Dr. Luke Wood is committed to students’ success.
He was born in a prison, became a ward of the court, and entered the foster care system with his twin brother. After being adopted into a larger foster home, he was raised in a small town in Northern California with few Black children in school, he shared in an interview with AFROTECH™.
“Definitely had good experiences, but also had some real challenging experiences growing up in a very non-diverse environment. It’s a beautiful town, beautiful people, but just like any other place in the country, struggles with racism,” Dr. Wood told AFROTECH™.
In the fifth grade, he recalled being perceived negatively for being a Black male foster kid. A teacher suspended him 42 times while his twin brother was suspended 24 times. The repeated discipline left him disillusioned with school, he shared.
That changed the following school year.
An educator named Mr. Guggenheimer poured into his interests of writing short stories, he told AFROTECH™. Mr. Guggenheimer helped him write and rewrite stories and sent him to a young writers camp. He even helped him get published in a book composed of children’s stories.
“That just really began to show me that if you have an environment where there’s a relationship, if you have an environment where educators have high expectations, and they truly care, it’s amazing what can be done,” Wood expressed.
Leading California State University, Sacramento
Today, Wood serves as the 9th President at California State University, Sacramento, marking a full-circle moment as he attended the school for his undergraduate studies. There he obtained a bachelor’s degree in history and political science, and then a master’s degree in higher education leadership.
As a 19-year-old sophomore student, he was already sure he would one day become the school’s president, he shared with AFROTECH™. He mentioned he would “obnoxiously” introduce himself to others with the tagline “Hi, I’m Luke, and I’m gonna be the president of Sac State.” It was his life goal to be appointed to the role.
That clarity began during his first year at college. At orientation, he recalled being brought into a big room with a large group of students and told to look to his left and to his right, and that only one of them would graduate. While he understood it was well-intentioned, the impact didn’t land well, he shared. Instead, he described it as an eye-opener that drove his interest in ensuring student success.
Black Honors College
Wood had also campaigned as a student activist for goals that included retaining and supporting Black students and increasing the number of Black faculty members, among others. He said he printed out those demands and placed them in the front pocket of his coat when he applied for his current position as a reminder of why he was there.
While it remains symbolic, it has also led to actionable change. One of his first actions as president was to establish the Black Honors College in 2024.
“The Black Honors College was an intentional effort to basically finish what we started,” he explained.
The Black Honors College is the first of its kind in the nation and was designed with Black students in mind. It offers students specialized coursework, internships, mentorships, distinctive research opportunities, creative arts programs, residential living and learning initiatives, and scholarships, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. Any student interested in Black history, culture, and contributions is encouraged to apply as early as their first year. Additionally, a minimum GPA of 3.5 is required for admission, according to the college’s website.
Participating students include sophomore Savannah Beattie, majoring in health science and on a pre-nurse track. Being enrolled in the program has afforded her access to clubs and job opportunities on campus, including participation in the school’s women’s resource center, she told AFROTECH™. She also pointed to ethnic studies as a highlight of the program and acknowledged that Black Honors College has afforded her community unique learning opportunities.
“I didn’t really grow up in the most diverse areas,” Beattie expressed. “So I’ve never really been around students who are as passionate for their schooling and that look like me … Also, it’s given me sort of a second family … It’s almost created a mini HBCU here at Sac State.”
As for more details on the program, students are expected to complete their general education requirements during the first two years, Wood noted. Hand-selected faculty members with a record of teaching Black students lead courses in math, psychology, history, and other general areas from a Black perspective. Students also choose between the following three minors, intentionally integrated to ensure upward socioeconomic mobility post-graduation: leadership; leadership in aging and health; and leadership, land, and real estate development.
Additionally, there is an AI management minor within the College of Business, which rolled out on Jan. 2 and has already become the most in-demand. It prepares students to apply AI in areas such as business, nonprofits, healthcare, or education for productivity, efficiency, and cost reduction, he shared.
“We believe that’s where the unique space is that we’ll be successful in as a university, helping students to know how to use AI to make themselves more marketable in the marketplace,” he said.
Black Student Enrollment On The Rise
Overall, the college has been impactful for students. In the last two years, Black student enrollment has “skyrocketed,” Wood said.
He said he hopes to rally allies in the honors college’s work, which comes amid pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and other sectors. Wood believes the college is the “North Star of the West.”
“A lot of people make performative statements about what they want to do for communities of color. And for us, it’s not just about talking about it, it’s about doing it. And ultimately, we’re doing it in alignment with state and federal policy,” Wood explained.
“We can show that what we’re doing is certainly intentional about Black students, but it’s open to allies, and we need allies if we’re gonna be successful in what’s to come,” he added.
The Black Honors College, which launched with an inaugural cohort of 80 students, has expanded to more than 500 students. The goal is to reach 1,000 by spring 2027.
