In March 2020, much of the laboratory work conducted at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and many other CSU campuses came to a grinding halt. Now, as campuses repopulate and researchers head back to their labs, the CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) has awarded 25 grants to graduate students to restart and reengage in the research activities put on hold due to COVID-19. Stacy Zamora, a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in biology at CSUDH, has earned one of the coveted grants for her research into the neurobiological factors of drug addiction. Zamora has always been fascinated by the complex inner workings of the brain. At ... Read More
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Two CSUDH Students Named Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars
Jennifer Correa and Cesar Ovando have taken slightly different paths on their journey to CSUDH, but they have both ended up at the same place: the two Toro students were recently named recipients of the prestigious 2021 CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholarship. The scholarship program is designed to increase diversity within the pool of university faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of students in the CSU. Jennifer Correa Correa was born and raised in the historically underserved area of Wilmington, Calif., and started her college journey at local Los Angeles Harbor College. She then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social behavior at the ... Read More
CSUDH Biology Professor Making Big Waves With Her Shark Studies
Sitting offshore in a small boat in the Florida Keys, CSUDH Assistant Professor of Biology Samantha Leigh tosses chum into the shallow water. The pungent slurry of chopped-up fish parts is the best way to attract her targets, so she keeps a close eye on the long gillnets she has laid perpendicular to the shoreline. When Leigh spots a disturbance in a net, she jumps in and makes her way to a snared bonnethead shark, which she untangles and places in a live tank inside the boat. After netting a couple more, Leigh takes her catches to a lab facility, where the bonnetheads are released into tanks with ocean water flow-through systems. These allow the sharks to acclimate to their new ... Read More
Commencement Delivers an Intimate Feel with Heartfelt Moments
While the number of graduates, and the family and friends cheering them on in person, was substantially less this year due to COVID-19, the scaled-down ceremonies for the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 Commencements helped mark a return to normalcy for the Toro Nation, and were some of most intimate and heartfelt in recent memory. Seven commencement ceremonies in all took place May 24-26 in the Tennis Stadium at Dignity Health Sports Park. To comply with public health guidelines, seating was restricted, with graduates sitting in the stands with two guests, instead of on the stadium floor. To close each ceremony, graduates were recognized individually from the stands, and were shown on ... Read More
Class of 2021: Sallyanne Payton Bestowed CSU Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
As a force for change on the national stage, and for her wide-ranging contributions to education and Black culture and history, Sallyanne Payton was bestowed a California State University Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by CSUDH during its 2020-21 Commencement on May 26. Payton’s career is marked by major milestones and prominent appointments. From the early years at Stanford University and in the administrations of two U.S. presidents, to her work as an educator and leader of the preservation of sacred music, Payton has remained a principled advocate for societal change, and those she inspires. “It’s wonderful to be recognized by the university. It's always thrilling when someone ... Read More
