International Pillar

Howard Wang Wins Award for Contributions to Student Affairs

March 23, 2010

By Mimi Ko Cruz

Howard Wang has been named a “Pillar of the Profession” by NASPA, a Washington D.C.-based organization of student affairs administrators.

Wang, Cal State Fullerton associate vice president for student affairs, was selected for “extraordinary service to the profession.”

Doris Ching, emeritus vice president for student affairs at the University of Hawaii and past president of NASPA, called Wang “inspiring.”

“In his 28-year career in student affairs, Dr. Wang has had distinguished success in professional and community undertakings,” she wrote in her award nomination of Wang. “He has earned the deep respect of his colleagues for his national and international accomplishments.

“Dr. Wang has cultivated international visibility of NASPA and the student affairs profession in Asia through his active involvement in the Asia Pacific Student Services Association, NASPA and other international relationships,” Ching noted. “He has presented papers at conferences in Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Singapore. … The prestigious Doshisha University in Japan invited him to lecture on ‘Student Development through Student Involvement,’ and his presentation on ‘Student Affairs Management in Higher Education’ was included in a chapter of a book published by Zhongshan University Press (China) in 2005.”

The Walnut resident joined Cal State Fullerton in 2003. He oversees financial aid, disabled student services, student health services, counseling and psychological services, student housing and the Guardian Scholars program. He is responsible for about 60 student assistants and 125 administrative and professional employees, including 10 faculty counselors.

“I feel honored that the NASPA Foundation chose to include me as a ‘Pillar,’” Wang said. “It is both a flattering and humbling experience for me.”

Wang received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Oregon, and his master’s degree in clinical microbiology from the University of Wisconsin. He taught clinical mycology at the Mayo Clinic and conducted research in Legionnaires disease at UCLA, where he earned his second master’s degree and doctorate in higher education administration.

Wang is the recipient of the 2009 Citizen Excellence in Community Involvement Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Community Resource Council and the 2007 Asian American Heritage Month Role Models Award from the Asian Business Association of Orange County.

He is a member of the Organization of Chinese Americans Greater Los Angeles Chapter, and serves as a director on the advisory board of the OCA-Orange County Chapter.

In 2008, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Wang to the 48th District Agricultural Association Board of Directors. The association works with elementary and secondary teachers in teaching agriculture and its relation to food, nutrition and health. He also is a member of the Community Resource Council for the Fish Contamination Project Collaborative, a public outreach and education component of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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