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“The highlight of the evening was witnessing the community showering Helen with words of appreciation.”

CSU Monterey Bay, which is ranked 49th among HSI universities in the West, spotlights and celebrates HSI Week with a series of campus events.

When Sandra Amorim Ruiz was just a year old, her parents left their home there and immigrated to Turlock, in California’s Central Valley. Ruiz is now the director of procurement and contract services for CSU Monterey Bay. Her story is one of a series being told as part of June’s Immigrant Heritage Month.

Recognizing the contributions of those who’ve come from foreign countries during Immigrant Heritage Month is important, said Dennis Kombe, a professor of mathematics education at CSU Monterey Bay who was born and raised in Kenya.

Anaiz Ruiz, 35, is going into her senior year at CSU Monterey Bay as a plant pathology and soil science major. What she will do when she graduates, she’s not sure. The options for an undocumented student are limited. As part of Immigrant Heritage Month, her story is being spotlighted as one that represents a segment of society left standing outside of the gates of opportunity.

At 17, Angie Tran escaped Vietnam. What she hasn’t escaped, despite the passage of more than 40 years, is feeling like an immigrant. Her journey is one of many being recognized and celebrated during June, Immigrant Heritage Month.

"[Transgender youth] need...respect, belonging, appreciation, fellowship, and love."

“We want any student who steps on campus who is first-generation to know that they have a strong support system at CSUMB.”

In recognition and support of its LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff, California State University, Monterey Bay raised a Pride flag on the main quad for the start of Pride Month. 

It was the second annual event from the CSUMB faculty and staff co-op Building Community Through Dialogue.