While many members of the Class of 2011 at California State University, Dominguez Hills celebrated becoming the first in their families to earn a college degree, Tamanika Ferguson (Class of '07, B.A., Africana studies/public administration) and Betty Knight (Class of '08, B.A., performing arts) earned the distinction of becoming the first graduate students to complete a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in Africana studies. Each student was required to use two disciplines to develop a specialized interdisciplinary program; Ferguson included sociology in her emphasis, while Knight's studies encompassed negotiation, conflict resolution, and peace ... Read More
Archive
President García Closes Lecture Series on Gender and Diversity in Higher Education
The “Gender + Diversity in 21st Century Higher Education” panel series culminated on May 3 with a talk by President Mildred García on “Gender and Diversity Leadership.” Introduced by Sue Needham, professor and chair of anthropology, the CSU system's 11th female and first Latina campus president discussed the growth of women and persons of color in the academy, from faculty members to college and university presidents. A scholar in the field of equity in higher education, García recently visited Oman and Jordan as one of seven university and community college presidents on a Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Programthat focused on higher education in the U.S. and the Arab world. “Today, ... Read More
CSU Dominguez Hills One of Nation’s Top Institutions for Civic Engagement
California State University, Dominguez Hills has been recognized as one of the top colleges and universities in the nation for its support of volunteerism, service learning and civic engagement. For the second year in a row, the university was selected by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to receive designation to the 2010 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with distinction. CNCS, which has administered the honor roll since 2006, looked at 641 colleges and universities for their impact on issues including literacy, neighborhood revitalization, and at-risk youth. Of that total, 511 were named to the Honor Roll, 114 received the recognition ... Read More
Pow Wow Held at CSU Dominguez Hills Celebrates Native American Culture
VIEW ADDITIONAL PHOTOS California State University, Dominguez Hills hosted the university's first pow wow since the 1970s on Saturday, April 30, attracting approximately 40 tribes from several states. The event served to highlight the university's commitment to Native American education. Less than one percent of CSU students are Native American -- the 23 CSU campuses and Chancellor's Office are working through the CSU Native American Initiative to address the historical lack of opportunities for Native Americans in higher education. Several hundred people attended the pow wow, which took place in the Sculpture Garden on campus and included Native American dances, music, arts and ... Read More
New Show at PICTURE Cultural Art Portrays the Global Human Condition
More than 200 people attended the May 5 opening that celebrated PICTURE Cultural Art's second exhibition, “On Being Human: Love, Faith, Shame, and Hope.” Guests included many of the local and international artists, who made themselves available to students and the campus community. The gallery and its environs were visited by members of the press, who gave the exhibition wide pre- and post-exhibition coverage in the Daily Breeze and in local Asian media. The exhibition was the result of a global call to art that resulted in 840 submissions from five continents. From these submissions the PICTURE Cultural Art Board chose 95 pieces that best represented the breadth and depth of Love, ... Read More
Ryan Traylor: Moving Beyond Disability, Finding a Purpose
Ryan Traylor is a communications major and an intern in the Office of Communication and Public Affairs at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome as a child, he has overcome many challenges while moving toward becoming a college graduate, and is discovering new strengths and a direction for his life. As told to staff writer Joanie Harmon I had normal development from birth, but I stopped talking at two years old. My mother was concerned and took me to several doctors for a medical evaluation because she felt something was wrong. Initially my diagnosis was autism, based on my lack of speech, a dislike of being held, and staring into space. This ... Read More
Esther Castillo: Alumna Returns to CSU Dominguez Hills to Teach
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
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
