During a break at a Hollywood restaurant where they prepared sumptuous cuts of meat, lobster, pâté, and colorful cheese and fruit platters, California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) graduate student Hawk McFadzen recalls spending their time filling out paperwork to apply for food stamps for their children. “We [restaurant employees] could never afford to eat where we worked, or even eat well after work because we were also dealing with what’s called time poverty. Whether we were buying fresh fruits and vegetables or not, we wouldn’t have time to prepare them,” said McFadzen, who identifies as a gender non-binary person. McFadzen had worked in the food service industry for ... Read More
Features
Geoffrey Martinez Brews Up a Good Cup of Java for Compton
It wasn’t the billowing smoke filling his apartment courtyard from a popcorn machine with a convention oven mounted on top that initially piqued Geoffrey Martinez’s curiosity, it was the smell of freshly roasting coffee beans that drew him in. “I had never seen coffee roasting before so it definitely caught my attention,” said the California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) alumnus of the first time he met his neighbor Chris, who had built a makeshift roaster to turn a few pounds of green coffee beans he had bought online into brew-able coffee. “He’s a foody and was trying out different types of coffee and knew that I also liked coffee so we started getting into it. I never got ... Read More
Incoming President Thomas A. Parham Brings a Fresh Infusion of Energy
When Thomas A. Parham joins California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) as president on July 16 he will grab the reins at a very energetic time in the university’s history. Over the last decade, CSUDH has grown physically and academically, bolstering its long-standing mission to be a vehicle for upward mobility and an influential presence in Los Angeles County. Parham will spend the first months of his presidency engaging the campus community. He plans to meet with faculty, staff, student groups, alumni, the CSUDH foundations, and the broader community to seek pathways for a fresh infusion of energy to further the university’s trajectory. “There is a high degree of congruence ... Read More
Laura Talamante Makes History Personal for her Students
For Professor Laura Talamante, teaching involves more than instructing students on how to analyze and write about history; it’s about weaving her personal stories into her teaching to help students discover connections to the past. Talamante, who teaches European and women’s history at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), focuses her teaching and research on issues related to human rights and social justice. Her expertise centers on the 18th century philosophical movement “the Enlightenment” and its effect on Revolutionary France, with a specific focus on women and citizenship development. “There are a lot of steps to becoming a researcher and writer, and ultimately a ... Read More
Jeff Sapp Seeks Authentic Connections with Students
Becoming more authentic in his life was a challenging journey for Jeff Sapp, professor of teacher education, and a fundamental reason why he believes his students engage so well with him. “The great American educational philosopher, author, social activist, and teacher Maxine Green said only a teacher in search of her or his freedom can inspire others to go in search of their own,” shared Sapp. “Coming out [as gay] was a difficult journey, and my students relate well to how that has changed me. They see that I am tenacious, real, and authentic, as do my husband, my daughter, and my family and friends. That is the cornerstone of what makes a great teacher. If you can touch people in not ... Read More
