The 2025 Faculty Awards Reception was held on April 22, with five members of the CSUDH faculty receiving honors for their contributions to the university. The awards are presented each year to selected faculty members for outstanding achievement in a variety of areas—from research and scholarship to lecturing and service to the community.
The 2025 CSUDH Faculty Award recipients are:
Andrea Johnson
Presidential Outstanding Professor Award
Andrea Johnson is a proud product of the CSU system, having earned her undergraduate degree in history and psychology from CSU Bakersfield. She joined the faculty at CSUDH in 2015, after eight years teaching at Fresno State University. Johnson pursued a position at CSUDH because “the department was very hard working, very dedicated to the whole student… When I received the offer, I was very happy. I knew this was the right fit for me.”
Johnson currently teachers Twentieth Century United States classes in the history department, as well as courses on American Immigration, American Civil Rights, and California history. She is also in the rotation for teaching department’s methods and skills classes.
“I feel it is my responsibility to take advantage of the many opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge outside of the classroom,” says Johnson. “I take students on field trips, most recently spending the night on a WWII battleship.”
Johnson has been awarded the 2024 Presidential Outstanding Professor Award, which honors CSUDH individuals for their teaching, commitment to their desired field, and service to the campus and CSU system.
Her research examines a cross section of religion, race, class, and gender issues in modern America. She’s currently working on three major projects: a book on Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, and the tactics of their respective movements; a book on religion in the American West as seen in the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst; and co-editing the North American supplements volume to the Brill Encyclopedia on Global Pentecostalism.
“For me, the CSUDH experience is different than that of other places because of my department and the work the faculty have done to build it,” says Johnson. “This award shows that I have managed to balance teaching, scholarship, and service and have recognized accomplishments in all three.”
Minhye Son
Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity
Minhye Son is an assistant professor in the Teacher Education Division of the College of Education at CSUDH. She usually teaches courses related to bilingual education and language development for multilingual learners.
“I teach future educators to develop anti-racist, decolonizing, and humanizing pedagogies that center students’ strengths and assets,” says Son.
Son has been teaching at CSUDH since 2021, moving to Southern California after a spending most of her academic life in New York City. Son earned a BA from Queens College, then went on to attain a master’s degree and doctorate from Teachers College at Columbia University.
The Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award was established in 2004 to acknowledge that research, scholarship, and creative activity are essential components to the CSUDH mission.
“My research is grounded in the belief that education should be a pathway to creating more just, equitable, and joyful futures for all students,” she says. “I focus on how we can create schools where children’s home languages, identities, and cultures are not just acknowledged, but celebrated. This approach is deeply embedded in my work with teachers, especially bilingual educators, who often do the hard, invisible work of bridging linguistic and cultural divides.
“I see my research as a step toward reimagining schools that are more inclusive and supportive of all learners. I think it’s a reminder that our research can be a form of care and social change.”
Currently, Son is co-writing a book about Korean dual language bilingual education (DLBE) in the United States. It will be the first book to document the history and development of Korean DLBE in the U.S., shedding light on an often overlooked aspect of bilingual education.
On receiving the award, Son says, “Winning this award means so much to me, because it comes from a community that I deeply admire and feel fortunate to be a part of. It motivates me to continue pushing forward, not just for my own growth as a scholar, but for the broader community that we serve at CSUDH. It is a powerful affirmation of the importance of our collective work in shaping the future of education”
Jenny Chiappe
Excellence in Service Award
Jenny Chiappe is an Associate Professor of Special Education who is completing her sixth year at CSUDH. She is currently the Co-Director of Toros Teach LA and leads the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction credential in the College of Education.
Chiappe earned a doctorate through the UCLA/Cal State LA Joint Doctoral Program in Special Education. She has also worked as a teacher for seven years in the Los Angeles Unified School District, supporting students with a range of abilities and moving toward inclusive practices.
The Excellence in Service Award recognizes faculty contributions to university governance and development, and acknowledges that service and partnership are an essential component of CSUDH’s mission.
Chiappe has served on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) program review teams and accreditation site visits. She has also served on multiple committees in the College of Education, across the CSU and at the CSU Chancellor’s Office.
“My passion lies in empowering students to achieve their goals and make meaningful contributions in their future professions,” says Chiappe. “This commitment is shared by my colleagues at CSUDH and is reflected in the collaborative and student-centered environment we foster every day.
“As a first-generation college graduate, I benefited greatly from the guidance and encouragement of my family, friends, and mentors,” she says. “Their support was instrumental in helping me navigate my academic journey. Today, I am proud to be part of the Toro community, where I have the opportunity to give back and support the next generation of students.”
“Winning this award is an honor and a reminder of the collective efforts of those I work alongside,” says Chiappe. “I see the collaboration of faculty and staff and other stakeholders who support our students.”
Cheyenne Cummings
Catherine H. Jacobs Outstanding Faculty-Lecturer Award
Cheyenne Cummings teaches a variety of courses in the Earth Science and Geography Department, as well as the Environmental Science masters program. He has helmed courses on everything from natural disasters to physical geology,
Cummings is passionate about engaging his students in hands-on learning. His goal is that students complete his class armed with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills they can apply in real-world scenarios in their careers.
His research focuses primarily on urban geology. “I have a general background in geology, hydrology, geochemistry, and an understanding of natural hazards experienced in metropolitan areas,” he says. “I’m deeply interested in how our interactions with the urban environment impact us and create the hazards we face. For example, I’ve been observing the Los Angeles River changing discharge and its interaction with the environment in term of the potential for flooding.”
Cummings has been at CSUDH since 2011, and has served as the chair of the Earth Day Celebration and co-chair of the Student Research Conference.
The Catherine H. Jacobs Outstanding Faculty-Lecturer Award acknowledges and honors a CSUDH full-time or part-time lecturer who has demonstrated excellence in teaching effectiveness to the CSUDH campus community.
“Winning this award is incredibly meaningful to me,” says Cummings. “It’s not only a recognition of my hard work and dedication, but it also reflects the support I’ve received from colleagues and students at CSUDH.”
Conrad Oh-Young
Lyle E. Gibson Distinguished Teacher Award
Conrad Oh-Young is an Associate Professor of Special Education at CSUDH who has been at CSUDH since the Fall 2019 semester. His career and scholarship are focused on the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service, with a priority focus on teaching.
He has taught 10 different courses during his time at CSUDH, all of them aimed at future teachers who will be leading special education classes in their future careers.
Named in honor of Lyle E. Gibson, the late founding Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Distinguished Teaching Award acknowledges faculty who demonstrate a mastery of their subject matter, an understanding of broad areas of knowledge, a deep and active interest in student success, and the ability to engage students in new and creative ways.
