As a CSUDH graduate himself, Gilbert Hernandez feels right at home in his role as Senior Alumni Relations Specialist. It allows him to get to know lots of his fellow alumni, while also giving back to the student community by helping connect them with Toro graduates as mentors and advisors. “I know what it's like being a student,” he says. “So many people gave me advice or support through my academic career, going above and beyond to ensure that I had the help I needed.” He's happy that a large part of his job consists of assisting in making those connections for the next generation of Toros. Hernandez oversees the CSUDH Alumni Association. In that role, he does everything from ... Read More
Staff
Athletics Offers ‘Wider Lens’ on Academic Excellence, Says CSUDH AD Eric McCurdy
For CSUDH Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Eric McCurdy, intercollegiate athletics are more than just an entertaining diversion–they're a way for universities to spread the good news about what they're doing everywhere on campus. “Athletics are the front porch of any university,” says McCurdy. “There's an entire section of the newspaper dedicated to what we do. Any time we get a chance to highlight our athletic success, it gives people an opportunity to look deeper and see the university through a wider lens.” McCurdy sees the athletic department as an extension of the CSUDH mission. Successful teams bring alumni and the community onto campus, maybe for the first time ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Miguel Terán López
Miguel Terán López, assistant to the dean and college communications lead for the College of Education (COE), isn't just a CSUDH staffer - he's also a proud alumnus of the university, having graduated with a double bachelor's degree in Spanish and Chicana/o Studies. “As an alumnus of CSUDH, what I enjoy the most about my job is knowing that I am giving back to this campus and contributing to our students' success, especially to first-generation students who come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, just like I did,” he says. Terán López has been at CSUDH for almost 13 years, landing a part-time staff position in the Department of Modern Languages soon after graduating. From ... Read More
Male Success Alliance Spring Summit Brings Local Youth to Campus
The CSUDH Male Success Alliance (MSA) held its annual Spring Summit on campus, returning to full strength for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The event brought hundreds of middle- and high-school students of color to CSUDH on Friday, May 5, for a day of workshops and activities aimed at introducing them to higher education. The theme of the 2023 summit was “UNSHAKEN,” an acronym for “Understanding Need, Struggles, Hopes, and Kinfolk, Excluding No one,” a phrase created by MSA Program Coordinator Gerardo Cuevas. “The committee was moved by the theme's uniqueness and its relevancy to the male of color experience, not only in higher education, but in society as a whole,” said MSA ... Read More
Toro Esports Academy Opens with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The new Toro Esports Academy officially opened with a flourish on Monday, April 24, with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by students, university officials, community partners, and a cohort of local gamers from Compton Unified School District. In front of a crowd of Toros and local media, President Thomas A. Parham, with assistance from Wenda Fong, chair of the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees, and Franky Saldana, president of the CSUDH Esports Association, cut the ribbon to signify the official opening of the venue. Located on the second floor of the Leo F. Cain University Library, the Toro Esports Academy features a competitive arena for students with 38 gaming ... Read More
