Artist, retired teacher, and California State University, Dominguez Hills alumna Jeanne Anderson Allen (Class of '82, M.A., humanities) has always found a way to keep following her passions. One of those ways, which led her to CSU Dominguez Hills, was putting a slew of extra units to use – in the form of a master's degree. “As a teacher, you're always going to class to get something that's required here or there. So, I added up all these units I had and I thought I should utilize this and make it into something that's worthwhile for me,” recalled Allen. “I thought the humanities program at Dominguez would be ideal because I like literature, art, music, religion and history. The ... Read More
Archive
New Student Orientation Eases Transition to the University
Learning the ins and outs of a new college can be a daunting experience. However, incoming freshmen and transfer students are getting a chance to familiarize themselves with California State University, Dominguez Hills before their first semester by attending one of the 12 new student orientation (NSO) sessions during the summer, which began in June and are available through August 22. Registering for classes may well be one of the top concerns for incoming students, and NSO provides freshmen and transfer students guidance through the registration process during group academic advisement sessions. This component of NSO is vital for freshmen, said Arlene Valdez, alumna ('09, B.A., ... Read More
CSU Dominguez Hills Partners with FEMA, City of Compton for Disaster Preparedness Exercise
A chemical threat was reported by authorities following the detonation of an explosive device planted on a rail car in the Alameda Corridor, posing a life-threatening hazardous materials danger several miles wide. That was the scenario set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and emergency agencies from the City of Compton for a practice exercise held on July 11 that was meant to prepare the municipality for a real-life large-scale disaster. To hone its own response in case of emergencies on or affecting the campus, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) team at California State University, Dominguez Hills participated in the drill. “The Emergency Operations Center team ... Read More
CSU Dominguez Hills Makes Grade for Granting Degrees to Minority Students
California State University, Dominguez Hills is among the nation's top degree grantors to minority students, according to the magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, which each year publishes its Top 100 Undergraduate Degree Producers and Top 100 Graduate Degree Producers lists. Overall, CSU Dominguez Hills came in at 60th for granting bachelor's degrees to 1,406 students of color in 2011 – the graduation year used in the 2012 rankings – and 64th for conferring master's degrees to 492 students of color. That year, the university granted 3,005 degrees in total. Using data reported by universities to the National Center for Education Statistics to compile its two lists, the ... Read More
Staff Lunch Serves up Smiles and Appreciation
About 450 of the nearly 600 full- and part-time staff members at California State University, Dominguez Hills came out from virtually every nook and cranny of the campus to enjoy a complimentary lunch in their honor on July 10. Although the line for food winded around the Loker Student Union Palm Courtyard, workers were having a great time taking a break from their duties, visiting with each other and enjoying some good eats. Donned in chef aprons, top administrators served up hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, sides, and all the fixin's. “We have a great staff and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to appreciate and thank them for all they do in making a difference in the ... Read More
Student Kris Hale on Her Time in Thailand
Kris Hale is currently doing a summer study abroad in Thailand, which was coordinated through the university's International Education Center. She provides her thoughts on her trip so far: When I made the decision to travel abroad I made two promises to myself: 1) I would have an open heart and an open mind. 2) I would leave "America" in America and accept that I was not at home and learn to appreciate, accept, and cope with the differences in culture. I feel as though those two things have made this trip amazing. I also meditated and prayed for opportunities to grow as an individual, and Thailand has provided a number of those. Being one of very few Blacks in Thailand and fewer ... Read More
Professor Ganezer Goes to Washington
Discovery. That, in large part, is what drives the human race forward. It's also what drives California State University, Dominguez Hills physics professor and cutting-edge researcher Kenneth Ganezer. Ganezer is also driven by the need to engage more students in science along with their faculty mentors, and as an officer of the California/Nevada section of the American Physical Society (APS), he traveled to Washington, D.C. and Greenbelt, Md. last semester to lobby for better funding for science as well as physics research and education to make that possible. Ganezer along with four other physicists from Sonoma State University, University of California, Davis, UC Santa Barbara, ... Read More
Toro Star Athlete Carmelita Jeter Now an Olympic Athlete
California State University, Dominguez Hills alumna Carmelita Jeter (Class of '06, B.A. physical education) is on her way to the London 2012 Olympic Games in August after winning the women's 100 meter race–her specialty–in 10.92, and finishing in 22.11 for second place in the 200 meter finals in June at the U.S. Olympic track and field trails held in Eugene, Ore. After failing to make the U.S. Olympic team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jeter had new resolve going into the 2012 Olympic Trials. “She felt good. She went there knowing she was on a mission,” said Warren Edmonson, who was Jeter's coach when she competed at CSU Dominguez Hills. “She's in top condition and she feels very, ... Read More
OLLI Summer Program Provides Enrichment
Members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at California State University, Dominguez Hills had a busy week of special events recently as part of its summer program that runs through August. In commemoration of Juneteenth marking the end of slavery, OLLI's seniors–the institute is open to those 50 and older interested in continued educational enrichment–gathered on June 19 for an afternoon of history, traditional food, and song. Then on Friday, June 22, they had the opportunity to get properly fitted to their cars and learned a few driver safety tips during Car Fit, a demonstration put on by the American Society for Aging, the American Automobile Association (AAA), and the ... Read More
Alumni Class Notes July 2012
Leticia Barajas (M.P.A. '00) was named vice president of academic affairs and workforce development at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. Over the past year, she has served as the acting vice president and has worked to enhance the reputation of the college through the development of industry partnerships, cutting-edge academic programs, and numerous grant awards. Rick Fernandez (B.A. '83) has written a book, An Uncharted Desert Isle, for mentally disable persons and the people who care for them. A collection of memoirs of Fernandez's own struggles and triumphs after suffering a massive head injury from a car accident at age 18, the book serves as a roadmap to overcoming great odds and ... Read More
