pink blouse as she is photographed in the School of Nursing's state-of-the-art simulation center on campus.

Healing the Gap: Alumna Aims to Empower Latinx Community

As a physician dedicated to helping the Latino community, Claudia Ruiz is the role model she wished she had growing up.

An illustration of Kendall Hall at Chico State, with the words 'Wildcat Conversations' written in whimsical letters above it.

Wildcat Conversations: Wine Industry Experts on Inclusion, Gen Z Marketing, and Sustainability

In a new episode of Wildcat Conversations, we learn how consumers can play a role in advancing equity, hear about the latest trends, and learn some new varietals you might want to try.

Portrait of Guadalupe Carolina Vasquez, posing on the grounds of a preschool in a white jacket.

Graduating Seniors Share Their Stories: Finding Support, Community, and Calling in BSS

Through the Camp Fire and then the pandemic, graduating senior Guadalupe Carolina Vazquez has tapped into positive influences to create her own vision for the future.

Black and white photo illustration of Norman Tu with the words: 2024 Distinguished Alumni Honoree

Distinguished Alum, Entrepreneur, and CEO Norman Tu

In 1982, a motivational seminar inspired Norman Tu to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams. Today, his company employs over 350 people and has facilities in several states.

Emerson Reyes, Jasmine Reyes Rodas, Areni Rodas, and Liam Reyes Rodas, 2 (left to right) as prospective students are welcomed to campus to learn about academic programs, explore facilities, and establish community at the Choose Chico event on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

Inaugural Día de la Familia welcomes Latinx families

Día de la Familia is designed to engage and empower Latinx families and their students who are curious about the college planning process and interested in attending Chico State.

A graphic showing the headshots of all 11 recipients of the Lt. Rawlins Merit Scholarship Recipients.

Celebrating Our 2024 Lt. Rawlins Merit Scholarship Recipients

From technology specialists and intensive care nurses to those serving multiple communities, these are the 2023-24 Lt. Rawlins Merit Scholarship Recipients—the best of the best at Chico State.

Student India Starr smiles as she looks away from the camera and poses with her arms crossed in a black button-up blouse against a beige studio background.

Former Basketball Player Finds New Team in the Classroom

Basketball brought India Starr to Chico State, but the support she found here made the communication studies major want to stay.

Student Marifren Francisco smiles in a formal white jacket and clear-framed glasses.

Learning From Experiences, Nursing Major Forges Path to Success

Initially drawing inspiration from nursing students on campus, Marifren Francisco has created her own bright future through service-learning.

Photo illustration with three portraits that include Kimate Richards, Thembi Mawema, and Lateasha Meyers

‘Elevating Black Excellence’ the Focus of Tipping Point Student Success Summit

The event brings together the University community to explore data around student success and learn how innovations in teaching and support services can make a critical difference.

Looking across the Gus Manolis Bridge on a bright spring morning.

Journalism Alum Leads DEI Efforts at Groundbreaking Agency

Cheyenne Cameron-Pruitt has put the valuable experience she gained in Chico State's journalism program to practice at FleishmanHillard (FH), a leading-edge public relations firm.

Donning her pink lab coat, microbiology major Nayellie Barragan-Mejia smiles for the camera while conducting research at a lab at Chico State.

Biology Major’s Grit Strengthened by Faculty and Staff Support

Although Nayellie Barragan-Mejia has faced myriad health issues and social barriers to pursuing her goals, she has found encouragement from a network of support at Chico State.

North State Roots Collaboration Expands Access to Healthcare Information in Rural Communities

With new funding, a team from Chico State and nonprofit First 5 Tehama are bringing a free online healthcare service to rural communities across the North State.

Solving Grassroots Medical Issues With AI

Alumnus Pratik Mehta, head of artificial intelligence at CloudMedx, is constantly asking what will meaningfully impact as many lives as possible.

Temple Grandin Highlights Chico State’s 2024 Northern California Neurodiversity and Disability Symposium

Chico State will host the Neurodiversity and Disability Symposium, a full day of education, engagement and enlightenment—highlighted by keynote speaker Temple Grandin.

Cassandra Schaeg is being filmed for her show, holding a glass of red wine with a sample.

Taking Bold Leaps Toward a Dream

Emmy Award winning alumnus Cassandra Schaeg shares insight from her long road to personal and business success in the beverage industry.

Abbas Attarwala, who was awarded a $30,000 grant this summer to research the impacts of AI on children, is photographed at his desk while he is typing on a laptop.

The Growing Pains of AI: Professor to study how tools like ChatGPT affect children

Professor Abbas Attarwala received a grant to study how AI affects children and identify areas where more research is needed.

CSU Trustee Award Honoree, Gerardo "Jerry" Langarica Martinez, stands in front of an ornate doorway. He wears a buttoned blue short and smiles slightly, looking past the camera.

CSU Trustee Award Honoree Strives to Help Others Claim Their Space

Gerardo “Jerry" Langarica Martinez has overcome significant hurdles over the last 15 years to earn his bachelor's degree, begin the teaching credential program, and achieve numerous honors along the way.

5 Questions with History Alumna and Author Sonia Robles

As the Mexican workforce moved north into the United States beginning in the 1930s, Mexican-owned radio stations followed—alumna Sonia Robles (History, '05) documented this in her book, "Mexican Waves."

2023's COEDI award honorees are photographed together holding their certificates up.

2023 COEDI Awards Honor Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Champions on Campus

The 2023 Conversations on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (COEDI) Award ceremony was held in person on campus for the first time since the COVID pandemic, honoring the champions of transformation on campus.

A group of students stands outdoors while holding bags and other household items to be donated to an emergency shelter run by Chico State's Basic Needs.

REACH Students’ Service Projects Extend Support to Community

From mental health awareness to homelessness to animal welfare, 115 students tackle a dozen service projects to help the Chico community on and off campus.

Eriberto Hernandez leads students from local high schools on a campus tour during a meeting of The League.

The League Paves Pathways of Possibilities for Local Youth

The League changes the lives of local high school students. Just ask Markel Hardman and Kanye Parham, who just completed their first year of college and are now part of a push to make its impact even greater.

Students are seen walking and gathered around the courtyard between two brick buildings.

Chico State to Rename Sutter Hall

President Gayle Hutchinson has announced the renaming of Sutter Hall to Éstom Jámani Hall to better align with the University's values and honor Tribal communities.

Pa Yang sits on a brick wall in the shade of a giant oak tree in front of Kendall Hall.

Connecting Generations Through Understanding

On the cusp of receiving her master’s in psychology, Pa Yang (Psychology, ’21) reflects on the value of her work and the ideas behind it: making her community stronger, more connected, and (hopefully) happier.

Claire Kooi wears a lab coat and smiles as she leans on a counter in a lab

Earth and Environmental Sciences Grad Student Driven by Social Issues

Graduate student Claire-Marie Kooi loves studying the Earth because "everything impacts something else." Kooi is making quite an impact as well in her work at UC Berkeley, and in the field of environmental justice.

We're looking at a bright graphic illustration of an open suitcase. Inside, we see the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, an airplane, a Chico State Wildcat statue, and the clock tower of Trinity Hall.

Passport to Self-Discovery

Since 2016, approximately 1,600 Wildcats have studied abroad at one of 200 locations across 35 countries. Students share their stories from both flight paths.

Aishwarya Gowda poses against a brick pillar on campus, wearing a white shirt and jeans.

Bollywood Dance Club Founder Finds a Sense of Home at Chico State

In two years, International student Aishwarya Gowda has already made her mark on campus. To her, the biggest impact has been finding herself and her community here on campus.

Haeryong Cheong is photographed against a facebrick wall, wearing a black seater.

Embracing Chico State’s Welcoming Student Atmosphere

Haeryeong Cheong, who came to Chico State from South Korea to study animal science, reflects on his journey over the last three years.

Women's basketball player Myli Martinez poses for a photo inside a gymnasium. She is holding a basketball with both hands to her right.

Wildcats’ Triple Threat: Myli Martinez

Basketball player Myli Martinez's three-point bombs have placed her in the program's record books.

Hirra Khan is photographed outside of Kendall Hall. She wears a white cotton shirt and a tan Hijab.

Business Double Major Ready for Life’s Next Big Challenge

More than 10 years ago, Hirra Khan moved from Pakistan to Gridley as a pre-teen. She will now graduate with one degree in business administration and another in business information systems, and an impressive work résumé.

Framed portraits of families that are part of a generation of Wildcat alumni and students that portray the Chico State Wildcat family tree for a feature story in the Chico Statements magazine on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in Chico, Calif.

Rooted in Connection: The Wildcat Family Tree

Attending college is a significant milestone for any student, but for many, enrolling at Chico State is both a personal achievement and a family tradition.

Twin sisters embrace on a bench. One is sitting on the bench while the other sits on the arm rest and places her arms around her sisters shoulders.

Identical Twins Follow Different Dreams

Relying on each other for support, Vanessa and Viviana Mendoza discover their own identity in college.

a family of 10 siblings pose standing and sitting

Degrees of Hope and Opportunity

The patriarch of the Yang family wanted to see all of his children earn college degrees. All 10 of them did from Chico State.

Mother hugs her son while they pose for a photo.

Mother, Son Turned Classmates Learn From Each Other

Kevin LaCombe and Evone LaCombe were overlapping kinesiology students for two semesters—an experience the mother and son called unique and inspiring.

Eriberto Hernandez, who is out of focus, holds an old photograph of his older sister standing next to the Chico State sign and wearing a cap and gown.

Five Siblings Fulfill Father’s Dream

Salvador Hernandez left a remarkable legacy as his five children earned college degrees from Chico State, fulfilling his dream.

Gaby Saxon poses in the costume shop, where she works.

Soon-to-be Theatre Arts Graduate Has Played a Starring Role Offstage

Gaby Saxon has spent four years at Chico State telling outstanding stories, all while using her growing voice and passion for social justice to create one of the most compelling stories of all—her own!

Irene Duran poses in high visibility safety gear and a hard hat on Iselin Dock in Woods Hole.

From Northern California to Ocean Engineer

Gridley native Irene Duran (Mechatronic Engineering, '20), moved to Cape Cod after graduating with one mission: an engineering job.

Elizabeth “Eli” Contreras-Perez (left) talks with Joel Ramirez, TRIO Project Director, about the support and a sense of belonging Contreras-Perez received in a program called TRIO Student Support Services.

Graduating Public Health Student Embraces Support and Grows Through Challenges

First-gen student, Elizabeth “Eli” Contreras-Perez, has navigated many personal struggles on her path to graduating, finding newfound resilience, and beginning a new chapter in life.

Mia Mendoza and Chico State Women's Soccer Coach Kim Sutton pose and smile in the women's soccer office.

Title IX at 50: Current Wildcat Calling Attention to Women Who Paved the Way

The legacy of Title IX at Chico State is filled with stories of inspiring women. Mia Mendoza knows many of them by heart after spending this year sharing them with Chico State’s student-athletes and fans to honor the 50th anniversary of the landmark legislation.

Alumna Sarah Weiss stands in front a rack holding folded T-shirts that she sells on her shop, Queer Gear.

Alumna Takes Pride in Identity, Launches ‘Queer Gear’ Business

Sarah Weiss started an e-commerce store that's not just fashionable, but impactful. Queer Gear sells clothing to promote visibility and representation, while giving back to nonprofit organizations focused on LGBTQ+ causes.

A student (left), wearing an orange safety vest, kneels alongside Professor Mohammed Albahttiti (right) while the two work on installing pavers at the site of a community service project at the Chico Islamic Center.

Office Hours: Concrete Industry Management Professor Mohammed Albahttiti

CIM Professor Mohammed Albahttiti empowers students through hands-on service-learning projects that connect theory with real-world application.