Through his work with ant societies in the rainforest, associate professor of biology Dr. Terry McGlynn has been able to show students the benefits of altruism within a species, in the hopes of teaching them about more than just insect behavior. “In a way, social insects are the pinnacle of evolution,” says McGlynn, who is this year's winner of the Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Award. “There's this popular image that in insect colonies, individuals sacrifice themselves for the whole. But social insects are animals, just like we are. It is more often that it is in their [individual] interest to work for the benefit of the group. “In social insect ... Read More
Features
Emily Magruder: Giving Students the Tools to Think
Although one of Dr. Emily Magruder's students described her teaching technique as animated and “dance-like,” the humanities lecturer–who holds a certificate in theatre and dance, as well as a bachelor's degree in English, from Princeton–doesn't let her classes waltz by with subpar work. “The perception is that I have high expectations, but that I will help students meet them,” says Magruder, who is this year's winner of the Lyle E. Gibson Dominguez Hills Distinguished Teacher Award. Magruder, whose research interests includes women and inheritance, children's literature, and law and literature, says that what she enjoys most about teaching humanities is that she is not confined to ... Read More
Hansonia Caldwell: “Living Legend” Presents Final Spiritual Concert
Hansonia Caldwell has more than the usual reasons to look forward to her retirement this spring. The professor of music at California State University, Dominguez Hills will present her final “Living Legends Festival Concert” at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Saturday, May 14 at 8 p.m. The concert, which is the signature event of the African Diaspora of Sacred Music and Musicians, was first presented in 2003 as part of Caldwell's work with the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive of Sacred Music, an extensive collection of music, books, periodicals, documents, audio & visual materials, and oral histories housed at CSU Dominguez Hills. “We are a preservation program and we ... Read More
Library South Wing Receives Construction and Architectural Design Awards
This month, the new Library South wing of the Leo F. Cain University Library was honored with a 2011 Project Achievement Award by the Southern California chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). The facility, which was recognized in the “$51-$100 Million Building/New Construction” category, was among 16 institutional and industry projects that were recognized. “Throughout the entire construction phase, O'Connor Construction Management's team was highly professional, easy to work with, and kept the project on track despite several challenges,” says Adele Vanarsdale, construction manager at CSU Dominguez Hills. “This project was interrupted by the state ... Read More
Keynote Speakers for Commencement 2011 Announced
California State University, Dominguez Hills is pleased to announce the four distinguished individuals who will serve as keynote speakers during the university's college-based commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, May 20, at the Home Depot Center Tennis Stadium on campus. The four speakers and the college-based ceremonies where they will be give the keynote are as follows: Dr. John Tracy, Boeing vice president and chief technology officer College of Professional Studies, 8 a.m. Dr. Wanda Austin, Aerospace Corporation president and CEO College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences College of Extended and International Education, 11:30 a.m. Judge Scott Gordon, Los Angeles County ... Read More
