Alexis McCurn remembers the exchange she had one day with her neighbor, Ruth: She was sitting on the front steps of her former East Oakland apartment when the 19-year-old mother walked by pushing a stroller. McCurn asked, “Where you going, Ruth?” “You know where I’m going, taking him to the babysitter, then to King’s (the local fast-food restaurant where she worked),” said Ruth. “I’ve gotta stay on my grind because the bills don’t stop.” McCurn, an associate professor of sociology at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), met Ruth while conducting nearly two years of ethnographic research on the lived experiences of poor African American women and the creative approaches ... Read More
Psychology
CSUDH Students Deep Dive into Research
Tackling a spectrum of investigative topics, California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) students in the university’s federally funded scholarship programs—McNair Scholars, Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE), Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) and Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U*STAR)—explore, experiment, publish, and present their research in a variety of disciplines. Their rigorous investigations are part of an education preparing them for advanced degrees. Eight graduating seniors in these programs talk about their research and personal growth along with their plans for the future. McNair Scholars The Ronald E. McNair ... Read More
Faculty Highlights: January 2019
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 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 ... Read More
For Staff and Adjuncts, a Shot at Tenure
When Katie Johnson took a position as a university staff psychologist five years ago, job security meant little more than an annually renewable employment contract. That began to change earlier this year, when fellow staffers, college leaders, and union officials where she works — California State University-Dominguez Hills, located in Los Angeles County — reconsidered the role that psychologists play on campus. To encourage them to stay longer and to improve the way staffers are treated, the university gave her and others a shot at something contingent faculty members rarely experience: a tenure-track position. Johnson, who works in the university’s student health center as a ... Read More
Karen Wilson and ChildNexus: Connecting Parents With Those Who Can Help
When children begin to struggle at home, in school, or in social settings, their parents typically jump online seeking answers but can quickly become frustrated with the onslaught of psychological jargon about neurodevelopmental disorders, potential co-existing emotional issues, and the best way to find professional help for their kids. Karen Wilson, a professor of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and credentialed health service provider, has experienced many families’ frustrations firsthand as an academic researcher, neuropsychologist, and owner of West LA Neuropsychology, PC, a clinic that specializes in the neuropsychological assessment of children and ... Read More
