DOSAEM staff members mentor students at Middle School African American Student Success Conference

students dancing
photos courtesy of Clovis Unified School District

Whitney Cambric and Sade Johnson represented Fresno State’s Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (DOSAEM) at Clovis Unified School District’s annual Middle School African American Student Success Conference. Hosted on February 23 at Clovis North High School, the conference welcomed students from 32 middle schools across the Central Valley, with over 500 students in attendance. 

Following an interactive drum circle and a keynote speech from DOSAEM’s vice president, students attending the conference had the opportunity to participate in an interactive breakout session in which they met in small groups with local professionals from various industries, including education, health care and law enforcement among others. 

Cambric and Johnson were two of over 50 professionals that volunteered to serve as mentors during this breakout session, offering support and guidance to the middle school students. 

“I enjoy impacting students by encouraging them to take ownership over their lives and invest their time wisely,” Johnson said. 

Sade Johnson coaching students

Johnson, the first in her family to earn a master’s degree, is a Fresno State alumna and the interim program director of Fresno State’s Black Student Success Initiative (BSSI). 

Founded in 2023, BSSI is aimed at addressing the needs of Black students by promoting the goals of The California State University’s Graduation Initiative 2025. These include: increasing retention and graduation rates, eliminating equity gaps in degree completion, and improving student success through strategic approaches that employ a holistic approach to Black student success.

In addition to her work at Fresno State, Johnson serves as a mentor for teenagers at her church. 

Like Johnson, Cambric greatly values serving as a mentor to young students. She has dedicated time over the last six months to tutor and mentor a sixth grade student through CovEducation, a virtual program that pairs mentors from higher education institutions with K-12 students. This is the second year that she has served as a mentor at the Middle School African American Student Success Conference. 

“I recognize how important it is to see successful people who look like yourself,” Cambric said. “This allows for children to dream big, despite what society may label them as. As a young professional, I feel it is my duty to give back to the younger generation, especially to those that look like me.”

Cambric serves as DOSAEM’s budget analyst and is graduating with her Masters in Business Administration from Fresno State this spring. She has worked on campus in various capacities since 2014. 

Cambric completed her undergraduate degree at Fresno State in 2016.

“It’s amazing to see our staff members’ dedication to uplifting the lives of students at Fresno State as well as across the Valley,” said Dr. Kent Willis, vice president of DOSAEM. “It is especially inspiring considering so many of our staff are also Fresno State alumni who are choosing to return to Fresno or stay in the region in order to continue to pour into the community.” 

by MARISA MATA

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