From an early age, CSUDH alumna Gracie Ann Dinkins (’87, BA, Chemistry) was taught the value of giving back to the community. “My mother instilled the importance of service and sacrifice very early in all of her children,” she says. These days, Dinkins is living out those lessons, working as a trauma and acute care surgeon at a pair of Southern California hospitals while also helping rescue an elementary school in Liberia. Dinkins, who grew up in Liberia, was attending the University of Liberia in 1984 when political and social upheaval that would devolve into a 14-year civil war in the country disrupted her educational journey “The country experienced serious civil unrest and student-led ... Read More
Alumni
Alumna Julie DeVaney Helps Lead Frontline Fight Against COVID-19
As a member of the San Diego-based Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), part of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), California State University, Dominguez Hills alumna Julie DeVaney (’05, MS, Nursing) has traveled across the country, assisting local health care workers in emergency situations. She has helped deal with the aftermath of everything from hurricanes to terrorism (her first deployment was in 2001, after the World Trade Center attacks). So it is no surprise to see DeVaney on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19. In 2020, DeVaney spent time at rural hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients, working with or replacing overwhelmed staff and ... Read More
‘I’m a Toro’ Banner Campaign Takes Bronze During CASE Awards
Described by the judges as a “well-designed and executed integrated marketing campaign to engage alumni,” California State University, Dominguez Hills’ (CSUDH) “I’m a Toro” banner campaign took bronze during the virtual Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) 2021 District VII Awards of Excellence ceremony on Feb. 5. Entered in the “Alumni Relations: Targeted Constituency Engagement” category, the “I’m a Toro” campaign decorated the campus walkways with striking banners showcasing many of the university’s most successful alumni. Installed in 2016, the original banners featured large-scale photos of alumni combined with such bold statements as “I see beyond our world,” ... Read More
It’s an Emotional Win-Win for Alumna Brittany Esnayra
Brittany Esnayra is often approached by her “kids” when she is out in the community. Some are now in their mid-20s, and they recall fond memories of Paramount High School Senior Campus, and many share their gratitude at having had her as a teacher for their English Language Arts (ELA) class. The California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) alumna has been teaching at the school for over a decade now. For the past four years, she has worked in tandem with her co-teacher Jennifer Salido, a unique relationship that she says is more like a “workplace marriage.” “My co-teacher says that she’s the tough one, and I’m more of the loving type. I let the kiddos know I’m really friendly, ... Read More
Alumna Rhiannon Chavez Named LAUSD Teacher of the Year
Hearing “Mrs. Chavez, we miss you!” from her 4th grade class encouraged Rhiannon Chavez to set up a weekly summer Zoom call to check in with her students. Some have shared their Lego creations, while others just talk about their day. One asked “Can we do this every day?” and she thought, “Wait, this is my summer vacation, too.” Summer had been a welcome break for teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Like her colleagues, Chavez has had to adjust to online teaching methods during the pandemic, and her role at Gardena's 186th Street Elementary School as teacher of the English Learning Development (ELD) class presented unique challenges. Fortunately, the California ... Read More
