Edwin Henderson might not live anywhere near CSUDH, but his experience after taking teacher credential courses here shows how the Toro community’s commitment to social justice transcends distance and history. Henderson taught elementary school in the Compton Unified School District in the 1980s, attending CSUDH to take the required courses to renew his teaching credential. He later moved to Falls Church, Virginia, teaching in public schools there until his retirement in 2012. It was there in Northern Virginia that Henderson started his work commemorating the region’s early civil rights history. He founded the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation in 1997 to research and preserve the critical ... Read More
Teacher Education
2024 Faculty Awards Honor Six Outstanding Educators
2024 Faculty Awards Recognize Six Outstanding Educators The 2024 Faculty Awards Reception was held on April 30, with six members of the CSUDH faculty receiving honors for their contributions to the university. The awards are presented each year to selected faculty members for outstanding achievement in a variety of areas—from research and scholarship to lecturing and service to the community. The 2024 CSUDH Faculty Award recipients are: Jenn BrandtLyle E. Gibson Distinguished Teacher Award The founding faculty member in the Department of Women’s Studies, Jenn Brandt has been teaching at CSUDH since 2018. She has been one of the driving forces behind the program, developing the ... Read More
Toro Alumna Named California Teacher of the Year
CSUDH alumna Bridgette Donald-Blue never intended to have a career in teaching. When the Florida native completed her bachelor's degree in English at Howard University in Washington, DC, she planned to go on to law school. The words of a favorite professor echoed in her ears, though. “I remember he said, 'I know all of you are going to do amazing things, but I don't want you to just write a check. I want you to be involved and affect change.'” Taking those words to heart, Donald-Blue decided to postpone law school for two years and committed to spend that time in the Teach for America program. The nationwide program fights educational inequality, signing up engaged citizens from across ... Read More
Laurie Inman Named 2022 Catherine H. Jacobs Outstanding Faculty Lecturer
For Laurie Inman, lecturer and chair of liberal studies, working in the university's College of Education is uniquely rewarding. “Here, putting students first isn't just a mission statement or vision that's written on the wall,” she says. “We all come here because we want to do the work, and the work is about our students.” “Building relationships and engaging with students is very important to me,” she says. “I tell them during our first class, 'I'm not going to stand up here and lecture you. That's not what this class is about.' Teaching and learning are synchronous–we will learn from each other.” Inman's student-centered, engaging style has earned her the 2022 Catherine H. Jacobs ... Read More
Jessica Pandya Appointed Dean of the College of Education
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) has appointed Jessica Pandya as the dean for the College of Education. She will begin her new position July 1. “I am so excited to support the excellent work of the equity-minded faculty and staff in the College of Education at Dominguez Hills,” says Pandya. “I especially look forward to supporting students, and to strengthening the college's many educational partnerships in the surrounding community.” Pandya joins CSUDH after serving more than 15 years at CSU Long Beach (CSULB). She is currently a full professor in the CSULB Department of Teacher Education and Liberal Studies, and has served as both an associate and assistant ... Read More
