Students and alumni of the Chicana/o Studies Department at California State University, Dominguez Hills shared their experiences at the annual conference of the Mentoring Institute at the University of New Mexico (UNM), held Oct. 26 through 28 in Albuquerque. Thirteen current students and alumni presented “Mentoring as a Labor of Mutual Love and Support: Boosting Student and Faculty Academic Success through Transformative Mentoring at California State University, Dominguez Hills,” with the support of  Irene Vasquez, director of Chicano Hispano Mexicano Studies (CHMS) at UNM. Sue Borrego, vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs; Cheryl McKnight, director of Center for Service Learning, Internships and Civic Engagement; and Leena Furtado, director, Promoting Excellence in Graduate Studies (PEGS) Title V Grant, also researched and co-authored the accompanying paper. Travel and accommodations for graduate students were funded through the university’s Title V PEGS grant; undergraduate students were supported by Academic Affairs.

Student and alumni participants included doctoral candidates Elizabeth González Cárdenas (Class of ’06), Jose Luis Serrano Nájera (Class of ’08), Janette Diaz (Class of ’07), and Ruby Ramirez (Class of ’05); alumni pursuing a master’s degree at their alma mater included Oscar Ochoa (Class of ’05), Daniel Pérez (Class of ’07), and Lissette Murillo-Pérez (Class of ’08); and Thalia Gómez (Class of ’11), who is currently in the master’s degree program in Raza Studies at the University of Arizona. In addition, current students Erica González Cisneros, Richard Gutiérrez, Angelica Jiménez, Rafael Martínez, and Ben Jesus Lucero Wolf shared their experiences as mentees.

In their paper, the faculty group documented interactions between Chicana/o students and faculty from 2005 to 2011 and administered a survey that revealed the efficacy of faculty mentoring for first-generation students and its influence in propelling them to pursue research and advanced degrees in Chicana/o studies.

Click here for the full article.

John Tracy: Alumnus Shares Path to Executive Career in Aerospace

John Tracy (Class of ’76, B.S., physics), vice president and chief technology officer at Boeing, returned to California State University, Dominguez Hills to speak to students from his alma mater and the California Academy of Mathematics and Science on Nov. 21 in the Loker Student Union. The Gardena native presented “My Journey: From CSU Dominguez Hills to Chief Technology Officer at Boeing,” reflecting on his education at the university and his ascent to leading approximately 100,000 engineers, manufacturing personnel, and computer scientists at the world’s largest aerospace company.

Laura Robles, dean of the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, said that the campus community was happy to welcome back one of its successful alumni, who also served as a keynote speaker during this spring’s commencement exercises.

“It’s really wonderful when he comes back to talk to the students, faculty, and staff about his experiences,” said Robles. “It engages the students and helps them realize what they can be. It’s really wonderful that he’s achieved so much and can spur our students on to greater things.”

Tracy began his talk by thanking two of his former professors, Frank Miles, emeritus professor of mathematics, and Sam Wiley, emeritus professor of physics. He greeted the assembled students and encouraged them to see that a successful career in the aerospace industry was within their reach.

Click here for the full article.

CBAPP’s Annual Awards Luncheon Recognizes Partnerships, Excellence

The 5th annual College of Business Administration and Public Policy Awards Luncheon at California State University, Dominguez Hills took place on Nov. 4 in the Loker Student Union. The college’s signature event raised approximately $40,000 toward scholarships and faculty research for CBAPP, with 360 students, faculty, alumni, and community business leaders in attendance.

Among those honored with the Dean’s Medallion Awards were Dale Wallis, vice president and chief financial officer and treasurer of The Aerospace Corporation; the Japan Business Association of Southern California (JBA), and Tammy Tumbling, CSU Dominguez Hills alumna and director of philanthropy and community involvement, Southern California Edison. Major sponsors of the event included Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Dean’s Medallion Sponsor; Southern California Edison, Diamond Sponsor; and Schools Federal Credit Union, Platinum Sponsor.

W. Guy Fox, president and CEO, Guy Fox and Associates, Inc., helped establish the luncheon in 2007, along with former CBAPP dean Jim Strong. Fox’s opening remarks encapsulated one of the primary goals of the event: to connect students and faculty with business professionals for mentoring and other opportunities.

“It’s important for us to make sure that the students and professors understand what goes on outside [of campus],” he said.

Click here for the full article.

Alumni Notes

New Banner Campaign to Raise Funds for Student Scholarships

We’d like to hear from you! Your friends at CSU Dominguez Hills want to know what you're up to! Email the Office of Alumni Programs at alumniprograms@csudh.edu.