Today Spring 2012

City governance expert Sonenshein named executive director of Pat Brown Institute

The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute (PBI) of Public Affairs is under new leadership after noted professor, author and political expert Raphael J. Sonenshein took over as executive director in February from Jaime Regalado, who retired after heading the Institute for more than 20 years. The Institute is a non-partisan public policy center dedicated to sustaining the late governor’s vision of social justice, civic engagement and enhancing the quality of life for Californians. Sonenshein comes to PBI from Cal State Fullerton, where he taught since 1982 and served as chair of the Division of Politics, Administration and Justice and director of the division’s Center for Public Policy. “PBI is a jewel, one that reflects the vision of the great governor for whom it is named, and the work of the many people who built and have sustained it for more than two decades,” said Sonenshein. “I hope to further expand the Institute’s impact on the daily lives of the people who live in our neighborhoods, our cities, our region and our state, and on the public policies that affect us all. For me, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Visit the PBI website, http://www.patbrowninstitute.org

CSULA Field School Program Recognized

Cal State L.A. and the United States Navy were jointly honored with the 2011 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award by the California State Parks and State Office of Historic Preservation for the collaborative San Nicolas Island Archaeological Field School Program. The field school, connected with the Department of Anthropology, is sponsored by the U.S. Navy as part of its cultural resource management program. It serves as a natural, outdoor laboratory where undergraduate and graduate students perform research, dig for artifacts and study the native population that inhabited the island 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Rene Vellanoweth, department chair of Anthropology, has led students in projects making discoveries at the site for 10 years. “We were elated by the award,” said Vellanoweth. “Every now and then it’s good to pause and reflect on the good things that we’re doing and that the U.S. Navy is doing.” The Governor’s Historic Preservation Awards are presented annually to individuals, organizations and public agencies whose contributions demonstrate notable achievements in preserving the heritage of California.

Alumni recognized for impact on California

Five CSULA alumni were recognized for their contributions to the State as part of the California State University’s Working for California program. The CSU boasts 2.6 million remarkable alumni and drives the state’s economy by educating and graduating the majority of professionals in the industries that make California competitive—agriculture, engineering, business, technology, media, hospitality and tourism, nursing and more. Featured in this year’s class of successful alumni from CSULA are:

1. 
   Frank Romero (’09), noted artist, Alumnus of the Year and co-founder of “Los Four,” a Chicano Art Collective.
2. 
   Richard Cordova (’72), president and chief executive officer of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
3. 
   Raynor Carroll (’84), principal percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
4. 
   Arthur T. Leahy (’74), chief executive officer of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro).
5. 
   JoAnn Copperud (’78 M.S.), chief executive officer of RGA Environmental, Inc., a health and safety consulting firm.

To view these alumni biographies and more, visit http://www.calstate.edu/workingforca.

Who’s the boss?

A majority (54 percent) of Americans say they have no preference for the gender of their boss, according to a recent study co-written by CSULA Sociology Professor Janet Lever. The remaining participants reported preferring male over female bosses by more than a 2:1 ratio. The research, which surveyed 60,470 women and men, shows an increasing trend. A 1953 Gallup poll found only 25 percent of participants had no preference for the gender of their boss; in 1988, 36 percent indicated no preference and in 2006, 43 percent had no preference. The study, “Does gender bias against female leaders persist?” co-authored by UCLA Professor Kim Elsesser, was published in the November 2011 edition of Human Relations.

Graduate’s thesis project secures national honors

Jacqueline Kiwata (’11, M.A.) was selected as the winner of the Outstanding Thesis Award for 2010-11 by the Western Association of Graduate Schools. Kiwata’s thesis, “The Effect of Vigorous Exercise on the Content of Cholesteryl Linoleate, a Novel Antimicrobial Effector Molecule, in Upper Respiratory Tract Secretion,” was nominated by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. The research project seeks to confirm whether the American Heart Association’s recommendation for aerobic exercise boosts the immune response after exercise. The research was conducted under the supervision of Kinesiology Professor Andrew Cornwell and Biological Sciences Professor Edith Porter. Kiwata said the award has validated her decision to pursue a doctorate. A hardcover copy of her thesis is available in CSULA’s John F. Kennedy Memorial Library.

Southern California CSU alumni gather for mega mixer event

Paul Gomez ’88 and CSULA broadcasting student Sherley Salazar attend the California State University Alumni Mega Mixer at Dave & Buster’s on Nov. 8.

Alumni Associations from several Southland California State Universities took social networking offline in November with a mega mixer at Dave & Buster’s Restaurant in Arcadia.

More than 200 alumni representing the campuses of Los Angeles, Fullerton, Dominguez Hills, Long Beach, San Bernardino and Pomona, met for a night of food, fun and bonding— including approximately 50 alumni from CSULA.

The multi-campus gathering had cross-generational appeal, said Valerie Marshall, coordinator of marketing and member services for the CSULA Alumni Association.

“Recent graduates used the opportunity to catch up with friends and make new ones in a casual, friendly environment. Meanwhile, older graduates could expand their business and personal development network in a fun, new atmosphere. And the numerous Alumni Association staff from all campuses helped drive action at the event by guiding guests and making introductions that bond and unify CSU alumni.”

The event has inspired further partnerships, Marshall added, with CSU Alumni Associations planning more joint activities for later this year.

Mentoring Program accelerates pairings with speed-matching event

Alumni and students meet at the speed-mentoring event.

The CSULA Alumni Mentoring Program is a great way for alumni to share career experiences with current students through discussions on educational options, career choices, goal-setting and networking opportunities.

Approximately 450 alumni and students have signed up for the alumni mentoring program, according to James Cuaresma, coordinator of alumni and student outreach. In an effort to match alumni and students and recruit more, the Alumni Association held mentoring events this year, including a unique speed mentoring event in February.

The event was designed after the concept of speed-dating and provided participants with several short structured meetings to assess compatibility.

Each student was given a set of questions to guide the three- to four-minute conversation with an alumnus. After the student met 10 possible mentors, Alumni Association staff made a quick assessment to determine good pairings.

Cuaresma said the event was designed to operate on a quicker pace than a general mixer to maximize the number of introductions.

Learn how to become a successful mentor, enhance your leadership skills, improve your career development and add a meaningful and rewarding experience by sharing your knowledge and experience with others. For more information on the Alumni Mentoring Program, contact (323) 343-ALUM (2586) or log on to http://alumni.calstatela.edu.

For more information, please contact the Alumni Association at (323) 343-ALUM (2586) or email [email protected].

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Alumni Spotlight: Marlene Carney ’76

Alumna shares decades of experience as a career coach in mentoring program

Alumna Marlene Carney is utilizing her decades of life experience to help two college graduates as a participant in the Alumni Mentoring Program.

With more than 30 years in the workforce, Marlene (Tingley) Carney ’76 feels she is equipped to help college students navigate the transition from school to career.

And in the Alumni Mentoring Program, two students are benefiting from her decades of life experience.

“I’ve learned a lot and have been out in the business world a while. I have life experience—as a parent, a grandparent, a wife,—and academic and work experience. And I think there’s something fulfilling in being able to share that with others,” said Carney.

Carney grew up in Southern California attending East Los Angeles schools, and upon attaining her bachelor’s degree in business education, quickly went to work in advertising.

In the 1980s, Carney moved to Turlock, where she ran the chamber of commerce for several years.

Helping small and large businesses and working professionals led to a position with the California Chamber of Commerce. Back in Southern California with her husband, Bill, she is now CalChamber’s Regional Director of External Affairs/Local Chamber Services. In this position, Carney aids local chambers of commerce and advances legislative outreach to support grassroots business advocacy.

An ideal participant for the alumni mentoring program, Carney has been counseling two graduate students for the past year.

One mentee, Natalie Chiriboga, has a degree in English and a job in real estate, but wants to find a career in public relations, advertising and marketing.

“I had a lot of questions after graduation,” said Chiriboga, who signed up for the program when she joined the Alumni Association at a Grad Fair in 2010.

“It helps to have someone guide and motivate you.” Chiriboga explained that Carney helps find resources to assist her in pinpointing the right direction and introduces her to people who work in related fields.

“She’s a busy woman. But when we talk it’s for quite some time and she has a lot of information,” Chiriboga said. “She’s so knowledgeable and ready to help.”

Carney’s networking savvy is also a valuable asset for Kelly Kreuzberger, who owns Left Brain Rentals, a consulting firm that helps systemize the business side for creative company owners.

Kreuzberger graduated with a bachelor’s degree in international business in 2011, but quickly found that the world wasn’t “waiting with open arms.” So she enrolled in the mentoring program for guidance.

“It was scary at first because I had to ask for help, but in society you’re made to feel like you’ve got to have it all figured out on your own,” Kreuzberger said.

Carney helps Kreuzberger push the company forward by introducing her to other professionals and teaching her communication skills to help cultivate an interest in local politics.

“She’s been extremely generous with her time and connections,” Kreuzberger said.

Being a mentor is mutually beneficial, as Carney points out, she also learns a great deal too.

“You learn what’s going on in different fields,” she said. “You learn how other people think and about today’s youth and their issues and concerns.”

2010s

• Bogdan Bagdasarov (’11) is an affiliate manager for T3Leads, a Los Angeles-based Affiliate Marketing firm.

2000s

• Edward Houston (’01) has recently published an autobiography, Reflections in Recovery: The Attributes of Being Average with iUniverse.
• Linda Hulsey-Magness (’06) has been appointed the director of Financial Aid at University of Redlands.
• Priscilla Ruiz (’07) teaches auto shop at Bonita High School in La Verne.
• Nazario Sauceda (’06) is the director of the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services.
• Leana Wen (’01) is a third-year resident in emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
• Tanya White (’08 M.B.A.) appeared on the cover of May issue of Volleyball Magazine.

1990s

• James Bell (’97), the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Business and Economics, retired as chief financial officer of Boeing.
• Tom Desmond (’96) has been promoted to Manhattan Beach fire captain.
• Jim Smith (’99), a 28-year-veteran of the Monterey Park Police Department, was appointed as the city's new police chief.
• Carlos Urquidi (’92) was granted tenure as a professor in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program at Cypress College.
• William Wong (’99 M.S.W.) was awarded the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award for his work as a placement and recruitment coordinator for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services Adoption and Permanency Resources Division. He was nominated by Sen. Diane Feinstein.

1980s

• Jerry Duprez (’81 M.A., ’82 M.A.) has written a non-fiction book, A Sack Half Full, a humorous memoir about his experiences with testicular cancer.
• Gerald Freeny (’83), an employee of the State Department of Corrections and longtime Tournament of Roses board member, was inducted into the John Muir High School Hall of Fame.
• Fundi Legohn (’82) is the director of the Oxnard High School music program and marching band.
• Mark Matsui (’82 M.S.) is the new director of the Disabled Students Programs and Services at Rio Hondo College.
• Luis Rojas (’89) is president and CEO of Evergreen Energy Solutions, LLC., a solar development company.
• Tamara Stevens (’82), co-owner of the Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association, has co-authored a book, Swing Dancing , from the American Dance Floor series.

1970s

• Donald Bakeer (’73, ’75 M.A.), author of Crips: The Story of the L.A. Street Gang from 1971-1985 , has recently written his memoir, I, Too, Can Create Light .
• J. Jon Bruno (’74), Episcopal bishop of the Los Angeles diocese, is undergoing aggressive treatment to fight leukemia.
• Yasmin Delahoussaye ('75) has been named vice chancellor of Educational Programs and Institutional Effectiveness of the Los Angeles Community College District.
• Marilyn Diaz (’72) has retired as police chief of the Sierra Madre Police Department, ending a 37-year career in law enforcement that included 32 years at the Pasadena Police Department.
• Pamela Duffy (’70), a partner at Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP, has been named one of the Top 100 Attorneys in California for 2011 by the Daily Journal .
• Paul La Riviere (’76), retired arts therapist for the corrections system, had an exhibit of 3-D multimedia artworks shown at the GALA Center in San Luis Obispo.
• Michael Lucki (’78) is the chief financial officer of CH2M Hill, a global engineering firm.

1960s

• Raul Cardoza (’67) has retired as dean of Enrollment Management at Los Angeles Trade-Tech College.
• Donald Lucove (’66), a certified public accountant, was bestowed the Bill Van Gieson Spirit of Calabasas Award from the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce.
• Tetsu Tanimoto (’65), a financial planner for Merrill Lynch in the Tanimoto, Tanabe and McMahon Group, was recognized on “America’s Top 1,000 Advisors: State-by-State” list in Barron’s magazine.
• Gary Townsend (’69) has become a partner at Englander Knabe & Allen, the largest independent public relations agency in Los Angeles.
• Mia Yamamoto (’66), a defense attorney and civil/human rights activist, received the 2011 John Anson Ford Human Relations Award from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. Yamamoto, who was born Michael Yamamoto in an Arizona internment camp in 1943, accepted the award on behalf of the transgender community.

1950s

• Richard Whitney (’58) received the 2011 Chapter Leadership Award from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

In Memoriam

• Charles Britton (’58) was a longtime newspaper writer and editor for many Southern California newspapers, including the Daily Breeze . He also served as a political strategist within Los Angeles.
• Harry C. Coffin was emeritus professor of geography and meteorology.
• Lloyd Noel Ferguson , a professor emeritus of chemistry, was a celebrated author and pioneer in helping eliminate racial barriers for African Americans in the field of chemistry. The quad between La Kretz Hall and Wing B of the Wallis Annenberg Integrated Sciences Complex at CSULA was dedicated in his honor as the Ferguson Courtyard in 2011.
• Norman Fruman , emeritus professor of Language Arts. His controversial biography of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Coleridge, the Damaged Archangel , made waves in the literary community.
• Lawrence “Larry” Haun (’69) spent a lifetime building houses and writing articles and books that taught others how to make them. His recently published memoir, A Carpenter’s Life as Told by Houses , discusses his life as a carpenter and philosopher.
• Teresa Hughes , a former professor of education, enjoyed a long and varied career in the public sector as a social worker, teacher and school administrator. She served as a Democratic state senator and assemblywoman in the Los Angeles area.
• George Elmer Jakway , associate professor emeritus of biology, taught courses in general zoology and biology.
• Hendrik Keyzer , emeritus professor of chemistry, was a pioneer in the fields of bioelectrochemistry and organic semiconductors. He received an Outstanding Professor Award in 1984 and was named a Trustees’ Outstanding Professor in 1987.
• Ronald S. Lemos , emeritus professor of information systems, was the former dean of the College of Business and Economics.
• Fernando B. Morinigo , emeritus professor of physics, taught for 28 years at CSULA before working in the private sector as an engineer for Hughes Aircraft Company and then as chief corporate scientist at Aura Systems, Inc.
• Diana Munatones (’70,’71 M.A.) had a distinguished career in media, working her way up in English and Spanish network television to become the Director of Community Broadcast Relations at KNXT and Director of Special Projects for CBS Inc.
• Lisa O’Connor (’73 ’75 M.A.) worked as a licensed speech pathologist in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. She also was an associate professor and director of the Speech-Language Clinic at CSULA.
• Harry Pachon (’67, ’68 M.A.), longtime president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at University of Southern California and former CSULA professor, was a scholar, educator and activist for the Latino community. He was the first director of National Association of Latino Elected Officials and was chief of staff to Latino congressman Edward Roybal.
• William Henry Reid, III , (’60, ’67 M.S.) had a long career with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department before retiring from the Administrative Division in 1984.
• Susan Gilmore Steiner , former director of research and sponsored programs, established the Susan G. Steiner Graduate Student Scholarship.
• Dorothy Townsend (’60) broke barriers in a lengthy career as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times . Townsend fought to be re-assigned from the “women’s pages” to the city room and served on the team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 1966 for the Times’ coverage of the Watts riots.
• Antonio Velasquez (’00 M.A.) worked for 24 years as a civil engineer for the California Department of Transportation and the Parsons Corporation in Pasadena.
• Robert “Bob” Wasserman (’63), former Fremont police chief, served on the City Council for nearly 20 years and as mayor since 2004.

2011-12 ATHLETICS IN REVIEW

Cal State L.A.’s intercollegiate athletic teams enjoyed a 2011-12 campaign that included conference and regional championships, thrilling tournament runs and individual accolades. The Golden Eagles also excelled in community service, leading the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with canned food donations for a second year.

Men’s soccer takes regional crown

For men’s soccer, 2011 was the “Year of the Championships.” The Golden Eagles had one of the most successful seasons in the history of the program after capturing their first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II West Region title since 1981 and first CCAA championship since 1992. Cal State L.A. compiled a 15-2-6 overall record and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the nation in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s final rankings. The Golden Eagles advanced to the national quarterfinals, where their run ended in a 2-0 loss at eventual national champion Fort Lewis in Colorado.

Women’s soccer team hosts NCAA playoffs

Women’s soccer tallied another outstanding season in 2011, earning its way into the NCAA Division II playoffs for a third straight season and hosting two weekends of NCAA postseason competition for the first time in the program’s history. The Golden Eagles finished the 2011 season with an impressive 13-4-4 overall record and a national ranking of 12— the best end-of-the-season ranking in the program’s history.

Cross country team third in CCAA

Women’s cross country turned in an impressive performance at the 2011 CCAA Championships. Sabrina Lopez was fifth, Valerie Sanchez was eighth and Maritza Hernandez was ninth and earned All-CCAA honors while helping the Golden Eagles finish third in the conference.

Volleyball sees 15th winning season

Women’s volleyball made another impressive late-season run in 2011, but the surge left the Golden Eagles just outside of the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Golden Eagles, though, recorded a 15th consecutive winning season. Junior Marquis Mora earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honorable mention honors after picking up first-team All-West Region honors.

Women’s basketball makes inspiring run to NCAA playoffs

Women’s basketball saw a remarkable turnaround, highlighted by one of the most memorable postseasons in the program’s history. The Golden Eagles finished the 2011-12 season with an 18-12 overall record and recorded their most wins since 2006. What made the season truly memorable, though, was an impressive run in the CCAA Championship Tournament. Rallying from an 18-point deficit in the second half, the team beat Cal Poly Pomona in the first round and came back from 12 points down to beat UC San Diego on a last-second 3-pointer from Lorin Hammer in the semis. Cal State L.A. rallied from 20 points down in the championship game to tie before falling on a buzzer beater to Cal State Monterey Bay.

Men’s basketball sees best record since 2001

After a successful 2011-12 campaign, men’s basketball moved even closer to the upper echelon of the CCAA. The Golden Eagles finished with a 17-10 overall record; a 13-9 record in CCAA play; and a conference record that was its best since 2001. The Golden Eagles finished just three games out of first place, the closest they’ve come to the conference title since 2000 when they finished just two games back. The Golden Eagles qualified for the conference tournament for the third straight season and for the fourth time in the past five years.

Women’s tennis ranks high for 2012 season

Women’s tennis successful season included a 13-5 dual match record, finishing ranked 13th in the nation, the program’s highest since 1993. Christie Lau ranked 18th in the nation in singles and the doubles team of Lau and Larn McShane was ranked eighth in late-season rankings. Sandy Kriezel was named the West Region Coach of the Year and Lau won the West Region’s Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholarship Award.

Baseball narrowly misses CCAA, NCAA playoffs

Baseball just missed in its bid to return to the CCAA and NCAA playoffs, with the Golden Eagles 26-22 overall and 21-17 in conference play. Daniel Duran’s record-breaking season resulted in his being named the CCAA’s Most Valuable Player. His batting record of .451 for the season eclipsed the mark of .440 set by Ken Lohnes in 1968.

Track and field second in CCAA finish

Men’s track and field nearly ended Chico State’s nine-year run as the conference champion. With 10 individual champions, the Golden Eagles missed taking the title by just 4.5 points. Giorgio Bryant was named the CCAA Track Athlete of the Year after winning conference championships in the 200, long jump and as member of two winning relay teams. Matthew Harmon won two hurdles titles, Julius Joseph defended his discus title, Glenn Rivera won the shot put title, Gregory Veals won the 400 and David Carcamo won the 100.

Women’s track and field third in tight conference meet

Women’s track and field finished third at the conference championship meet, just 10 points out of first. Cal State L.A. had seven individual conference championships. Tuekeha Huntley won titles in the heptathlon and long jump and was named CCAA Field Athlete of the Year. Title winners include Valerie Sanchez for the 800 and 1,500; Calista Lyon in the discus; Samantha Gutierrez in the javelin; and Te’Ahnalin Harris for the shot put.

All-America honors for indoor team members

Women’s indoor track and field team’s successful season included two All-American performances and All-West Region honors for eight team members. Tuekeha Huntley placed fifth in the pentathlon with a career-best 3,787 points, and earned All-America honors for a second straight season. Valerie Sanchez finished eighth in the mile to earn All-America honors for the first time in her CSULA career. Cal State L.A. finished in a tie for 26th in the NCAA Division II Championships hosted by Minnesota State University, Mankato.