2025 Outstanding Staff Performance
California State University, Northridge
Interim Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, Equity & Inclusion
I’m passionate about advancing equity, inclusion, and social justice in higher education. I develop strategic partnerships that promote student success, foster inclusion for marginalized communities, and lead campuswide initiatives that champion inclusive excellence and belonging”
Dr. Freddie Sánchez is the assistant vice president of Student Affairs for Equity and Inclusion at CSUN, where he focuses on advancing holistic student support and success strategies.
Sánchez is a passionate advocate for equitable access to higher education and a dynamic changemaker focused on the empowerment of historically underserved student populations. Recognizing the importance of fostering a sense of belonging for our students, he has created authentic opportunities for students from every background, identity and lived experience to feel seen, supported and celebrated.
In his previous role as associate director of Programs and Inclusion for the University Student Union, he expanded capacity and resources for CSUN students through the Pride Center, Veterans Resource Center and the Undocumented Student Center and was a leader in the university’s shift from a deficit model to an asset-based framework. He also pioneered programs that engender belonging, such as the Women Inspired to Succeed and Discover Opportunities through Mentoring (WISDOM) program and the HEAL Project, which connects CSUN’s at-promise students with tools and resources they need to thrive in college and complete their degrees.
Sánchez serves as co-chair of CSUN’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion and also served as one of three campus leaders responsible for guiding CSUN successfully through the process for earning the Seal of
Excelencia from
Excelencia in Education. He remains passionate about leveraging the seal framework to ensure that the university is authentically serving its Latinx student community and is creating a model that in turn can benefit all student populations.
In 2021, Sánchez assumed co-leadership of a research study to explore the feasibility and impact of identity-based resource centers to eliminate equity gaps, in alignment with the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025 goals. Throughout this project, he ensured that the resulting report and recommendations incorporated the ideas, insights and feedback of the students the centers serve.
Sánchez has received national recognition from NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, and the Association for College Unions International for his work in spearheading policy change and faculty and staff retention efforts.
He received bachelor’s degrees in both Spanish and financial mathematics and statistics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California and a doctor of philosophy in education from the Claremont Graduate University/San Diego State University joint doctoral program.