California State University, Dominguez Hills sophomore Samantha Hernandez is featured in a United States Department of Education video intended to promote college attendance among children of Latino families. The video, “La universidad: un sueño alcanzable (College: An Attainable Dream),” is part of the Department of Education's effort to achieve President Barack Obama's goal of increasing college graduation rates in the United States by 20 percent by 2020. Statistics show that currently less than 40 percent of adult Americans have a two- or four-year degree, a percentage that lags behind other nations. Toward that end, the Department of Education video targets a segment of the country's ... Read More
Political Science
Chicana/Chicano Studies Department’s 40th Anniversary Recognized by City of Carson
In 1970, an interdisciplinary program called Mexican American studies was offered at California State University, Dominguez Hills. In 1994, it was designated as a stand-alone program and the Chicana/Chicano studies department was established. On Sept. 1, Irene Vasquez, chair and professor of Chicana/Chicano studies was recognized with her students at a meeting of the Carson City Council in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the discipline at CSU Dominguez Hills and in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month. Vasquez, who arrived at the university in 2005, said that she was attracted to teaching Chicana/Chicano studies at CSU Dominguez Hills because of the student demographics and ... Read More
Monika Martinez: Life’s Work is a Sustainable Journey
As Lomita's assistant city clerk, Monika Martinez (Class of '00, B.A., public administration) is proud to be part of a local government that has always operated lean enough to ensure that getting through the state's economic crisis would not be as dire as the circumstances other communities are facing. As a fiber artist whose knitted and felted creations will be featured in the prestigious Contemporary Crafts Market in November, her personal philosophies of green living and sustainable practices are interwoven through both her personal and professional life. “I'm very much into the green lifestyle,” she says. “When I wash my dishes, I'll use the [leftover] water to water my garden. ... Read More