“I want to bring the library into the University,” said Vang, who has been with the Henry Madden Library since 1998. “I want the library to be part of the community and part of the university as well. So I’ve been working on bridging that gap a lot with a lot of the diversity and inclusion activities.”

When the newly rebuilt Madden Library opened in 2009, Vang advocated for a diversity area in the library and championed staff time to build relationships, programs and events that would celebrate and educate the community regarding diversity issues and activities.

Ten years later, the Diversity Lounge on the second floor is thriving and the Library Diversity Committee is recognized as a leader throughout the campus, regarded as a “best practice” among CSU libraries for faculty and staff collaboration.

For Vang’s work on this and other initiatives, the California State University Chancellor’s Office will honor her. She is one of 19 CSU faculty members who will receive 2019-20 Faculty Innovation and Leadership Awards, to be awarded by Chancellor Timothy P. White at the CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 Symposium Oct. 17-18 in Sacramento.

“I’m so pleased that Vang received this prestigious recognition,” said Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Her resourcefulness and unique perspective benefit our students, their assimilation and subsequent production of knowledge, and our understanding of the Fresno State and the world as multicultural and interdisciplinary.”

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