UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION AND INVESTITURE

2025 University Convocation and Investiture

__________________________________________

THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
REQUEST THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE AT

UNIVERSITY
CONVOCATION
AND THE
INVESTITURE
OF
BERENECEA JOHNSON EANES. Ph.D.

As the Ninth President of
California State University, Los Angeles

MONDAY
AUGUST 18, 2025
Morning Reception | 8 a.m.
Ceremony | 9 a.m.
Harmony & Connection: A Post-Ceremony Gathering | 10:30 a.m.

The Harriet and Charles Luckman
Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, California 90032

Re-Watch the Ceremony Livestream

We Are LA:
Empowering Dreams,
Transforming Lives

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California State University, Los Angeles will mark a historic occasion during the annual University Convocation: the Investiture of Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes as the University’s ninth president and the first woman to serve in this distinguished role. The ceremony will take place at the Luckman Theatre. The event will begin with a formal academic processional featuring University leadership, faculty, and honored guests.

This year’s Convocation and Investiture will also serve as the official launch of the new academic year. The program will include the announcement of the Outstanding Professor Awards, the Outstanding Lecturer Award, and the President’s Distinguished Professor Award.

We look forward to celebrating this landmark event together and launching the academic year with pride and purpose.

Celebration Events

For proper accommodations, if you are planning to attend any of the University Convocation and Investiture related events listed below, please register by visiting the Events | Registration webpage for each event, and confirm your attendance by the posted deadline date. Additional event details will be sent to you via email after your registration.

UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION & INVESTITURE CEREMONY
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025
Morning Reception | 8 a.m.
Ceremony | 9 a.m.
Harmony & Connection: A Post-Ceremony Gathering | 10:30 a.m.

The Harriet and Charles Luckman
Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, California 90032

Information

BENEFIT LUNCHEON
Presented by the National Rongxiang Xu Foundation
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025
Reception | 11 a.m.
Luncheon | Noon

Golden Eagle Ballrooms *
Golden Eagle Building, 3rd floor
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, California 90032

The Benefit Luncheon is a fundraising event and sponsorship/ticket purchase is required to attend.

* Due to overwhelming interest, the Benefit Luncheon will now take place at the Golden Eagle Ballrooms, instead of the Luckman Intimate Theatre.

Information

WE ARE LA: CAMPUS DAY CELEBRATION
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2025
3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Various locations on the main campus walkway

5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, California 90032

Information

CAL STATE LA DAY AT CITY HALL
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2025
Event starts at 8 a.m.
Los Angeles City Hall

City Hall event is by invitation only.

WE ARE LA - COMMUNITY WEEKEND
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2025 - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2025
Times vary
Various locations on the main campus (Sat.)
CicLAvia – Heart of LA route (Sun.)

Additional Information Coming Soon!

* No state funds were used for these events.

About the President

President Eanes and President Morishita with students

Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes—trailblazing ninth president and first woman to lead California State University, Los Angeles—arrives with a lifelong conviction that higher education is "one of the most important social justice issues of our time." Cal State LA already stands at the pinnacle of that mission, ranked no. 1 in the nation for upward mobility, and serving more than 22,000 remarkably diverse students who mirror the future of Los Angeles and the nation. As we celebrate her Investiture under the banner, "We Are LA: Empowering Dreams, Transforming Lives,'' President Eanes calls on the entire Golden Eagle family to redouble our commitment to transforming first-generation dreams into degrees.

As president of York College, City University of New York, Dr. Eanes set a collaborative tone through a campuswide listening tour that strengthened community partnerships and opened doors of opportunity for thousands of first-generation scholars. Bringing that same spirit to Cal State LA, she has forged alliances that will spur innovation across the arts, sciences, and civic life. Her scholarship in social work centers on real-world impact—examining enrollment patterns, the pandemic's effects, and the evolving value of public higher education—ensuring her decisions are grounded in both data and compassion.

At Cal State Fullerton, Dr. Eanes reimagined student programming and implemented initiatives that increased six-year graduation rates by 30 percent and four-year rates by 65 percent. She consistently turned bold ideas into measurable gains for students who might otherwise be left behind and championed immersive learning, holistic wellness, and an unwavering dedication to equity—leadership that earned her the prestigious CSU Wang Family Excellence Award.

Known for her radiant smile, infectious laughter, and boundless empathy, President Eanes leads with both head and heart alike. She sees every Golden Eagle as a catalyst for progress in their families and communities, and she challenges us to dream audaciously while doing the hard work of transformation. As we mark this historic Investiture—the celebration of Cal State LA's first woman president in our 78-year history—we rededicate ourselves to the promise that under Dr. Eanes' visionary leadership, the university will soar to new heights, proving that when we empower dreams, we truly transform lives.