Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
On Tuesday, April 22, in a surprise visit that left students clapping and colleagues beaming, Yan Zhang, associate professor in CSUSB’s School of Computer Science and Engineering, was named the recipient of Cal State San Bernardino’s 2024–25 Outstanding Service Award. The honor recognizes her extensive, sustained service to students, the university and the broader academic and professional community.
The celebration unfolded during Zhang’s 9 a.m. Machine Learning class, just as one of her students was giving a presentation. Suddenly, the classroom doors opened and in walked CSUSB Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rafik Mohamed, accompanied by more than 20 faculty, staff, students and administrators — much to the surprise of Zhang and her students.
“Dr. Zhang? Good morning!” Mohamed called out. A visibly puzzled Zhang responded with a cautious, “Good morning! What’s this … ?”
“This is all about you!” Mohamed said with a smile. Turning to the class, he announced, “Your professor is this year’s recipient of the 2024–25 Outstanding Service Award at CSUSB.” The room erupted in cheers.
He explained that it’s a long-standing campus tradition to show up unexpectedly in the middle of the winning faculty member’s class, creating a lighthearted moment that puts the spotlight on the honoree.
Mohamed went on to share that the Outstanding Service Award is one of only five major faculty awards given annually at CSUSB — a distinction made all the more impressive considering the university is home to more than 1,000 faculty members.
“It is a delight to present Dr. Zhang with this award for her extensive and sustained contributions to students, this campus and the greater community,” he said. Mohamed went on to say that Zhang has shown a strong and ongoing dedication to mentoring students.
Looking at the class, he asked, “Has she been a good mentor or guide to anyone in the room?” — prompting a chorus of “yes” from the students.
“You’re all supposed to say yes! Your grades are dependent upon it,” he quipped, sending another wave of laughter through the room.
Mohamed explained that the award comes with a $1,000 Faculty Professional Development Grant, recognition at the college’s commencement ceremony in May, and an invitation to the Faculty Recognition Luncheon.
“I am delighted to say on behalf of President Morales – who is traveling, otherwise he would be here – the awards committee, and our entire campus community, congratulations on receiving our Outstanding Service Award,” Mohamed said to Zhang, who demurely thanked him.
Sastry Pantula, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, stepped forward to add his congratulations.
“Dr. Zhang is also the nominee for the college this year for Outstanding Research Award. Her research is not only excellent, but she is also dedicated to student success. Her students have presented at the Meeting of the Minds and have been recognized there,” he said. “Her commitment is not only to service to the school, the college, the campus — for me, the most impressive thing is how much she’s committed to your success, which is our number one priority,” Pantula concluded, directing his final comment to the students.
Khalil Dajani, professor and chair of the School of Computer Science and Engineering, also praised his colleague.
“Dr. Zhang is one example of our faculty who excel in research, as well as in service to our students. She’s passionate about student success, and she’s always been an advocate for student recognition on campus. I’m very proud of Dr. Zhang.”
In response to the surprise recognition and kind words, Zhang — clearly moved — simply said, “Thank you very much. Thank you.”
Zhang’s academic journey spans three countries and two doctoral degrees. She earned a bachelor of engineering in computer science from Lanzhou Jiaotong University in China, followed by a Ph.D. in engineering in computer science from Beijing Jiaotong University. She then went on to earn a second Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Regina in Canada.
She joined Cal State San Bernardino in 2018 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2023. Since her arrival, she has emerged as a champion of student success and a leader in high-impact practices across the university.
The 2024–25 University Awards Committee, composed of her faculty peers, described Zhang as someone who “consistently demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to mentoring and guiding students while aiming to broaden participation in computing sciences.”
The committee is chaired by Gisela Bichler (College of Social and Behavioral Sciences) and includes Sara Callori (College of Natural Sciences), Ying Cheng (Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration), Yawen Li (College of Social and Behavioral Sciences), Shafiq Rahman (College of Arts and Letters), and Viktor Wang (James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education).
Zhang’s dedication to service is perhaps best exemplified by her role as Co-PI on a $2.5 million National Science Foundation S-STEM ExCELS Award, designed to support Experiential Computing and Engaged Learning Scholarships. This initiative provides not only financial assistance but also a supportive academic ecosystem for students, particularly those from underrepresented groups.
Her mentorship and advising contributions are equally impressive. Over the past seven years, she has advised more than 470 undergraduate students and 15 graduate students, helped shape more than 15 graduate capstone projects, served on 26 master’s committees, and supervised more than 30 internships and independent study projects. Through her guidance, many students have presented their work at respected events, including CSUSB’s Undergraduate Summer Research Program, Meeting of the Minds, and the ITS October Tech Conference.
Within the university, Zhang has made lasting contributions through leadership roles on the CSE Scholarship/Honors Committee, the Undergraduate and Graduate Curriculum Committees, faculty recruitment panels, and institutional strategic planning groups. Most recently, she served on the university-wide Scholarship Committee and is currently contributing to the Graduate Studies Strategic Planning Committee.
Beyond CSUSB, her international impact is clear. Zhang has served as a program committee chair and member for 17 international conferences, guest-edited for the International Journal of Approximate Reasoning, and routinely reviews for high-impact journals in her field.
Her dedication to excellence, innovation and service has made her a standout member of the CSUSB faculty — and now, a celebrated recipient of one of the university’s highest faculty honors.