Announcing the

Trustee Wenda Fong and Dr. Daniel Fetterly Staff Award
Trustee Wenda Fong and Mr. Daniel Fetterly Staff Award
CSU The California State University

Purpose of the Awards

For the first time in CSU history, a Board-level recognition program—the Trustee Wenda Fong and Mr. Daniel Fetterly Staff Awards—honors the excellence, dedication and innovation of CSU staff.

Celebrating equity-driven leadership and a student-centered commitment to student success, each award shines a light on staff members whose work has a profound impact on our university community, elevating their stories and highlighting the vital role they play as the heart of the CSU.

Made possible through the generosity of Trustee Wenda Fong and Mr. Daniel Fetterly, this program includes:

  • Three individual awards of $25,000 each
  • One team award of $25,000 shared equally among up to five members

​The inaugural honorees will be celebrated at the May 2026 CSU Board of Trustees meeting, marking a milestone moment to uplift the exceptional impact of CSU staff across our campuses.

Award Categories (updated January 14, 2026)

  • 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.
  • Fostering an Inclusive and Equitable Learning Environment
    This award honors an individual who is dedicated 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.
  • First-Generation Belonging and Community
    This award honors an individual who excels in fostering a sense of belonging and building 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.
       
  • Trailblazing Team Award
    This award honors a team of no more than five individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in the service of student 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.

Nomination Process

Per CSU guidance, each campus president may submit up to two nominations for each award category.

CSUN will be collecting nominations from colleagues, faculty and administrators to ensure inclusivity of nominations from our robust campus community. The nomination process will run from January 12, 2026 through January 30, 2026.

Thereafter, a campus committee which includes representatives from each division will provide recommendations for submittal to the Chancellor’s Office.

Nominees must:

  • Be a current CSU state-side or auxiliary staff member in good standing.  Preference is given to represented employees, though MPP and confidential staff are also eligible.
  • Demonstrate achievements occurring after January 1, 2025.
  • Exhibit qualities aligned with the award criteria: innovation, equity-driven leadership and commitment to student success

Nomination Form 

 

Our campus HR team is here to support you. If you have questions about the process, timelines, or criteria, don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing er@csun.edu.

Let’s shine a spotlight on the staff who make the CSU’s mission extraordinary!