This article first appeared in the Fall 2012 issue of Dominguez Today, the university's magazine that is available in print and online, and is being posted in Dateline following her swearing in on January 3 to the 113th Congress as the 37th District of California representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congresswoman Karen Bass didn't set out to become the first African American woman to serve as California's Speaker of the Assembly when her peers in the legislature tapped her for the job in 2008. In fact, if someone had asked about her aspirations four years prior, elected office likely wouldn't have been on the list. “I was pushed to run for office by the former ... Read More
Alumni
Former Toros Reunite and Unite with other CSU Alums at Mega Mixer
Several California State University, Dominguez Hills alumni took part in a CSU Mega Mixer along with nearly 250 alumni from 10 CSU campuses at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney in Orange County on Nov. 13. “More than it being fun, I think it's just a really good idea that the alums get together,” said CSU Dominguez Hills alumna Khaleah Bradshaw (Class of '09, B.A., English literature). “Thaun Lam [director for the CSU Fullerton Alumni Association] mentioned that there's over 2.6 million CSU alums, so it only makes sense that we network and create more of a tight-knit association.” As with Bradshaw, who works as an admissions supervisor at CSU Dominguez Hills, many alumni ... Read More
Early Alumnus James Waight Makes Adventure his Mission
Dashing young agent with top-secret clearance ferries confidential materials on international missions, lands in a few tight spots, and in the end gets the girl. An elevator pitch for a James Bond movie? No, but in many ways, it's better. In a nutshell, it was the life of James Waight (Class of '68, B.A., history/American studies) as a diplomatic courier for the U.S. Department of State. Unlike the famous fictional Brit, Waight doesn't have the status: Secret service agent 007. However, he may very well be student 007. In 1965, he was among just 14 fellow juniors and 27 freshmen to attend the inaugural term at what would later become California State University, Dominguez ... Read More
University Faculty and Staff Celebrate their Alma Mater Ties
Many students who have passed through the doors of California State University, Dominguez Hills understand what makes it special. For more than 300 alumni, it's also a special place to work. To celebrate their common ties, 80 members from the university's faculty and staff gathered for a luncheon held in their honor in the Loker Student Union Ballroom on Nov. 29. Iris Baxter (Class of '90, B.S., health science) said CSU Dominguez Hills was the only place she ever considered working. She began as an adjunct professor in public administration in 1996, was hired as a full-time professor in 2001 and has taught public management, health services administration management, health policy, ... Read More
Claudia Rodriguez: Becoming a Lawyer Takes Elbow Grease
Visiting from Mexico at 18, Claudia Rodriguez only meant to stay in California for one summer. Instead, without means to return, she remained in America, went to college, and became a lawyer. The California State University, Dominguez Hills alumna (Class of '98, B.S., business administration; '00, M.A., behavioral science, negotiation and conflict management), said it was the heavy load of required units and rigorous coursework at the university that helped prepare her for law school. “The bachelor's got me into the critical thinking phase and the master's degree helped me with the writing,” she recalled. Rodriguez, who transferred from Los Angeles Harbor College with an ... Read More
