Cal State Student Association - CSSA

CSSA takes distinct honor in recognizing these extraordinary leaders who have demonstrated their commitment and dedication in helping support students during their academic journey.

Congratulations👏 to our 2025-26 CSSA Award Recipients 🎉:
🏆Bob Linscheid Trustee of the Year: Dr. Yammilette Rodriguez, CSU, Board of Trustees
🏆Administrator of the Year: Dr. Carolyn O’Keefe, CSU Office of the Chancellor
🏆Robert C. Maxson President of the Year: Dr. J. Luke Wood, California State University, Sacramento
🏆Faculty Excellence: Dr. Mary Currin-Percival, San José State University
🏆Student Advocate of the Year: Tanner Schinderle, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Every year CSSA student leaders select honorees in each category, recognizing individuals who have made exceptional contributions and created a positive impact across their university and throughout the CSU system.

We appreciate the awardees for making a meaningful difference in the lives of students and the communities they serve. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with all of you and advancing our efforts in cultivating a more supportive environment for students today and for generations to come.

Meet the newly elected 2026-27 California State Student Association (CSSA) Executive Officers! June 1 marked their first day serving in their new roles. 👏🎉
◾️President Artur Gafurov
◾️Chair Tia Saunders
◾️Vice President of Finance Brandon Trigo Foley
◾️Vice President of Legislative Affairs Rodrigo Rojas Garfias
◾️Vice President of Systemwide Affairs Ashely Smith

The team is excited to advocate for the 470,000 plus students across the 22 California State Universities on vital issues such as affordability, financial aid, basic needs, wellness and mental health support services, student success and more.

Please help us congratulate the team as they enter their Exec era 🤏 this academic year with CSSA. Let’s go! ⭐️

California State Student Association (CSSA) is very appreciative of Gov. Gavin Newsom () for his continued commitment to prioritizing and preserving access to public higher education through the release of the 2026-27 May Revision Budget Proposal.

As the budget process continues, CSSA looks forward to our ongoing collaboration with the governor, Legislature, CSU leadership, and advocacy partners. We remain dedicated to urging state leaders to continue prioritizing investments that directly support student success.

To view the 2026-27 May Revision Budget Proposal, please click the 🔗 link here ➡️https://ebudget.ca.gov/budget/m/2026-27/BudgetDetail.

We’re still feeling energized by the inspiring work the California State University (CSU) student leaders accomplished this year during CSSA’s annual California Higher Education Student Summit (CHESS) conference.

Students from across all 23 universities heard from special guests and participated in various advocacy training sessions in which they brought those tools over to the Capitol.

On CHESS Advocacy Day, CSSA hosted a rally in front of the State Capitol 🏦where CSSA Executive Officers, alongside Assemblymember Jose Luis Solache called on the Legislature to continue its commitment to invest in student-centered services that directly support student success and economic mobility. Student leaders urged lawmakers to fully fund the Governor’s proposed ongoing General Fund investment for 2026-27 and conducted lobby visits with state legislators.

CSU student leaders highlighted key legislative priorities that include:
▪️Protecting CSU affordability
▪️Strengthening access to basic needs resources
▪️Expanding equitable employment opportunities
▪️Addressing student safety in an evolving digital landscape that includes artificial intelligence technologies

We are proud to represent the voices of students driving the future of California.

To view a full list of the bills that CSSA is supporting, please click the link🔗here ➡️ https://calstatestudents.org/advocacy/legislative-advocacy-2/

Congrats 🎉 to Jeanice Warden-Washington on being honored as CSSA’s 🏆 2026 Legislative Staff of the Year!

The distinguished recognition was presented by our amazing 2025–26 Executive Officers during CSSA’s 2026 California Higher Education Student Summit (CHESS).

Your commitment to uplifting students and advancing higher education does not go unnoticed. 👏 Thank you for helping improve the lives of California’s college students.

We extend our congratulations 🎉 to Senator Sasha Renée Pérez () on being honored as CSSA’s 🏆 2026 Legislator of the Year.

Presented by the 2025–26 Executive Officers at CSSA’s 2026 California Higher Education Student Summit (CHESS), these awards recognize their outstanding leadership and steadfast dedication to advancing higher education and supporting student success.

We thank her 👏 for her continued advocacy and partnership serving California’s college students, and look forward to continuing this important work together.

The clock is ticking! Register to vote or update your registration for the 2026 Primary Election at registertovote.ca.gov/collegestudents. For the full toolkit visit the link in our bio!