CSUDH News

The primary source of news and information about California State University, Dominguez Hills, its students, faculty, and staff.

Archives for October 2021

CSUDH Hosts 7th Annual South Bay Economic Forecast Conference

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Frank Mottek onstage at the economic forecast.Though COVID-19 continues to upend many aspects of life – not least the economy – the South Bay region can expect continued economic growth and stability in the near-term future.

That was just one of several positive predictions economists made at yesterday’s 7th annual South Bay Economic Forecast, a conference where more than 200 business leaders, innovators, and city officials convened at CSUDH to discuss the economic state of the South Bay region.

Titled “Looking into the Future: New Trends and Opportunities,” the conference was moderated by Frank Mottek, host of Mottek on Money on 790 KABC. The event began with the South Bay Economic Panel, comprised of CSUDH faculty who also produced the Economic Forecast & Industry Outlook Report: Assistant Professor of Finance Jennifer Brodmann, Associate Professor of Public Administration Fynnwin Prager, and Professor of Economics Jose Martinez.

The Economic Forecast Panel: (left to right) CSUDH faculty Jose Martinez, Jennifer Brodmann, and Fynnwin Prager
The South Bay Economic Panel: (left to right) CSUDH faculty Jose Martinez, Jennifer Brodmann, and Fynnwin Prager.

On the economic recovery, Prager said: “We had a lot of excitement earlier in the year, with a prediction of 7 percent growth, and then Delta (COVID-19 variant) came along. The forecast dampened slightly, but we’ve seen growth unlike any other year. It’s a real mixed picture.”

The report predicted positive macroeconomic trends for the U.S., with a forecasted GDP growth of 4-6 percent and unemployment falling to 4 percent in 2022.

Regarding inflation, the panel posited that prices and sales will mostly stabilize by mid-2022. However, they warned that supply issues, particularly around electronics containing microchips, will continue leading up the holidays. Though current logjams in the supply chain are causing the shortages, the panel pointed out that California’s ports, including the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, are faring better than others.

“Obviously things look bad when you see all the ships lined up, but the ports are actually moving far more cargo through there than ever before,” Prager said. “When comparing California to other states, the ports came out very well.”

Though employment for the South Bay is still down, the economists pointed out that the number of business applications in L.A. County doubled during the pandemic – and that despite business closures, the overall number of businesses is a net positive.

Martinez had cautious optimism, saying “California in general is doing really well, and is still a good place to do business. We believe good things are to come.”

Following the economic portion of the program, experts in technology and aerospace took the stage for the “Looking into the Future” panel, where they discussed the latest advancements in business models, innovations in rocket-to-space delivery, and the South Bay’s longtime status as an aerospace hub.

The Looking into the Future Panel: (left to right) CA Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, Dansil Green, Josh Brost, Mouse McCoy, and host Frank Mottek
The Looking into the Future Panel: (left to right) CA Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, Dansil Green, Josh Brost, Mouse McCoy, and host Frank Mottek

Panelists included: Josh Brost of Relativity Space; Dansil Green, engagements lead for SpaceWERX, the commercial innovation office for U.S. Space Force; Mouse McCoy of Studio MSD; and California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi.

View more photos from the Economic Forecast event here.

The panel discussed how exciting developments such as the increased use of automation, 3D printing, and digitization are flattening many of the longtime barriers to access in aerospace. Furthermore, many of these innovations are coming out of the South Bay – making it a magnet for talent, industry, and investment.

Assemblymember Muratsuchi, who is chair of the Select Committee Aerospace & Joint Legislative Climate Change, emphasized that the South Bay’s strengths can and should be used to tackle the other major issues of the future.

“Climate change is going to be the number one national security issue, causing tremendous disruption within and among nations,” Muratsuchi said. “We are attracting innovators from around the world to build their businesses here, and none more so than the aerospace industry. We need to continue that innovation spirit in California and apply it to the fight against climate change.”

Muratsuchi added that the talent in California brings in the most venture capital out of any state in the U.S. – and that the CSU plays a major part in supplying that talent.

“We need to make sure we continue to invest in our CSU, the number one producer of the engineering workforce in California,” he said. This is the backbone of our workforce. We have to make sure we prioritize public higher education.”

Watch the full forecast event below:

UCLA Anderson Forecast Launches Economics Fellowship Program at CSUDH

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UCLA Anderson Forecast Fellows Program

Through a collaboration between CSUDH and UCLA Anderson Forecast, CSUDH undergraduates with an interest in economics will be the exclusive recipients of the UCLA Anderson Forecast Fellows program.

The newly launched initiative, funded by a grant from Edison International, seeks to increase diversity in the field of economics by inspiring and developing young economists from underserved communities. With an undergraduate population that is 56% first-generation, 44% Pell-eligible, and 91% students of color, CSUDH is uniquely poised to lead in linking underrepresented students to opportunities.

The UCLA Anderson Forecast Fellows Program will officially launch in January 2022 and will initially award one-year fellowships to two undergraduate students currently enrolled at CSUDH. The selection committee will consist of representatives from the Forecast and several departments and centers based at CSUDH.

The Forecast and CSUDH have created a comprehensive process to select and mentor the fellows. Over the course of the calendar year, CSUDH faculty and staff as well as Forecast economists will serve as sponsors and be paired with each fellow to provide a supportive environment to ensure their success. The sponsors will work with the fellows throughout the year on training, software, research progress and other aspects of the program to maximize the experience of the program.

The fellows will be invited and encouraged to attend selected MBA lectures in order to gain a better understanding of the overall graduate school experience. At the conclusion of the calendar year, each of the fellows will have completed a research paper, which will be published by the Forecast and featured at a quarterly conference held at UCLA Anderson School of Management.

“UCLA Anderson and the Anderson Forecast are extremely grateful to Edison International for funding this program,” said Jerry Nickelsburg, director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast. “Their generosity will provide new paths for students from underserved communities, and we are excited to be part of that.”

CSUDH is Named 2021 Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader by Fulbright Program

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Campus photo and Fulbright HSI logo

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has named California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Leader in the inaugural year of this designation.

CSUDH is one of 35 HSIs to receive this distinction, which recognizes the noteworthy engagement that selected HSIs have achieved with the Fulbright Program – the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program – during the 2019-2021 academic years. This initiative is part of the U.S. State Department’s longstanding commitment to build diversity and inclusion within the Fulbright Program and within all the Bureau’s international exchange programs.

On July 28, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona released a “Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education,” which outlines the many benefits of international education and the need for “all Americans […] to be equipped with global and cultural competencies.” The Fulbright HSI Leaders Initiative supports the goals of the joint statement, including the principle that U.S. participants in international exchanges should reflect the diversity of the United States.

Over the past decade, CSUDH has not only attracted faculty Fulbright alumni, but has also produced Fulbright fellows from faculty and graduate student ranks. With disciplines ranging from literature and history to peacebuilding and social work, CSUDH scholars have earned fellowships in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

“CSUDH embraces the vision of the Fulbright program as it aligns with our own mission to provide a transformative education that transcends boundaries and appreciates diversity in all its forms. The Fulbright program has offered unique opportunities for our faculty to enrich the educational experiences of our students, preparing them for global citizenship. We are honored to receive this acknowledgment and appreciate the recognition of our collective efforts,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael E. Spagna.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs Ethan Rosenzweig, speaking on behalf of ECA, which sponsors the Fulbright Program, congratulated and thanked the leadership of the designated institutions for recognizing the impact of the Fulbright Program. He said:

“Thank you for creating a campus culture that celebrates the mission of Fulbright and international exchanges. Thank you for epitomizing the principle that mutual understanding between peoples of the United States and other countries will lead to a more just and peaceful society at home.”

Rosenzweig also praised the faculty, staff, and administrators on campus who recruit, advise and support future Fulbrighters throughout the application process, stating “your work epitomizes the values of why we all come to our jobs each and every day…to ensure our students have every opportunity to excel beyond goals they may not have believed were ever obtainable.”

2021 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Fulbright Program, and a dedicated website is showcasing Fulbright alumni, partner countries, and anniversary events.

About the Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 

Fulbright is active in more than 160 countries worldwide and partners with participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States. Many of these organizations also provide direct and indirect support. ECA sponsors the Fulbright program, and several non-profit, cooperative partners implement and support the program on the Bureau’s behalf. For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by e-mail ECA-Press@state.gov.

CSUDH Receives Millions in Federal Department of Education Grants

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State Budget Grant Education Several impactful campus programs got a major boost recently, as California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) was awarded four grants from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Together, the grants will provide millions of dollars in support for a host of innovative programs.

GEAR UP

Two of the DOE grants are for the GEAR UP program, which allows CSUDH to partner with local school districts, providing and supporting student success services at underserved middle and high schools. The new grants will allow CSUDH to partner with Compton Unified and Hawthorne Unified school districts. The seven-year grants provide $735,000 per year for the Compton GEAR UP program, and $638,000 per year for Hawthorne. Over the course of the grants, they will bring over $9.6 million to the programs.

The grant requests were spearheaded by Brett Waterfield, CSUDH interim director of educational partnerships, and William Franklin, vice president of student affairs. Upon receiving word of their successful proposal, Franklin said, “We are ecstatic about our success in the extremely competitive GEAR UP competition. GEAR UP is unique, in that it allows us to partner with community-based organizations, thereby leveraging non-federal resources with a dollar-for-dollar match requirement. So while we received over $9.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education, those community-based organizations matched every penny with in-kind programs, facilities, and services!”

“The GEAR UP grants will allow us to begin working with an entire cohort of students, no later than the seventh grade, and stay connected to them through their first year in college. Of course, it’s our goal to encourage them to become Toros!,” added Franklin.

TRIO Educational Talent Search

CSUDH received two more new DOE grants for a pair of TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) programs. These brand-new programs will enable the university to partner with two more local school districts, identifying and assisting individuals who have the potential to succeed in higher education.

Each five-year grant provides $277,375 per year in funding for the programs, for a total amount of over $2.7 million. One grant will enable CSUDH to partner with Inglewood Unified School District to work with 500 students from Inglewood and Morningside High Schools and their families. The other will provide funds for similar work with 500 students from Jefferson, Jordan, and Fremont High Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

ETS programs and services include mentoring, academic and career counseling, and economic and financial literacy. The programs offer assistance and guidance to potential first-generation college students and their families, helping increase awareness and aptitude for the college application process and university experience.

“This grant reaffirms CSUDH’s commitment to serving marginalized and underserved populations and increasing college access for students throughout the South Bay,” said Waterfield. “By partnering with key school districts in the area, we will be able to reach students with great potential and help them on the path to success. The work that we do results in generational change within families.”

Diversity in STEM

The Department of Physics was the recipient of another DOE grant, through the DOE’s Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program, titled “Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Through a Research Learning and Workforce Development Program.” Spearheaded by assistant professor of physics Horace Crogman, the grant provides $250,000 during the first year to support underrepresented students in STEM fields. The grant is expected to run for three years.

The program seeks to boost recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups in STEM through a variety of methods, from better integrating technology and digital content to collaborating with companies in the community to ensure Toro students are prepared for the workforce.

Added Crogman, “This grant is significant because it will provide a mechanism that assists student recruitment, retention, and graduation in STEM fields. It will support the creation of successful learning pathways into higher education or the STEM workforce, as well as a pipeline into college for students from local school districts, which will further encourage students to pursue STEM education.”

HSI-STEM

CSUDH STEM students got another boost, as the university was also awarded a multi-million dollar grant for the “Guided Pathways for STEM” (GPS) program. The grant was obtained in partnership with four local community colleges: Compton College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Southwest College, and West Los Angeles College.

The five-year grant of over $4.9 million through the DOE’s Hispanic Serving Institutions – STEM, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (HSI-STEM) and Articulation Programs, will provide support for over 300 Hispanic or underserved first-time STEM students at CSUDH and the partner community colleges. Kamal Hamdan, CSUDH’s Annenberg Endowed Professor for Innovation in STEM Education was the principal investigator for the grant.

One innovative aspect of the program will be its focus on internships for STEM students. Rather than searching for internships available at local businesses, the CISE team will create new, paid internships in both on- and off-campus venues. For example, in collaboration with the IT team, 25 paid internships will be available to Toro computer science majors. Other collaborative efforts will result in internships in K-12 classrooms, the Natural History Museum, and local medical and research facilities.

“This new project has the potential to truly transform the lives of over 300 STEM majors,” said Hamdan. “Its innovative, student-centered, and holistic approach will without any doubt improve the academic and non-academic lives of our STEM majors. GPS will make every academic or non-academic service available to them any time and any day. The CISE team is going to provide on-going high quality proactive support services. Our students deserve it and we are going to make sure they get it.”

CSUDH Presents “Transcend,” a Multimedia Exhibition by Visual Artist Toni Scott

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Transcend by Artist Toni Scott. Multicultural Art Gallery, CSUDH library 5th floor

“Transcend” features paintings and sculptural works that reimagine our differences and celebrate our shared experiences of being human.

What:       “Transcend,” an exhibition of work by visual artist Toni Scott
When:       November 1, 2021 – Winter 2022, Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m and by appointment
Where:      CSUDH University Library Multicultural Art Gallery (5th Floor)
Contact:    University Library, (310) 243-3700

The Multicultural Art Gallery at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) proudly presents “Transcend,” an exhibition of works by Southern California-based visual artist Toni Scott on view from November 1, 2021 through the end of the Fall 2022 semester.

Scott’s work often explores her ethnicity as a descendant of African, Indigenous, and European American ancestry.  Her art presents the questions: Are we one people, or do lines of demarcation define our humanity? And how can we come together as one race, the human race, in greater unity?

One of the works on exhibit is “Ascend,” constructed from queen palm fronds, wood, and acrylic paint. Scott takes inspiration from queen palm trees, which combine compressive strength with grace to withstand major storms – bending and bouncing back with resilience.

Other sculptures include “Mangbetu Woman,” sculpted from fiberglass, and “I Can’t Breathe,” first created in 2009 as a response to the murder of Oscar Grant, and recast in 2020 in response to George Floyd’s murder. The exhibition also includes several of Scott’s paintings which pay homage to her indigenous heritage and evoke meanings tied to the spiritual and ceremonial practices of her ancestry.

“Transcend” is a part of an ongoing multi-year creative collaboration between Scott and the university which was announced last year and continues through 2023.

“Toni Scott’s artistic mastery is inspirational, thought-provoking, and compelling. The themes contained within her work, including race, identity, culture, and inequity, align perfectly with the ethos of CSUDH – a university firmly rooted in its mission of social justice,” said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham. “We are proud to partner with Ms. Scott and are humbled that she has chosen the CSUDH campus to help highlight her artistic endeavors.”

Viewing hours for “Transcend” are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or by appointment. For more information call (310) 243-3700.

The Multicultural Art Gallery is located on the fifth floor of the University Library at CSUDH, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson. For a map and directions, visit csudh.edu/directions.