Source: Op-Ed by CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham for Inside Higher Ed In his poem "Dreams," the great American poet Langston Hughes reminds us that we should "Hold fast to dreams/For if dreams die/Life is a broken-winged bird/That cannot fly." Beyond providing academic and co-curricular spaces for students to cultivate their intellectual potential, as a psychologist and university president, I also believe our role in higher education is to prevent wings from breaking and mend those that do. Earlier this summer, the California State University system and the CSU Dominguez Hills campus that I lead hosted their first Juneteenth biennial symposium and celebration ... Read More
Archive
Staff Spotlight: Sharrae Evans
Sharrae Evans, administrative support coordinator for the Art & Design and Theatre & Dance departments, didn't just happen to land a job on the CSUDH campus. “I'm a Toro!” she proudly proclaims. Indeed, Evans is a Toro alumna who has made the university her home away from home for the past 15 years. She started as an undergraduate student, attaining her BA in Business Administration (Management and Human Resources) in 2007. She returned to CSUDH for her master's degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace Building, which she earned in 2012. She started her career at CSUDH by working as a student assistant on campus during her undergraduate years. Evans spent time in ... Read More
Award Program Helps Students Continue Research Through Summer
The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) selected 21 Toro students for its Summer 2022 Research Award program. Undergraduate applicants who were conducting research with CSUDH faculty and maintained a 2.7 or higher GPA were eligible for the program, which has been held since 2020. Each of the students received up to $2,500 to help sustain their research through summer. The selected student researchers represent a wide range of disciplines, from chemistry and biology to English and dance. “During the academic year, student research is usually limited by hefty academic obligations. But during the summer, they can devote a greater amount of time to fully engage in faculty-mentored ... Read More
Student Podcast Brings Ancient Maya to Life
What's the best way to make an ancient civilization accessible to a wide audience? Ask Jackeline and Lesli Hernandez, and they will tell you that podcasting is the key. The two sisters, who both graduated from CSUDH in May with degrees in anthropology, started the podcast “Uncovering the Ancient Maya” in Spring 2022 to provide accurate, historical insights about the Maya to the general public. “Podcasting is how people now get information,” Lesli said. “Maya culture is hard to explain. We hear so many misconceptions about the Maya community, and we wanted people to be more informed.” The Hernandez sisters credit Assistant Professor of Anthropology Ken Seligson for helping them ... Read More
Andrew Drummond Named Associate Vice President for Academic Advising and Career Development
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) has named Andrew Drummond as its new associate vice president for academic advising and career development, effective July 1, 2022. Drummond brings direct experience with administering academic advising and career development at both the college and campus levels, and carries a proven track record of promoting equitable access and positive outcomes that drive holistic support of students. Reporting directly to CSUDH Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Spagna, Drummond will advance the university's mission through effective, strategic support of the provost's priorities and fostering a commitment to improving student ... Read More
Inaugural Juneteenth Symposium Calls for Systemic Change
California State University (CSU) held its first Juneteenth Symposium June 15 and 16, celebrating Black history and achievement while demanding justice and equity within higher education and beyond. The event, hosted by CSUDH, was titled “By Any Means Necessary: Synthesizing the Voices of Our Ancestors and Everyday People.” Recent San Diego State graduate and CSU Board of Trustees Emerita Maryana Khames led the push to create the symposium after listening to students demand action in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Students called on the CSU to take the lead in combating anti-Black racism and champion diversity, equity, and inclusion across the CSU's 23 campuses, and throughout ... Read More
Press-Telegram: Experts, Scholars Talk Juneteenth, Societal Change During Groundbreaking CSU Symposium
Source: Long Beach Press-Telegram The two-day event – titled “By Any Means Necessary: Synthesizing the Voices of Our Ancestors and Everyday People” – aims to engage and support Black students in their pursuit of college success, prosperity and self-fulfillment, Cal State officials said. CARSON – Discussion focusing on higher education in the Black community, the meaning of celebrating Juneteenth and the importance of amplifying diverse voices on Cal State University campuses are some of the key points being discussed during the Inaugural Juneteenth Symposium, hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills and livecast throughout the CSU system. The two-day event – titled “By Any Means ... Read More
EdSource: Cal State Juneteenth Symposium Focuses on Racial Progress Beyond Campus Diversity
Source: EdSource In Cal State's first biennial Juneteenth symposium, the nation's largest public university confronts the need for societal change that uplifts Black students, faculty and staff. The symposium, which was hosted in person and virtually by CSU Dominguez Hills on Wednesday and Thursday, featured Princeton University professor and author Cornel West, Grammy Award-nominated singer and actress Angie Stone, University of Southern California professor Shaun Harper, UC Irvine professor Michele Goodwin, California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and other academics and student advocates from across the state. The symposium went beyond higher education and covered ... Read More
LAist/KPCC: Cal State University Commemorates Juneteenth With First Biennial Conference
Source: LAist This story also had a radio segment on KPCC. On June 19, 1865 – more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation – enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they were free. That day, known as Juneteenth, was declared a national holiday last year. To commemorate it, the Cal State University system held a two-day symposium this week, the first of what will now be a biennial event. Dr. Thomas Parham, president of Cal State Dominguez Hills, said: “We are not simply acknowledging Juneteenth by putting on a program that lasts for a couple hours, then everybody goes home. We want people to be ... Read More
Rafu Shimpo: Japan & Black L.A. Initiative: A Conversation with Sen. Bradford
Source: Rafu Shimpo On May 14, California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles co-sponsored an event featuring California State Sen. Steven Bradford. The event was held on the campus of CSUDH and included remarks by Bradford and a panel discussion moderated by CSUDH President Dr. Thomas A. Parham with Bradford, Africana Studies Department Chair Dr. Donna Nicol, and Consul General Akira Muto. In his opening remarks, Bradford shared his childhood experiences visiting Japan, where his grandparents had been living, and growing up in Gardena, where Japanese Americans were among his earliest friends. He reflected on the shared ... Read More
