Only four schools in the country are in all of the same categories as SDSU (Mixed Undergraduate/Doctorate-Large, Opportunity Colleges and Universities-Higher Access, Higher Earnings, Research 1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production, Hispanic-Serving Institution, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution). Of these four, SDSU is the only institution that has also received the elective classification for community engagement.

https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2025/04/sdsu-recognized-for-academic-excellence-and-student-success-in-2025-carnegie-classifications

Amanda Fuller, MFA

Director | afuller@sdsu.edu 

Amanda is a full-time faculty member in Faculty Advancement & Student Success (FASS). Before joining FASS, she taught in the Department of English and Comparative Literature and the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. She has taught many General Studies (service learning) courses and has has advanced support student success initiatives (like SDSU Navigate) across campus. She has served as SDSU University Senate Treasurer and Secretary. Before coming to SDSU, she was the Director of Program Administration for the Making Waves Foundation in the Bay Area, an organization working with Title I schools in the West Contra Costa County District (Richmond, CA) to increase college access for underrepresented students. She is also the founding and managing editor at Locked Horn Press.

Liz Buffington, M.Ed., Ph.D.

Faculty-in-Residence 2024-25 | ebuffinton@sdsu.edu 

Liz loves being an educator. She began her educational career at the University of Colorado at Boulder, focusing on adult professional development, and at Denver Public Schools as a teacher and instructional coach for teachers. Liz re-engaged in the university setting at SDSU in 2018. Currently, Liz focuses her energy on supporting students and program development for the interdisciplinary Cultural Proficiency Minor. Liz is also the Credential Coordinator for the School of Teacher Education and leads the Cross-Curricular Collaborative Single Subject Cohort. As a Lecturer within the SDSU School of Teacher Education,  Liz facilitates the learning of college students and educators at all levels. You can find Liz teaching Service Learning classes, Teacher Credential coursework,  and classes for the SDSU Online MAT. Liz earned an Ph.D. in Digital Education and Leadership. In addition to teaching, Liz develops and facilitates professional learning curricula for the AVID Center and Insights4Results. Liz enjoys volunteering with the San Diego Unified School District as a Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Advisory Council member and with Detour FANCY. 

Rachael Horn Langford, Ph.D.

Rachael Horn Langford (she/her) earned her Ph.D. in Education and currently teaches in the Sociology Department at SDSU. She has taught a range of sociology courses that integrate service learning since 2009 including body and society, social theory, introductory sociology, sexuality, family, and social psychology. Rachael also teaches as part of the Commuter Life and Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) at SDSU that support first generation, underserved, and underrepresented students. As a critical visual scholar with an interdisciplinary academic background, her research interests bridge the fields of sociology and education to examine mindful anti-oppression education, contemplative pedagogy, teacher education, and critical visual literacy. Rachael’s thinking is guided by a strong commitment to advancing critical social justice through research, teaching, and service.