Poignant tributes and well wishes marked a farewell reception on May 10 for California State University, Dominguez Hills President Mildred García. More than 250 guests attended to take a look back at the many significant accomplishments García has made during her five-year term at helm of the university. Discussing what is possibly the broadest accomplishment García has achieved–an increased presence of CSU Dominguez Hills within surrounding communities–guests and speakers alike shared similar views of how she helped to make CSU Dominguez Hills the university of choice in the South Bay. “I think she has been a benefit to this school, in the way the school is seen by the community. ... Read More
Features
College Bound to College Bond: Mother and Daughter Graduate Together
For parents, seeing their children grow up and enter college is a source of pride, but, for some, the letting go part can be tough. Natasha Smith-Patterson found a way around that. Rather than send her daughter off to college, she went with her. This week, Smith-Patterson and her first-born child, Kalani Patterson, will graduate together from California State University, Dominguez Hills with degrees in sociology -a master's and a bachelor's, respectively. In 2006, with the responsibility of running her own day care service in Long Beach and raising her then-infant and youngest child, TaTen'e, Smith-Patterson hoped to persuade her college-bound daughter to attend a university close ... Read More
Christian Somoza: From Soldier to Psychology Graduate
At 18, Christian Somoza didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. He was enrolled in Cerritos College but was struggling a bit. After a semester he decided he wasn't ready for college, and joined the Marine Corps, where he could develop discipline, serve his country, and earn a G.I. Bill, which covers a range of veteran benefit programs, including college tuition assistance. After four years in the Marine Corps, leaving at the rank of sergeant, Somoza returned to Cerritos College ready to focus on his education. While there, he took an introductory psychology course, during which he learned more about post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSDs). It piqued his interest. “[In the ... Read More
Dedicated Job Searches at Education Fair and Green Panel
Finding a job in this economy can be particularly challenging. To make it easier, the Career Center at California State University, Dominguez Hills has improved on the general job fair by creating targeted events for those looking for specific careers. Recently the Career Center hosted two such events, one in education and the other focused on the “green” (environmentally conscious) sector. For graduating seniors looking to start their teaching careers, the education job fair held on April 20 was an opportunity to meet with more than 30 recruiters from school districts, charter schools, and organizations that hire tutors, child care personnel, and professionals that provide ... Read More
Summit Aimed to Empower Minority Male Students to Succeed in School and Life
Ten young men, all African American and Latino students, stood in front of an audience of about 600 of their high school and college peers during the California State University, Dominguez Hills Male Success Alliance Third Annual Spring Summit held in the Loker Student Union ballroom on April 24 as part of an exercise to illustrate a point: the odds against male students of color completing high school or college are staggering. Making the point graphically real, motivational speaker and guest keynote Ernesto Mejia of CoolSpeak, a youth engagement company that campaigns for minority students to stay in and finish high school and college, asked the students why they want to go to ... Read More