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
Teacher Education
Class of 2021 Scholars Reflect on the Toro Experience
Graduates from the Presidential Scholars Program, the McNair Scholarship Program, and the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship share their Toro experiences, inspirational faculty mentors, future plans, and more. Raquel Serrano, Women's Studies: Mellon Mays Scholar Inspirational Mentor(s): Associate Professor of Women's Studies Jenn Brandt. See below. Scholarship Takeaways: Through the Mellon Mays program Raquel has traveled, networked, and advanced her skills as a scholar. She calls the experience “one of the best things to happen in my life.” Campus Life: Raquel enjoyed many opportunities at CSUDH that helped “sky-rocket” her success. Next Move: Raquel has been accepted into ... Read More
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
Terry McGlynn Honored with 2021 Presidential Outstanding Professor Award
Professor of Biology Terry McGlynn says it's not the technical details that really drive research, or the “very minute questions” scientists seek to answer. He believes the best fundamental questions are often asked by those who are new to the field. McGlynn has always treasured the curiosity-driven insights his students bring to his research of the natural world, and the “really big questions” they have asked often during field research in remote locations such as the rain forests of Coast Rica, in Australia, or while just exploring a location's raw beauty. McGlynn began teaching at CSUDH in 2007 as an assistant professor of biology, but he began traveling to rain forests to study ... Read More
Studio Art Students Teach Carson Kids Online in PRAXIS CAP Pilot Program
With a webcam fixed in a way that hid his work, California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) Studio Art major Jacqueline Mendoza was intrigued by how hard her young student was working with pipe cleaners and a transparent grid to create a sculpture of the Watts Towers. When the boy lifted his artwork, Mendoza was amazed by the amount of work he had produced, and how excited he was to share it. Mendoza is a teaching artist assistant in CSUDH's PRAXIS City ArtS Parks (PRAXIS CAP), which provides an artistic outlet to youth 8-11 years of age in the City of Carson during COVID-19 through a series of free virtual Zoom courses. She is currently teaching in the PRAXIS CAP Winter ... Read More
