Geron to take part in U.S. Dept. of Education roundtable with Secretary Arne Duncan

• April 14, 2014 7:00am

Kim Geron, chair of Cal State East Bay's Political Science Department and a member of the university's faculty since 1999, has been invited to participate in a U.S. Department of Education Roundtable discussion with Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Monday, May 5, in Washington, D.C. The rountable discussion is part of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. His invitation said that the goal of the roundtable is "to facilitate key partnerships and focused policy discussions with Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) leaders."

Geron has been invited to Washington "because of my work with the National Education Association, CSUEB's AANAPISI (Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions) grant, and my membership on the board of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)."

The CSUEB professor indicated he also will participate a few days later in another roundtable discussion with U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez. 

Professor Geron is CSUEB's lead faculty member for the public affairs and administration option offered for Political Science majors. He advises students on the pathway to complete their major and encourages direct participation by students in research and policy analysis. Geron also mentors students to become active members of the local and global community.

For students seeking a career in the government and the non-profit sectors, Geron assists in designing an educational track leading to future employment options. Internships offer a proven path for these students to gain practical experience in the world of public affairs. As the coordinator of internships for the Political Science Department, he annually takes a group of students to the Sacramento Legislative Seminar to attend workshops with lobbyists, legislators and staffers, and the media.

His research interests include race and ethnic politics, the labor movement, social movements, and immigration policy. He is currently conducting research on the Asian American Movement, Latino politics, race and labor politics, and community based urban politics.

-- Barry Zepel