Senior Scott Bigney was selected for membership in the International Association of Obsidian Studies (IAOS) in recognition of his research on “Characterization of Obsidian from Five Late Postclassic Sites in the Soconusco Region of Chiapas, Mexico.” He presented his findings, which were co-authored by mentors Janine Gasco, associate professor of anthropology, and Dr. Hector Neff, professor of anthropology at CSU Long Beach, at Student Research Day at California State University, Dominguez Hills last February and at the annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology in Sacramento last March. In addition to the two-year membership and access to IAOS's archives and materials, Bigney's ... Read More
Anthropology
President’s Student Awards Recognize Excellence, Perseverance
High-achieving students and organizations that have enhanced the lives of both the campus and local community were honored at the inaugural President's Student Leadership and Service Awards on May 3 in the Loker Student Union. Marco Dowell, director of the Office of Student Life who presided over the event, says that the students who were honored “represent some of the best of the best and I am confident that those students have much success in their futures.” “Just about any job announcement will indicate the need for some level of leadership experience, capabilities or skills,” he says. “Getting involved in leadership experiences while in college allows our students to ... Read More
Pow Wow Held at CSU Dominguez Hills Celebrates Native American Culture
VIEW ADDITIONAL PHOTOS California State University, Dominguez Hills hosted the university's first pow wow since the 1970s on Saturday, April 30, attracting approximately 40 tribes from several states. The event served to highlight the university's commitment to Native American education. Less than one percent of CSU students are Native American -- the 23 CSU campuses and Chancellor's Office are working through the CSU Native American Initiative to address the historical lack of opportunities for Native Americans in higher education. Several hundred people attended the pow wow, which took place in the Sculpture Garden on campus and included Native American dances, music, arts and ... Read More
Janine Gasco: Reliving that ‘Ah-Ha’ Moment, One Student at a Time
When on vacation in Mexico as 20-year-old college drop-out, Dr. Janine Gasco came to a realization that eventually evolved into her life's work. Upon viewing ancient pyramids and ancient Mesoamerican sites, particularly the ruins of Teotihuacan near Mexico City, she realized that she had found an answer to the question of where to focus her studies. “I just remember being floored, so completely impressed and curious,” recalls the associate professor of anthropology and this year's winner of the Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award. “I thought, 'How terrible is it that I don't know anything about what's going on in the country next door? That's what I'm going to ... Read More
Jerry Moore: Anthropologist Selected to Edit Andean Studies Journal
Dr. Jerry Moore, professor of anthropology, has been selected to serve as editor of Ñawpa Pacha: Journal of Andean Archaeology, beginning in March and will serve for a minimum of two years. The publication, whose name means “antiquity” in the Incan language, is the oldest and most prestigious peer-reviewed journal on Andean studies, and was established in 1963 by the late John H. Rowe, a leading specialist on Peruvian archaeology at the University of California, Berkeley. “Over the last 47 years, Ñawpa Pacha has been the journal of record for archaeological research in this broad region with a complex and profound prehistory,” says Moore. “I am proud to contribute to that historic ... Read More
