Outstanding Students Share Achievements, Give Thanks

California State University, Dominguez Hills will celebrate both the undergraduate and graduate classes of 2007 this week in a commencement ceremony at the beautiful Home Depot Center stadium located on campus. Graduation is not only a time of celebration, but of reflection on how the graduates achieved their goals. Dateline is proud to present the stories of three graduates, with congratulations from their mentors, and the students’ thoughts about the educational experience at CSUDH and their goals for the future.

College of Arts and Humanities

Janette Diaz
B.A., Chicana/o studies/sociology
Ileana Iturbe
B.A., Chicana/o studies/ liberal studies

“Both of these students are excellent scholars who are among the first generation in their families to achieve a B.A. degree and advance to a graduate program,” says Irene Vasquez, chair and professor of Chicana/o studies. “Janette Diaz will begin a Ph.D. program in sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the fall. She is a McNair Scholar and won recognition for her humanities presentation in the CSUDH Student Research Day competition. She is also a member of the Chicana/o Studies Honor Society.

“Ileana Iturbe is a graduating senior who majored in Chicana/o Studies and Liberal Studies,” Vasquez continues. “She will begin a masters/teacher credential program at the University of California, Los Angeles this fall. While assuming a full course load, Ileana worked full-time as a paraprofessional for the Lawndale Elementary School district and completed a Chicana/o studies internship.”

Diaz, who had been accepted into other universities in the CSU and UC systems, initially chose Cal State Dominguez Hills because of its proximity to home. After her first year, however, she realized she had made the right choice.

“I really liked the small class sizes,” she says. “This allows professors to know their students by name. I always felt like the professors were willing to help me whenever necessary.”

Diaz’ presentation at the CSUDH Student Research Day was centered on the African presence in colonial Mexico in the 1700s. Her research interests are focused on ethnic and immigrant communities.

“These communities are rapidly growing in the United States,” she says. “I think it is essential to learn about them and the great impact they have on this country. I also would like to be in a position that will allow me to interact and motivate under-represented college students.”

As one of the first in her family to earn a college degree, Diaz is grateful for their support.

“I consider myself lucky because I have always been surrounded by positive people,” she says. “Although my parents did not go beyond grade school, they do understand that school or a college degree requires a lot of time, effort, and sacrifices. They have always encouraged and supported me throughout my journey in college. I've also been lucky to have met people in Dominguez Hills who have encouraged me in my studies. My mentor, Dr. Vasquez, has been a vital source of guidance and support. She always encouraged me to attend graduate school and made sure I received the training necessary to start a graduate program. Dr. Vasquez has not only been a source of support, she is a role model who inspires many students to strive.”

As a Chicana/o major working with elementary school students who typically would not be encouraged to attend college, Iturbe makes an extra effort to build an awareness of the opportunities available to her students and their parents.

“I am conscious of the disproportion in numbers between the total population of Latina/os and those who receive a college degree,” she says. “I constantly motivate my students to attend college, and do my best to expose my students and their families to higher education. In the fall of 2005, I took a group of students along with a parent to hear Gerardo Licon, a Chicano Ph.D. doctoral candidate at USC’s Department of History, who shared his experiences growing up in the inner city. I also bring my students to various events given by the Chicana/o Studies Department at CSUDH. Whenever possible, I integrate the knowledge I’ve acquired through my Chicana/o studies courses with the curriculum. I want my students to be proud of their heritage and know they too can obtain a college education.”

The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Iturbe was taught the importance of a college education by her parents. She says her inspiration to succeed came from them, as well as her siblings, Gerardo Licon, CSUDH professor of sociology Dexter E. Bryan, and her mentor, Vasquez. She describes being accepted to the doctoral program at UCLA as “a dream come true” and hopes to encourage other Chicana/os to pursue their doctoral degrees.

“I can remember visiting the campus when I was a sixth grader struggling with fractions, and thinking to myself, ‘Wow, this is where the really smart people go,’” she recalls. “At that time, I did not think I was smart enough to be accepted at a university such as UCLA. I was a C student who struggled with mathematics and was not put in a college track in high school. Because I was able to overcome this, I am aware of the academic potential every inner city student has.”

College of Extended Education

David Vu
Master of Science in Quality Assurance

“David Vu is a very intelligent and motivated graduate student who is highly regarded by our faculty,” says Juli Soden, program coordinator for the master’s and bachelor’s degree program for quality assurance. “He demonstrates exceptional potential for a future leadership role in industry. His thesis is an example of combining innovative thinking with quality management concepts and technical skills to improve business practices within the medical device field – an endeavor that will benefit the profession and society, in general.”

Vu is a quality engineer and auditor at Advanced Medical Optics, a company which specializes in ophthalmic devices. He chose Cal State Dominguez Hills to earn his master’s degree because of the convenience of the online program and instructors who bring their professional experience to their students.

“Beginning with my first two courses for Total Quality Management and Human Factor Engineering, Professor William Trappen and Professor Jim Clauson laid a firm foundation for my interests with quality studies,” he says. “However, I am positively inspired by each professor and class that I have taken throughout the MSQA program. My motivation also comes from the subjects that I have taken and learning how I can adapt textbook concepts into real-life application.”

Vu plans on augmenting his training with a Six Sigma course this summer. His ultimate goal is to achieve a plant management position.

“As I continue to develop additional experiences, my goal will be to move into a more expansive leadership and management role for a medical device or biotechnology company,” he says. “I have an entrepreneurial spirit and would like to augment that focus with a business of my own in the future.”

-Reported by Joanie Harmon-Whetmore

Photo above: Janette Diaz (Class of '07, B.A., Chicana/o studies/liberal arts) Photo by
Irene Vasquez