Women earn only about one-fifth of the engineering degrees awarded by universities each year in the United States, according to data from the National Science Foundation. Cultivating an interest in engineering at a much earlier age is often touted as an effective way to bridge the gender gap. That’s how it worked for Alex Oliva, the only female building service engineer (BSE) on the CSUDH campus and one of the few across the entire CSU system. “I’ve always loved working with my hands and figuring out how things work,” says the 30-year-old Oliva, the eldest of three daughters. “My dad told all of us growing up that we should never have to rely on a man to do things for us. So, I was ... Read More
Staff
CSUDH Ranked First in the Nation for Social Mobility
CSUDH has been ranked first in the nation on CollegeNET, Inc.’s 2023 Social Mobility Index, a benchmark for universities according to how effectively they graduate students from low-income backgrounds into good-paying jobs. The 2023 Social Mobility Index (SMI) includes 1,198 four-year institutions. Four other CSU campuses placed among the top ten. The Index utilizes five variables in making assessments, including tuition, economic background, graduation rate, early career salary, and university endowment, with the greatest emphasis put on tuition and economic background. CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham noted that excellence, affordability, and accessibility are key components of ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Raven Emmert
As the marketing and public relations coordinator for Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), Raven Emmert is all about making connections and doing her best for the students she serves. “College is a really impactful time in one’s life and I want to ensure that CSUDH students are using their college experience as an opportunity to grow, lead, and blossom,” she says. In her role with ASI, Emmert manages the group’s social media accounts, as well as meeting with local media outlets to get the CSUDH story out to the public. Her typical day starts by reviewing the ASI social media accounts, “to see if any comments or DMs need to be responded to, and to see how our latest posts are doing.” Emmert ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Elizabeth Hernandez
As the director of TRIO Student Support Services at CSUDH, Elizabeth Hernandez gets to spend her days helping students and giving back to those who reflect her own educational journey. “These are students like me—first-generation college students,” says Hernandez. “What I enjoy most about my job is assisting those students, helping them overcome barriers, and witnessing them achieve their goals!” Hernandez is a native of Wilmington, Calif., where she grew up with her parents and four siblings. An American of Mexican descent, she was the first of her family to attend and graduate from college, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice management from CSUDH in 2012, and a master’s ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Cesar Mejia Gomez
“Construction is in my blood,” says Cesar Mejia Gomez, which is just one of the reasons that he loves his job as lead carpenter in CSUDH's Facilities Services department. “I enjoy that I can make a difference for our students,” he says. “The work I do helps students enjoy their learning process more by beautifying, transforming, and maintaining our classrooms and other important areas of our campus. It gives the campus a more welcoming feeling.” Gomez' days usually begin by checking for new work requests that have come in for him or the staff he supervises. Then he'll either head onto campus or go to his shop in Facilities Services to work on current projects. Gomez often heads off ... Read More
