Berenecea Johnson Eanes is a history maker. Eanes is Cal State LA’s ninth president and the first Black woman to serve in the position.
As Cal State LA commemorates Black History Month with events throughout February, the University also celebrates the first Black woman president in its history as a testament to the power of representation and progress. The University will honor Black excellence and continue its legacy of fostering equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.
One of the key tenets that attracted President Eanes to Cal State LA is the diversity of its student body, staff, and faculty.
“There is strength in that diversity; our campus is defined by it,” Eanes said. “We celebrate the similarities that bond us and, at the same time, respect and acknowledge the differences that make every one of us unique. We celebrate one another for who we are.”
Throughout Black History Month, Cal State LA will be hosting a number of events in celebration of the spectacular lives, accomplishments, and contributions of Black people in the United States.
The events range from the Jazz at Lincoln Center concert to the Black History Month Kick-Off to an indaba exploring enduring Pan-Africanism in the 21st century.
The celebration of Black History Month is just one way Cal State LA promotes Black excellence and recognizes the achievements of its students, faculty, and staff.
Cal State LA’s Department of Pan-African Studies (PAS) is the second oldest Black Studies department in the country, founded as a program in 1967 following the students’ struggles during the tumultuous decade. PAS not only deepens the intellect of students, but it also encourages them to be a resource to the entire community and become agents of change.
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The University provides additional guidance and assistance through the following:
- The Pan African Student Resource Center(PASRC) provides services and support for students who identify as Pan African or are interested in Pan African community and cultural issues. PASRC also develops long- and short-term programs and events that focus on issues of importance to the Pan African community in the United States, Caribbean, Africa, Central and South America, and worldwide.
- The Halisi Scholars Black Living-Learning Communityenhances the residential experience of students who are part of or are interested in issues of concern to Black community living on campus. It offers the opportunity to connect with faculty and peers and engage in programs that focus on academic success, cultural awareness, and civic engagement.
- The peer mentoring program Retention through Interpersonal Student Engagement, or RISE, provides a positive impact on the experience of Black students and their allies who are either first-time freshmen or transfer students during their first year. RISE pairs new students with continuing students to help them successfully settle into Cal State LA.
- The Black Alumni Networkgrows, sustains, and promotes the thriving community of Cal State LA’s Black students through mentorship. The network creates opportunities to elevate the community through increased visibility, constructive programming, charitable initiatives, and fostered connections.
Under Eanes’ leadership, the University is developing a comprehensive strategic enrollment plan, centering greater engagement with LA’s historically marginalized communities, as well as a retention mindset to minimize the loss of students who stop out mid-journey.
Enhancing student success is another key focus, as Eanes acknowledges the benefits that flow from timely graduation for individuals, families, and the region.
Eanes knows the CSU system well. From 2012 to 2019, she served as vice president for Student Affairs at California State University, Fullerton, where she delivered leadership and oversight for myriad student success programs, as well as new campus infrastructure and the university’s strategic plan.
From 2019 to 2024, Eanes served as president of York College, University of New York, where she provided strategic leadership and counsel to approximately 1,100 faculty, staff, and administrators.
Eanes earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from Dillard University, a master’s degree in social work from Boston University, and a doctorate in social work from Clark Atlanta University.
At Cal State LA, Eanes will continue to build new bridges aligned with the idea that “We Are LA,” a region of unimaginable culture, creativity, and potential.
“Cal State LA ranks No. 1 among all universities in the nation in the upward mobility of students,” she said. “Clearly, our students do not lack inspiration. They have a hunger for knowledge, a never-ending quest for answers to the most difficult questions. Our job as educators is to feed their curiosity.”
