In the early weeks of the fall semester at California State University, Dominguez Hills students are not just buying textbooks and reading syllabuses for their new classes. Students from a wide variety of majors are preparing to serve 300 hours over the course of the 2010-11 academic year as Jumpstart Corps members. The students will be working to ensure that preschoolers in Carson and Compton receive mentoring and encouragement that will propel them to do well in school and to begin to think of themselves as college-bound. Jumpstart, a nonprofit focused on early childhood education, addresses school readiness among preschool children in low-income communities. The 30 members of the ... Read More
Archive
Monika Martinez: Life’s Work is a Sustainable Journey
As Lomita's assistant city clerk, Monika Martinez (Class of '00, B.A., public administration) is proud to be part of a local government that has always operated lean enough to ensure that getting through the state's economic crisis would not be as dire as the circumstances other communities are facing. As a fiber artist whose knitted and felted creations will be featured in the prestigious Contemporary Crafts Market in November, her personal philosophies of green living and sustainable practices are interwoven through both her personal and professional life. “I'm very much into the green lifestyle,” she says. “When I wash my dishes, I'll use the [leftover] water to water my garden. ... Read More
Recent Grants to CSU Dominguez Hills Focus on Meeting L.A.’s K-12 Educational Needs
In the past few months, the School of Education at California State University, Dominguez Hills has been awarded three prestigious grants totaling more than $13 million that will allow the university to have a greater impact in meeting the educational needs of the Los Angeles region. “These significant projects, along with existing grant-funded programs, support teacher development from the undergraduate level all the way through the administrator level,” said Dr. Cynthia Grutzik, acting director of the School of Education. “All three projects are pushing the envelope in terms of how we think about teacher and administrator preparation. Each one addresses a specific need in Los Angeles ... Read More
CSU Dominguez Hills to Unveil 8’x32′ Multicultural Mural
As part of the 50th anniversary of California State University, Dominguez Hills, the university's Multicultural Center (MCC) will unveil “Manifest Diversity,” a large-scale multimedia mural created by students under the guidance of award-winning and nationally recognized Los Angeles muralist Eliseo Art Silva on Sept. 9. The mural was created to celebrate the diversity of CSU Dominguez Hills and its surrounding areas, as well as historical social accomplishments that have contributed to a more inclusive and multicultural America. Family and friends of mural honorees such as the late United Farm Workers of America labor leader Larry Itliong, along with local officials, students, and ... Read More
Synthia SAINT JAMES: Renowned Artist Unveils First in Series of 50th Anniversary Commemorative Paintings by Local Artists
Every year, the Annual Fall Reception at California State University, Dominguez Hills welcomes faculty and staff to the new academic year. On August 23, this year's celebration was especially memorable with the unveiling of a commemorative painting and poster by renowned artist Synthia SAINT JAMES. “Cincuenta” (Fifty) is the first in a series that will be created by locally based artists to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CSU Dominguez Hills. “What I really want is for everyone who is a part of this school - faculty, staff, anyone who is an alumni - to have something to feel proud of in celebration of the 50th anniversary,” said SAINT JAMES at the unveiling in the ballroom of the ... Read More
Fall Convocation Highlights Achievements, 50th Anniversary, and New Strategic Plan
On August 23, the Fall Convocation in the University Theatre welcomed faculty and staff at California State University, Dominguez Hills to the 2010-11 academic year. Dr. Irene Vasquez, chair and professor of Chicana/o studies and chair of the Academic Senate, welcomed her colleagues to the meeting in the University Theatre and introduced President Mildred García, whose annual address focused on the university's successes and a look ahead to the new Strategic Plan. “We came through it with respect for each other, civility, compassion, and commitment, never forgetting our high standards and by providing the best education possible,” García said of the 2009-2010 year. During ... Read More
Teen Journalists From China Visit CSU Dominguez Hills
Every summer and winter, high school students from Shanghai, China, visit the United States to learn English and the American culture. Last month, 40 students made California State University, Dominguez Hills their home for six days as part of the College of Extended and International Education's American Language and Culture Program study tours. “We call them study tours because the students spend the morning portion of their day in English classes and after lunch they get to do something fun like Disneyland or the beach,” said Dr. Edward Milecki, director of international programs at the university. The students were taken to many famous Los Angeles hangouts such as Santa Monica, Venice ... Read More
Joni Johnson: English Master’s Student Receives University’s Graduate Equity Fellowship
Joni Johnson (Class of '10, B.A., English literature) has received a Graduate Equity Fellowship, a two-year grant awarded by California State University, Dominguez Hills. Johnson, an administrative support assistant in the Child Development Program in the College of Professional Studies, says that her work environment at the university has been a great influence on her performance as a student - and on her career goals as an educator. “Knowing what offices to go to, who to speak with, forming relationships that help me to do my job efficiently, as well as being surrounded by faculty who are so motivated about teaching students, have all aided in my [own] accomplishments,” she says. ... Read More
CSU Dominguez Hills Receives Federal TRIO Grant
(Carson, CA) - California State University, Dominguez Hills has been awarded the first year allocation of a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its Student Support Services (SSS) program for disadvantaged students. The first year award is for $259,059, with the full award totally approximately $1.3 million. SSS is a Department of Education TRIO program that aims to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first generation or disabled students by providing such services as advising, counseling, mentoring, tutoring, and career planning. This is the third multi-year TRIO/SSS grant CSU Dominguez Hills has received; its program has been in ... Read More
CSU Dominguez Hills, Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum Receive National Endowment for the Humanities Grant
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded California State University, Dominguez Hills and Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum a $171,788 grant through its Landmarks of American History and Culture program to offer two weeklong professional development workshops next summer for high school teachers across the country. The proposal also received a “We the People” designation for its “efforts to strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture,” according to an NEH press release. Professors from CSU Dominguez Hills, along with staff in the university's Service Learning, Internships and Civic Engagement (SLICE) and Archives and Special Collections ... Read More