From a young age, Mariah Sarabia understood that education was a vital lifeline to the future she envisioned for herself. “I knew the value of higher education,” she recalls. “When my parents immigrated from Mexico, they didn't have any education at all. My mom didn’t even speak English when they moved here.” Sarabia’s mother served as an inspiration, taking ESL courses to learn the language before attending nursing school and eventually becoming a licensed vocational nurse. “I saw how valuable higher education is, especially as a woman of color,” says Sarabia. “I knew that if I had an education and got a good paying job that I was happy at and interested in, no one could take that ... Read More
Administration
Shooting Star: DH Alum Creates Lasting Images for NASA
High-speed aerial photography is not something that CSUDH alumnus Jim Ross ever saw himself getting into. “Aerial photography was right in line with exotic dancing as jobs I never thought I would have in my lifetime,” he laughs. But despite some hiccups (so to speak) regarding motion sickness, Ross has now been shooting spectacular pictures of aircraft and other NASA projects for almost 35 years. He currently serves as the photo lead at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif. His work was recognized in April 2024, when his picture of research pilot Nils Larson making aerobatic maneuvers was named NASA Photo of the Year. Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, Ross ... Read More
Love and Resilience Crucial to Success of Project Rebound Grad Christopher Carson
Christopher Carson once found himself on a dangerous trajectory. He was born and raised on 107th Street and South Vermont Avenue, an area long acquainted with gang culture and the violence that accompanies it. “It’s what you’re used to when you live with it,” says Carson. “It’s what you know.” In 2016, a court convicted Carson of attempted murder and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. But for the steadfast love of family and friends, and the timely intervention of unexpected mentors, Carson might have succumbed to the hopelessness of the prison industrial complex and come to believe that he would only ever be defined by his mistakes. Instead, he joined some 4,400 other students on ... Read More
Kennedy Center Honors Toro Student Playwright
Whenever CSUDH student and aspiring playwright Wayne Sam needs inspiration or motivation, he glances over at an old typewriter that was given to him by his late grandfather. “He was a writer as well,” says Sam. “He really wanted me to write and pushed me forward. He promised me his old typewriter when he passed. It doesn’t work, but that’s not the point. It’s always there to remind me that there have always been people who believed in me.” All that motivation, inspiration, and belief has led to Sam being awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award at the inaugural Nathan Louis Jackson Playwriting Awards, part of the Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival. He won for his ... Read More
2024 Faculty Awards Honor Six Outstanding Educators
2024 Faculty Awards Recognize Six Outstanding Educators The 2024 Faculty Awards Reception was held on April 30, with six members of the CSUDH faculty receiving honors for their contributions to the university. The awards are presented each year to selected faculty members for outstanding achievement in a variety of areas—from research and scholarship to lecturing and service to the community. The 2024 CSUDH Faculty Award recipients are: Jenn BrandtLyle E. Gibson Distinguished Teacher Award The founding faculty member in the Department of Women’s Studies, Jenn Brandt has been teaching at CSUDH since 2018. She has been one of the driving forces behind the program, developing the ... Read More