For 50 years, Associated Students Inc. at Cal State Fullerton has empowered students and trained them to become leaders in their respective fields.
For former ASI President and two-time Cal State Fullerton alum Josh Mitchell, ASI is where he developed critical communication and interpersonal skills that have helped him advance at every stage in his career.
“ASI gave me the confidence to interact with individuals from all backgrounds and positions of power. I was able to leverage the skills that I learned at Cal State Fullerton to quickly gain a leadership role in my first job at Poshmark. I used that role to transition to where I am now — a software, data engineer at Apple,” said Mitchell ’21, ’23 (B.S., M.S. computer engineering).
For Lydia Kelley, the student organization sparked a passion for public service.
“ASI inspired me to pursue a career in public policy with an interest in higher education. After my ASI presidential term, I attended UCLA on a full-ride scholarship for my master’s degree in public policy,” said Kelley ’23, ’25 (B.A. communications-public relations, M.S. educational leadership).
Kelley and Mitchell’s stories are among thousands that exemplify ASI’s impact and its legacy of student leadership and positive change-making.
“Students leave ASI with skills in student advocacy and governance, thoughtful communication, critical thinking, organizational operations, budgeting, and a solid understanding of effectively leading others,” said Dave Edwards, executive director of ASI.
Reflecting on 50 Years
ASI serves the campus community through shared governance, specialized programming and funding of campus organizations.
“Our students do so much more than participate in student government and advocacy,” explained Edwards. “They oversee and help provide direction for major campus programs and facilities.”
Since the 1970s, ASI’s student leaders have led the charge to create and champion award-winning campus spaces, programs, and resources that prioritize student wellness, belonging and academic achievement. This includes the opening and management of the Titan Student Union and Student Recreation Center as well as the Children’s Center, which is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Additionally, the SRC was awarded a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
To further support Titans in their journey to earning a college degree, ASI opened the ASI Food Pantry in 2021, providing students with access to free produce and essential food items. Since its opening, the Food Pantry has received multiple Kaiser Permanente grants to purchase refrigerated lockers, expand culturally and dietary-specific food options, and increase pop-up services.
ASI also launched its Beyond the Conversation speaker series, which invites notable guests to inspire the campus community. Throughout the series, ASI has welcomed such speakers as Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, and actors Cynthia Erivo and Ke Huy Quan.
Other accomplishments include the the opening of the Titan Esports Lounge; the development of popular student programs like Spring Concert; and the passing of the ASI Student Wellness Initiative, which proposes additional funding for scholarships, student groups and a wellness hub.
“ASI students are participating in a high-impact practice that contributes significantly to student success,” said Edwards. “When we talk to ASI alumni, they speak about ASI providing them that first chance to see themselves as change agents and thought leaders.”