OBSERVER Person of The Year : Dr. Luke Wood

By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff WriterGoing from a student to the president of his alma mater was something Dr. Luke Wood envisioned as an undergraduate more than 20 years ago.“I was obnoxious in telling everybody who would listen that I was going to be the president of Sacramento State,” Dr. Wood says.It wasn’t simply the title he envisioned, but the potential impact it comes with.Dr. Wood, 42, is 16 months into his dream job and this year has been a busy one, as he positions the campus to better serve Blacks and other students of color, including those struggling with homelessness or emerging from foster care. That intentional and unapologetic commitment has led to his selection by The OBSERVER as its 2024 Person of the Year.This year saw Dr. Wood launch the nation’s first Black Honors College, focused on serving students who are interested in Black history, life and culture. The local campus also became the first to be designated a Black-serving institution by the state of California.& “We have the largest population of Black students, not just in the Cal State system, but in all four-year colleges and universities in the state,” Dr. Wood, a former Hornet,...