Thomas A. Parham was appointed president of CSU Dominguez Hills in March 2018. Throughout his tenure, CSU Dominguez Hills has had unbelievable development.
From the numerous new buildings unfold all through the campus to the brand new housing services scheduled to be accomplished and opened previous to the beginning of the brand new college 12 months, President Parham has actually taken the college to new heights.
So his announcement that he can be stepping down on the finish of the 12 months was a shock to all who know him and who’ve admired his unrelenting work to advance the schooling of younger individuals all through the Southern California space.
In a letter to his family and friends, Parham acknowledged, “In historical Kemetic (Egyptian) occasions, the completion of many monument buildings was usually achieved over a number of reigns and totally different Pharaohs.
“In counting on a formulation that was composed of fantastic preparation & development on one hand, and an aspiration to harmonize with divine intent on the opposite, the traditional ancestors basically ‘constructed for eternity,’ hoping if not believing that what they constructed would final endlessly, whilst they affixed their identify/signature to the buildings being constructed, and/or added their distinctive contributions to no matter construction was already underneath development.
“Serving as President of California State College Dominguez Hills has been one of many honors of my life and I take an excessive amount of pleasure in what my staff and I’ve contributed to what existed earlier than, and what we’ve uniquely achieved throughout what shall be my seven 12 months plus tenure as president.
“And whereas I’ve loved yearly that I’ve served in that function, the time has come for me to step apart in order that the CSU Chancellor and the Board of Trustees can choose the following chief govt to step in and add his/her contributions to the eleven chief govt footprints which have already left their legacy at CSUDH.”
Commenting on Parham’s profession at CSUDH, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., chairman and govt writer of the L.A. Sentinel and chairman of Brotherhood Campaign, stated, “Thomas Parham is the quintessential educator. He’s the best President within the historical past of CSU DH and he has actually develop into the unquestionable chief with reference to greater schooling in our group. His dedication to offering the BEST schooling doable to the younger individuals of our group is unparalleled.
“However the work he has finished to actually rework the look, really feel and angle of those that attend and go to the Cal State College of Dominguez Hills is actually outstanding. In his brief seven-year span main the college, he has been in a position to accomplish issues round that campus which can reside on and serve our group for many years and he and his pretty spouse Davida can transfer into this subsequent part of their lives figuring out that the job they did at CSUDH is a job effectively finished. We are going to endlessly be in his debt for his management and dedication to impacting the lives of the scholars he serves.”
Parham beforehand served as vice chancellor for pupil affairs and an adjunct school member on the College of California, Irvine. Prior to those positions, he served as assistant vice chancellor for counseling and well being companies, Counseling Middle director, and director of the Profession and Life Planning Middle at UCI. Parham has additionally held an appointment on the school on the College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
In 1986, he was appointed to the Metropolis of Irvine’s Human Relations Committee. After being elected chair of that committee, he helped draft town’s first human rights ordinance, which was handed by town council. He additionally served as chair of UCI’s Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium for 10 years and sought to increase the boundaries of the college group countywide.
In talking with Parham, he stated that his well being is great, that he merely felt it was time to maneuver ahead into the following chapter of his life and the way he needed to spend extra high quality time along with his beloved spouse Davida Parham, journey extra and never have points pulling him in numerous instructions.
“Within the grand march of justice and enlightenment, Dr. Thomas Parham has stood as a fearless beacon—an educator, a frontrunner, a voice for the unvoiced. His relentless dedication to the upliftment of scholars and the betterment of our communities echoes the noblest beliefs of service and sacrifice,” stated Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Sixty fifth)
“As he steps into the twilight of his profession, allow us to keep in mind that true greatness is measured not merely by titles or accolades, however by the braveness to ignite hope and to encourage change. Dr. Parham, your unwavering dedication has carved a path of righteousness and goal—guiding us towards a future the place justice, schooling, and compassion reign supreme. Could your legacy endlessly inspire us to proceed the sacred wrestle for a extra simply and equitable world.”
