Dr. Luke Wood: From Foster Youth to University President

The new president at Sacramento State is of course Dr. Luke Wood, who has been a very busy man since taking over from President Nelsen.
Dr. Wood has brought a new energy on campus, and you can feel it. With a shoe game that rivals our own Dr. Early, Dr. Wood is working hard to make Sacramento State University a destination campus for people across the nation.
Dr. Wood has increased enrollment among students from Southeast Asian, Black and African American, native and Indigenous, and Hispanic and Latin X communities. He is making Sacramento State an institution where diversity is celebrated.
But he’s also making it a destination campus for former foster youth across the region, state and eventually the country.
Dr. Wood has had quite a journey to become the successful community leader you see today as a former foster youth himself.
Born to a mother who was incarcerated, Dr. Wood navigated the foster care system and adoption while growing up in a rural town in Northern California.
He’s battled adversity every step of the way, through racial bullying that could’ve derailed his education before it even started to housing insecurity, food insecurity and more.
To learn more about our new Foster Youth Support: Guaranteed Income Program visit UWCCR.ORG/WU

[@bethwonson1050]

This is a fantastic video. So much important info. So honored to be connected with the work of United Way CA Capital Region. And Dr. Wood, thank you for your commitment and vision. What a story.