Faculty Highlight
Dr. Darnell Lewis, Director of the Office of Belonging and Inclusion, has been a beacon of positive change at Cal State Long Beach, inspiring and empowering students to pursue academic excellence with confidence and pride. In 2023, he joined the ºÚÁÏÍø community, driven by his passion for mentoring students and providing the resources they need to succeed, a passion he carried with him from his previous role as an Assistant Director in the Office of Multicultural Student Services at Ferris State University in Michigan. What drew him to The Beach was the opportunity to cultivate a sense of belonging for students at a large-scale institution, a mission he embraced wholeheartedly.
During his time at ºÚÁÏÍø, Dr. Lewis grew as both a leader and a director. He transitioned from supporting student assistants to guiding professional staff, collaborating with campus partners, and developing initiatives that uplifted students from historically marginalized communities. He not only witnessed his own growth but also celebrates the growth of the students he served. One of his proudest moments was seeing a 20% increase in Black student enrollment on a campus of 40,000 students. He also admired witnessing the University Student Union rebuilding, the rebranding of the Office of Multicultural Affairs into the Office of Belonging and Inclusion and celebrating countless students as they crossed the graduation stage at cultural graduation celebrations.
Looking ahead, Dr. Lewis believes ºÚÁÏÍø can continue strengthening the educational success of students of color through expanded outreach to K–12 communities and stronger retention programs. He emphasizes the importance of ensuring students feel supported, seen, and valued, whether through mentorship, one-on-one connections, or opportunities like scholarships and internships. For him, the heart of student success has always been making sure students know someone is in their corner.
Among his many contributions, Dr. Lewis is especially proud of the impact he made through the Black Excellence Experience (BEE), a three-day summer bridge program. He watched first-year, and transfer students secure on-campus jobs, build meaningful connections in the Black Resource Center, and join Black Greek-letter fraternities, sororities, and student organizations.
When Dr. Lewis reflects on what he hopes students remember about him, he wants them to know he truly cared. He hopes they remember him as a mentor who supported their educational and career journeys, someone who showed up consistently and used his time at ºÚÁÏÍø to put meaningful change in motion.
As he enters his next chapter, Dr. Lewis is excited to return home and be closer to his family and lifelong friends, a move that will allow him to pour into his mental health and well-being. He will be stepping into a new role as Director of Higher Education Innovation at the Michigan College Access Network, embracing the opportunity to grow and lead in new ways.
Outside of work, he plans to continue his community impact by serving on the advisory board of the Hidden Genius Project, a national nonprofit supporting Black boys in STEM. He also hopes to reconnect with the Black Alumni Association at the University of Michigan to mentor current students. Additionally, Dr. Lewis plans to reengage with his alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and continue serving his community.
To Dr. Lewis, being a Black scholar means carrying both an intellectual and communal responsibility: pursuing knowledge while staying grounded in the lived experiences and contributions of the Black community and using one’s scholarship to uplift others. He embodies this belief wholeheartedly. Through his mentorship, leadership, and unwavering commitment to students, Dr. Darnell Lewis has been a true example of Black Excellence.
Although he is moving on to a new chapter, his presence, impact, and care will be deeply missed.
