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
Social Work
Maria Avila Receives Fulbright Specialist Award to Teach in Colombia
(Carson, Ca.) Maria Avila, associate professor of Social Work at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), has received a Fulbright Specialist Program award to teach pedagogical skills at the Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander in Cúcuta, Colombia. Her three-week appointment begins May 31. Fulbright Specialist award recipients are selected based on their academic and professional achievement, leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad. Avila began teaching at CSUDH in 2014 in the Department of Social Work. Her research focuses on creating change in and outside of higher education through ... Read More
During Super Sunday, CSUDH Offers Messages of College’s Transformative Opportunities
To prevent the pandemic from stifling one of the California State University’s (CSU) most empowering outreach programs, CSU Dominguez Hills President Thomas A. Parham and other leaders recorded videos for churches across the state for the annual CSU Super Sunday. Played during virtual services at predominantly Black churches on Feb. 28, their messages pressed the importance and accessibility of a college education for young students of color. For more than a decade, the CSU’s top leaders have delivered Super Sunday messages in person during services, reaching more than 100,000 churchgoers annually. The event is produced by the CSU African American Initiative – a partnership between ... Read More
Toro Food Pantry Continues to Feed Students in Need
With donations from faculty, staff, and community partners, the Toro Food Pantry at California State University, Dominguez Hills continues to distribute food to students in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bags of food are safely dispensed to students in their cars. They include fresh "Farm Box" produce from the Farmers Market, and prepackaged healthy meals from Everytable, which opened a takeout location in the Loker Student Union in fall 2019. The Toro Food Pantry distributes food on campus to students every other Thursday. Support the Toro Food Pantry at csudh.edu/onlinegiving. To donate produce, visit venaver.org/product/toro. To learn more, connect with Morgan Kirk at ... Read More
Art Professor Devon Tsuno Leads Community Network in Creating, Distributing Face Shields
As the spread of COVID-19 accelerated during the early stages of the pandemic in the U.S., assistant professor of art and design Devon Tsuno became increasingly worried about his wife, Rieko Takamatsu, a nurse treating patients in a Los Angeles hospital that had begun rationing its short supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Tsuno wanted to do something to help his wife but wasn’t sure what. In a conversation with Cypress College art professor Ed Giardina on how two artists could have an impact, they decided to create and 3D-print their own medical face shields. They suspected others would be willing to help and began reaching out to friends and colleagues, primarily within the ... Read More
