STEM Advantage, a nonprofit that has been supporting California State University, Dominguez Hills students since 2013, was named Nonprofit Team of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal. The newspaper presented the award on June 22 at its annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizens Awards gala. STEM Advantage was one of 103 nominees and four finalists for the top honor. STEM Advantage seeks to address the employment needs facing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industries in the United States, the nonprofit encourages young women and students from under-served communities to pursue careers in STEM fields. Since the nonprofit first selected CSUDH as its pilot ... Read More
Alumni
College of Education Alumni Awarded Teacher of the Year Honors
LaTeira Haynes, a graduate of California State University, Dominguez Hills' (CSUDH) single subject credential program, has been named a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) 2015-16 “Rookie of the Year” teacher for her skill in preparing effective instruction and procedures, and providing a positive classroom learning environment for her students. Haynes, who was enrolled in CSUDH's Transition to Teaching program, follows in the footsteps of fellow Toros who have been honored recently for their teaching excellence. Last year, Patrick Sherwood, a first-year teacher from CSUDH's school residency program, also garnered a Rookie of the Year honor. This past spring, Krystal Braxton, a ... Read More
Alumna Markette Smith Sheppard Hosts ‘Great Day Washington’ in Nation’s Capital
“If you are willing to show up for the world, it will show up for you.” With that awareness as her guide, alumna Markette Smith Sheppard ('02, B.A., mass communications/French minor) more than “shows up” each day as host of the Washington, D.C. CBS affiliate morning show “Great Day Washington,” or for her organic cosmetics e-boutique Messenger Beauty. She also inspires others to use their talents to impact the world in their own way. “I haven't always had a job where I was so excited to come to work, but I truly am now and I feel like this is what I'm supposed to be doing,” said Sheppard. “I happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right skills to be able to do this ... Read More
2016 Graduates Relish in the ‘Words’ and Draw from the ‘Wisdom’ Shared by Keynote Speakers During 5 Commencement Ceremonies
Whether it was an ear-shattering whistle from a fellow graduate sitting close by, or the thunderous cheers of a group of friends and family in the stands clad in the same colored T-shirt, the reading of each graduate's name during California State University, Dominguez Hills' (CSUDH) commencement ceremonies elicited unique responses that could be shared by the entire Class of 2016. The cheers actually began long before the names were called and CSUDH President Willie J. Hagan shook the hands of the more than 3,000 graduates in in the StubHub Tennis Stadium on May 20 and 21. The loud din first erupted from the audience when the soon-to-be Toro alumni emerged from the tunnel at the ... Read More
MSW Graduate Layla Sewell Works to ‘Awaken the Greatness’ in Local Communities
When Layla Sewell is out in the community and she hears someone say, “Look! It's Ms. Sewell!” it warms her heart –as it should having worked to warm the hearts of entire families for over 20 years. Sewell is executive director of the Awaken the Greatness Foundation (ATG), which she founded in late 2011. The Los Angeles-based non-profit facilitates, organizes and moderates workshops, classes and events that “enrich and improve the lives of African-American parents and youth.” “Working with young people just seems to come naturally to me. It's truly a joy,” said Sewell. “It's been a major part of my life for so long.” Along with her work for ATG, Sewell has been balancing her role as ... Read More
