CSUDH News

The primary source of news and information about California State University, Dominguez Hills, its students, faculty, and staff.

Campus News

University’s Partnership with Follett Higher Education Group Celebrates 25 Years

By

This year, Follett Higher Education Group celebrates 25 years of managing the University Bookstore at California State University, Dominguez Hills. The largest operator of college bookstores in North America, Follett serves more than 850 university bookstores nationwide and provides management systems, support services, and used textbooks to over 1,800 independently managed bookstores.

Representatives of Follett Higher Education Group met with President Mildred García to celebrate the company’s 25 year partnership with CSU Dominguez Hills. L-R: Sue Duits, regional manager, Follett; Mary Ann Rodriguez, vice president, administration and finance, CSU Dominguez Hills; Jay Zalewski, group vice president of sales and operations, Follett; García, Brian Lacey, manager, University Bookstore; and Richard Chester, director, commercial services and campus dining, CSU Dominguez Hills

“The major plus of having Follett as our management company is the quality of resources that a company of their size offers, as well as their expertise in this type of business,” says Richard Chester, director of Commercial Services and Campus Dining.

Follett’s group vice president of sales and operations, Jay Zalewski, and regional manager, Sue Duits, and University Bookstore manager, Brian Lacey met with President Mildred García and Mary Ann Rodriguez, vice president of administration and finance, last month in recognition of the partnership and Follett’s many contributions to CSU Dominguez Hills over the years, including  $50.000 to facilitate the move of the Office of Student Life to its present location during the expansion of the Loker Student Union in 2007.

“Our relationship with CSU Dominguez Hills is built on a shared passion for student success in their academic ambitions,” says Lacey. “Though much has changed over the past 25 years in how our campus bookstore participates in campus life, the goal of student success and affordable course material options has not. We are proud to be a part of Dominguez Hills and look forward to another exciting 25 years.”

For more information on the University Bookstore, click here.

Dr. Terrence Roberts to Speak at CSU Dominguez Hills of His Experiences as One of the Little Rock Nine

By

photo of Dr. Terrence Roberts
Dr. Terrence Roberts

Dr. Terrence Roberts, whose attempts to enroll in an all-white school in segregated Little Rock, Ark., with eight other African American students sparked controversy and debate nationwide in 1957, will give a guest lecture on Thursday, April 28, at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Organized by the university’s Master of Social Work Program and the Graduate Association of Social Work, Roberts’ talk will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. in the ballroom of the Loker Student Union on campus. The event is open to the public.

Despite the 1954 Brown v. the Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that school segregation was unconstitutional, much of the schools in the South, including in Little Rock, remained segregated in 1957 when Roberts, then 15, and eight other African American students made history as the “Little Rock Nine.” Roberts went on to earn a doctorate and lead a successful career as a professor and practicing clinical psychologist and social worker. Throughout his adult life, he also has continued to be a voice for diversity and social justice as CEO of a management consulting firm that offers diversity training, and a frequent keynote speaker on his role in one of the seminal events of the Civil Rights Movement.

“We are honored to host Dr. Roberts as a speaker as his life and career embodies the social transformation that we teach in our MSW program,” said Dr. Larry Ortiz, acting dean of the College of Professional Studies.

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Master of Social Work program at CSU Dominguez Hills prepares students to address the societal needs of people living in diverse urban communities. The program specializes in youth and family, community mental health, and community capacity building as they relate to race, ethnicity and class-related issues.

CSU Dominguez Hills is located at 1000 E. Victoria St. in Carson. Parking permits for campus lots cost $4 and are sold at kiosks stationed in each lot.

For more information on the lecture, call (310) 243-3170.

Women’s Business Conference Brings Policymakers and Entrepreneurs Together

By

The National Association of Women Business Owners – LA (NAWBOLA) and California Educational Solutions, in partnership with members of the California State Board of Equalization, hosted the “Connecting Women to Power Business Conference” in the Loker Student Union at California State University, Dominguez Hills on March 30. The State Board of Equalization was represented by Jerome Horton (Class of ’79, B.S. business administration), chair; Michelle Steel, vice chair; and George Runner, member.

Former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin spoke at a conference held at CSU Dominguez Hills to connect women in business; pictured with Dr. Kaye Bragg, acting dean, College of Business Administration and Public Policy

Jane Pak, CEO of NAWBOLA, and Dr. Kaye Bragg, acting dean of the College of Business and Public Administration, served, respectively, as the mistress of ceremony and moderator of the afternoon session. Welcoming remarks were made by Horton, Steel, and Dr. Susan Borrego, vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.

Horton urged business owners to connect with the Board and use its services to their advantage. He also attributed the inspiration for the event to his wife, Yvonne Horton, who serves as co-founder of California Educational Solutions.

“It was truly her vision,” the chairman noted. “She said, ‘Jerome, one of the most underutilized resources in the world is the human resource. And in California, the resource that we need to focus and capitalize on, and to energize and empower, is the resource of women.’”

Steel, who immigrated from Korea to Japan, and then to the United States, told the story of her mother, a single parent and entrepreneur who was unable to advocate for herself when confronted with a major business tax issue.

“That’s what made me run [for office], because I see a lot of women, single moms, and business owners, who don’t know how to fight and stand up for themselves,” said Steel. “Today your job is getting my business card, and my staff’s business cards. They are ready to help you; that’s why we are here.”

Borrego welcomed the audience of approximately 1,300 to CSU Dominguez Hills on behalf of President Mildred García, saying that the university is “a place that wants to shepherd and support entrepreneurial ideas that drive the economy of the state and the region. Our programs reflect the growing business and industry in the area. Seventy percent of our students are women, and 120 of them are joining us today, while on their spring break, to see you as role models.”

Also representing CSU Dominguez Hills was Clementine Sessoms, grant development associate in Research and Funded Projects. She participated in the breakout session, “Branding Matters: Leveraging Technology to Market Your Business.” The keynote for the morning session was Maria Marin, a renowned motivational speaker and negotiation expert. She presented an informative and often humorous talk to encourage women to become successful entrepreneurs by capitalizing on their strengths, including the ability to earn deeper loyalty in business than men, and to multitask.

Motivational speaker Maria Morin encouraged women to expect more from business and personal relationships.

“Women can entertain many thoughts at the same time,” Marin said. “For example, a woman can be in the kitchen cooking, helping the kids with homework; she’s on the phone, watching the [telenovela], checking her email… because our thoughts intertwine.”

Marin also exhorted women to learn to “ask for more and not expect ‘No’ for an answer” in both business and personal negotiations.

“Our expectations are too low,” she said. “In business, as in life, you expect more, you demand more, and you will get more. One of the reasons why women make less money in the workplace is because we are afraid of asking for more. Studies show that men negotiate their salary eight times more than [we do]. When we go for a job interview, whatever is offered to us, we accept. Men tend to negotiate that. They’re not afraid of asking for more.”

Former United States Treasurer Rosario Marin was the keynote speaker for the afternoon session. The first Latina in California to run for the U.S. Senate, she was appointed by Bush as the 41st treasurer and served from 2001 to 2003. She spoke to small business owners and thanked them for their part in contributing to the local and national economy.

“Not only do you have to worry about feeding your own family… but you have to worry about feeding your employees’ families,” she said. “I don’t think that enough people out there appreciate the work you do as a business owner.”

Marin urged entrepreneurs to register with the state of California as small businesses and encouraged the audience in the wake of an endangered economy throughout the nation.

“We have faced many recessions before,” Marin noted. “Actually, since the Great Depression, we have had 16 recessions, and we always came out on top. And we came out on top because of who we are, not only as a nation, but more importantly, as individuals. We Americans realized that we are bigger than the challenges before us.”

For more information on the California State Board of Equalization, click here.

University President Visits Middle East to Discuss Higher Education as Part of Fulbright Program

By

California State University, Dominguez Hills President Mildred García was one of seven university and community college presidents and vice presidents from the United States selected to participate in a first-time project of the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program focused on higher education in the U.S. and the Arab world.

García spent spring break in the countries of Jordan and Oman, where she and her U.S. colleagues exchanged experiences and discussed best practices with higher education leaders there. Oman is located in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula on the Arabian Sea bordered by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen; Jordan is in the northern region, bordered by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria and Israel.

“Participating in the Fulbright Seminars Abroad Program in Oman and Jordan was an enlightening experience, and I am so grateful to have been given such a wonderful opportunity,” García said. “The exposure to the different models for higher education will help me better serve my campus and region. The experience also reminded me of the importance of travel in gaining a broader knowledge of our global society and the value of study abroad programs for our students, faculty and staff.”

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education and co-led by AMIDEAST and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Higher Education in Transition project of the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Aboard Program was organized to provide leaders of U.S. universities an opportunity to examine the higher education systems in Oman and Jordan, both countries that over the past decade have undertaken educational reforms and development projects that have led to significant progress. This was the first such seminar specifically organized for college presidents and chief academic officers.

The two-week trip included visits to colleges and universities, meetings with campus leaders to discuss mission, resources, challenges, and opportunities to work with American partners, as well as daily seminars that explored such broad topics as strategic planning, higher education and employment linkage, internationalization of higher education, and accreditation and quality assurance.

“For Then We Are Strong: The Brenda Project”: Original Play Honors Fallen Colleague

By

The California State University, Dominguez Hills Department of Theatre and Dance presents an original play “For Then We Are Strong: The Brenda Project” on April 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 8 p.m., and May 1 at 2 p.m. in the University Theatre.

The life of alumna Brenda Arrieta Killian (1977-2009) inspired "For Then We Are Strong."
The life of alumna Brenda Arrieta Killian (1977-2009) inspired “For Then We Are Strong.”

Developed by the Dominguez Bridge Theatre Company, the play was inspired by the life of theatre arts alumna Brenda Arrieta Killian (Class of ’01, B.A., theatre arts) and written by theatre department alumna Naomi Buckley (Class of ’00, B.A., theatre artsand Susan Thrasher, based on interviews with breast cancer survivors, caretakers, and family members.

“For Then We Are Strong” relates the emotional journey a group of women undergoes during breast cancer treatment, and their individual struggles and ability to draw strength from each other, their caregivers and themselves. While each woman’s case, outlook and outcome are different, they share traits of enormous courage and hope.

The goal of the play is also to raise awareness of the disease.

“I think it’s very important to tell this story, because the more I go on, there seems to be more cases of breast cancer, and the ages of cancer patients seems to get lower. Now, you hear of patients who are 38, 34, and younger. It’s important to get the word out,” said Marina Schultz, a breast cancer survivor of 3½-years who lives in Torrance.

Portrayed as “Luz” in the play, Schultz, was among interviewees and members of the community who were invited to a recent reading of the play to offer feedback to the cast, the playwrights, and director Bill DeLuca, M.F.A., professor of theatre arts.

“Brenda lost a nearly year-long battle with breast cancer on March 6, 2009. She entered Dominguez Hills in 1996 as a vivacious 18-year old, but by the time she graduated she had become a confident young woman who was loved and respected by students and faculty alike,” said DeLuca. “She performed in over 12 productions as an undergraduate, and came back to direct, write and produce. She was one of the guiding lights in the formation of the Dominguez Bridge Company, coauthored ‘The Little College on the Hill,’ and portrayed Engracia Dominguez in ‘The Carson Bridge Project.’”

Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Group rates are available. For more ticket information and to purchase tickets online, visit: http://csudh.edu/theatre/tickets.htm. For other payment options, call the box office at (310) 243-3589.

For more information about “For Then We Are Strong: The Brenda Project” or the CSU Dominguez Hills Theatre and Dance program, contact the theatre office at (310) 243-3588 or visit  cah.csudh.edu.