By Erin Hardy, Class of 2011, B.A., communications For many students, California State University, Dominguez Hills is a great place to learn, make new friends, and form relationships that will last a lifetime. Alumni of the school often return to lecture, sponsor students and participate in school activities. To alumna Esther Castillo (Class of '07, B.A., sociology), the opportunity to return to her alma mater offered her the chance to see the school from a brand new perspective–as a professor. “Working at Dominguez as a part-time instructor this spring has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional career. The exchange of knowledge that my students and I have ... Read More
Archives for May 2011
CSU Dominguez Hills Takes Top Honors at Systemwide Research Competition
Three students from California State University, Dominguez Hills took top honors at the 25th Annual CSU Student Research Competition, a systemwide event featuring the best academic projects from approximately 225 students at 21 of the 23 CSU campuses held at CSU Fresno on May 6-7. The category of Humanities and Letters was dominated by CSU Dominguez Hills as John Garcia, a junior majoring in Chicana/o studies, and David Marks, a graduate student in the Humanities Master of Arts External Degree (HUX) program, both took first place in their respective grade levels. Bree Nguyen, a junior majoring in business administration with a concentration in finance, was the only undergraduate entry ... Read More
Cathy Jacobs: Ornithologist Creates a Bird’s-eye View of “the Big Picture”
While recalling her experiences of growing up in rural environments across the United States, Cathy Jacobs says that her career as an educator was inspired by a childhood spent outdoors. “I've been a naturalist since I could remember,” she says. “I was always catching snakes and wading in ponds, catching tadpoles. When I was a kid, I used to watch the salmon spawn in the riffles of the Sacramento River. You used to see all these dorsal fins in the river at night, and I remember watching this enormous sturgeon - it must have been about six or seven feet long - come up to the surface and go back under.” Jacobs, who has won the Excellence in Service Award at California State ... Read More
L. Mark Carrier: Multitasking Expert Keeps Focus on Students
Despite a research specialty on multitasking, Dr. L. Mark Carrier tends to keep his focus on one common goal: the success of his students and faculty. As a third-time chair of the psychology department, he works to give his colleagues the support that he has received in being nominating and winning the California State University, Dominguez Hills 2011 Presidential Outstanding Professor Award. “I try to stay faculty-centered,” he says. “I support them and give them what they want because I know that will ensure student and departmental success.” Carrier says that he uses an interactive approach with his students as well, giving them a chance to share with him the best ways for them ... Read More
Janine Gasco: Reliving that ‘Ah-Ha’ Moment, One Student at a Time
When on vacation in Mexico as 20-year-old college drop-out, Dr. Janine Gasco came to a realization that eventually evolved into her life's work. Upon viewing ancient pyramids and ancient Mesoamerican sites, particularly the ruins of Teotihuacan near Mexico City, she realized that she had found an answer to the question of where to focus her studies. “I just remember being floored, so completely impressed and curious,” recalls the associate professor of anthropology and this year's winner of the Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award. “I thought, 'How terrible is it that I don't know anything about what's going on in the country next door? That's what I'm going to ... Read More
