Faculty Highlight
Building a sense of belonging on a college campus is no small task, but for Dr. Hermen Díaz III, it is a mission rooted in both personal experience and professional expertise. As the new Director of the Office of Belonging and Inclusion (OBI), Díaz hopes to strengthen connections across the Cal State University Long Beach (CSULB) community while supporting the success of students from all backgrounds.
Díaz's journey to becoming the director of OBI began when he was hired as a Student Union building manager during his undergraduate years at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. During his time in the role, he gained insight into the work of campus administrators and leaders. His interest in pursuing a similar career path was sparked by the strong connections he witnessed between staff, students, and the broader campus community. After completing his undergraduate degree, Díaz attended graduate school, and later worked in a variety of student affairs areas across several institutions. Those experiences ultimately prepared him for his current role at CSULB.
One of the biggest inspirations behind Diaz's commitment to belonging, inclusion, and student success was his experience as a college student. After his first semester, Díaz took a break from school and worked full-time in construction. While attending college, he struggled to figure out how he fit within higher education. When he was hired as a building manager for the Student Union, he experienced firsthand the impact a supportive community can have on a student. Through that experience, Díaz discovered what it truly felt like to belong on a college campus. As a result, he began pursuing positions focused on creating those same opportunities for others. He wanted not only to facilitate initiatives centered on belonging, but also to support communities that have historically been marginalized and underrepresented on college campuses.
Díaz also draws upon his experiences as a tenured faculty member in Buffalo, New York, to inform his leadership today. While serving as an associate professor in a higher education administration program, he conducted research focused on cultural centers and the experiences of Latino men college campuses, and higher education professionals of color. His experiences as an administrator, faculty member, and researcher have come together to shape his approach to leadership and his vision for fostering belonging at CSULB.
Díaz is new to California, and what drew him to CSULB is the university's mission and commitment to student success. The chance to facilitate conversations and initiatives centered on inclusion and community-building excited him. After learning about the Black Student Success Framework, CSULB’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution effort supporting Asian Pacific Islander students, Díaz recognized CSULB's dedication to the success of historically underrepresented communities. The university's commitment to supporting students in multiple ways is strongly aligned with his own professional values and goals.
When Díaz reflects what a true sense of belonging looks like on a college campus, he describes it as students feeling validated, respected, needed, and valued within a community. For him, belonging is both an experience and an action that grows from that experience. As the new director of OBI, one of Díaz's primary goals is to learn and build meaningful relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members. He also hopes to help tell the story of belonging at CSULB, particularly through the work of OBI's programs and cultural centers. Through these efforts, he wants to communicate not only what OBI does, but also how its work impacts the campus community.
Díaz seeks to be intentional with relationship-building and maintaining an open and accessible presence. He hopes to engage with members and leaders of various student organizations while continuing to foster partnerships across campus. Díaz believes students can help create a more inclusive campus community by remaining open to learning from one another. He encourages students to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, by identifying opportunities for growth, and remaining open to new perspectives. Above all, he believes students should continue supporting one another.
As Hermen Díaz begins his new role as Director of the Office of Belonging and Inclusion, he hopes to connect with students, faculty, staff, and community members throughout Long Beach. Through those relationships, he aims to foster an environment where students feel seen, valued, and supported. By building meaningful connections and creating spaces where students can thrive, Díaz hopes to strengthen a culture of belonging that extends across the entire CSULB community.
