HERITAGE MONTH celebrations
SEPT-OCT
National Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month dates back to 1968, when it was established as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson. The week was expanded in 1988 to the now full month of observation. Sept. 15 marks the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, while Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.
VISIT THE LATINX RESOURCE CENTER
JUNE/JULY
San Diego State University invites alumni to join the upcoming celebration of Pride Month, Pride Week and San Diego Pride, including special events and the annual SDSU SD Pride Parade contingent for SDSU community, alumni and friends. SDSU is recognized as one of the top 25 colleges and universities in the country for LGBTQ+ students by the Campus Pride Index, and we are honored to host and participate in this year’s events.
MAY
May is Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month, which serves as a national celebration of the history, contributions, and achievements of APIDA communities. This month was designated to commemorate the first Japanese immigration to the United States on May 7, 1853, while also honoring the Chinese immigrants who worked to complete the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.
APRIL
To coincide with the Arab American Heritage Month, which is observed in April, the SDSU Center for Intercultural Relations (CIR) is hosting its inaugural Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Heritage Series. The goal of the series is to increase awareness about the vibrant history, cultures, experiences, contributions, and resiliency of the SWANA community. All members of the SDSU community are invited to participate in our virtual events.
MARCH
Women's History Month is celebrated every March in recognition of women's rights and the ongoing efforts for intersectional gender justice. During Women's History Month, students, staff, and faculty are invited to attend a wide variety of programming that highlights feminist activism, centers folks who face multiple, intersecting forms of oppression, and offers spaces to celebrate our resilience.
MARCH (observed)
SDSU celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month in March by paying tribute to the generations of Jewish people who have helped create the fabric of our history, culture and society. Nationally, Jewish Heritage Month was officially designated in 2006, though U.S. presidents have been observing the legacy and impact of members of our Jewish community since at least 1981. SDSU honors this Heritage Month in March each year, although it is nationally recognized in May, toward the start of summer.
MARCH
In March, San Diego State University is commemorating Disability Celebration Month through a series of community events. As we engage in these celebrations and conversations, it's important to recognize that the language we use around disability continuously evolves, reflecting personal choice and connections to community. While 'person-first' language was once common, many now prefer 'identity-first' language, asserting disability as part of identity. Disability, like other identities, holds political, societal, and economic implications. In a recent study, 49% preferred identity-first, 33% person-first, and 18% had no preference (Sharif et al., 2022).
FEBRUARY
February is the designated month to celebrate and honor African Americans. Blacks have significantly impacted the development of the social, political, and economic structures of the United States and the world. Credit for the evolving awareness of blacks' proper place in history, in large part, be bestowed on one man, Carter G. Woodson.
NOVEMBER
November marks National Native American Indian Heritage Month, which provides a platform
for Native people to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways
and concepts of life.
San Diego State has established a longstanding commitment to respectfully acknowledging,
celebrating, and serving the Kumeyaay communities and all tribal nations. The past
few years of strategic initiatives have shown a focus on strengthening support and
presence for the growing Native American/Indigenous body of students at SDSU.
OCTOBER
Filipinx History Month is acknowledged during the month of October to recognize the
important presence of Filipinos in the United States and celebrate the group's heritage
and culture. October was designated Filipinx History Month because the earliest documented
proof of Filipino presence in the contintental United States was on Oct. 18, 1587
when the first "Luzones Indios" set foot in Morro Bay, Ca.
MORE ABOUT FILIPINX HISTORY MONTH
All students, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin, who are interested in participating are welcome. Learn more by reading SDSU's Affirming Equal Opportunity statement.
2026 Welcome back mixers
See below for the 2026 list of Welcome Back Mixers!
Monarch Unity Resource Center Open House
Monday, Aug 24, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (AL202)
APIDA Center Open House
Monday, Aug 24, Noon-2 p.m.
APIDA Center
Pride and Women's Resource Open House
Monday, Aug 31 and Wednesday Sep 2, 10 a.m.-noon.
5121 Campanile Drive
BRC Welcome Back Open House
Thursday, Aug 27, Noon-3 p.m.
5723 Lindo Paseo
Pride and Women's Resource Open House
Monday, Aug 31 and Wednesday Sep 2, 10 a.m.-noon.
5121 Campanile Drive
Center for Intercultural Relations
Open House Ice cream social:
Wednesday, Aug 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union 250
GLaD and GSA Meet and Greet
Thursday, Aug 27, noon-2 p.m
Student Union 250
Latinx Resource Center Open House
Wednesday, Aug 26 & 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Love Library 182, First Floor
Native & Indigenous Community Reception
Friday, Aug 28, Noon-2 p.m.
NRC (Ellen Ochoa Pavillion, First Floor Room 115)
Community-specific commencements
- American Indian Grad
- APIDA Grad
- Black Baccalaureate
- Latinx Grad
- EOP Grad
- Lavender Grad
