CSUF Executive Receives Civil Rights Award
January 9, 2006
by Mimi Ko Cruz
For his contributions to human rights,
Donald S. Castro, special assistant to President Milton Gordon,
was awarded a Civil Rights Award from the California Association
of Human Relations Organization (CAHRO).
The
award was presented Monday, Jan. 9, at the Embassy Suites
Hotel in Sacramento during CAHRO's annual conference. CAHRO
is a collection of county and city human relations commissions,
nonprofit human rights groups, government and community organizations,
anti-hate crime networks and social justice coalitions.
Castro "is
so deserving of this award," said Silas H. Abrego, associate
vice president for student affairs. "Throughout his professional
life, he's always been involved in ensuring that every young
person -- especially the low-income, minority student -- who
wants a higher education, have that opportunity."
In
his current position, Castro has won million-dollar grants
that will fund programs he created to help such students
learn about, prepare and finance a college education. One
of his programs brings resources, such as tutoring, civics
classes, leadership training and social and medical services,
to a poor community of Fullerton.
"Don
Castro is on the cutting edge of helping the university to
better serve the low-income, ethnically diverse residents
of Fullerton," said Rusty Kennedy, executive director of
the Orange County Human Relations Commission. "His role as
the volunteer leader of this Cal State Fullerton-community
initiative will make a difference in the lives of many young
people."
Castro "has
been able to branch out into the community, starting at the
grass roots level, and that is really important for an institution
like ours," said Rosamaria Gomez-Amaro, director of diversity
and equity programs. "He is helping kids be ready for school,
empowering the community to move in the direction of higher
learning. His level of dedication to service and work for
equitable access in postsecondary education go over and beyond
his paid responsibilities."
A
Fulbright scholar and holder of a doctorate in history from
UCLA, Castro first joined Cal State Fullerton in 1993 as dean
of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Castro has
held a variety of administrative and academic positions within
the California State University, including vice president for
academic affairs at Cal State Dominguez Hills; interim associate
vice president for graduate studies, research and international
programs at Cal State Northridge; university dean of instruction,
dean of undergraduate studies, chair and professor of history
at Cal Poly Pomona; and associate director of the Office of
International Programs for the CSU.
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