[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 201 (Monday, December 11, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DR. JOSEPH L. WHITE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 11, 2017

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take some time today to 
honor and remember a prominent member of my community, Dr. Joseph L. 
White, for his immense dedication and invaluable contributions while 
serving the community of Long Beach.
  Dr. Joseph L. White passed away on November 22, 2017. Dr. White was a 
visionary who introduced and founded the Educational Opportunity 
Program (EOP) in 1967 at California State University, Long Beach 
(CSULB). This revolutionary model was later replicated by educational 
institutions throughout California and the United States, and allowed 
millions of minority, low-income, and first generation students of 
color to successfully attend and graduate from public and private 
colleges and universities. November of 2016 marked the 50th anniversary 
of the EOP at CSULB and Dr. White was honored in the presence of 
dignitaries and other prominent members of the community for his 
contributions as an educator and the success of EOP. EOP serves 
approximately 2,500 students annually and is continuously growing. Dr. 
White was personally responsible for touching the lives of countless 
students who remember him with great fondness and respect.
  In 1962, Dr. White was only the second black tenure-track faculty 
hired at CSULB. He was also the only black tenured psychologist in 
California. He was extremely troubled by the lack of diversity at CSULB 
and decided to act and enable change himself. He realized that colleges 
needed a vehicle to admit students with potential were unable to meet 
college admission standards and requirements. EOP was able to support 
minority students, giving them a wider range of opportunities and a 
promising future. It is no surprise that he is known as the ``godfather 
of diversity'' at CSULB.
  Dr. White's work extended beyond CSULB and throughout the community. 
Dr. White's time as a professor of psychology at the University of 
California, Irvine and across the country will never go forgotten.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. White is an example to us all of us of the 
incredible value found in community engagement. I am honored to 
recognize Dr. White for doing his part in addressing the issue of the 
lack of diversity in public and private colleges and universities, and 
thank him for the positive impact he has made on the community and the 
country.

                          ____________________