Professor of Biology Terry McGlynn says it's not the technical details that really drive research, or the “very minute questions” scientists seek to answer. He believes the best fundamental questions are often asked by those who are new to the field. McGlynn has always treasured the curiosity-driven insights his students bring to his research of the natural world, and the “really big questions” they have asked often during field research in remote locations such as the rain forests of Coast Rica, in Australia, or while just exploring a location's raw beauty. McGlynn began teaching at CSUDH in 2007 as an assistant professor of biology, but he began traveling to rain forests to study ... Read More
Awards
Kirstin Ellsworth Named the 2021 Lyle E. Gibson Distinguished Teacher
Being a conscientious learner isn't enough for Associate Professor of Art History Kirstin Ellsworth. She also wants her students to be “knowledge makers.” “This comes from what is called the social construction of knowledge,” says Ellsworth. “For assignments like research papers, I like to have students choose what they want to write about, develop an argument, and follow the argument through. The students present their arguments verbally or in their writing, and it typically becomes part of the class conversation.” Ellsworth refers to this inclusive teaching style as self-selected topics that are guided by a thesis. “It really draws out their creativity,” she adds. “So much so that ... Read More
Donna Nicol Wins 2021 Excellence in Service Award
Donna Nicol, associate professor and department chair of Africana Studies, has a personal connection to CSUDH. “I grew up nearby, and my mother went to Dominguez Hills,” says Nicol. “My first job out of college was also at CSUDH. It's been a staple in my life.” Nicol says that after working for a decade as an assistant/associate professor in women's and gender studies at CSU Fullerton, getting the position at CSUDH “felt like I was coming home.” Nicol has been a vibrant, vocal presence on campus since her return. Her work helping to revive the Africana Studies department, spirited support of ethnic studies efforts, and efforts co-chairing the CSUDH Anti-Racism Task Force have helped ... Read More
CSUDH Forensics Team Wins Honors in UTEP Classic
Despite being one of the smallest teams competing, the CSUDH Forensics Team produced some impressive results during the recent 2021 UTEP Classic Forensics Tournament. Under the direction of head coach Shaunte Caraballo, four of the team's five members have now qualified for the National Forensics League's National Individual Events Tournament in April. The team has competed in four events this academic year, with team members winning honors at three of them. At the UTEP Classic, Pravinesh Chand (theatre arts major) won first place in Poetry Interpretation, Eli Sarceno (sociology) took second place in Dramatic Interpretation, and Lafie Bradford (communications) placed sixth in Poetry ... Read More
Valorant Team Wins Top Honors in National Tournament
The CSUDH Esports Association continues to make waves nationally. Already considered among the top Valorant teams in the nation, the Toro esports squad cemented their status as a gaming powerhouse by winning the first New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Tournament Championship. Their victory in the finals over rival Sacramento State was the first tournament win for a CSUDH esports team. The NECC, while based in the northeastern United States, is “the first conference to promote a nationwide type of competition,” according to Esports Association academic advisor and general manager Ruben Caputo. “The NECC provided a space where eastern collegiate teams could compete against western ... Read More