CSUDH News

The primary source of news and information about California State University, Dominguez Hills, its students, faculty, and staff.

Workforce

CSUDH Workforce Integration Network Awarded Prestigious Volcker Alliance Grant

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The CSUDH Workforce Integration Network (WIN) has been selected as the recipient of the Volcker Alliance’s Government-to-University Talent Connection Grant. The $40,000 grant supports WIN’s innovative outreach effort: From Public Sector Job Aggregator Tool to CSU Public Sector Alliance.

Addressing the needs of a public sector workforce in crisis due to an aging workforce and a shortage of talent, WIN will design an outreach and education module to address the way young people seek careers–with a focus on finding meaning in work. By combining the stories of those employed in the public sector with navigation help for those seeking entry-level public-sector jobs, WIN creates a pathway for students to build their skills while working in a meaningful job. Many public-sector organizations are now adopting apprenticeships, graduate, and development programs along with management training, which promotes progression at every stage of a career.

“We developed the Workforce Integration Network because some employers perceived there to be a gap in students’ professional skillsets,” said Dr. Krystal Rawls, project designer.

“We wanted to ensure that CSUDH students possess the necessary skills that are needed in our public sector workplaces. Receiving the Volcker Alliance grant will allow us to show students the value of a public sector career. It also highlights the Volcker Alliance’s endorsement of our ongoing work and outreach efforts.”

CSUDH and WIN are proud to partner with the Volcker Alliance to create a pathway for increased diversification of the public sector workforce and to bring awareness to the social benefits of public service. The Volcker Alliance’s mission is to empower the public sector workforce to solve the challenges facing our nation.

The Alliance’s Government-to-University initiative is a collaborative, national effort to connect jobseekers to public service jobs. The grant monies provided will be used to recruit and retain diverse, new talent, increase public sector internship and apprentice opportunities, and leverage emerging technologies to facilitate improved connections between jobseekers and public sector employers.

The aim of the Workforce Integration Network is to highlight the career opportunities that abound for CSUDH students and other members of our community. WIN uses advanced technological resources, combined with university and industry-generated business data, to demonstrate the benefits of the CSUDH educational experience in promoting all stakeholders: students, staff, faculty, employers, and the entire community. For more information, visit the Workforce Integration Network website.

5th Annual South Bay Economic Forecast Oct. 29

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2019 Economic Forecast(Carson, CA) From creating cells that help the immune system fight cancer, to launching rockets into space from in-flight 747s, to the effects of an economic recession on the local economy, California State University, Dominguez Hills’ (CSUDH) 2019-20 South Bay Economic Forecast conference on Oct. 29 will provide a look at what some of the region’s most innovative companies are doing, as well as the economic trends for the next year.

The South Bay Economic Forecast will take place Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Loker Student Union Grand Ballroom The conference will be immediately followed by a wine and craft beer tasting reception featuring South Bay breweries. To register and for more information visit https://www.csudh.edu/uce/economic-forecast/. There is no cost for the media.

Titled “A Region in Transition: Advances in Innovative Technology,” the conference will be emceed by Frank Mottek, anchor for KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO. Mottek will also serve as the panel moderator.

CSUDH developed the South Bay Economic Forecast conference to provide a focused look at the current state of the region’s economy and forecast for the coming year. The university partners with UCLA Anderson Forecast to produce the report.

“As the southern part of Silicon Beach, South Bay’s economy grew at a steady pace. With its high productivity and wages, tech jobs are the pillar of the South Bay economy,” said UCLA Anderson Forecast economist William Yu. “We predict that South Bay’s growth rate will slow down over the next year, mostly due to the slowing of the U.S. and global economies, while SpaceX and the aerospace industry will continue their pursuits of space expedition.”

The conference will feature two panels.

South Bay Economic Panel: CSUDH researchers and economists will discuss trends in housing prices and commuting, startup activity and access to capital in the South Bay, and the findings of the Economic Forecast report.

  • William Yu, economist at UCLA Anderson Forecast, and researcher for the South Bay Economic Forecast.
  • CSUDH faculty researchers from the university’s South Bay Economics Institute: Fynnwin Prager, assistant professor of public administration; Jennifer Brodmann, assistant professor of finance; and Jose Martinez, professor of economics.
    • The faculty will address such issues as telework in the regional workforce; economic and workforce development; corporate and entrepreneurial finance; startup activity and raising capital; and housing market trends, including housing data related to CSUDH faculty and staff.

Technology Panel: Representatives from regional technology, biomedical, and aerospace companies will share the latest advancements in cell creation to fight cancer, electronic mobility technology and business models, aerospace innovations in rocket-to-space delivery, and support for aerospace startup companies.

  • Monica Jan, senior director of strategy and customer experience of Virgin Orbit, part of the Virgin Group owned by Sir Richard Branson. Jan will discuss details about Virgin Orbit’s new project of launching rockets from 747 jetliners to deliver satellites and other payloads into orbit, the challenges of the program, and the future of rocket launch development.
  • Leonard Sender, senior vice president of medical affairs for pediatric, adolescent and young adult oncology for El Segundo-based NantKWest. The innovative clinical-stage immunotherapy company owned by Patrick Soon-Shiong (owner and executive chairman of The Los Angeles Times), focuses on harnessing the power of innate immune system by using cells to treat cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammatory diseases.
  • Sohel Merchant, founder of Canoo, a Los Angeles-based company developing a subscription-only electric vehicle membership program and the vehicles its members will drive.
    • A Canoo vehicle prototype will be on display at the forecast.
  • Van Espahbodi, co-founder, manager and partner of Starburst Accelerator. The company provides startups with mentoring and access to aerospace and aviation stakeholders, and connects aerospace and defense leaders with innovative startups worldwide.