CSUDH News

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

Campus News

CSUDH Receives $1 Million STEM Grant from U.S. Department of Homeland Security

By

CSUDH sign on Victoria, Innovation and Instruction building in background

California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) has been awarded a portion of an $8.9 million Scientific Leadership Award (SLA) grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate. CSUDH was one of eight Minority Serving Institutions nationally to be included in the grant, and joined CSU Northridge as one of only two in California.

CSUDH will receive $1 million over the five-year length of the grant for their program Securing the Future of Los Angeles: CSUDH Homeland Security Initiative, which will launch the Homeland Security Initiative at CSUDH. The initiative aims to build the university’s capacity in interdisciplinary research, education, and workforce development for Homeland Security Enterprises (HSE).

The initiative has three major goals: to recruit and support students towards completing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) or Homeland Security-related degrees through improved, relevant curricula, experiential learning, and integrated research; to build research capacity in HSE topics at CSUDH through supporting innovative, interdisciplinary research projects and funding development; and to develop a diverse and qualified workforce that is ready for future security challenges, especially in the Los Angeles region.

Qiyuan Jin, assistant professor of public administration and the principal investigator for the grant said, “HSE requires a diverse, competent workforce that specializes in areas such as counterterrorism, border security, cyber security, supply chain management, and disaster management. This challenge is particularly salient in the L.A. and Southern California region, where we have critical security challenges in areas such as international trade, immigration, and transportation.”

“As a Minority Serving Institution, our university can play a critical role in training a qualified and more diverse homeland security workforce by creating evidence-based education and career pathways from community college to our campus, and also potentially to advanced degrees and then on to successful careers.”

The grant will help CSUDH create new courses and adapt existing coursework to focus on the STEM-related goals of the project. The university will also partner with local community institutions on the project, including working with community colleges to recruit interested students.

The grant team proposed numerous impactful interdisciplinary research projects, which cover topics including cybersecurity, maritime security, supply chain disruption, systems engineering, disaster management, counterterrorism, and social media analytics. CSUDH will also work with the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Threats and Emergencies (CREATE) at the University of Southern California on collaborative research projects and joint research events to support experiential learning.

The SLA grant will provide Toro students with a wide range of additional education, research, and career development opportunities such as SLA Scholarships, research assistants, internship programs, and mentorship programs. In addition, the university will team with local partners such as the South Bay Workforce Investment Board, Los Angeles International Airport, Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County to create internships and professional development and networking events, providing career pathways for Toro students.

“The Department of Homeland Security firmly believes that STEM innovation allows us to solve the complex challenges of today and make a difference in how we secure and protect our country into the future,” said DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “We are proud to partner with minority serving academic institutions to conduct Homeland Security research and find innovative ways to execute the DHS mission.”

“The Scientific Leadership Award grants are critical investments in protecting the nation from future threats, and we are proud to support the work of these outstanding institutions,” said Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov, DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “We believe that by partnering with these institutions, we can bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to the field, and ultimately make our country safer and more secure.”

“The DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate offers very well-regarded research opportunities to institutions of higher learning, often centering on collaborations and partnerships with DHS-sponsored Centers of Excellence,” said Gus Martin, professor of criminal justice administration and Director of the CSUDH School of Public Service and Justice. “Within this context, the grant represents the recognition by the directorate of the professional excellence of CSUDH faculty. The contribution to regional policy will be significant.”

For Jin, the grant aligns perfectly with CSUDH’s mission of student success. “This program will help our students better prepare for future challenges in homeland security and related fields,” he said. “Our university is all about providing opportunities and social mobility for students from traditionally underserved communities. This grant is a perfect opportunity to further our mission and also deepen our impact in the community.”

CSUDH Hosts Next Generation of Black Leaders

By

Participants of the AALT leadership conference on the campus of CSUDH.
CSUDH hosted 50 junior and senior high school students during the four-day AALT leadership conference. (Kerry James Photography)

The intersection of public policy and individual liberty provided the substance of this year’s African American Leaders for Tomorrow (AALT) program as 50 high school students from across the state joined educators, business leaders, and elected officials for a four-day leadership conference on the CSUDH campus.

AALT students experiment with Snapchat filters at the Santa Monica campus of Snap, Inc.
AALT students experiment with Snapchat filters during a workshop at Snap, Inc. headquarters. (Kerry James Photography)

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) created the program to equip young men and women of color with the tools and experience necessary to excel in higher education and to become leaders within their communities and beyond. Sen. Steven Bradford, Vice Chair of the CLBC, welcomed the AALT scholars at the event’s kick-off dinner.

“This program is about preparing the next generation of leaders, but many of you are already leaders in your own communities,” Bradford said. “It’s a privilege to help support your growth and enrichment with the AALT program, our premier youth civic engagement initiative.”

In partnership with CSUDH and the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute, the CLBC offers qualifying students an immersive college experience that includes residency and meals on campus, workshops, a mock legislative session, and off-campus activities, including a visit this year to the Santa Monica campus of Snap, Inc., the company that owns Snapchat.

High school senior Kyle Sebbern speaks during the mock assembly hearing.
Kyle Sebbern speaks during the mock committee hearing. (Kerry James Photography)

“It is only with a well-educated and compassionate workforce that our communities, specifically our underserved communities, can advance to meet the critical needs of our society,” said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham in his introductory remarks delivered via video on the opening night of the program.

Kyle Sebbern, a senior at Independence High School in Bakersfield, Calif., said his mother convinced him to apply for the AALT program. “I want to be a leader in my community, so this program will help me understand what real leadership looks like,” Sebbern said.

The Dymally Institute was founded in part to help the Black community better discern the impact of public policy on their lives, said Anthony Samad, director of the institute. “We need to study public policy, and we need to disrupt public policy that works against the progress of our communities.”

Students in the AALT program got an up-close look at how bills in Sacramento become the laws that will govern their lives at the state and local level. Groups were assigned to serve as the authors of a bill, lobbyists, and committee members for the relevant committee to which the bill was being presented.

Students and CLBC volunteers listen to debate during the mock committee hearing.
Students and CLBC volunteers listen to debate during the mock committee hearing. (Kerry James Photography)

Guided by members of the CLBC, students evaluated, argued for or against, and then publicly voted on a real assembly bill–in this year’s program, it was AB 252, or the College Athlete Protection Act, which, if enacted, would set the stage for student-athletes in California to receive money from their schools based on the revenue generated by their teams.

The mock hearings are a regular fixture of the AALT program and provide a dynamic and collaborative context for students to become familiar with the legislative process, said Marvin Richardson, a political consultant for California’s Senate Democratic Caucus and an AALT program volunteer.

“Laws are what govern the world we live in. Too many young people don’t understand the law or how it affects them until it affects them,” Richardson said.

Rachel Mitchell receives her AALT certificate from Sen. Steve Sanford and
Rachel Mitchell with Assemblymember Corey Jackson, left, and Senator Steven Bradford. (Kerry James Photography)

Cedric Hicks, Jr., a Carson city councilmember, graduated from CSUDH, as did his parents, wife, and three children. “Without CSUDH, so many people in this region would lack access to higher education.” He added that the AALT program not only gives participating students an inside look at what university life looks like, but affords them access to elected officials.

“Young people–particularly those from the underserved communities that CSUDH caters to–rarely have access to the local officials elected to serve them. This event brings everyone together and allows students to explore different futures by directing questions to the officials that help shape the policies and laws that affect their lives.”

Rachel Mitchell is a junior at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale. She said the debate over AB 252 during the mock hearing really opened her eyes to how complicated the legislative process can be and the impact it can have. “There is so much more nuance to the process than I expected. During lobbying and debate, I realized that there’s never just one right or wrong answer. You have to consider so many different factors.”

Taking civic responsibilities seriously is a chief aim of the AALT program, said Samad, adding that it isn’t always easy to convince young people of the importance of engagement. “The biggest obstacle is helping them understand that they have a role to play in determining what their quality of life, and the quality of life in their communities, will be.”

Dr. Anthony Samad, director of the Dymally Institute, speaks with AALT students during a workshop.
Dr. Anthony Samad speaks during an AALT workshop. (Kerry James Photography)

That quality of life is always under threat, said Samad. “Racism and racial inequalities cannot be an abstract conversation. Racism is structural. These structures have been set up to capture African Americans from a deficit model, whether you’re talking about inadequate school resources, discrimination in housing, or economic subjugation.”

Samad added that equipping young people with the knowledge to confront these issues effectively is an essential part of the AALT program.

“The California Legislative Black Caucus recognizes that it needs a training bench, so to speak, so the next generation can make up for historical inequalities. The hope is to train enough people to understand how democracies work and not to be reactive to the laws and structures that control their lives, but to transform them in a way that is fair and equitable for everyone.”

See more of the AALT leadership conference in the gallery below. All images by Kerry James Photography.

Governor Appoints Toro Alum to CSU Board of Trustees

By

Jonathan Molina Mancio making Toros hand signal.

On June 29, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed recent CSUDH graduate Jonathan Molina Mancio to the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees, the oversight and regulatory body for the entire 23-campus system. Mancio will commence his two-year term as student trustee in Fall 2023, when he will also begin attending Cal State Fullerton’s Master of Science in Higher Education program.

Mancio graduated from CSUDH in May 2023 with his bachelor’s degree in business administration and a strong record of student leadership and advocacy experience. During his time at CSUDH, Mancio’s peers elected him president and CEO of Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), a position he held from 2021-2022.

From 2022-2023, he also served as vice president of finance for the California State Student Association (CSSA), an organization which advocates for CSU students’ needs and engages students in higher education policymaking. In fact, it was Mancio’s engagement with CSSA that ultimately sparked his interest in the CSU Board of Trustees.

“CSSA opened my eyes to how the Cal State system works as a whole, not just as individual campuses,” Mancio says. “It motivated me to apply to be a student trustee, because I wanted to continue serving with a broader impact.”

Mancio applied for the position through CSSA, interviewing for the position with representatives from all 23 CSU campuses. After conducting the application and interview process, CSSA presented the Office of the Governor with a selection of recommended names. The governor then made the final decision on who would serve.

“When I got the news that Gov. Newsom appointed me, I was speechless for the first time in my life,” Mancio says. “I was very excited. It’s a big honor!”

As student trustee, Mancio is looking forward to learning about the Board’s priorities for the upcoming year, working closely with his fellow trustees, and bringing a student perspective to the Board. He also hopes to increase awareness among CSU students of the Board’s impact on their education.

“It’s really important for students to pay attention to the Board of Trustees, because they make decisions that directly affect every CSU student across the system,” Mancio says. “Tuition increase is one of the issues coming up in September–it’s something students really care about.”

Mancio also has advice for current and incoming Toros, drawing from his own experiences as an undergraduate leader and student advocate.

Former CSUDH President Mildred García Appointed 11th CSU Chancellor

By

Headshot of Mildred García

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Mildred García to serve as the 11th chancellor of the California State University. García currently serves as president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and previously served as president of California State University, Fullerton and California State University, Dominguez Hills. García is the first Latina appointed to oversee the CSU’s 23-campus system. She will succeed Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester, who has led the university since May 2022. 

“The California State University is a powerful engine of change and upward mobility for California and the nation, supporting hundreds of thousands of students in achieving their educational, career and personal aspirations,” said García. “I am honored, humbled and excited for this opportunity to serve the nation’s largest four-year university system and work alongside its dedicated leaders, faculty and staff, and its talented and diverse students to further student achievement, close equity gaps and continue to drive California’s economic prosperity.”

As AASCU president since 2018, García has been a strong advocate for public higher education at the national level, working to influence federal policy and regulations on behalf of 350 member colleges and universities. She is the first Latina to lead one of the six presidentially based higher education associations in Washington, D.C. During her tenure at AASCU, she restored the financial health of the organization through strategic leadership, bold decision-making and vision. She directed a strategic agenda that focused on public college and university leadership for the 21st century and provided professional development opportunities for presidents, chancellors and their spouses.  

García served as president of Cal State Fullerton from 2012 to 2018 and led the university to record improvements in graduation rates and nearly tripled new philanthropic gift commitments. As president of CSU Dominguez Hills from 2007 to 2012, she increased retention rates for freshman and transfer students and eliminated a structural deficit of $2.8 million–and became the CSU’s first Latina president. 

“Dr. García is a highly skilled, dynamic and principled leader who has championed student success–especially for those students from underrepresented communities–throughout her long and distinguished career in public higher education,” said Wenda Fong, chair of the CSU Board of Trustees. “Her optimism, authenticity and courageous leadership will inspire greatness for the California State University community as we meet the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead and chart a path toward our great institution’s brightest future.”

Before her arrival in the CSU, García served as the CEO of Berkeley College, where she was the first systemwide president for all six campuses in New York and New Jersey. She has held both academic and senior-level positions at Arizona State University; Montclair State University; Pennsylvania State University; Teachers College, Columbia University; and the Hostos, LaGuardia, and City Colleges of the City University of New York.

A recipient of myriad awards, García was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on several advisory boards, including the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, and by the U.S. Secretary of Education to serve on the Committee on Measures of Student Success.

García was raised in New York City by her parents who moved from Puerto Rico. A first-generation student and the first in her family to earn a degree, she received her associate degree from New York City Community College, a bachelor’s in business education from Bernard M. Baruch College and a master’s in business education from New York University. At Teachers College, Columbia University, she earned a master’s and a doctorate in higher education administration.

García will begin her tenure as Chancellor on October 1, 2023.

CSUDH Alumna Brings Toro Pride to DC Politics

By

CSUDH alumna Ruby Robles

Ruby Robles loves being where the action is. That’s one big reason that the CSUDH alumna’s current job, working in Washington, D.C., as the press secretary for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, suits her to a T.

“I’m right here where the laws are made,” says Robles. “Washington, D.C., is at the center of the news all the time. I’m really drawn to that–the excitement and the atmosphere.”

As press secretary, Robles is part of Warren’s communications team and is responsible for everything from writing press releases and coordinating interviews to pitching stories to reporters or providing the public with background information on pending legislation. Robles also helps manage Warren’s social media platforms, so is deeply involved with both traditional and digital communications for the senator.

Robles is also proud to be the current president of the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA), an official, bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Staff Organization, whose mission is to recruit, retain, and advance Hispanic staffers in the Senate and House of Representatives. CHSA supports its members by providing professional development, networking opportunities, job placement, and mentorship for Latinx individuals working in Congress. The group has over 400 members in Washington DC and across the country.

“I think the best part of my job is that my work can make a difference in the lives of lots of people,” says Robles. “I’m just one person, but I work for a senator that is always fighting for the right things.”

As an example of the work she takes so much pride in, Robles points to the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022. “That bill included the biggest investment to fight climate change ever. It also included provisions to lower the cost of prescription drugs. A lot of work went into that–a whole year of negotiations between lawmakers.”

“The staff played a really critical role in making it happen,” says Robles. “On my end, I drafted tweets about the difference this bill would make, and now that it’s passed, I continue to highlight the ways that people are benefiting from it. That’s one of my favorite things about my job. I’m able to fight for what I stand for and help make a difference.”

Born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, Robles’ family moved to Southern California when she was five years old, eventually settling in Pomona. She learned English while attending elementary school, showing the determination and hard work that have guided her ever since.

Robles didn’t always have her sights set on a career in politics. Upon graduating from high school in Pomona, she was accepted into CSUDH as a first-generation college student, majoring in international business. She soon discovered that business courses weren’t her thing and switched her major to a subject she had long had a passion for–art.

Robles’ mother was active in politics, having served as a local councilwoman for the National Action Party when the family was still living in Mexico. At her mother’s urging, Robles added a second major in political science to her art courses. “She wanted me to study something else as well, so I could get a good job after college,” she laughs. “I was like, ‘Okay, fine, Mom, I will study politics, too.’ It’s a subject that I also really enjoyed.”

While studying at CSUDH, Robles grew more and more involved with the campus community. She volunteered in the Associated Students, Inc. office and found student government interesting and exciting. Robles also served as the president of the CSUDH Political Science Club and co-founded the CSUDH Arts Collective, the first art club on campus.

Robles got her feet wet in national politics while still a Toro undergraduate. She interned at the San Pedro district office of Rep. Nanette Díaz Barragán and found herself drawn to the work and the atmosphere. “I really enjoyed that experience. I thought this was something I could really see myself doing.”

After spending a year abroad studying international relations in London, England, Robles wanted to resume her work in politics. She landed a summer internship in Rep. Barragán’s Washington office and found that she felt right at home. “It felt like I was living a dream,” says Robles.

In 2018, following her internship in Washington, she returned to Southern California to finish her last semester at CSUDH. While attending school as a full-time student, she interned on the congressional campaign of Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr., who was running for a recently vacated seat in a battleground district covering Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties.

When Cisneros won the election, Robles stayed with his team, moving back to DC to serve as a staff/press assistant. She worked with him for a year before joining Sen. Warren’s presidential campaign in 2019.

“I really wanted to work on a presidential campaign for a candidate that I believed in,” says Robles. “So I applied to work for Senator Warren’s presidential campaign. I didn’t think I would, but I got the job and joined her social media team.” Robles moved up to Boston to work at the campaign headquarters.

A couple of months after Sen. Warren’s presidential campaign ended, Robles saw that a job in the senator’s office had opened up. She applied and got the job as a press assistant. Robles was promoted to deputy press secretary a year later, then into her current role as press secretary.

Going forward, Robles plans to continue on her current path and see where it takes her. “I can’t really see myself not working in politics. There are just so many different levels to explore.”

For Robles, the most important lesson to be learned from her success is, “Don’t be afraid to dream too big! You can do it. I never thought that a person like me, an immigrant from Mexico, would end up in a place like this, working in Congress. You’ve just got to dream big and go for it!”