CSUSB honors pioneering black faculty and staff

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Veteran educator Mildred Henry, a Cal State San Bernardino professor emerita for whom a San Bernardino city school was named, will serve as the keynote speaker during the Black Faculty, Staff and Students Association Pioneer Breakfast on Friday, Feb. 28.

The breakfast will honor six current and former CSUSB faculty and staff members for their contributions to the university and students.

The event, which is open to the public, will be held at the university’s Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center from 9-11 a.m. Tickets are $10 to the public and $5 for students. Parking on campus is $5.

Proceeds from the breakfast will support scholarships and the annual African American Graduation recognition dinner, said Anthony Roberson, Pioneer Breakfast chair.

Henry, who founded the nonprofit education project, the Provisional Accelerated Learning Center in 1983, the city of San Bernardino’s first charter school named after her. The Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry Elementary School opened in August 2012.

The breakfast honorees are:

• Assembly member and CSUSB alumna Cheryl Brown, a longtime supporter of the university who received a bachelor’s degree in geography. Brown delivered the keynote speech at last year’s Pioneer Breakfast;
• Aubrey Bonnett, dean emeritus of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and a professor of sociology. The Aubrey W. Bonnett Scholarship is awarded to students whose major is in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and who are involved in community service;
• Denise Gipson-Perry, head of the circulation department in the John M. Pfau Library. Gipson-Perry has served at the university since 1971;
• Gladys Chisom, a CSUSB staff member, who served the university from 1980 to 2000;
• Mel Hawkins, professor emeritus of social work, served as the university’s first affirmative action appeal coordinator. He was also involved in the feasibility study that led to the creation of the Department of Social Work; and
• Lorraine Frost, who retired as associate vice president for the university’s information technology services department in December. She will receive the Ally Award for her commitment and support of the Black Faculty Staff and Student Association throughout her tenure at CSUSB.

For more information, contact Anthony Roberson at (909) 537-7198 or by e-mail at aroberso@csusb.edu.

For more information on Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.