Brittany Esnayra is often approached by her “kids” when she is out in the community. Some are now in their mid-20s, and they recall fond memories of Paramount High School Senior Campus, and many share their gratitude at having had her as a teacher for their English Language Arts (ELA) class. The California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) alumna has been teaching at the school for over a decade now. For the past four years, she has worked in tandem with her co-teacher Jennifer Salido, a unique relationship that she says is more like a “workplace marriage.” “My co-teacher says that she’s the tough one, and I’m more of the loving type. I let the kiddos know I’m really friendly, ... Read More
Alumni
Alumna Rhiannon Chavez Named LAUSD Teacher of the Year
Hearing “Mrs. Chavez, we miss you!” from her 4th grade class encouraged Rhiannon Chavez to set up a weekly summer Zoom call to check in with her students. Some have shared their Lego creations, while others just talk about their day. One asked “Can we do this every day?” and she thought, “Wait, this is my summer vacation, too.” Summer had been a welcome break for teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Like her colleagues, Chavez has had to adjust to online teaching methods during the pandemic, and her role at Gardena's 186th Street Elementary School as teacher of the English Learning Development (ELD) class presented unique challenges. Fortunately, the California ... Read More
Alumni Offer New Student Orientation Tips and Advice
In a typical year, CSUDH's New Student Convocation is a chance for the university to welcome and greet its new freshmen and transfer students. At the convocation, new Toros begin to acclimate themselves to the campus, meet fellow students and faculty members, and generally get acquainted with what college life is all about. As we all know, though, 2020 has not been a typical year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's convocation took place virtually, as has almost all instruction and campus business since the lockdowns began in March. Faced with our current virtual reality, the CSUDH Alumni Association decided to use the unique situation to do something a little different to help new ... Read More
Alumni Share Knowledge and Try Their Hand at Teaching During Professor for a Day
Passing on knowledge and advice that will help both students and their industries thrive are among the top reasons California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) alumni return to their alma mater for the university’s annual Professor for a Day. Experiencing teaching at the college level and as a potential future career option is another. This year, 31 alumni became honorary professors in the most industry-diverse cohort in Professor for a Day history, which after six years has grown to cover several days. Alumna Dehra Lopez (’12, M.S., Occupational Therapy), an occupational therapist (OT) who works full-time for Windsor Gardens Convalescent Center in Long Beach, tried her ... Read More
Alumni Return to Campus to Help Celebrate the Investiture of President Parham
The inauguration of Thomas A. Parham as California State University, Dominguez Hills’ (CSUDH) 11th president provided the perfect opportunity to welcome alumni back to campus to celebrate a new era for the university. In a series of Inauguration Week activities that took place Feb. 5-9 and culminated in a formal ceremony installing Parham as president, the CSUDH Alumni Association invited five alumni to serve as featured speakers and share their experiences as students, impart the knowledge they have gained in their professions, and express their enthusiasm for CSUDH’s future. Raymund Diaz (’02, B.A., political science/English literature), deputy district attorney of Orange County, ... Read More
