Partner with SFSU

The philanthropic arm of Fortune 500 biotech company Genentech has been a steadfast partner in training the next generation of life sciences leaders at SFSU. Since the partnership began in 2018, the Genentech Foundation has contributed more than $33 million to SFSU programs, directly impacting over 1,000 STEM students. For many, this funding has been the key to completing their education.

Take Sergio Gonzalez Jr., for example. He first transferred to SFSU in 2013 but had to leave in 2016 due to personal circumstances. During his time away, he worked as a medical assistant during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he discovered his passion for research and community health. Determined to finish his education, he returned to SFSU in 2022.

Like many students, Gonzalez supported himself financially. The funding from Genentech Foundation provided financial assistance and mentorship that allowed him to focus on his studies and research — ultimately helping him achieve a 4.0 GPA.

“Learning that you don’t have to be this picture-perfect person to obtain these fellowships was crucial for me,” Gonzalez explained. “When I came back, I remembered these programs and told myself that in order to succeed, I needed full funding. These programs helped me get there.”

Through partnerships like this, SFSU and the Genentech Foundation continue to break down financial barriers, empowering students to pursue their passions and shape the future of science.

In a strategic collaboration to enhance clinical education for nursing students, SFSU and Sutter Health joined forces to expand clinical placement opportunities. As part of this partnership, Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) in San Francisco provided eight new clinical placement slots for students in SFSU’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSNA) program, allowing 25% more students to enroll.

Securing clinical placements remains a significant challenge for nursing programs nationwide due to high demand and limited availability. The shortage of clinical instructors further compounds the issue, leading to a bottleneck in nursing education. In 2022 alone, nursing schools across the U.S. turned away 78,000 qualified applicants — largely due to a lack of clinical training sites and faculty.

For students like Nate Challis, a BSNA student at SFSU, this partnership has been invaluable. “SF State has been an excellent opportunity for me to meet like-minded, compassionate people who are excited to learn the nursing profession in an environment full of hands-on learning experiences,” he said.

Challis also emphasizes the impact of Sutter Health’s contribution: “Nurses are in such high demand because, at our core, we are fixers—we solve problems. I love what Sutter has done by offering these opportunities to SF State BSNA students,” he said. “Not only are the clinical sites at CPMC incredible, but the nursing instructors are highly skilled. We’re fortunate to train in state-of-the-art facilities, using cutting-edge technology, while gaining exposure to diverse patient populations across San Francisco. This experience will set us up for success in the future.”

By working together, SFSU and Sutter Health are breaking down barriers to nursing education, ensuring that more aspiring nurses receive the clinical training they need to enter the workforce and address the growing demand for healthcare professionals.

SFSU and Braven, a national nonprofit that equips students with the skills, confidence and networks to launch successful careers, formed a partnership in 2014 to offer a transformative, two-part career accelerator. Over the first five years, the partnership will serve approximately 4,400 sophomores, juniors and transfer students, helping them transition from college to strong first jobs.

The experience begins with a three-credit undergraduate course called “AU 220: SF State and Braven Career Accelerator.” In this course, students — whom Braven calls Fellows — engage in weekly online modules via Braven’s learning platform and apply their knowledge through virtual learning labs in small cohorts of five to eight peers. These sessions are guided by leadership coaches, volunteer professionals who mentor Fellows as they develop expertise in five key professional competencies: networking and communication, operating and managing, problem-solving, team collaboration, and self-driven leadership.

Upon completing the course, Fellows gain ongoing support, including continued access to Braven’s online platform, periodic events and programming, a curated jobs newsletter and the one-on-one professional mentorship program.

“A college degree and career preparation are critical to educational equity and upward mobility,” said SFSU President Lynn Mahoney. “Together, we will empower students and propel them on their path to economic success after graduation. Our partnership builds on SF State’s longstanding commitment to providing access to world-class academic programs and degree attainment for our students.”