In 2014, a group of Black students and their allies began a concerted push to bring a Black Student Center to California State University San Marcos’s campus. This successful effort, which entailed dogged determination on the part of activists to raise questions with student and faculty governance, and with university administration, fulfilled a need for a space that could provide community, representation, and communication for Black students on campus. This exhibition highlights their stories.
The Black Student Center was opened in February 2017, and facilitates student success through building community, engaging programming, and highlighting Black excellence. In partnership with the University Library’ Special Collections, and with funding from the Instructionally Related Activities Fund, in 2020 the BSC embarked on a student-centered journey to document the experiences of those integral to the advocacy and implementation of the Center.
Ten oral histories are featured here, including interviews with CSUSM alumni, staff, and faculty. Each narrator’s oral history and background can be viewed by visiting their narrator page. Additionally, the history of the BSC is covered, and photography from the time period of the advocacy and implementation of the Center is included.
Please join us in celebrating the efforts of the students, staff, and faculty that made the Black Student Center a reality, in their own words.
Please do not edit below this line
Louis Adamsel
Louis Adamsel is an alumnus of CSUSM also worked as a Business Continuity Coordinator with the university. Adamsel was a member of student government serving as a representative and later president of Associated Students Incorporated.
Tiffaney Boyd
Tiffaney Boyd is a CSUSM alumna and former president of Associated Students Incorporated. She was a driving force in the creation of the Black Student Center, Cougar Pantry, and Sigma Gamma Rho.
Jamaéla Johnson
Jamaéla Johnson is an alumna of California State University San Marcos. While at CSUSM, she worked in various capacities on campus with the Gender Equity Center, the Black Student Union, and Associated Students Incorporated (ASI).
Jake Northington
Jake Northington is a California State University San Marcos alumnus. He graduated with his degree in Photography in 2019. Jake worked in the Black Student Center and created photography that hangs in the Center.
Gezai Berhane
Gezai Berhane retired in December 2021 as the Associate Director of Operations at CSUSM. He is a graduate of the university, with a BA in Sociology in 1992.
LaPorcha Ellick
LaPorcha Ellick came to California State University San Marcos in 2014 as Coordinator for Student Involvement, Student Life & Leadership. One of her primary roles was to support the Black student community.
Dr. Geoffrey Gilmore
Dr. Geoffrey was the Associate Vice President of Student Academic Support Services at California State University San Marcos until December 2021, where he focused on service to underserved student populations in earning college degrees.
Floyd Lai
Floyd Lai was the head of California State University San Marcos's Cross-Cultural Center, where he engaged with students and their social justice and activism. He left the university for a position at University of California at Irvine in 2023.
Marilyn McWilliams
Marilyn McWilliams recently retired after 23 years at California State University San Marcos, where she most recently was the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Inclusive Excellence. McWilliams has been particularly active in advocacy and assistance to underrepresented communities on campus.
Ariel Stevenson
Ariel Stevenson is the Deputy Diversity Officer (inaugural) for the Office of Inclusive Excellence at CSUSM. During her 15 years with the university, Stevenson has worked to increase diversity on campus.