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Center for Global Engagement Newsletter – Sept. 2026

Campus Events

Glow in the Dark Skating Party

Date: Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026
Time: 7 to 10 p.m.
Location: Mashouf Wellness Center, 755 Font Blvd., San Francisco
Cost: Free

Squat Depth and Mobility Workshop

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026
Time: 5 to 6 p.m.
Location: Mashouf Wellness Center, 755 Font Blvd., San Francisco
Cost: Free
Squat Depth and Mobility Workshop

Calm in the Chaos: A Self-Care Workshop

Date: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Location: Mashouf Wellness Center, Classroom 105, 755 Font Blvd., San Francisco
Cost: Free

Off-Campus Events

North Beach First Fridays Art Crawl in the Museum

Date: Friday, Sept. 4, 2026
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
Location: North Beach, San Francisco
Cost: Free
North Beach First Fridays

Flower Piano 2026: 12 Hidden Pianos

Dates: Sept. 10-20, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Golden Gate Park
Cost: Free for San Francisco residents with valid ID; $18 for nonresident adults
Flower Piano 2026

SF's Huge "Sunset Night Market"

Date: Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
Time: 5 to 10 p.m.
Location: Irving Street and 22nd Street, San Francisco
Cost: Free
Sunset Night Market

Important Dates

ALI Dates

  • Sept. 7: Labor Day holiday. No classes; campus closed.
  • Sept. 7: Last day for a 60% refund for ALI-EAP 16-week term tuition.
  • Sept. 24: Deadline to turn in official documents for undergraduate applications.

Academic Dates

  • Sept. 7-14: Permission numbers needed for class changes.
  • Sept. 7: Labor Day holiday. No classes; campus closed.
  • Sept. 14: Last day to make class changes.

Academic Certificate Programs - Apply by May 15 for Fall 2027

Explore academic certificate programs at SFSU. Build career-focused skills in high-demand fields while studying at the University. International students welcome.

Programs include:

Apply by May 15 for priority consideration. Late applications may be accepted if space is available.

Academic Certificate Programs

Lecture: AI in the Business Environment and Crafting Functional Policy

From SFSU computer science undergraduate to AI innovation lead at AlfaTech, Elliot Verduzco has experienced firsthand how AI is changing higher education and the future of work.

In this lecture, he'll share what he has learned since beginning his role at AlfaTech, his observations about the evolving AI landscape and how he envisions the future of work for himself and for today's undergraduates entering an uncertain job market. He'll also demonstrate software projects he has been developing.

Lecture with Elliot Verduzco

Elliot Verduzco leads AI innovation at AlfaTech, an engineering and design firm that designs data center facilities for hyperscaler clients.

As the firm's first full-time software developer, he helped establish its enterprise AI infrastructure. His work includes running data-driven pilot programs, technical AI governance and policy authorship and collaborating across executive leadership, IT and project management.

He holds a B.S. in computer science from San Francisco State University and consults independently on AI tooling for nonprofits and skilled trades businesses.

Lecture: Navigating the AI Revolution

Navigating the AI Revolution: Skills, Strategy and Opportunities for the Future of Work

AI is changing how people work, learn and build careers. In this lecture, you'll explore how AI is reshaping the job market, business strategy and the skills needed for future success. You'll also learn how AI is being applied across industries including Fintech, LegalTech, PropTech, real estate and private equity.

Lecture by Anna Zakowska, Ph.D.

Anna Zakowska, Ph.D., is an AI/ML leader, fund manager, founder and investor with experience building and scaling companies across frontier AI models, Fintech, LegalTech, PropTech, real estate and private equity.

She is the managing partner of Dragons & Angels Fund, a $100 million investment fund focused on high-growth companies, real estate and private credit. Anna became a founder in 2013 and grew her first startup to more than $1 billion in assets under management.

She holds a Ph.D. in data science from Claremont Graduate University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She spent five years working on training Google's Gemini model.

Her research focuses on creating systems that help young people access credit, grow their businesses and build the financial foundation needed to purchase personal assets such as homes. This work led her to create Darts Credit, a company dedicated to expanding credit access through alternative credit-building tools for people left behind by legacy scoring models.

Anna is also advancing research and investment in neuro-symbolic approaches to improve LLMs and agentic feedback loops. She is the co-founder of Eqwiti, a global platform focused on expanding access to private market investment opportunities for a network of more than 60,000 investors.

Her work sits at the intersection of AI, capital formation, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and the future of work.

English for Academic Preparation - Apply Now for Spring 2027

International Students - Study English in San Francisco, California

The English for Academic Preparation (EAP) program gives you an opportunity to study in beautiful San Francisco, California, and learn English in an intensive language program that emphasizes university preparation and academic skills.

Apply Now for Spring - Starts January 19, 2027

  • Prepare to study in an American university.
  • Learn English in an intensive language program that emphasizes university preparation and academic skills.
  • Study on campus at San Francisco State University.
  • Conditional admission to SFSU is available.

Find out more about EAP.

Apply for Spring 2027 Academic Certificate Programs by Nov. 15

Do you want to apply for an academic certificate program? The priority application deadline for spring is Nov. 15. Late applications will be considered. Students will be accepted on a space-available basis.

Academic Certificate Programs

The International Student Journey – IEM 2025

As part of International Education Month (IEM), the Center for Global Engagement will host a panel discussion called “The International Student Journey,” with international alumni from SFSU's English for Academic Preparation program, academic certificate programs and University Pathway Program.

You will hear unique student stories and valuable advice on reaching academic and professional goals. Center for Global Engagement program alumni will share insights from their academic and professional journeys focusing on navigating transitions from English language study to university certificate and degree programs to career. The session will be interactive with ample opportunity for Q&A.

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