CSUDH News

The primary source of news and information about California State University, Dominguez Hills, its students, faculty, and staff.

Economics

College of Business Administration and Public Policy Earns AACSB Accreditation

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(Carson, CA) – California State University, Dominguez Hills’ (CSUDH) College of Business Administration and Public Policy (CBAPP) has earned accreditation by AACSB International (AACSB), the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools.

In the AACSB Self Evaluation Report, CBAPP was commended in several areas, particularly as a core component of the university’s growth strategy and plans to increase its footprint in the region, and its overall competitiveness among institutions of higher education. The report also found that overall enthusiasm and passion that permeates throughout the college for transforming the lives of its students and the communities CSUDH serves.

H. Joseph Wen, dean of the College of Administration and Public Policy.
H. Joseph Wen, dean of the College of Business Administration and Public Policy.

“We are extremely honored and pleased that our business program has attained stature among the best business schools in the world,” said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham. “We are not only an inclusive, highly engaged institution of higher education, but also one that forges strong strategic partnerships with industry, government, and community across our academic, research, and co-curricular learning endeavors. Aspiring to be a model urban university in the nation begins with a strong academic core, and this AACSB recognition is the gold standard that reinforces that educational pillar.”

Synonymous with the highest standards of quality, AACSB accreditation inspires new ways of thinking within business education. Today, 879 institutions across 57 countries and territories maintain AACSB accreditation. Furthermore, 190 institutions maintain supplemental AACSB accreditation for their accounting programs.

AACSB accreditation provides a framework of 15 international standards against which business schools around the world assess the quality of their educational services. These standards ensure continuous improvement and provide focus for schools to deliver on their mission, innovate, and drive impact.

“California State University, Dominguez Hills’ commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of their dedication–not only to their students, alumni network, and greater business community, but to the higher education industry as a whole,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB.“Today’s students are tomorrow’s business leaders, and the addition of the College of Business Administration and Public Policy to the network of AACSB-accredited business schools will have a lasting positive impact for their institution, both locally and globally.”

A rendering of CSUDH's Innovation and Instruction Building.
A rendering of CSUDH’s Innovation and Instruction Building, which will house the College of Business Administration and Public Policy.

In the report, CBAPP was also acknowledged for its dynamic faculty-based institutes – the Entrepreneurial Institute, the Hospitality Technology and Research Institute, and the South Bay Economics Institute. All three are identified as prominent channels for applied research and industry engagement.

CSUDH Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Spagna notes that the quality of the college’s faculty and programs affirms its dedication to meeting the highest educational standards, enhancing academic reputation, and preparing graduates for careers in a global market.

“Earning this accreditation is a testament to the diligence of our faculty, staff, and the broader community to provide an outstanding educational experience for our students,” said Spagna. “I believe that the quest for excellence is an ongoing journey that requires a dedication to continuous improvement.”

University Honored with LAEDC’s Prestigious Eddy Award

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(Left to Right) LAEDC CEO Bill Allen, California State Senator Bob Hertzberg, Chair of the LAEDC board of directors and CSU Northridge President Dianne Harrison, CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham, and CSUDH alumnus and vice president and chief technology officer for The Boeing Company John Tracy.
(Left to Right) LAEDC CEO Bill Allen, California State Senator Bob Hertzberg, Chair of the LAEDC board of directors and CSU Northridge President Dianne Harrison, CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham, and CSUDH alumnus and vice president and chief technology officer for The Boeing Company John Tracy.

California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) was honored with a prestigious Eddy Award during the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s (LAEDC) 24th Annual Eddy Awards gala dinner on Nov. 7. The award recognized CSUDH’s excellence in academia and outstanding efforts to provide access to higher education in Los Angeles.

More than 600 people attended the gala at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live to honor the “Most Business-Friendly City” award recipients: the City of Lancaster and the City of La Mirada. Other honorees were Citibank, and Phillip A. Washington, CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority.

President Thomas A. Parham accepted the Eddy Award on behalf of CSUDH.

“In accepting the Eddy Award this evening, I want to thank the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, and its chair Bill Allen, for the outstanding work done in harnessing the power of public and private sectors to enhance the economic prosperity of the region,” he said. “Indeed, CSUDH is your partner in helping to create opportunities without limits, and prosperity without end.”

During his remarks, Parham touched on CSUDH’s status as one of the “greatest engines of social mobility” in the nation. He shared his thoughts about several of the university’s academic programs that tie directly into the needs of Southern California industry, such as the Information Systems Security program, Digital Media Arts, and the state legislative bill that has paved the way for CSUDH to develop a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program.

(Left to Right) CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham, L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, LAEDC CEO Bill Allen, and CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority Phillip A. Washington.
(Left to Right) CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham, L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, LAEDC CEO Bill Allen, and CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority Phillip A. Washington.

“We are proud of the work that we do, and of the strategic partnerships we create in our communities,” Parham said. “These strategic relationships, when combined with the educational experiences we deliver each and every day on our campus, create a transformative experience that helps our students, graduates, and our alumni lend their talents and expertise to address the challenges life confronts us with.”

Parham was introduced by CSUDH alumnus John Tracy (’76, B.S., physics), vice president and chief technology officer for The Boeing Company.

Tracy shared fond memories about his time as a student at CSUDH, including his relationship with professors who he considered “mentors and friends” whose guidance has been instrumental in his life.

“Although CSUDH has grown in just about every way since my time there, its welcoming and supportive spirit is as strong as ever,” said Tracy. “Today, the faculty and staff still strive to make lasting connections with the students they serve, and to help them succeed in every aspect of their lives and careers. It is those connections that continue to drive the university forward, and those connections that make awards like this possible.”

 

2019 Economic Forecast Shows Slowing yet Stable Economy in the South Bay

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Frank-Mottek-hosts-2019-South-Bay-Economic-Forecast
Frank Mottek, anchor for KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO, hosts the 2019 South Bay Economic Forecast

After years of solid economic growth, the South Bay’s local economy will experience some slowing in 2020, but will remain stable due in part to the federal government’s high level of defense spending in the region.

Such was one of the many economic projections presented in the 2019 South Bay Economic Forecast and Industry Outlook, which California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) released on Oct. 29 as part of the fifth annual South Bay Economic Forecast conference hosted on campus. Approximately 200 guests representing cities and businesses throughout the region attended.

CSUDH developed the report and the conference to provide a focused look at the current state of the region’s economy and forecast for the coming year. This year’s conference, titled “A Region in Transition: Advances in Innovative Technology,” was organized into two panel discussions focused on the regional economy and local businesses, with participants fielding questions about their research, services, and industries from host Frank Mottek, anchor for KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO.

Economic Panel: South Bay Economic Forecast Report

UCLA Anderson Forecast economist William Yu
UCLA Anderson Forecast Economist William Yu

The economic panel included UCLA Anderson Forecast Economist William Yu, and CSUDH faculty members: Assistant Professor of Finance Jennifer Brodmann, Assistant Professor of Public Administration Fynnwin Prager, and Professor of Economics Jose Martinez. The professors conduct much of their research through CSUDH’s South Bay Economics Institute.

CSUDH partners with Yu and the UCLA Anderson Forecast to produce the annual economic forecast report.

“As the southern part of Silicon Beach, South Bay’s economy grew at a steady pace in 2018-19. With its high productivity and wages, technology jobs are the pillar of the region’s economy,” said Yu. “We predict that South Bay’s growth rate will slow down over the next year, mostly due to the slowing of the U.S. and global economies, while SpaceX and the local aerospace industry will continue their pursuits in space expedition.”

According to the economic report, the South Bay employed approximately 452,000 individuals in the private sector during the third quarter of 2018, representing nearly one-tenth of the L.A. County’s workforce.

The report shows that at $62,300, the average annual wage of a worker in the South Bay was slightly higher over the past year, and remained higher than wages throughout Los Angeles County, due to the fact that many jobs in the South Bay require more human capital and skills than work available throughout the rest of the county.

South Bay Wages by Sector
Manufacturing: $1.48 billion
Scientific and technical services: $820 million
Health care and social services: $610 million
Wholesale trade: $500 million
Transportation and warehousing: $430 million

The three sectors with the highest salaries in 2018 were the information industry, with an average salary of $111,000, finance, with an average close to $108,000, followed by the professional, scientific, and technical services industries, with an average salary of $103,000.

Martinez’s research on the South Bay housing market found a modest increase in prices during 2018-2019, and predicted that the region will continue to see a similar increase in 2019-2020. Recent home sales in the South Bay have been helped by declines in mortgage rates, and rates are not predicted to drop much further.

Martinez believes that the potential for a recession due to the housing market is “not likely.” “The relaxation of lending practices that we saw in the previous crisis and subsequent recession has not returned,” Martinez said. “At the same time, speculative investing in housing is relatively mild, so we might be able to say that housing will not cause another mortgage crisis and subsequent recession, at least not in the short run.”

(Left to Right) The economic panel: William Yu, Jennifer Brodmann, Fynnwin Prager, and Jose Martinez.
(Left to Right) The economic panel: William Yu, Jennifer Brodmann, Fynnwin Prager, and Jose Martinez.

Brodmann, whose research includes entrepreneurial trends, found that company startup activity is primarily concentrated in four cities in the South Bay: El Segundo, Hawthorne, Torrance, and Inglewood. The main industries obtaining startup funding in the South Bay are aerospace and defense, Internet, mobile and software services, e-commerce, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals.

“With all of this growth in entrepreneurship in the South Bay, there are still means of continuing improvement, such as increasing growth in women and minority entrepreneurships, which face barriers in accessing startup resources and capital,” Brodmann said.

Prager shared his research on flexible workplace practices, where he has found that trends in the adoption of alternative workplace practices, particularly working from home, are not increasing as much as expected across the region.

He also reported on the growth of Blockchain transactions. “Blockchain could displace or increase competition for numerous occupations in the South Bay, especially those currently involved in the verification of contracts and supply chain operations, trade brokerage, data management and processing, and accounting systems management,” he said.

Technology Panel

During the technology panel, representatives from regional technology, automotive, and aerospace companies shared the latest advancements in electronic mobility technology and business models, aerospace innovations in rocket-to-space delivery, and support for aerospace startup companies.

(Left to Right) Monica Jan, Phillip Weicker, and Van Espahbodi.
(Left to Right) Monica Jan, Phillip Weicker, and Van Espahbodi.

The panelists included Monica Jan, senior director of strategy and customer experience of Virgin Orbit; Phillip Weicker, energy storage and conversion innovator for Canoo, a Los Angeles-based company developing a subscription-only electric vehicle membership program; and Van Espahbodi, co-founder, manager, and partner of Starburst Accelerator. Starburst Accelerator provides startups with mentoring and access to aerospace and aviation stakeholders, and connects aerospace and defense leaders with innovative startups worldwide.

The panelists were asked a variety of questions about their companies’ technology and products, and to share their thoughts about the economic outlook for their industries.

“We’re always hiring. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the national security apparatus is very intrigued by what’s happening in the commercial sector, and on the space front in particular,” said Espahbodi. “The DOD will continue to tap into the sector for what they call ”˜rapid acquisition.’ I see the future for us as being very bright.”

Jan also predicts continued growth in the private U.S. aerospace sector over the next five years, and sees similar developments internationally. “I track the space economy closely and we’re still seeing growth and investment coming in,” she said. “I’m seeing an accelerated pace of capital being deployed in international governments, which are starting to pay attention to the potential for their own space programs.”

Weicker is optimistic about his company’s business model and the progression of the electric vehicle industry. “Business has been generally robust, even with the economic slowdown that we’ve seen in the last 20 months that Canoo has been in existence,” said Weicker. “In terms of perceived volatility, people still believe that they have a lot of options in our industry.

Watch the entire 2019 South Bay Economic Forecast Conference below.

5th Annual South Bay Economic Forecast Oct. 29

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2019 Economic Forecast(Carson, CA) From creating cells that help the immune system fight cancer, to launching rockets into space from in-flight 747s, to the effects of an economic recession on the local economy, California State University, Dominguez Hills’ (CSUDH) 2019-20 South Bay Economic Forecast conference on Oct. 29 will provide a look at what some of the region’s most innovative companies are doing, as well as the economic trends for the next year.

The South Bay Economic Forecast will take place Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Loker Student Union Grand Ballroom The conference will be immediately followed by a wine and craft beer tasting reception featuring South Bay breweries. To register and for more information visit https://www.csudh.edu/uce/economic-forecast/. There is no cost for the media.

Titled “A Region in Transition: Advances in Innovative Technology,” the conference will be emceed by Frank Mottek, anchor for KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO. Mottek will also serve as the panel moderator.

CSUDH developed the South Bay Economic Forecast conference to provide a focused look at the current state of the region’s economy and forecast for the coming year. The university partners with UCLA Anderson Forecast to produce the report.

“As the southern part of Silicon Beach, South Bay’s economy grew at a steady pace. With its high productivity and wages, tech jobs are the pillar of the South Bay economy,” said UCLA Anderson Forecast economist William Yu. “We predict that South Bay’s growth rate will slow down over the next year, mostly due to the slowing of the U.S. and global economies, while SpaceX and the aerospace industry will continue their pursuits of space expedition.”

The conference will feature two panels.

South Bay Economic Panel: CSUDH researchers and economists will discuss trends in housing prices and commuting, startup activity and access to capital in the South Bay, and the findings of the Economic Forecast report.

  • William Yu, economist at UCLA Anderson Forecast, and researcher for the South Bay Economic Forecast.
  • CSUDH faculty researchers from the university’s South Bay Economics Institute: Fynnwin Prager, assistant professor of public administration; Jennifer Brodmann, assistant professor of finance; and Jose Martinez, professor of economics.
    • The faculty will address such issues as telework in the regional workforce; economic and workforce development; corporate and entrepreneurial finance; startup activity and raising capital; and housing market trends, including housing data related to CSUDH faculty and staff.

Technology Panel: Representatives from regional technology, biomedical, and aerospace companies will share the latest advancements in cell creation to fight cancer, electronic mobility technology and business models, aerospace innovations in rocket-to-space delivery, and support for aerospace startup companies.

  • Monica Jan, senior director of strategy and customer experience of Virgin Orbit, part of the Virgin Group owned by Sir Richard Branson. Jan will discuss details about Virgin Orbit’s new project of launching rockets from 747 jetliners to deliver satellites and other payloads into orbit, the challenges of the program, and the future of rocket launch development.
  • Leonard Sender, senior vice president of medical affairs for pediatric, adolescent and young adult oncology for El Segundo-based NantKWest. The innovative clinical-stage immunotherapy company owned by Patrick Soon-Shiong (owner and executive chairman of The Los Angeles Times), focuses on harnessing the power of innate immune system by using cells to treat cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammatory diseases.
  • Sohel Merchant, founder of Canoo, a Los Angeles-based company developing a subscription-only electric vehicle membership program and the vehicles its members will drive.
    • A Canoo vehicle prototype will be on display at the forecast.
  • Van Espahbodi, co-founder, manager and partner of Starburst Accelerator. The company provides startups with mentoring and access to aerospace and aviation stakeholders, and connects aerospace and defense leaders with innovative startups worldwide.

Faculty Highlights: January 2019

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Our faculty members participate in conferences around the world, conduct groundbreaking research, and publish books and journal papers that contribute to their field and highlight their expertise. We feature those accomplishments and more in this section.

College of Arts and Humanities

Donna NicolDonna Nicol, associate professor and chair of Africana Studies, will participate in the City of Los Angeles African American Heritage Month Roundtable Discussion “Black Migrations: Human Rights and Transformative Resistance.” The roundtable is hosted my L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Our Authors Study Club and will take place Feb. 13, 6 to 8 p.m., in the Public Works Chambers at Los Angeles City Hall.

 

 

 

College of Education

Brian Gregor

Brian Gregor, assistant professor of Philosophy, has published the book “Ricoeur’s Hermeneutics of Religion: Rebirth of the Capable Self” (Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). Gregor’s book draws on the full scope of Ricoeur’s writings to lay out the essential features of his philosophical interpretation of religion, from his earliest to his last work.

 

 

 

Anthony NormoreAnthony Normore, professor and chair of Graduate Education, along with Monash University (Australia) doctoral student Luke Macaulay, recently published the article “A Leadership Perspective on Restorative Approaches to Social Justice: When the Offender is the ”˜Circle‘” in the January 2019 issue of the Journal of Authentic Leadership in Education. The piece addresses what happens if the offender in a restorative approach to social justice is the ”˜circle?’ The notion of the circle is an integral component in work related to restorative justice. Normore also published the chapter “Not Making the Grade: How Increased Reliance on Adjunct Faculty Diminishes Excellence, Academic Freedom, and the Search for New Knowledge” in the book Marginality in the Urban Center. The book examines the increasing marginalization of and response by people living in urban areas throughout the Western Hemisphere.

College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences

L. Mark CarrierL. Mark Carrier, professor of Psychology, has published the book “From Smartphones to Social Media: How Technology Affects Our Brains and Behavior” (Greenwood, 2018). The book examines how today’s technology–smartphones, computers, and the internet–shapes our physical health, cognitive and psychological development, and interactions with one another and the world around us.

 

 

 

College of Health and Human Services

Paul Duong Tran, professor of Social Work, served as co-keynote speaker in January 2019 during the International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health at Muhammadiyah Jakarta University in Ciputat, South Tangerang. The conference explored the potential of social work practitioners and researchers to build the future of health management in Indonesia. The conference also accommodated discussions about new agenda of social work practices within the health sphere.

Recent quotes and/or interviews in the media from faculty

Larry Rosen“That’s a huge increase.” –Larry Rosen, emeritus professor of psychology, said during an interview for the National Geographic article “Smartphones revolutionize our lives–but at what cost?” Rosen was responding to a survey that found the number of times a phone gets unlocked has increased from approximately 56 times a day in 2016 to 73 times a day in 2018. The article also focused on smart phone notifications, which Rosen referred to as “the anxieties that are in your head.” “Companies have carefully orchestrated their apps and their websites to get your eyeballs there, to keep them there and to keep them coming back,” he added.

 

Hamoud SalhiHamoud Salhi, professor of political science, was included among a panel of experts on a CGTN-TV “The Heat” broadcast discussing solutions for Europe’s migration issue after 170 refugees from North Africa lost their lives when their boats sank in the Mediterranean Sea in January 2019. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than 4,500 people made the journey in January 2019 despite some European countries closing their borders.