Trustee Wenda Fong and Mr. Daniel Fetterly Staff Award

 

The Trustee Wenda Fong and Mr. Daniel Fetterly Staff Awards is the CSU's first Board-level program recognizing exceptional staff contributions. Funded by Trustee Fong and Mr. Fetterly, the program grants three individual $25,000 awards and one $25,000 team award (shared by up to five members). The inaugural honorees will be recognized at the May 2026 CSU Board of Trustees meeting. 

Cal State Fullerton Nomination Deadline: January 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST

Nomination Form

 

Eligibility

Eligible nominees are current CSU staff employees, including auxiliary and ASI staff, who are in good standing and whose accomplishments occurred after January 1, 2025. Faculty represented by Bargaining Unit 3, previous award recipients and student assistants are not eligible for nomination.

All staff, faculty, and MPPs are encouraged to nominate a colleague who meets the eligibility and selection criteria. 

 

Award Categories

Affordability Advocate and Driver of Transformative Change
This award honors an individual whose efforts have a profound impact on making a CSU education affordable and accessible.

• Demonstrates significant, measurable impact on reducing financial barriers and expanding access for students, particularly those with high financial need.
• Implements creative, forward-thinking, or system-level solutions that lead to meaningful change.
• Actively advocates for affordability through leadership, partnership, or influence across departments, institutions or policy spaces.
• Efforts result in lasting practices, policies or programs with potential for long-term sustainability and replication. 

 

First Generation Belonging and Community
This award honors an individual who excels in fostering a sense of belonging and builds a supportive campus community for first generation students.

• Demonstrates a deep understanding of first-generation student experiences and provides intentional support through advocacy, mentoring, or programming.
• Creates inclusive spaces, initiatives, or relationships that promote connection, visibility and belonging for first-generation students.
• Engages consistently and authentically with first-generation students, building trust and supportive relationships.
• Shows clear evidence of positive outcomes or broad influence on first-generation students or campus communities. 

 

Fostering an Inclusive and Equitable Learning Environment
This award honors an individual that has dedicated themselves to student success while promoting equity and inclusion within the university community.

• Demonstrates a sustained commitment to equity and inclusion by addressing systemic barriers and advancing inclusive practices.  
• Positively influences student learning, engagement, retention or achievement, with particular attention to efforts to remove barriers for students facing systemic barriers to success.
• Creates learning or campus environments where students feel valued, respected, and supported.  
• Serves as a leader or role model who influences peers, programs or policies to advance inclusive excellence across the university.  

 

Trailblazing Team
This award honors a team of no more than five individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in the service of students and the mission of the CSU.

• Demonstrates strong collaboration, shared leadership, and effective teamwork in pursuit of student-centered goals.
• Develops and implements innovative approaches that address student needs and advance the CSU mission.
• Achieves meaningful, measurable outcomes that improve student experiences and align with CSU values.
• Creates initiatives or solutions with potential for long-term impact, expansion, or replication beyond the initial effort. 
   

Learn more about the Trustee Wenda Fong and Mr. Daniel Fetterly Staff Award