After several years of hard work and advocacy, California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) will begin offering women's studies as a major in fall 2020, after many years of the discipline being a minor course of study. “Women’s studies courses have been offered at CSUDH since the 1990s,” says Jenn Brandt, associate professor and program coordinator of women's studies. “When Mitch Avila came in as dean (of the College of Arts and Humanities), raising the program to a major was one of his priorities. There’s so much growth going on at Dominguez Hills, this was the right time institutionally for us to support this new major.” Avila's enthusiasm for the project was a big factor ... Read More
Features
CSUDH Professor’s New Book Set to Trigger Conversations on Race, Trauma
The use of trigger warnings—brief statements informing students of potentially distressing or re-traumatizing content—in education have grown in popularity over the last decade, as educators attempt to engage students in controversial or sensitive topics without causing undue stress or anxiety. But do they really work? That's the question that Mara Lee Grayson, CSUDH assistant professor of English, asks in her new book, “Race Talk in the Age of the Trigger Warning: Recognizing and Challenging Classroom Cultures of Silence.” The conclusions she reaches may be surprising to some. “Most of the empirical psychological research demonstrates that it doesn't help students deal with trauma or ... Read More
New Asian-Pacific Studies Major to Start in Fall 2020
When California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) resumes classes in the fall, students will have a new major to pursue. After years of hard work and lobbying by several passionate CSUDH professors, the CSU Office of the Chancellor has officially approved the university's Asian-Pacific Studies program as a new major. CSUDH has had Asian studies courses for decades, and students have been able to choose Asian-Pacific Studies as a minor since 1992. With its new major-level designation, the program now stands on equal footing with other ethnic studies departments at the university, such as Africana Studies and Chicano/a Studies. In announcing the new major, CSUDH President ... Read More
Hit Netflix Comedy “Space Force” Showcases CSUDH Campus
Netflix's satirical comedy “Space Force” has been one of the streaming service's most popular shows since its May 29 debut – and millions of viewers are getting a great look at the CSUDH campus every time they tune in. Much of the show takes place on the newly-formed U.S. Space Force's sprawling base, which the CSUDH campus doubles for in many of the exterior shots. When General Mark Naird, played by Steve Carell, races between buildings or John Malkovich's character Dr. Adrian Mallory strides out of his science office, that's CSUDH in the background. Filming took place during the summer and fall of 2019, with the University Library, west walkway, and University Theatre as the main ... Read More
Art Professor Devon Tsuno Leads Community Network in Creating, Distributing Face Shields
As the spread of COVID-19 accelerated during the early stages of the pandemic in the U.S., assistant professor of art and design Devon Tsuno became increasingly worried about his wife, Rieko Takamatsu, a nurse treating patients in a Los Angeles hospital that had begun rationing its short supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Tsuno wanted to do something to help his wife but wasn’t sure what. In a conversation with Cypress College art professor Ed Giardina on how two artists could have an impact, they decided to create and 3D-print their own medical face shields. They suspected others would be willing to help and began reaching out to friends and colleagues, primarily within the ... Read More
