The CSUDH Gerth Archives and Special Collections' ongoing CSU Japanese American Digitization Project (CSUJAD) is an ambitious effort that preserves the history of California's Japanese American communities, particularly those lost or uprooted during World War II. In recognition of the project's scope and success, the CSUJAD has been awarded the 2021 Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award from the Society of American Archivists. “It's really heartening to be recognized,” says Greg Williams, director of the Gerth Archives and principal investigator for CSUJAD. “The award illustrates and recognizes the breadth and depth of the CSUJAD archives and the hard work of our entire team ... Read More
Women’s Studies Grants First Degrees
Women's Studies has only been a major at CSUDH for one year, but its first four graduates are already earning their degrees this spring. As Associate Professor and Coordinator of Women's Studies Jenn Brandt says, “We're so excited. To have all of these wonderful students, in a pandemic, not only surviving but thriving, has exceeded my expectations! I know they're going to go on and make the university very proud.” The four women who make up Women's Studies' first graduating cohort have each taken their own unique path to their degree. “This group is so representative of the diversity that we have in the major,” says Brandt. “They're all coming from different backgrounds and going off to ... Read More
Comic Jesus Trejo Speaks To Fellow Toros at Dolores Huerta Grad Celebration
When CSUDH alum Jesus Trejo first saw his invitation to speak at this year's Dolores Huerta Graduation Celebration, he thought he was in trouble. “To be completely honest, I was freaking out,” he laughs. “I thought they were reaching out because of some parking ticket I forgot to pay when I was going to Dominguez Hills, or maybe an overdue book that I never returned back in 2010.” Then the up-and-coming comedian opened the letter and discovered it was an invitation to speak at the annual event. “I was genuinely at a loss for words,” says Trejo. “I'm truly honored and humbled by this opportunity to be able to come back to my home turf and be able to speak at the Dolores Huerta Graduation ... Read More
CSUDH Graduate Student Takes Second Place in Statewide Thesis Competition
Condensing two years of study and research into a three-minute presentation is a daunting task, but that's just what CSUDH graduate student Nicole Roberts managed to do for the inaugural California State University (CSU) Grad Slam Three-Minute Thesis Competition (3MT), held on May 6. She clearly did a great job, as her presentation earned Roberts a second-place finish in the statewide competition against a slate of graduate students from throughout the CSU system. Roberts, who will attain her master's degree in biology this spring, took the prize with a pared-down version of her master's thesis, “Where will threatened bats be under climate change in 2050?” “My whole project was trying ... Read More
Oscar-Winning Short Showcases Music of CSUDH Conductor, Orchestra
Oscar Night 2021 was quite a bit different from previous years for Charles Dickerson, supervisor of Special Ensembles in the CSUDH Music Department and executive director and conductor of the Inner City Los Angeles Youth Orchestra (ICYOLA). That's because this year, “If Anything Happens I Love You,” a short featuring the music of Dickerson and the ICYOLA, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Dickerson attended a small dinner party at the home of one of the film's producers, where they all watched the broadcast together. “Man, when it was announced that we won, we screamed at the top of our lungs,” says Dickerson. The animated film focuses on parents' grief ... Read More
