CSUDH News

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

Psychology

Staff Spotlight: Ludivina Snow

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Ludivina Snow in black turtleneck and patterned blazer.

“I’ve always wanted to help people from underserved communities,” says Ludivina Snow, Director of the Toro Guardian Scholars (TGS) program at CSUDH. “While I was in grad school, I had the privilege of working at an alternative school for current and former foster youth, and young people involved in the youth and adult carceral systems. I knew then that I would always want to work serving these populations.”

In her role leading TGS, Snow is doing exactly that. The TGS program is designed to help support college students that have transitioned from the foster care system, providing a wide range of services and resources that assist them throughout their educational journey.

Working at CSUDH is a dream come true for Snow, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2012 from the university. While she was a Toro student, the mentoring she received from her professors was an invaluable inspiration.

“They saw the potential in me and knew I would be able to achieve my dreams,” says Snow. “Since then, I knew I wanted to work at CSUDH if the opportunity allowed. I want to provide other students with the same supportive experience I had.”

After graduating from CSUDH, Snow went on to attain a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Tulsa, and a master of public administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining TGS, she served as Youth Justice Program Manager at CASA of Los Angeles, an organization that mobilizes community volunteers to advocate for youth in the foster care system.

As Director of TGS, Snow says, “Every day is so different! That’s one of the things I enjoy most about my role. I do everything from writing reports and updating procedures to collaborating with other departments. And I have lots of meetings!”

Over the past few months, Snow and her team have restructured TGS to ensure that each member has responsibilities that align with programmatic and personal goals. It’s an effort she’s especially proud of, as it will allow TGS to help students even more effectively and efficiently.

Snow is also enthusiastic about the newly remodeled TGS office, located on the third floor of Welch Hall. The comfy space now includes a bank of computers for students to use, a food pantry, health and hygiene supplies, television, and spaces where students can just kick back and relax between classes. “I am so proud that we’ve been able to make our office space more welcoming and student-centered,” says Snow.

As far as she’s concerned, Snow has the best job at CSUDH. “I really love my work,” she says. “I love coming in every day, working with my team, and helping our students. I enjoy thinking creatively to develop workshops and opportunities for students, and love working with my colleagues here–they’re all so dedicated!”

Snow credits much of her work ethic to her family and upbringing. As a teenager, she used to spend weekend nights helping her parents clean upscale restaurants. “It taught me a lot about what it means to work hard, and it gave me something to aim for,” remembers Snow. “I always thought that maybe one day I would be able to eat in those restaurants, too.”

In fact, she says that exploring new restaurants is one of her favorite ways to spend her time these days. She’s also a big fan of plant shops, and enjoys baking, traveling, watching scary movies, and visiting family and friends when she’s not busy helping Toro students. Her “dream space” to spend time is at home with her husband and two dogs–a black Maltese and a beige Havanese Poodle mix.

Ultimately, it’s her connection with CSUDH’s mission that keeps Snow excited about her job at TGS. “I really want to help bring educational opportunities to underserved communities,” she says. “I want to help create a culture of care and increase access for students, especially current and former foster youth. As administrators, we all have a duty to provide a buffer against oppressive systems and create more equitable and trauma-informed systems.”

Fun Facts About Ludivina Snow

Favorite movie:
Coraline

Favorite book:
Corduroy by Don Freeman

Favorite song:
“I have so many! Right now, I love listening to anything by Kali Uchis.”

First concert/last concert/best concert?
First: My Chemical Romance
Last: Bad Bunny
Best: Probably Beyoncé’s upcoming Renaissance Tour…

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you?
“Me!”

Favorite food? Least favorite?
“I love Oaxacan food and chicken fingers from Raising Cane’s! My least favorite is liver and onions.”

What is a place you’ve never been that you would most like to travel to?
“Probably Phuket Island in Thailand or Bora Bora.”

What inspires you to get up in the morning?
“The endless possibilities!”

What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
My family

Describe yourself in three words.
Fun. Nice. Thoughtful.

Graduating Class of 2022 Scholars Share Reflections of CSUDH

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2022 Graduates FeaturedThe Class of 2022 has navigated more than their fair share of trials and challenges on their road to commencement. Below, graduates from the CSUDH Presidential Scholars, McNair Scholars, and Toro Guardian Scholars programs share their thoughts on their student experience at the university, inspirational faculty members, future plans–and what makes being a Toro so special. 

Angela Coates

Angela Costes, Presidential Scholars Program
(BS, Kinesiology)

What have you valued most from your college education?

I valued the opportunities and support I’ve received from DH. I wasn’t born in the U.S., and am very much aware of the struggles and lack of support that many students in the Philippines face. I feel very grateful to go to a college that not only values its students, but the cultural diversity and knowledge that its student community has to offer.

How has CSUDH changed you?

CSUDH has changed me in many ways, but most importantly, I think it has made me more confident in myself. CSUDH is actually the second university I’ve transferred to. I went to nursing school at another university, but I realized that path wasn’t for me. I lost a lot of confidence in myself and my academics during that experience.

CSUDH’s supportive, compassionate faculty completely changed my life and how I viewed myself. I truly don’t know where I would be without this experience.

What was the most important thing you learned?

I’ve learned to be compassionate to others, especially your peers. Each person lives a different journey and we truly do not know what people live through on a daily basis. I’ve learned to make each of my interactions with my peers and faculty as meaningful as I can, with the hope that I can impart a positive impact on their lives through even small interactions.

What are your career or educational plans?

Next fall, I will be attending USC’s entry-level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program. USC has the top-ranked occupational therapy school in the nation, and I feel very blessed to be able to attend. By 2025, I will be Dr. Angela Costes! My career goal is to become a certified hand therapist.

What drew you to your major?

The importance of meaningful living is what drew me to my major. Rehabilitation, especially occupational therapy, focuses on bringing individuals back to the occupations they love most–which is so important to me. Rehabilitation allows people to live their life to the fullest.

What’s your favorite memory from CSUDH?

Meeting Mia Leccese from the Presidential Scholar’s program! She was so helpful in my transfer transition, helped me navigate a new school through COVID, and ended up becoming my coworker! I’m going to attend USC with her in the fall, so she’s definitely going to be a life-long friend.

Daniel DiazDaniel Diaz, McNair Scholars Program
(BA, History)

Are you the first in your family to graduate from college, and what does that mean to you?”¯ 

Yes, I am the first person from my immediate family to graduate from a four-year university. Finishing my undergraduate education has granted me the ability to construct a foundation for a better future for myself through academia, while strengthening my own self-worth and self-capability.

What have you valued most from your college education?”¯ 

My time spent as a scholar with the McNair Scholars Program.

How has CSUDH changed you?

My time spent at DH saw me change from a passionate young man to a mature young scholar who is just beginning his career in academia.

What was the most important thing you learned?

Discovering my own personal capabilities. I have been able to attain a bachelor’s degree and pursue a master’s degree in public history.

What are your career or educational plans?

I am currently pursuing my master’s in public history at Oklahoma State University. I plan to complete my PhD in the same subject, then attain a tenured faculty position at a Research-1 level institution.

What drew you to your major?

A passion for research and the discovery of the unknown.

What is your favorite memory of CSUDH?

The day I was inducted as a McNair Scholar! Becoming a McNair Scholar changed my academic life and has allowed me to continue my education beyond my bachelor’s degree.

Anita Kapila-RamirezAnita Kapila-Ramirez, McNair Scholars Program
(BS, Psychology)

Are you the first in your family to graduate from college, and what does that mean to you?”¯ 

Yes! I now have opportunities afforded to me that my ancestors did not, and for that I am eternally grateful for their sacrifices and support. As a non-traditional student as well, my journey to this degree has been quite long, but it means so much to be able to cross this finish line despite all the roadblocks and setbacks placed in front of me throughout the years.

What have you valued most from your college education?

The selfless guidance I have received at CSUDH from so many who are genuinely willing to help! From my mentor, Kevin Montes, to Michelle Martinez and Gabriela Montes in the McNair Scholars Program, and SO many more, I have learned invaluable education and life skills that will help me navigate my next steps, whether it’s graduate school or my future career.

How has CSUDH changed you?

I have gained a level of confidence and sense of community on this diverse campus that truly makes me feel like I, too, have a place in academia if I choose it.

What was the most important thing you learned?

Learning through a pandemic has definitely thrown some curveballs my way! Because of that, I would say that cultivating diligence and patience have been a key to my academic success.

What are your career or educational plans?

My next step is obtaining an MA in clinical psychology here at CSUDH. I will be starting that journey next fall. After that I plan to get licensure, and then a PhD.

What drew you to your major?

I have always had an interest in psychology. As a child of immigrants navigating two distinct cultural worlds, I always wondered how the social self can differ depending on the situation, and that really started my love for the subject. However, after caring for an ill parent, my research interests started to develop, and CSUDH really helped cultivate that!

What’s your favorite memory from CSUDH?

Being able to travel to a conference where I had the opportunity to present current research was definitely one of many highlights!

Mia LecceseMia Leccese, Presidential Scholars Program
(BS, Kinesiology)

What have you valued most from your college education?”¯ 

I have valued the connections I have made through my college experience the most. I now have amazing friends, mentors, and future colleagues that I know I can always lean on. I learned very quickly that Dominguez Hills truly cares for their students and will go above and beyond to ensure their success.

How has CSUDH changed you?”¯ 

CSUDH has provided me the opportunity to excel at everything I do. It has allowed me to grow and truly make my goals into a reality. I have been able to learn all the necessary skills and background for Kinesiology and I feel extremely prepared for graduate school.

Dominguez Hills also showed me that it is okay to speak up and ask questions! Through the support of my department and its faculty, I have been able to come out of my shell and become a leader. I served as president of the Kinesiology Student Association, presentied a research critique at the Western Society for Kinesiology and Wellness, and was a mentor for underclassmen seeking advice.

What was the most important thing you learned?”¯ 

The most important thing that I have learned is that you are never alone. Dominguez Hills has truly been my village over the past four years and has shown me that I am surrounded by people who will always support me.

What are your future career/educational plans?”¯ 

After CSUDH, I will be attending the University of Southern California to complete my doctorate in physical therapy. I will earn my DPT by 2025 and will begin my career as a physical therapist. I plan to specialize in hips and pediatrics!

What drew you to your major? 

When I was 12 years old, I broke my left hip in a soccer game. I was told it was a pulled groin, so I returned to playing. About six months later I could barely walk and was in excruciating pain. I went to an orthopedic surgeon and was quickly diagnosed with Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis–a week later I underwent emergency surgery to place two titanium pins in my hip.

I was in physical therapy for a year and a half, and would always come home from therapy excited to share what I had done with my parents. Looking back, it was an extremely rewarding experience. This is what drove me to my major and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

My goal is to become just like my therapist, helping patients achieve their goals and return to the things they love by creating unique rehabilitation programs that will make them eager to come into the clinic and regain their strength. I hope that every patient I care for develops a love for physical therapy as large as mine.

What’s your favorite memory from CSUDH?”¯ 

My favorite memory from CSUDH is being part of the Presidential Scholars Program and being the president of the Kinesiology Student Association. Each of these organizations allowed me to proudly show my Toro Pride and introduced me to some of my closest friends.

Andrew LeungAndrew Leung, Presidential Scholars Program
(BA, English Education)

What have you valued most from your college education?

I truly value the community at CSUDH. There is no other place that comes to mind when I think of a community where people treat each other with such kindness, respect, and generosity.

How has CSUDH changed you?

My professors have enabled me to explore my research interests. I have had two academic articles published in peer-reviewed journals during my time as a student here.

What was the most important thing you learned?

The most important thing I have learned is how supportive and kind people are. I am very fortunate to have known so many wonderful people here.

What are your career or educational plans?

I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in English at CSUDH. I would then like to get a doctorate and become a professor myself. As I have been inspired by educators, I wish to inspire students.

What drew you to your major?

Communication through writing is so important, and I chose to study English to further my communication skills. At CSUDH, I have honed my skills at communicating my ideas coherently and effectively.

What’s your favorite memory from CSUDH?

Getting a chance to play the $100,000 Steinway Model B piano on campus!

Cherelle TisbyCherelle Tisby, Toro Guardian Scholars Program
(BA, Sociology)

Are you the first in your family to graduate from college, and what does that mean to you?”¯ 

Yes! It means that I am a super leader, and that I am strong enough to break the generational curse on my family, while starting a new standard for my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

What have you valued most from your college education?”¯ 

I value the resources available to me while pursuing my higher education, as it sets a new standard within my immediate family. I have discovered my true learning ability, as well as opened my mind to diversity and unfamiliar things.

How has CSUDH changed you?

I don’t feel that CSUDH has changed me, but the university has definitely equipped me with the necessary tools to soar in this world. Dominguez Hills has prepared me and developed me for success.

What are your career or educational plans?

My career plans are to open a girls’ group home. My educational plan is to enter the Masters of Social Work program at CSUDH in the fall of 2023.

What drew you to your major?

I had changed my major several times, but when I watched the documentary The Trials of Gabriel Hernandez on Netflix, it had me so angry that I felt the need to do something. As a former foster youth myself, the program lit a fire in me. I felt that his story could have been mine, and I feel the need to help the unprotected by creating a safe haven for kids that are not being guided and loved.

What is your favorite memory of CSUDH?

Receiving my acceptance letter! It gave me hope, and filled me with excitement. I truly was capable of pursing my dreams! Being the first college graduate in my family has allowed me to set a new tone for my children. Reach for the stars and go as far as your capacity will allow!

CSUDH Mental Health Resources Expand and Adapt

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CSUDH Mental Health Resources Expand and Adapt Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing hardships, college students were not immune to the nation’s widespread rise in mental health issues. Studies from the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) found that pre-COVID, one in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 had a diagnosable mental illness.

Among college students nationally, a recent Mayo Clinic study found that 30 percent reported experiencing depression in the past year, while 50 percent said they had felt “overwhelming anxiety” during the same time frame. Paradoxically, the restrictions placed on in-person meetings and counseling have made receiving mental health services more difficult.

Creative solutions are called for, and CSUDH’s Student Psychological Services (SPS) has responded to the expanding mental health and well-being needs of the Toro community in a variety of ways, says Tiffany Herbert, SPS interim director. “The real adjustment was trying to figure out how to give quality care virtually. Ultimately, I think we found ourselves a great system. Now, we’re able to start to provide students with a different level of access to care than we ever had before.”

SPS adapted their methods of care delivery and created what Herbert calls “a mental health buffet.” A wide variety of contact options are available, from in-person one-on-one or group workshops to telehealth consultations. The SPS also created private spaces in their offices for students to have private virtual sessions, in case they have nowhere else to meet confidentially.

YOU@CSUDH  

A recently launched web portal, YOU@CSUDH connects students to resources on campus that allow students to be more proactive with their health and well-being in order to make the most of their college experience.

“We’re able to provide services through different modalities,” says Herbert. “Students are able to access services in the way they feel most comfortable with. We’ve really adapted to the needs of our students.” 

While SPS has expanded its offerings and adapted the means of accessing them, they are also changing the ways in which they introduce their services. “One thing we’re doing a little bit differently these days is we are taking services to where the students are, instead of expecting them to come to us,” says Herbert.

To that end, SPS has been working with campus organizations and affinity centers to get the word out and promote self-help strategies. For example, SPS teamed with La Casita, the Latinx Cultural Resource Center, sending counselors to their office both virtually and in person to connect with students. They have helped set up “culturally affirming and relevant” workshops and programs in tandem with the La Casita staff.

“Mental health is not a ‘once in a while’ thing,” says Rony Castellanos, La Casita interim program director, “so we need to be committed to supporting our students, staff, and faculty. The pandemic has allowed us to dream and envision how to create new avenues of support where we are not putting the responsibility solely on SPS. We see this as a university-wide commitment.”

students write with chalk on the sidewalk around the CSUDH Sculpture Garden
Attendees use sidewalk chalk to write positive affirmations during the SPS Mental Health Fair.

“We liaison with campus affinity groups and try to know the pulse of each group,” says Herbert. “We let them know that if they want to reach out for help, we’re here. We want to make sure they know they’re not out there on their own, feeling disconnected.”

Other on-campus organizations are joining the effort, as well. In April, the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) held a free Self-Help Fair for students in Loker Student Union. “We wanted to provide a community environment,” says JuLinda Holmes, EOP retention director. “We showed students various fun, innovative resources and activities on how to provide self-care and thereby minimize mental health issues.”

The Self-Help Fair provided students with a series of stations where they could learn and practice 15 inexpensive, accessible self-care alternatives–from simple breathing exercises to self-affirmations. “We wanted to teach them how to apply self-care tools to their everyday lives, along with learning the importance of being mindful of their own mental wellness,” says Holmes.

In early May, SPS hosted their seventh annual Mental Health Fair in the CSUDH Sculpture Garden. The event drew hundreds of students, faculty, and staff, and featured free biometric screenings, stress-relieving stretching sessions, art activities, a relaxation lounge, and connections to on-campus and local mental health resources.

Herbert’s ultimate goal is to create a Toro Wellness Hub–combining forces with CSUDH’s Human Resources department to create a versatile online resource center to promote community wellness. “It will be for everyone–students, staff, and faculty,” she says. “The idea is to promote a community health model. If we can help support wellness in the staff and faculty, it can create a ripple effect of wellness throughout the community.”

Irene Tung Earns Visionary Grant for Pregnancy Research

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Irene Tung
Photo credit: Julie Graeper, University of Pittsburgh

Assistant Professor of Psychology Irene Tung has been awarded a Visionary Grant from the American Psychological Foundation in the amount of $19,979. The grant, which seeks to support research that uses psychology to solve social problems, will fund Tung’s pilot study of emotional health and stress physiology during pregnancy for one year.

Tung, who joined the CSUDH faculty in January 2022, began researching the impacts of early life stress on children’s development while earning her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. As she advanced throughout graduate school, she became interested in earlier developmental stages and how adverse experiences affect young children’s behaviors and perceptions.

“When you follow these kids earlier and earlier in development, you see that even from early childhood they may differ a lot from other kids in how they react to stress,” Tung said. “They may be more reactive to situations than other kids, and stressful events may contribute to vulnerability to risky behaviors later on in development.”

As Tung pursued her research, her findings suggested that some of those differences may originate even before birth. She began to see associations between prenatal exposures to stress and children’s early emotional outcomes – connections she wants to explore more through her Visionary Grant-funded research.

Her project, titled “Leveraging Mobile Health Technology to Monitor Daily Emotional Health and Stress Physiology During Pregnancy,” will assess pregnant women’s daily physiological responses to stress by tracking their heart rate variability and electrodermal activity with a wrist-worn device. The study will also examine daily positive emotional supports the women receive, and how these emotions can help regulate stress.

“Research in the general population has shown that emotions like joy, gratitude, and social connectedness can help with buffering stress and are linked to positive health outcomes,” Tung said. “But current interventions to support pregnant women tend to focus more on the physical or biological aspects of pregnancy. I’m hoping this study will emphasize the importance of psychological health and the way it interacts with physiology.”

A strong proponent of early prevention, Tung ultimately wants to pinpoint what factors help pregnant women build resilience, as she believes this will lead to better outcomes for both the women themselves and their children’s future development.

But for now, Tung is focused on rolling up her sleeves, setting up her new CSUDH research lab, and getting started on the project.

“I’m very excited to use this study as a training lab for undergraduate and graduate students,” she said. “I’m hoping it will provide opportunities for students interested in the prenatal and early childhood periods to start some of their own projects, as well.”

President Parham Honored as 100 Black Men of Los Angeles’ Man of the Year

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CSUDH President Thomas A. ParhamFor his leadership and advocacy, California State University, Dominguez Hills President Thomas A. Parham will be recognized as the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles’ Man of the Year at their 40th annual gala, which will take place virtually on Oct. 23.

The nonprofit organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for Blacks and other underrepresented racial groups, will also honor Congresswoman Maxine Waters as their Lifetime Achievement Awardee and LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell as Woman of the Year.

“What an honor and privilege to be recognized and celebrated by the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, along with other consequential and iconic leaders in the Los Angeles and Southern California community,” said Parham. “This honor is humbling.”

In selecting him for this honor, 100 Black Men of Los Angeles noted Parham’s decades of work on behalf of young people and the community at large. The organization called Parham “a prime example of what dedication and hard work is all about. He has touched many lives over the years and continues to make a difference. Dr. Parham goes about his work without asking for fanfare or recognition. As an organization, we are ecstatic to have him as an honoree.”

“Dr. Parham is a generational leader who has a sincere understanding of today’s youth,” added gala co-chair Tommy Davis. “His commitment to shaping society and educating the future leaders of this world must be recognized at all levels.”

Parham has spent nearly four decades in higher education as an educator and administrator. Prior to his tenure as president of CSUDH, he served as vice chancellor for student affairs and an adjunct faculty member at the University of California, Irvine, where he had been since 1985. He is also a scholar and practitioner of psychology in the area of psychological nigrescence, specifically on identity development, African psychology, and multicultural counseling.

He has long maintained a relationship with the 100 Black Men of America organization, helping charter the Orange County chapter in the early 1990s. While serving as chair of the education committee, he helped to develop their signature Passport to the Future program, and is the architect of their Rites of Passage component. From 2002 to 2005, Parham served as president of 100 Black Men of Orange County. He has also served as national chair of education for the 100 Black Men of America.

“In my work as the President of CSUDH, and an actively engaged member of the L.A. community, my goals always coalesce around being a servant leader; being an advocate for my students, staff, and faculty needs; and being a voice of uncompromising clarity on those things that align with justice, fairness, and equity,” added Parham. “I hope this award indicates that I have managed those affairs with integrity and righteous character.”

Previous Man of the Year honorees include then Senator Barack Obama, L.A. Laker Earvin “Magic” Johnson, former L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Bishop Charles Blake, and radio host Tavis Smiley.

The 40th Annual 100 Black Men of Los Angeles Gala will be held virtually on Oct. 23. For more information, please visit  www.100bmla.net.