After a pandemic-enforced break, the CSUDH Male Success Alliance (MSA) held its first on-campus induction ceremony in four years this March. In all, 28 new MSA members were welcomed into the academic-focused support program for men of color. “The induction ceremony celebrates and honors these young men from different backgrounds, binding them together for a mission and cause that's bigger than themselves,” said MSA Director Hakeem Croom. “It charges our students to be conscious, competent, and committed, while striving for excellence in all their endeavors inside and outside of the classroom.” The MSA was founded in 2009 as a resource to improve access, retention, and graduation for ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Lily Arana
Although she's only been at CSUDH a relatively short time, Lily Arana is already sure she's at the right place. She serves as a bilingual counselor and advocate at the on-campus Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Empowerment (CAPE), a space that provides confidential assistance, support, and education for those affected by sexual abuse, assault, intimate relationship abuse, and stalking. Arana says she wouldn't trade jobs with anyone, and she “loves how intimate the CSUDH campus is, and how friendly everyone is.” A South Bay native, Arana got her BS in psychology from CSU Los Angeles, then attained a master's in social work at CSU Long Beach. While pursuing her graduate studies, she ... Read More
Education is the Key for Black Resource Center Interim Director
For Trimaine Davis, the new interim director of the CSUDH Black Resource Center (BRC), education was his way out of a generational cycle of addiction and depression. Now, he dedicates himself to helping others find the same opportunities. “I really take this seriously and do what I can to make sure that the doors that were opened for me remain open for those who are falling behind,” he says. Davis has traveled a long, hard road to get to his current position at CSUDH. Born to a drug-addicted mother and absentee father, he was placed into foster care at birth. When he was five years old, Davis' paternal grandmother became his legal guardian, and he grew up with her in the hardscrabble East ... Read More
Asian & Pacific Cultural Center Opens Its Doors
After over a year of struggles and delays, the CSUDH Asian & Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) finally has a space to call its own. Located on the second floor of Welch Hall, in the offices formerly occupied by Financial Aid, the center is open to all Toro students, although its primary focus is on supporting the success of Asian and Pacific Islander students at the university. The APCC was established in Fall 2021, in response to student requests for an API-focused resource center. Inaugural program director Nathan Nguyen was hired in October 2021, and spent over a year working with administrators to secure a home for the center. “When I came on board, I assumed it would maybe take a ... Read More
Toro Women Advance to Elite Eight
The top-seeded CSUDH women's basketball team stormed their way into the NCAA Elite Eight with a dominant 73-51 win over Cal State San Marcos in the final of the West Regional Championship. The Toros won behind a stifling defense effort, holding San Marcos to just six points in a pivotal second quarter. It is the Toros' first-ever trip to the Elite Eight, where they will start play as the third seeded team. They will play sixth-seeded Catawba College of North Carolina on Monday, March 20, at 10 AM PST. The winner will advance to the Final Four on Wednesday. Against San Marcos, the Toros were led by NCAA West Region Most Outstanding Player Asia Jordan, who led all scorers with 19 points ... Read More
