On April 18, CSUDH honored five faculty members during the 2023 Faculty Awards Reception. They were recognized for their excellence in teaching and research, their contributions to university governance and development, and for the role non-tenure track faculty play in student achievement. Presidential Outstanding Professor AwardLaura TalamanteHistoryRead Dr. Talamante's Story Lyle E. Gibson Dominguez Hills Distinguished Teacher AwardHorace CrogmanPhysicsRead Dr. Crogman's Story Catherine H. Jacobs Outstanding Faculty Lecturer AwardBarbara BelmontChemistry and BiochemistryRead Ms. Belmont's Story Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity ... Read More
Academic Affairs
Africana Studies Professor Puts Students First
Everyone who attended the Black History Month opening celebration at CSUDH in early February was struck by the passion and energy of the woman who kicked off the proceedings. As she recited two poems and performed an original song, it was clear that Africana Studies Adjunct Professor Meryah Fisher had a palpable connection to the students in attendance, who enthusiastically cheered and danced along. Such connections are by design. A large part of Fisher's teaching is formulated to center her students as people before delving into the coursework. “We start out every single day with the question 'How are you?',” she says. “I didn't even bother going over the syllabus during the first week ... Read More
Toro Alumna Named California Teacher of the Year
CSUDH alumna Bridgette Donald-Blue never intended to have a career in teaching. When the Florida native completed her bachelor's degree in English at Howard University in Washington, DC, she planned to go on to law school. The words of a favorite professor echoed in her ears, though. “I remember he said, 'I know all of you are going to do amazing things, but I don't want you to just write a check. I want you to be involved and affect change.'” Taking those words to heart, Donald-Blue decided to postpone law school for two years and committed to spend that time in the Teach for America program. The nationwide program fights educational inequality, signing up engaged citizens from across ... Read More
4th Annual Celebrate First Generation College Students
Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and alumni joined in celebration of Toros who are the first in their family to attend or graduate from college on Nov. 8 for the fourth annual CSUDH “Celebrate First Generation College Students.” Rain caused a location change for the celebration, but the weather did not dampen the spirits of those who attended. They enthusiastically demonstrated that while first generation students don't have the family history of college to lean on as they navigate college life, they do have a strong network from other first-gens, the entire campus community, and the many services in place at CSUDH to support their success. Teddy the Toro, the CSUDH ... Read More
Retrospective Exhibition Highlights Career of CSUDH Art Professor Emerita
CSUDH Professor Emerita of Art Gilah Yelin Hirsch has been honored with a retrospective exhibit at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA) in Santa Ana. Titled “The Archeology of Metaphor, the exhibit runs through Oct. 29 and features work from throughout her lengthy and varied career, from her earliest 1968 paintings to the present. Hirsch, who joined the art department faculty in 1973 and taught at CSUDH for almost 50 years, is considered one of the first feminist artists. She was a founding member and wrote the manifesto for the Los Angeles Council of Women Artists, one of the first women's art organizations. The statement protested the underrepresentation of women in ... Read More