Sitting offshore in a small boat in the Florida Keys, CSUDH Assistant Professor of Biology Samantha Leigh tosses chum into the shallow water. The pungent slurry of chopped-up fish parts is the best way to attract her targets, so she keeps a close eye on the long gillnets she has laid perpendicular to the shoreline. When Leigh spots a disturbance in a net, she jumps in and makes her way to a snared bonnethead shark, which she untangles and places in a live tank inside the boat. After netting a couple more, Leigh takes her catches to a lab facility, where the bonnetheads are released into tanks with ocean water flow-through systems. These allow the sharks to acclimate to their new ... Read More
Faculty
Jessica Pandya Appointed Dean of the College of Education
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) has appointed Jessica Pandya as the dean for the College of Education. She will begin her new position July 1. “I am so excited to support the excellent work of the equity-minded faculty and staff in the College of Education at Dominguez Hills,” says Pandya. “I especially look forward to supporting students, and to strengthening the college’s many educational partnerships in the surrounding community.” Pandya joins CSUDH after serving more than 15 years at CSU Long Beach (CSULB). She is currently a full professor in the CSULB Department of Teacher Education and Liberal Studies, and has served as both an associate and assistant ... Read More
Class of 2021: Sallyanne Payton Bestowed CSU Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
As a force for change on the national stage, and for her wide-ranging contributions to education and Black culture and history, Sallyanne Payton was bestowed a California State University Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by CSUDH during its 2020-21 Commencement on May 26. Payton’s career is marked by major milestones and prominent appointments. From the early years at Stanford University and in the administrations of two U.S. presidents, to her work as an educator and leader of the preservation of sacred music, Payton has remained a principled advocate for societal change, and those she inspires. “It’s wonderful to be recognized by the university. It's always thrilling when someone ... Read More
Class of 2021 Scholars Reflect on the Toro Experience
Graduates from the Presidential Scholars Program, the McNair Scholarship Program, and the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship share their Toro experiences, inspirational faculty mentors, future plans, and more. Raquel Serrano, Women's Studies: Mellon Mays Scholar Inspirational Mentor(s): Associate Professor of Women’s Studies Jenn Brandt. See below. Scholarship Takeaways: Through the Mellon Mays program Raquel has traveled, networked, and advanced her skills as a scholar. She calls the experience “one of the best things to happen in my life.” Campus Life: Raquel enjoyed many opportunities at CSUDH that helped “sky-rocket” her success. Next Move: Raquel has been accepted into ... Read More
CSUDH Graduate Student Takes Second Place in Statewide Thesis Competition
Condensing two years of study and research into a three-minute presentation is a daunting task, but that’s just what CSUDH graduate student Nicole Roberts managed to do for the inaugural California State University (CSU) Grad Slam Three-Minute Thesis Competition (3MT), held on May 6. She clearly did a great job, as her presentation earned Roberts a second-place finish in the statewide competition against a slate of graduate students from throughout the CSU system. Roberts, who will attain her master’s degree in biology this spring, took the prize with a pared-down version of her master’s thesis, “Where will threatened bats be under climate change in 2050?” “My whole project was trying ... Read More
