It's too hot, too early! I'm just going to come out and say it right off the bat. I've lived in Sacramento my entire life and have never gotten used to the heat. When people say it's nice out, it's hard for me not to think they're crazy, but I also get it. There certainly is a threshold where I also think it's nice, but I'm not ready for this unseasonable warmth. ☀️😎

On the other hand, with so many Spring events happening, many of them outdoors, it definitely makes for a better environment for those. Either way - whether you're a fan of the heat or would rather be in a swimming pool or in front of the air conditioning vent - it's a time to celebrate the many exciting things going on in the lives of our students. 🌷🐝

From success in the classroom to participation in clubs, programs, internships and more, it's a time of new beginnings and fresh starts for many of our Hornets, especially those who will soon begin the next phase of their lives when they walk the stage this May. 🎓

Happy Spring! Stingers Up!

By Daniel Wilson, Digital Communications Specialist, The Buzz Editor

“Education is linked to freedom because to be free means to have something that no one can ever take away from you, and that’s the power of an education.”

– Joe Biden, 46^th president of the United States

The Buzz hits your inbox once a month. Your partnership is the heartbeat of this newsletter. We’re eager to hear how we can elevate it for you. Please share your thoughts, feedback and ideas with us. 💌

Don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram for a peek into campus life! 📸

As we enter the home stretch of the Spring semester, we celebrate the remarkable successes and growth within the Student Engagement and Success (SES) sub-division.

Staff & Program Highlights:

Career & Academic Readiness:

Upcoming Events & Kudos:

As the semester picks up speed, please remember to take a breath and appreciate the beauty around us. Let’s continue to strive for happiness and support one another in this important work.

Stingers Up!

Dr. Bill Hèbert, Jr.

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs

Dean of Students

The University reaffirms its enduring commitment to advancing and amplifying its designations as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Black-Serving Institution (BSI), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). We remain steadfast in fostering a campus community that is inclusive, safe and welcoming for all students.

HSI Designation - Farmworker Awareness Week

This year, multiple departments, programs, and organizations across campus (El Centro Serna, HSI, CAMP, CARC, etc.) have come together to bring a week full of events dedicated to honoring the labor, resilience and dignity of farmworkers. Their contributions nourish our families, sustain our communities and carry generations of history, sacrifice and strength.

While National Farmworker Awareness Week is recognized March 25–31, Sac State will be celebrating from March 30–April 3.

BSI Designation - MLK Jr. Center Meet & Greet

The MLK Jr. Center is hosting a meet and greet for its new director on Tuesday, April 28, from Noon - 1:30 p.m. at the center. The campus community is welcome to connect with Elijah Martin, director of the MLK Jr. Center, and his team. Learn about exciting opportunities to collaborate and get involved!

AANAPISI Designation - Pasifika Scholars Summit Series

The APIDA Center is launching the Pasifika Scholars Summit Series, an interactive leadership and cultural experience centering Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students and staff. Through Talanoa, creative expression, and community dialogue, participants will strengthen identity, deepen belonging and build culturally grounded tools for visibility and advocacy in higher education.

Sacramento State recently launched APPEX (Asian Pacific Promoting Educational Excellence), a new cohort program supporting incoming first-year students’ mental health, wellness and academic success.

APPEX combines student services, interdisciplinary courses and co-curricular activities, centering the experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. The program provides resources for nutrition, career exploration and personal growth, helping students thrive both personally and professionally. Applications are open for Fall 2026 with a priority deadline of May 15.

Read below to learn a bit about each of our current Student Assistants. 

Name: Ashley Bozzo
CARC: Women's Resource Center 
Major: Counselor Education Career Specialization
Expected Graduation: May 2027
Career Goal: To become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor working in a higher education setting focused on the mental health of college students.
Favorite Thing About Sac State: Definitely the people I’ve met and the community I’ve built here. My favorite place on campus will always be The WELL.
Fun Fact: I can spin basketballs on my fingers! 

Name: Alexandria Maitong Lor
CARC: APIDA Center
Major: Masters in Counseling, Career concentration
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Career Goal: To either work at my local community college as a counselor or to create a community center that provides an inclusive and equitable space for everyone in order to make it easier to get mental health and career counseling.
Favorite Thing About Sac State: All of the trees on campus!
Fun Fact: I love musicals! My current favorites are "EPIC: The Musical" and "Hadestown!"

Name: Elizabeth Jaimes-Yepez
CARC: Dreamer Resource Center
Major: Masters in Career Counseling
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Career Goal: Career exploration consultant/coach
Favorite Thing About Sac State: The cultural and academic support available for all students through CARC and my community.  
Fun Fact: I was raised in Mexico and lived there for 10 years. 

Name: Brianna Ochoa Zavala
CARC: Multi-Cultural Center
Major: Bachelors in psychology, minor in education from UC Davis. I am currently pursing a master's in Counseling with a School Counseling concentration at Sac State.
Expected Graduation: 2028
Career Goal: I aspire to become a high school counselor to support students from marginalized backgrounds.
Favorite Thing About Sac State: The community. I appreciate how kind people are and the abundance of resources available to help students grow and succeed.
Fun Fact: I have had breakfast with a squirrel!

The work of Alexandria Raya-Franklin, Esak’timá Center, ensures that Native students are not only supported but are an integral part of Sacramento State’s story and the very fabric of who we are as a division.

Alexandria’s immense dedication to preserving Native traditions and education through the arts was most recently demonstrated through her powerful film screening that showcased her lived experience and honored the legacy of her ancestors through storytelling. Her work reflects a deep commitment to cultural continuity, representation and healing.

Learn more about Alexandria at the button below. Congrats, Alexandria! 

The Staff Talent Appreciation & Retention (STAR) Awards program acknowledges the exemplary performance and contributions of staff members within the division.

Head to our submission form below to NOMINATE the next STAR of the Month!

Welcome to Honey, Wings & Stings!

The Buzz highlights members of the Student Affairs family who have been promoted (Honey 🍯), newly hired (Wings 🦋), and those who are leaving our division, including retirees (Stings 🐝).

Join us in recognizing and congratulating these extraordinary employees!

Honey 🍯recognizes our staff who have been promoted or transferred to new roles within Student Affairs.

Congratulations to these outstanding members of our Student Affairs family!

Wings 🦋 recognizes new hires in the division, with a list of names, titles and start dates.

Join us in welcoming our newest division members!

Stings 🐝 recognizes members of the Hornet Family who are departing the division, including our retirees.

Join us in wishing these folks all the best in their next adventure!

By Cara Campbell, Women's Resource Center Director

The Women’s Resource Center proudly hosted HER Table: A Leaders Lunch, an inspiring afternoon that brought together students, faculty, staff and community members for meaningful connection and conversation.

Designed as a space to uplift and empower, HER Table centered the voices and experiences of women leaders who are shaping pathways across our communities.

The event featured a dynamic panel with Anh Phoong, Daisy Gonzales, and Maraskeshia Smith, with thoughtful facilitation by Stephanie Tom. Together, they shared powerful reflections on leadership, resilience, and navigating personal and professional journeys with authenticity and purpose. Their stories resonated deeply with attendees, offering both inspiration and practical insight.

More than just a panel, HER Table created space for connection, where students could see themselves reflected in leadership, engage in dialogue, and build community. The energy in the room was a reminder of the importance of representation, mentorship, and creating environments where women feel seen, supported, and encouraged to lead.

HER Table reflects the Women’s Resource Center’s continued commitment to fostering belonging, leadership development, and transformative experiences for our campus community.

Compiled By Daniel Wilson, Digital Communications Specialist, The Buzz Editor

Sacramento State recently secured $2 million in federal funding with help from Congresswoman Doris Matsui. The Community Project Funding will help advance the University’s forthcoming downtown Sacramento economic development project, which is planned to include student housing, academic space, workforce development and hospitality near the State Capitol.

Matsui said the Capital Campus project funding will expand student opportunities, boost workforce development, revitalize downtown Sacramento and secure equitable federal support for the community’s future.

President Luke Wood called the funding a major investment driving Sac State’s downtown campus expansion, urban revitalization and a collaborative hub for education, innovation, housing and economic growth.

With the funding, the project — a “first-of-its-kind initiative intended to reinvigorate downtown and serve as a national model for university-led urban development” — will be able to move forward from a concept to reality.

Throughout the year, departments, offices and centers in Student Affairs hold various events for students, faculty and staff. We appreciate your support, attendance and participation in our Student Affairs events whenever possible.

Want your events featured in The Buzz? Add your events to Trumba (details below), and let us know so we can consider them for inclusion.

Here are some upcoming events to attend: 

Upload your events to Trumba, Sac State's event management platform. It's designed to help organize, share and promote campus events with ease. Uploading to Trumba only takes a few minutes and is an easy and efficient way to keep students up-to-date on all of the exciting events we have planned!

Learning & Development offers a wide variety of employee professional development trainings, events and activities each month. See the full calendar at the button below for events, additional information, and to request accommodations and register.

Here are some highlights for April: 

The Career Center offers a wide variety of career development and employer networking resources, trainings, events, career fairs and activities for you, your students and alumni each month.

See the full calendar below for events, additional information, and to request accommodations and register.

🏫 Admitted Student Day is on the horizon and the Planning Committee invites all Student Affairs departments or offices to participate. This campuswide event provides an opportunity for departments/programs to meet with Fall 2026 admitted students, answer questions about enrollment and create a personal connection with our future Hornets.

The Academic Department and Campus Resource Fair on Saturday, April 18, is from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., and the overall event is scheduled from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The deadline to register is Friday, April 3, so visit here to register and participate in this important event. Help us solidify students' decisions to "Say YES! to Sac State."

🎡This year's Carnival on the Quad will create a "World of Wonder" at Sac State! The 2^nd annual event is on Friday, April 10, at 5 p.m. in the Acorn Amphitheater (Main Quad) and will feature classic fair treats, live music, and games and activities. Last year's carnival was a huge success, and with your help, we can make this year's even bigger and better!

Volunteer support is needed throughout the day (8 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.), and you are welcome to sign up for multiple shifts. Please register by Friday, April 3, at 4 p.m. by visiting and filling out this form. Your help plays a vital role in creating a safe, welcoming and exciting experience for our campus community.

As we navigate a busy Spring semester, we are committed to providing efficient, transparent support to all. To help our team help you faster, here are some "pro-tips."

"Quick Hits" for a Stress-Free Workplace: Before you head out for a well-deserved weekend, take these steps to keep our divisional data safe and your devices happy.

CHRS Wave 4a Implementation

Please remember to enter time and/or absences for March 17 onward now that CHRS is back online.

New Procurement Card Policy and Reconciliation Changes

As of Jan. 28, the procurement card policy has changed. As of March 17, the current Procurement "manual" will be found here. This new policy is directly from the Chancellor's Office. Cardholders and approving officials must refer to this new policy prior to making procurement card purchases.

The Concur Systemwide Instance User Guide is currently available here. The user guide has vital info on Concur navigation and procurement card processes within Concur.

Visit here for training on Concur request and expense optimization.

Thank you for supporting Hornet Weekly - Sac State's email newsletter sent every Tuesday to students. 

The goal of Hornet Weekly is to reduce the number of emails students receive while providing an easy-to-read digest to better keep students informed.

We cannot produce Hornet Weekly without submissions from our Student Affairs family and all of our campus partners.

Want to keep up with the latest editions of Hornet Weekly? Have items to include? Click the buttons below to learn more, submit your items and visit the Archive.

Have you heard? We have an easy way to request campaigns, emails and more. Use our new forms to request graphics, photos, videos and targeted SacSends!

We are here to help. Let us guide you on the best practices and platforms for reaching students. Planning ahead streamlines communication pathways, helping you connect with your target audience(s).

Thanks for reading the March 2026 edition of The Buzz Around Student Affairs!

🐝 The Buzz is usually sent the final week of each month. Please submit updates for the next newsletter no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. 🐝

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