Armand Jovaughn Egere is proud to be a Black artist. “It’s a type of activism,” says the CSUDH fifth-year student. “The way my story is typically written, I’m not supposed to make it. But I’m out here beating the odds, and trying to be a symbol for other young Black artists.” Egere’s leadership, as well as his service promoting antiracism and culture change to elevate Black excellence, have earned him the CSU’s first-ever Black Student Success Scholarship, sponsored by the CSU Foundation. Egere is one of six CSU recipients for 2024-25, and will receive $5,000 in recognition of his efforts. “These scholars represent the highest ideals and brightest future of our university system and ... Read More
Students
No Time To Waste: Toro Gets Her Psychology Degree at Just 19
From a young age, Mariah Sarabia understood that education was a vital lifeline to the future she envisioned for herself. “I knew the value of higher education,” she recalls. “When my parents immigrated from Mexico, they didn't have any education at all. My mom didn’t even speak English when they moved here.” Sarabia’s mother served as an inspiration, taking ESL courses to learn the language before attending nursing school and eventually becoming a licensed vocational nurse. “I saw how valuable higher education is, especially as a woman of color,” says Sarabia. “I knew that if I had an education and got a good paying job that I was happy at and interested in, no one could take that ... Read More
Shooting Star: DH Alum Creates Lasting Images for NASA
High-speed aerial photography is not something that CSUDH alumnus Jim Ross ever saw himself getting into. “Aerial photography was right in line with exotic dancing as jobs I never thought I would have in my lifetime,” he laughs. But despite some hiccups (so to speak) regarding motion sickness, Ross has now been shooting spectacular pictures of aircraft and other NASA projects for almost 35 years. He currently serves as the photo lead at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif. His work was recognized in April 2024, when his picture of research pilot Nils Larson making aerobatic maneuvers was named NASA Photo of the Year. Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, Ross ... Read More
Commencement 2024
CSUDH extends a heartfelt congratulations to the more than 4,400 graduates in our Class of 2024! Recognizing that no one navigates higher education alone, we thank family and friends, faculty and fellow students, the baristas and delivery drivers, all those who supported you throughout your educational journey. We can't wait to see what your next steps will be! https://youtu.be/Ew1ss7Ty72M ... Read More
Love and Resilience Crucial to Success of Project Rebound Grad Christopher Carson
Christopher Carson once found himself on a dangerous trajectory. He was born and raised on 107th Street and South Vermont Avenue, an area long acquainted with gang culture and the violence that accompanies it. “It’s what you’re used to when you live with it,” says Carson. “It’s what you know.” In 2016, a court convicted Carson of attempted murder and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. But for the steadfast love of family and friends, and the timely intervention of unexpected mentors, Carson might have succumbed to the hopelessness of the prison industrial complex and come to believe that he would only ever be defined by his mistakes. Instead, he joined some 4,400 other students on ... Read More
