Staff Spotlight

Staff Spotlight: Cesar Mejia Gomez

September 6, 2023 By Kandis Newman

“Construction is in my blood,” says Cesar Mejia Gomez, which is just one of the reasons that he loves his job as lead carpenter in CSUDH’s Facilities Services department.

“I enjoy that I can make a difference for our students,” he says. “The work I do helps students enjoy their learning process more by beautifying, transforming, and maintaining our classrooms and other important areas of our campus. It gives the campus a more welcoming feeling.”

Gomez’ days usually begin by checking for new work requests that have come in for him or the staff he supervises. Then he’ll either head onto campus or go to his shop in Facilities Services to work on current projects. Gomez often heads off campus to procure materials for the office’s various repair and construction projects, as well.

Gomez has been at CSUDH for 12 years, working his way up from laborer to being in charge of the carpentry shop. He’s proud of the work he’s done to keep the campus up and running, saying, “I’ve been able to impact the lives of many of our students and staff by providing quality repairs, renovations, and beautifying different areas of our infrastructure, while delivering great customer service.”

A native of El Salvador, Gomez started in construction work when he was a child in his native country, working for his uncle Jaime, a general contractor. He fled El Salvador during the 1980’s due to the nation’s bloody civil war, initially immigrating to Mexico. Gomez crossed the border into the United States illegally, but obtained permanent residency five years later–and became a U.S. citizen five years after that.

Gomez’ early years in the U.S. were marked by a series of jobs–from dishwasher at Bob’s Big Boy to restaurant chimney and exhaust system cleaner. He found his way back into the construction trade thanks to a TV cabinet he built to try and earn some extra cash. While shopping the cabinet around, Gomez stopped to get gas for his truck.

At the gas station, Gomez noticed a black truck just pulling out that sported a sign advertising construction services. Gomez ran over, knocked on the truck’s window, and told the man driving he was looking for a job. Gomez showed him the cabinet he had just built, and a week later the man called an offered Gomez a job as his helper.

The two built the company up over the next eight years, and Gomez went into a 50/50 partnership running it. Three years later, Gomez decided to branch out and form his own contracting firm. He ran that company for 20 years, and soon after leaving that behind, he landed the job at CSUDH.

When he’s not working, Gomez loves music and enjoys singing karaoke. His favorite place to hang out is at home with his family, and likes to put his skills to work fixing up his house or taking long walks with his wife on the beach or around their neighborhood.

Gomez feels blessed to have a beautiful family and a job he knows contributes to the learning environment at CSUDH. “I love my job, I love what I do, and I love the people around me,” he says. “I don’t see myself working somewhere else–our campus has become my second home!”

Fun Facts About Cesar Mejia Gomez

Favorite movie:
The Ten Commandments.

Favorite book:
The Bible.

Favorite song:
“Cómo Quisiera Decirte,” by Los Ángeles Negros

Favorite food:
“I like pretty much everything!”

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you?
Tom Hanks.

Favorite childhood memory?
Going to the beach with my family.

What inspires you to get up in the morning?
That I am blessed to be alive and have a beautiful family.

Describe yourself in three words.
“A happy man!”

Staff Spotlight: Ludivina Snow

July 26, 2023 By Kandis Newman

Ludivina Snow in black turtleneck and patterned blazer.

“I’ve always wanted to help people from underserved communities,” says Ludivina Snow, Director of the Toro Guardian Scholars (TGS) program at CSUDH. “While I was in grad school, I had the privilege of working at an alternative school for current and former foster youth, and young people involved in the youth and adult carceral systems. I knew then that I would always want to work serving these populations.”

In her role leading TGS, Snow is doing exactly that. The TGS program is designed to help support college students that have transitioned from the foster care system, providing a wide range of services and resources that assist them throughout their educational journey.

Working at CSUDH is a dream come true for Snow, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2012 from the university. While she was a Toro student, the mentoring she received from her professors was an invaluable inspiration.

“They saw the potential in me and knew I would be able to achieve my dreams,” says Snow. “Since then, I knew I wanted to work at CSUDH if the opportunity allowed. I want to provide other students with the same supportive experience I had.”

After graduating from CSUDH, Snow went on to attain a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Tulsa, and a master of public administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining TGS, she served as Youth Justice Program Manager at CASA of Los Angeles, an organization that mobilizes community volunteers to advocate for youth in the foster care system.

As Director of TGS, Snow says, “Every day is so different! That’s one of the things I enjoy most about my role. I do everything from writing reports and updating procedures to collaborating with other departments. And I have lots of meetings!”

Over the past few months, Snow and her team have restructured TGS to ensure that each member has responsibilities that align with programmatic and personal goals. It’s an effort she’s especially proud of, as it will allow TGS to help students even more effectively and efficiently.

Snow is also enthusiastic about the newly remodeled TGS office, located on the third floor of Welch Hall. The comfy space now includes a bank of computers for students to use, a food pantry, health and hygiene supplies, television, and spaces where students can just kick back and relax between classes. “I am so proud that we’ve been able to make our office space more welcoming and student-centered,” says Snow.

As far as she’s concerned, Snow has the best job at CSUDH. “I really love my work,” she says. “I love coming in every day, working with my team, and helping our students. I enjoy thinking creatively to develop workshops and opportunities for students, and love working with my colleagues here–they’re all so dedicated!”

Snow credits much of her work ethic to her family and upbringing. As a teenager, she used to spend weekend nights helping her parents clean upscale restaurants. “It taught me a lot about what it means to work hard, and it gave me something to aim for,” remembers Snow. “I always thought that maybe one day I would be able to eat in those restaurants, too.”

In fact, she says that exploring new restaurants is one of her favorite ways to spend her time these days. She’s also a big fan of plant shops, and enjoys baking, traveling, watching scary movies, and visiting family and friends when she’s not busy helping Toro students. Her “dream space” to spend time is at home with her husband and two dogs–a black Maltese and a beige Havanese Poodle mix.

Ultimately, it’s her connection with CSUDH’s mission that keeps Snow excited about her job at TGS. “I really want to help bring educational opportunities to underserved communities,” she says. “I want to help create a culture of care and increase access for students, especially current and former foster youth. As administrators, we all have a duty to provide a buffer against oppressive systems and create more equitable and trauma-informed systems.”

Fun Facts About Ludivina Snow

Favorite movie:
Coraline

Favorite book:
Corduroy by Don Freeman

Favorite song:
“I have so many! Right now, I love listening to anything by Kali Uchis.”

First concert/last concert/best concert?
First: My Chemical Romance
Last: Bad Bunny
Best: Probably Beyoncé’s upcoming Renaissance Tour…

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you?
“Me!”

Favorite food? Least favorite?
“I love Oaxacan food and chicken fingers from Raising Cane’s! My least favorite is liver and onions.”

What is a place you’ve never been that you would most like to travel to?
“Probably Phuket Island in Thailand or Bora Bora.”

What inspires you to get up in the morning?
“The endless possibilities!”

What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
My family

Describe yourself in three words.
Fun. Nice. Thoughtful.

Staff Spotlight: Gilbert Hernandez

June 15, 2023 By Kandis Newman

As a CSUDH graduate himself, Gilbert Hernandez feels right at home in his role as Senior Alumni Relations Specialist. It allows him to get to know lots of his fellow alumni, while also giving back to the student community by helping connect them with Toro graduates as mentors and advisors.

“I know what it’s like being a student,” he says. “So many people gave me advice or support through my academic career, going above and beyond to ensure that I had the help I needed.” He’s happy that a large part of his job consists of assisting in making those connections for the next generation of Toros.

Hernandez oversees the CSUDH Alumni Association. In that role, he does everything from assisting members with their benefits to working with IT to troubleshoot alumni access to Toromail. Hernandez is responsible for training student assistants to provide top-tier customer service to CSUDH alumni, both over the phone and in person. He also maintains the CSUDH Alumni website, the office’s social media accounts, and writes a majority of their communications to alumni.

“With the strategic plan and current graduation initiatives in mind, we aim to help our students get the most out of their college experience, while preparing them for life after graduation as alumni,” says Hernandez. “Once they are alumni, it’s our duty to keep engaging them through events and programs that bring them back to their alma mater.”

Hernandez keeps himself extra-busy by also serving as the campus Unit 9 representative for the CSU Employees Union and sitting on the Executive Board. In addition, he serves on the campus-wide Health and Safety Committee and is a floor warden for Welch Hall.

Meeting his fellow alumni is one of the best parts of his job, says Hernandez. “Many alumni maintain a strong connection to their program or to staff that have helped them get where they are now. This rings true with me, as a lot of people that I work with were here when I was a student. The campus is rich in history if you talk to the right people. I’m not one of them, however!” he laughs.

Hernandez has been working on campus for 16 years, having been recommended for a role in the Human Resources department due to his work as a student assistant in the President’s Office during his undergraduate career. He worked in HR for eight years, volunteering for several commencement ceremonies. “I eventually began covering the alumni table at commencement–not knowing this was foreshadowing my eventual role in Alumni Relations.”

Since moving into the Alumni Relations office, Hernandez’ proudest accomplishment has been establishing the annual Dodgers game event and expanding it to the entire campus community. A huge Dodger fan himself, Hernandez and his team changed the game from an alumni-only event, opening up tickets to students, faculty, staff, and families. As a result, the game is now one of the highlights of the year for many in the Toro community.

“It has become not only a fun and successful event, but one that brings different generations of the campus community together,” says Hernandez.

That community is what makes working at CSUDH so special for Hernandez. “Although we’re a public institution situated in one of the nation’s most populous counties, we are family at DH. People know each other on a first-name basis and give warm greetings when you see them.”

Hernandez is also proud of his work in expanding the annual Homecoming celebration. “Our campus has so many reasons to celebrate its history. Even now, as we are breaking ground to accommodate the growing number of students and support the ideals they uphold, we celebrate the framework that makes our campus great and unique.”

His work in establishing the ToroConnect system is another point of pride. An online platform that connects Toro students with alumni mentors, Hernandez says the system allows students to “connect with CSUDH alumni to pick their brains about taking the right courses for a particular job, what life is like after graduation, or even moving to a new country for work.”

“Being an alumnus of Dominguez Hills myself makes my role a lot easier and more enjoyable,” says Hernandez, “because I’m working toward progressing my alma mater to a higher standard.”

Fun Facts About Gilbert Hernandez

Favorite movie:
The Dark Knight

First concert/last concert/best concert?
First: Scream 2 Tour w/ B2K & Lil Bow Wow
Last: Smokin’ Grooves Festival w/ Erykah Badu
Best: Busta Rhymes/Rick Ross/YG

What is your favorite place to spend time?
The beach

What is a place you’ve never been that you would most like to travel to?
Bora Bora

Cats or dogs?
Dogs

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you?
Wilmer Valderrama

What’s your favorite childhood memory?
“Going home with the game ball after making defensive stops at both second base and
pitcher, while getting RBIs at bat during a Little League game.”

What is something interesting about yourself that others may not know?
“When I was a kid, I was in a Power Rangers commercial.”

Note: Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the UCM team, we were unable to find this commercial on YouTube…

Staff Spotlight: Miguel Terán López

May 17, 2023 By Kandis Newman

Miguel Terán López, assistant to the dean and college communications lead for the College of Education (COE), isn’t just a CSUDH staffer – he’s also a proud alumnus of the university, having graduated with a double bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Chicana/o Studies.

“As an alumnus of CSUDH, what I enjoy the most about my job is knowing that I am giving back to this campus and contributing to our students’ success, especially to first-generation students who come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, just like I did,” he says.

Terán López has been at CSUDH for almost 13 years, landing a part-time staff position in the Department of Modern Languages soon after graduating. From there, he transitioned to the Department of History, then to the COE’s Division of Graduate Education, eventually landing in the Dean’s Office.

While there’s no such thing as a “typical day” in his position, Terán López’s tasks include coordinating meetings for the dean with internal and external groups, interfacing and providing support to students, staff, and faculty in the COE, managing the college’s social media channels, and leading or supporting COE events throughout the year.

“Everything about working at CSUDH is special, but particularly knowing that we are serving a student population that will benefit immensely from earning an undergraduate or advanced degree,” he says. “Nelson Mandela said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,’ and I wholeheartedly agree with this belief!”

Terán López is proud of the fact that each day, he plays a small part in CSUDH students’ journey to reach their academic goals, and break stereotypes. As he puts it, “Former President Hagan’s theme during his tenure was ‘America Happens Here,’ and current President Parham’s theme is ‘Transforming Lives that Transform America.’ I take both of these themes to heart, because I truly believe that our students are the future and that they will create a better tomorrow, and I am proud of being able to contribute to this transformation.”

His contributions have been recognized by the university, as Terán López was the recipient of the Staff Award of Excellence in Student Success in 2015.

Prior to landing a job at CSUDH, Terán López worked as a laborer on construction sites. He sometimes reflects on this occupation and its heavy physical workload, which could have been his life if he had not continued his education. “I used to carry buckets of mixed cement, sand and rocks up flights of stairs, and now I help build lives instead of buildings,” he says. When he’s not working, Terán López is a self-proclaimed “homebody” who loves to spend time with his family, listen to music, or watch movies. In fact, he’s got a collection of about 1,000 movies and is running out of space to store them all. “Thankfully, we now have digital formats that can be stored in the cloud!” he says.

Fun Facts About Miguel Terán Lopez

Favorite movie:
V for Vendetta

Favorite book
The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Favorite song
“Latinoamérica” by Calle 13. “It celebrates the struggles and resilience of Latin America.”

Favorite food:
Authentic Mexican food!

What’s a place you’ve never been that you would most like to travel to?
Chilé

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you?
Diego Luna or Gael Garcia Bernal

What inspires you to get up in the morning?
“Becoming a better version of myself than I was the day before.”

Describe yourself in three words:
“Genuine, friendly, perfectionist”

Staff Spotlight: Krystal Rawls

April 5, 2023 By Kandis Newman

As soon as the sun comes up, CSUDH Workforce Integration Network (WIN) Director Krystal Rawls is ready to go. The self-described early riser says she typically finds it hard to sleep past dawn. “There’s too much life to live to sleep through it!” she says.

Part of the reason she’s so eager to get her day started is her passion for her work at CSUDH. WIN aims to highlight the career opportunities available for CSUDH students and other members of our community. As director, Rawls uses advanced technological resources, combined with university and industry-generated business data, to demonstrate the benefits of the CSUDH educational experience in promoting all stakeholders: students, staff, faculty, employers, and the local community.

“Networking is a huge part of my job,” she says. “I spend about an hour or two every day responding to emails to make sure I address the needs of other departments and colleges–most often offering information about how WIN serves the campus and what resources we offer. Another significant part of my day is developing and analyzing workforce trends and programs to address skill gaps.”

This networking aspect of the job appeals to Rawls. “I enjoy working with so many different partners’ groups. I mentor interns, do research alongside faculty and staff, and work with some of the most creative and passionate community members in the South Bay. In addition, I make sure our community is represented in national and global learning conversations. For me, it’s a total WIN!”

Prior to coming to CSUDH in 2020, Rawls served as a faculty member at CSU San Bernardino, teaching management skills. “I love teaching,” she says. “I love when students see themselves the way I see them: full of promise and hope. I saw a need to explicitly articulate the value I saw in students, so I started teaching it in class and modeling my appreciation as a manager/leader. This led me to my current career in workforce development.”

Born in Hawaii, Rawls was an “army brat” who moved around a lot during her childhood. She eventually settled in California, where she has spent most of her teen and adult life. Her family is the one thing she says she could not live without–and what a family she has! Rawls has 16 (!) siblings and 7 daughters, and is married to a retired Navy veteran.

Rawls’ proudest contribution to campus is her work with the Open Skills Network Open Recognition Workgroup, which revolves around identifying the skills and strengths of first-generation and exploring students. “I love showing students they have more skills than they think they have,” she says.

When she’s not working—she’s still actually kind of working. “I love love love my work,” she says. “It can be soothing for me to read innovative articles about the work I do. When I’m not officially working, I’m writing scholarly articles about ways educators can show students we value their lives and experiences. I don’t have a great work-life balance because my work is a passion project!”

Her innovative work with WIN has drawn attention to the university, and Rawls is often asked to speak to fellow educators at conferences across the globe. This year, she will be presenting at events in Boulder, Colo., Portland, Ore., and Vienna, Austria–among others.

“I love that DH is looking for ways to showcase the amazing people who work and learn at the institution,” says Rawls. “When I think about why I work at DH instead of another institution, it boils down to a very selfish thought… I want to be a part of the magic that pushes people to see themselves in a positive and productive light, instead of as a deficit!”

To that end, she was thrilled to see Thriving Educators and Thriving Students as pillars of the new Strategic Plan. “When I saw those pillars, my heart leaped for joy,” she recalls. “We are not here to survive but to thrive. I want to be a part of that!”

Fun Facts About Krystal Rawls

Favorite movie:
Black Panther ! My license plate reads “WKANDA.” I run a website called Nation of Wakanda and own the entire graphic novel series. Bit of a fan!

Favorite book
The V.C. Andrews series that begins with Flowers in the Attic.,

Best Concert?
Carlos Santana at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. After his official set he said, “If y’all don’t have any place to be, I’m going to keep playing.” He played for almost three more hours and I was in heaven!

Favorite food? Least favorite?
My favorite is ramen. Least is okra.

Cats or dogs?
Dogs. Pit bulls or labs, specifically.

What is one superpower you would like to have?
To translate all languages fluently. I could end conflict with such a power!

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you?
Vanessa Williams. She was the first Black Miss America and I remember people saying she and I favored each other when I was younger. I think she would understand my struggle being a Black woman in a system that doesn’t love Black women.

Favorite childhood memory?
My 7th grade English teacher, Mrs. Auerbach, read a poem I wrote out loud to our class, telling them that honest writing is the best writing. I had been criticized because the poem was dark and had decided I’d never write again. It meant everything to me that she acknowledged the content above the tone!

What is one thing you could not live without?
My family and pets.

Describe yourself in three words:
Authentic, accurate, and passionate.