Source: L.A. Sentinel The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued three rulings last week that evoked dread and disappointment throughout the nation. Over the course of two days, the court's conservative majority decreed affirmative action in higher education unconstitutional, the Biden administration's student loan relief program illegal, and a firm's refusal to conduct business with same sex couples permissible. Most observers agree that African Americans will be negatively impacted by all the rulings, especially the SCOTUS' determination that institutions cannot implement race-conscious admissions policies to help build diversity on their campuses, even though the ... Read More
Archive
CSUDH Alumna Brings Toro Pride to DC Politics
Ruby Robles loves being where the action is. That's one big reason that the CSUDH alumna's current job, working in Washington, D.C., as the press secretary for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, suits her to a T. “I'm right here where the laws are made,” says Robles. “Washington, D.C., is at the center of the news all the time. I'm really drawn to that–the excitement and the atmosphere.” As press secretary, Robles is part of Warren's communications team and is responsible for everything from writing press releases and coordinating interviews to pitching stories to reporters or providing the public with background information on pending legislation. Robles also helps manage Warren's ... Read More
American Builders Quarterly: Yancey Modesto Builds for Students
Source: American Builders Quarterly In the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion of 1965, and the nationwide racial reckoning that ensued, California Governor Pat Brown and other leaders recognized that a college location in the city of Carson would be an accessible option for minorities living nearby to pursue an education. That location would become home to California State University, Dominguez Hills, which has held true to that mission ever since, primarily serving underrepresented students seeking academic achievement and preparation for the workforce. Today, leaders are looking to broaden the university's impact on student experiences as it transitions from a commuter campus to a ... Read More
Diverse Issues in Higher Education: Workgroup Releases Recommendations for Black Student Equity
Source: Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Since the 2015 launch of Graduation Initiative 2025, a state-backed project to improve graduation rates, the California State University system (CSU) has made significant progress, with students from all groups earning degrees at higher rates. But disparities persist. The graduation rate gap between Black and white students is 22.2 percentage points, .3 of a percent higher than it was fifteen years ago. Black student enrollment and persistence have declined in recent years as well. Now, CSU, the nation's largest university system, with 23 campuses and nearly 460,000 students, is making a push to close these gaps with a ... Read More
VideoMediterraneo: America Loves Sicilia
Source: VideoMediterraneo (video, Italian) Italian television news filmed a group of Toro students and professors touring Italy as part of a study abroad summer experience. Associate Professor of Psychology Giacomo Bono is interviewed during the segment, which took place in Catania, Sicily. ... Read More
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO: Breaking Barriers–How Marketing Drives Inclusion in Access Institutions
Source: Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO–with Jaime Hunt (Podcast) In this episode, Myla Edmond, Associate Vice President Marketing and Communications at California State University, Dominguez Hills, delves into higher education marketing's impact on creating diverse and inclusive campus communities. This episode explores the role of marketing in fostering a diverse and inclusive campus environment and offers insights into how marketing can actively contribute to a sense of belonging. Takeaways include: Listen to the episode here. ... Read More
L.A. Sentinel: Emancipating Higher Education
Source: Op-Ed by CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham for L.A. Sentinel/L.A. Watts Times Avoiding the scandalous incongruence between what the emancipation proclamation preached and what was actualized. Juneteenth celebrations were in full force this week in communities throughout the country. Interestingly, January 2023 marked the 160th anniversary since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln, which people believed freed slaves throughout the nation.”¯”¯And yet, for all of its celebratory flare, the presidential order only partially achieved what it was lauded for. The moral and symbolic power of the executive order and public policy, as profound as it ... Read More
Daily Breeze: CSUDH’s Child Development Center Unveils New Mural
Source: Daily Breeze The Child Development Center at Cal State Dominguez Hills has a new mural – and it boasts a message: Education starts early. The mural, which went up earlier this year and is permanent, features a blue sky, lush grass, chirping birds and a field of wildflowers. In the middle of the painting is the baby version of CSUDH's mascot, Teddy Toro, with an opened book in front of him. The mural's message is that higher education starts at the early stages of childhood, said Child Development Center Director Candace Manansala. It was part of an attempt to revamp the center, which Manansala took over in January 2022. “The center was mostly known for a play-based ... Read More
CSUDH Launches First Doctoral Program
Seventeen students embarked this summer term on an academic journey that no other Toro has yet made. They represent the inaugural student cohort of CSUDH's Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program–the first doctoral program offered in the university's more than 60-year history. President Thomas A. Parham welcomed the students during an orientation event on May 15 at the Loker Student Union ballroom and applauded their decision to break new ground for generations of students to follow. “Go into your studies knowing that what you're doing is significant and worthwhile and makes an enormous difference. Go into it knowing that your institution could not be prouder of you,” Parham said. ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Gilbert Hernandez
As a CSUDH graduate himself, Gilbert Hernandez feels right at home in his role as Senior Alumni Relations Specialist. It allows him to get to know lots of his fellow alumni, while also giving back to the student community by helping connect them with Toro graduates as mentors and advisors. “I know what it's like being a student,” he says. “So many people gave me advice or support through my academic career, going above and beyond to ensure that I had the help I needed.” He's happy that a large part of his job consists of assisting in making those connections for the next generation of Toros. Hernandez oversees the CSUDH Alumni Association. In that role, he does everything from ... Read More
