To Dr. J. Luke Wood, president of California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State), the United States’ first Black Honors College (BHC) is a “micro-university” nestled within the campus.
He says it was created to serve the university system’s largest Black student community. “What it came down to is that Sacramento State has the largest population of Black students in California,” Dr. Wood said. “Out of all the California State universities, no one serves more Black students than we do.” Despite this, he noted, “[Sacramento State] historically has not done well in serving our Black students.” That fact, he said, motivated him to develop a space that centers on what Black students need.
The Black Honors College (BHC), which is the United States’ first, opened its doors in August 2024. After starting with only 80 students, it now has more than 520.
“In September, we’ll have around a thousand students,” said Wood.
In the space of 18 months, BHC has become a fully developed college, with its own faculty, residential space, and dean. “We were fortunate because of some very strong leadership. I would say that Dean Ati Mosupyoe is an incredibly powerful individual we couldn’t do this without, especially as our inaugural dean of the college. Our vice president for student affairs, Dr. Aniesha Mitchell, we couldn’t do this without. “I guess we couldn’t be doing this without strong Black leadership,” Wood continued. The college, which is open to all students interested in Black history and culture, admits incoming first-year students every fall and welcomes transfer students from community colleges and from within Sacramento State.
“It’s more than just space,” Dr. Wood explained, “and it’s not a program or a center. It’s its own college. Students have their own physical faculty, their own residential living and learning, and their own dean who operates the college.”
Culture-centered curriculum
BHC is like other honors colleges, but its emphasis is on Black history and culture across disciplines. The college offers specialized classes, internships, mentorship programs, research opportunities, creative arts activities, residential living and learning initiatives, and scholarship options. Its curriculum is designed so that students spend their first two years immersed in courses — history, science, philosophy, and math — taught from a Black studies perspective.
It offers classes like “Mathematical Practices Across Cultures,” “Art, Religions, and Power before 1400,” “United States History, 1877-present,” and “Introduction to Pan African Studies.” Beyond the core requirements, the college offers three specialized minors — in artificial intelligence management, healthcare and aging, and real estate and land use development — designed to meet both local industry demands and the long-term career aspirations of its students.
Sacramento State’s BHC is not eligible for federal HBCU or Predominantly Black Institution status. Still, under Wood’s leadership, Sacramento State became California’s first Black-serving institution, and legislation was enacted to make several other universities in the state Black-serving as well. “So now, we’re a state-recognized Black-serving institution. And then we have the Black Honors College. Between those two things, we’ve seen a significant increase in Black students wanting to be here,” Dr. Wood explained.
Black student enrollment at Sacramento State has increased by 22% over three years. Wood insists it’s because leadership at Sacramento State has been structured to mirror the diversity of its student body. “We’re one of only four universities in the country right now with a designation for serving at least three different populations,” Dr. Wood said, “including state recognition as a Black-serving institution, and federal designations as a Hispanic-serving institution and as an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution.
“Think of it like a normal Honors College, but with a Black studies focus,” Dr. Wood said. “We specifically identified faculty who have a demonstrated record of success in teaching Black students. They receive ongoing training provided by experts such as Frank Harris of San Diego State’s Community College Equity Assessment Lab.”
Donor contributions, state funds, and university resources have helped fuel BHC’s expansion. The Tsakopoulos family, a Sacramento-based real estate development family, contributed an initial $2.5 million, which was crucial to BHC’s founding. Continued support from the California State University System and Sacramento State’s outreach and advising teams helps ensure the college’s continued existence. “Having anything on campus staffed is a significant investment of resources. So BHC has its own outreach team, acting advisors, residential living and learning, dedicated counselors, its own office support, and much more coming,” Dr. Wood said.
BHC also tries to make an impact beyond the classroom by hosting guest speakers, debates, creative arts events, and trips both nationally and internationally. “We just had a team go to Guadalupe. I went with them to South Africa. We’ve been to Nigeria. We just got back from Atlanta. The idea is to be representative of the diversity within the Black community,” Dr. Wood noted. “Our big focus is on our domestic Black students, but we are also open to anyone who identifies as Black themselves or wants an educational experience blended into Black studies.”