Cal Poly Pomona President Emeritus Bob Suzuki, the first Asian American to lead a major U.S. university (1991-2003), established cultural centers and programs to support underrepresented communities, and worked to dismantle barriers like the "bamboo ceiling" that limit Asian American Pacific Islander representation in leadership roles. His early experiences with discrimination fueled his commitment to social justice, leading him to transition from engineering to education during the civil rights era.
This article was originally published by on May 15, 2025.