The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $949,430 to California State University, Dominguez Hills–the first-year allotment of a five-year, $5.09 million Transition to Teaching (TTT) grant–to create an online credential program for math and science teachers throughout southern and central California. The university's proposal was one of only 30 funded nationwide, and one of only five in California. This is the fifth such award to be granted to the university, making CSU Dominguez Hills the only institution of higher education to receive five grants from the U.S. Department of Education TTT program over the past 10 years. The grant will fund the creation of a new online ... Read More
Archive
Gerardo Torres-Ochoa: Bringing Excellent Customer Service to the Table
As catering service manager for Campus Dining, Gerardo Torres-Ochoa must face the daily ebb and flow of business in the Loker Student Union's (LSU) restaurants, all the while keeping top-drawer customer service and the warmth of hospitality on the menu. The winner of the first ever Excellence in Customer Service Award at last month's inaugural Staff Awards of Excellence, shares his marketing philosophy for for Tully's, Toro Takeout, the DH Sports Bar, and Club 1910. “If you know that someone has a caramel macchiato at Tully's every day, and you have it ready for them, that means a lot because they know you're paying attention,” says Torres-Ochoa. “Or if there's a line, a simple, ... Read More
Transition to Teaching: New Grant Will Prepare STEM Teachers in Rural Communities
For the last 12 years, Kamal Hamdan has had a track record of success in acquiring federal funding for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teacher preparation programs at California State University, Dominguez Hills that not only prepare individuals with STEM backgrounds to earn their teaching credentials, but also give them valuable classroom teaching experience while doing so, often in the urban school they attended. Last month, the university received notification from the U.S. Department of Education that Hamdan's grant application to develop an online teacher preparation program, had been accepted. With a first-year award of $949,430, a total of $5,085,852 over five ... Read More
Amy Bentley-Smith: Making Headlines For the University
It could be said that with more than 10 years under her belt as a reporter and features editor for the Grunion Gazette in Long Beach, Amy Bentley-Smith, the winner of the Exemplary Achievement Award at this year's inaugural Staff Awards of Excellence, has the pulse on all the news that fit to print–or post –about California State University, Dominguez Hills. “Covering events and city meetings, and writing profiles on local people for the Grunion taught me that it's all about sharing, informing, and helping people feel connected with where they live,” she says. “They want to know about what's going on or read about good things they or their neighbors are doing. In that way, you develop ... Read More
Anthony Cipriano: The Science of Caring
The door to Anthony Cipriano's office in the Natural Science and Mathematics (NSM) building is easily the most knocked-upon door at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Although the room doubles as storage for the six biology laboratories that he oversees, it is also where faculty and students can find one of the department's most vital resources - Cipriano himself. When he is not maintaining the equipment and supplies for the labs, assisting a professor, or teaching his own students in an Introduction to Biology class, the winner of the first Outstanding Education Support Award at last month's Staff Awards of Excellence, can be found in his office, ready to collaborate on a ... Read More
Rosemary Diaz: Alumna Encourages Female Scientists to Reach for the Stars
Although the female student population is the majority at California State University, Dominguez Hills–at approximately 70 percent–when Rosemary Diaz (Class of '00, B.S., physics) was an undergraduate, she was the only female physics major at the university. When she entered graduate school at UCLA, she was sometimes the only woman in the class. “It was a little nerve wracking not only because I was the only woman in the room, but also because I was one of the few Americans in the classroom and in the electrical engineering department,” Diaz recalls. “But over the last 11 years, I have seen the number of women in science steadily rising. In addition, there are also now a few female ... Read More
Paul Koudounaris: Art Historian’s Book Explores Bare Bones of Human Faith
After completing his doctorate in art history at UCLA, California State University, Dominguez Hills Art and Design Department lecturer Paul Koudounaris decided to travel a bit. One of his destinations was Melnik, a city near Prague in the Czech Republic, where he visited “The Bone Church,” a 16th ossuary where the skeletal remains of approximately 10,000 people have been meticulously crafted into architectural elements and symbols of the Christian faith. “It's an extraordinary place, because it's very well-arranged with this sophisticated iconography about the Resurrection and salvation,” says Koudounaris. “I spent about three or four hours down there, taking notes about the ... Read More
Kavita Ramdas: Gender Equality for a Better Global Future
Kavita Ramdas, former president and CEO of Global Fund for Women, was featured on Sept. 29 as the guest speaker for the second presentation of the Presidential Lecture Series at California State University, Dominguez Hills. President Mildred García invited Ramdas to the university after hearing her speak at the annual meeting of American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) earlier this year. “Kavita was the keynote speaker, and her comments were powerful, relevant, and important as the world becomes smaller and much more connected,” said García, who serves on the AACU board of trustees. “At CSU Dominguez Hills, where 70 percent of our students are women, 50 percent of the ... Read More
CSU Dominguez Hills Hosts Tri-Carson Races to Promote Healthy Living
The second annual Tri-Carson presented by Kaiser Permanente–set for Saturday, Oct 15, on the campus California State University, Dominguez Hills–promises to keep everyone in the community on their feet. Not only will the morning include a reverse sprint distance triathlon, but also a 5K run, a 1-mile campus walk, and a 1K Kid Dash. “Tri-Carson was organized to promote healthy living and to get people moving. This sprint distance triathlon is great for those who have never competed in a triathlon before–and last year we had a number of first-timers–but we wanted to add other events so just about anyone could take part in the morning,” said David Gamboa, director of community and government ... Read More
Ribbon Cutting Celebrates New Student Veterans Center in LSU
A dedicated center for student veterans at California State University, Dominguez Hills officially opened its doors in the Loker Student Union on Sept. 22 with a ribbon cutting that was attended by the campus community, the university's ROTC unit, representatives of local and state government, and keynote speaker, Capt. Winton Smith, commanding officer, Naval Base San Diego. President Mildred García underscored the importance of services for veterans who are reentering civilian life as college students by sharing her own family's experiences. “My nephew went to Afghanistan and came back twice,” she said. “His son is leaving next month to join the U.S. Army at boot camp. My brothers ... Read More
