To mark the national celebration of Juneteenth, President Ronald Rochon called on Titans to embrace their unique identities, noting that one of Cal State Fullerton’s greatest strengths is its culture of care and belonging for all campus community members.
“Celebrate your language, celebrate your family, be proud of who you are, the way you look and the way you pronounce every word,” said Rochon. “We are all worthy.”
His remarks were part of a California State University systemwide Juneteenth celebration that honored Black history and explored the transformative role that higher education plays in paving pathways for student success.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas learned they were legally freed more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln.
During a June 11 watch party and discussion event in the Titan Student Union, Cal State Fullerton faculty, staff and students came together to tune in to the CSU Juneteenth 2026 Symposium livestream, guided by the theme “Pathways to Progress: Legacy, Learning and Leadership.”
“This is a powerful opportunity to recognize the ancestors that came before us that are responsible for so much of the development of this country and the globe,” said Rochon, who will also speak at the Juneteenth: Education Is Liberation event on June 17 at the Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach.
The CSU Juneteenth Symposium featured panel discussions on leadership and legacy as well as several guest speakers from various industries, including music, television and higher education.
Following the symposium livestream, Dawn Person, CSUF professor emeritus of educational leadership, addressed the evolving landscape of higher education across the country. She said that in the face of national changes and adversity, CSUF’s core mission and values remain the same — focused on student success, innovation and uplifting communities.
Guided by Person’s study on how to better support and serve Black students, the university developed an integrated and culturally relevant approach to student success.
The Black Student Access Academic Success Program provides all students with access to community, mentorship, support and professional development opportunities to help them reach their professional and personal goals.
“Through our collective efforts, we help ensure that Black student success is not only an individual achievement, but a reflection of the strength, excellence and shared commitment of the entire Titan community,” said Patience Bryant, executive director of student academic success and engagement strategies.
“Together, we will break barriers, build resilience and create pathways for success that will last a lifetime.”