Class notes

Class notes

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2000s

  • Denise Munro Robb (’02) is now a full-time professor of political science at Pierce College.

  • Adriana Ustarez-Oji (’03) is one of the new dentists at Family Health Center Network in Visalia, treating both children and adults.

1990s

  • Louis Celaya (’96 M.S.), the Agoura Hills assistant to the city manager, was presented the city’s Employee Service Award.

  • Pankit Doshi (’99), an associate in Jackson Lewis’ Los Angeles office, has been appointed by the State Bar of California Board of Governors to serve a three-year term (2011-14) on the State Bar of California Council on Access and Fairness.

  • Delia Estrada (’95 M.A.), a 24-year veteran of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is the new principal of Taft High School.

  • Cindy Giang (’96, ’02  M.A.), a teacher at Quail Summit Elementary School in Diamond Bar, has earned a literacy award from the American Literacy Corporation.

  • Mary Kate Haley (’99 M.F.A.), the associate and executive producer of the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University and faculty member,  addressed the Notre Dame Class of 2011 at commencement.

  • Michael Hoon (’95, ’01 M.A.) is the new principal of Hollingworth Elementary School in Rowland Heights.

1980s

  • Mark Anthony Chavez (’84) has been named the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of La Habra by the board of directors.

1970s

  • Headshot of Leslie Kerr.Leslie Kerr (Kosinski) (’77) has been named senior associate director of development at the University of New Haven.


  • Eugene Masuda (’78) is serving his first term as the first Asian American elected to Pasadena City Council.

  • Darline P. Robles (’72), a professor of clinical education at Rossier School of Education at USC, was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.

  • Gary W. Studebaker (’70), a special education adjunct instructor at National University, wrote a book titled Autism Spectrum Realities.

  • Dave Ungerer (’73), a teacher and program coordinator for AVID at Kaiser High School in Fontana, was named teacher of the year by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

1960s

  • Sal Castro (’61), an educator and activist, has co-authored Blowout!: Sal Castro and the Chicano Struggle for Educational Justice, a book chronicling the walkouts of Chicano students that sparked the beginning of the urban Chicano Movement of the late 1960s and early ’70s.

  • Headshot of Ernest MorenoErnest Moreno (’69) retired as president of East Los Angeles College in August. Moreno was appointed to the position of vice president of academic affairs in 1991. He remained in that post before assuming presidency in 1994.


  • Rose M. Ochi (’67), executive director of the California Forensic Science Institute at CSULA, received a plaque on behalf of the Institute at the 2011 DNA Educational Awareness Forum.

  • Karl Raschkes (’66, ’74 M.A.) has retired after a 46-year career as a music teacher and administrator in Oregon. Under his leadership, Salem-Keizer high schools won national Grammy awards and 71 championships with choir, band, string and symphony orchestra.

  • Donald Strametz (’68, ’76 M.A.) is retiring from a 31-year coaching career at Cal State Northridge. Strametz coached both male/female cross country teams at CSUN.

1950s

  • Frank DeSantis (’57, ’72 M.A.), affiliated with Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Administration, was honored with a ‘Professor for a Day’ plaque and dinner in May.

  • G. Dana Hobart (’59) is serving his third term as Rancho Milagro mayor.

In Memoriam

  • Shifra M. Goldman (’66 M.A.) was an author and advocate for Latin American and Chicano art. As an activist scholar, she fought against Eurocentrism and was a long-time professor at Santa Ana.
  • Stephen J. Haims (’62, ’68 M.A.) taught English for more than 30 years at Pasadena and Arcadia high schools.
  • Patricia Marie Hodges, a professor emerita of psychology and former chair of the Psychology Department. She was an active faculty member at Fielding Graduate University, and founder and president of Claremont Psychological Services.
  • Lois Vivian Johnson, a professor emerita of education, wrote two classic textbooks on classroom group behavior during her 26 years at CSULA. In retirement, she wrote historical fiction and painted.
  • Mary A. Kramer, emerita associate professor from the Department of Family Services and Consumer Sciences, taught foods and nutrition in the then-Department of Home Economics. She led several foreign study trips for students and wrote two books during her 28-year career at CSULA.
  • Roy G. Main (’88 M.A.), a former faculty member, had a long career as a freelance studio trombonist in Los Angeles, performing at major television and film studios. He worked with legendary artists such as Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Bob Hope and Tony Bennett.
  • Phyllis M. Meyers (‘74) for 20 years served as health educator and consultant for Merced County and the State of California promoting health in disadvantaged and rural areas.
  • Maxine L. Miller, emerita professor of Home Economics, taught interior design and served on the Academic Senate. She worked as a flight attendant for TWA before joining the CSULA faculty in 1955.
  • Marie Nyman Ohlsen, emerita assistant professor of English, taught and counseled at Muir City College in Pasadena, San Marino and South Pasadena high schools before she was hired as an assistant professor at CSULA, where she taught Shakespeare and poetry.
  • Joanne E. Saeta (’84 M.A.) had a long career in education that included work as an elementary school teacher and a reading specialist. She was especially dedicated to South Pasadena schools, where she helped create the South Pasadena Education Foundation.
  • Floyd R. Sawyer (’64 M.A.) taught English and social studies in the Covina Unified School District for 44 years. He pioneered the first Mentally Gifted Minds program at Sierra Vista Middle School.
  • Burton Marshall Seidler, emeritus professor of physical education, was a knowledgeable source in early childhood physical education during 30 years of teaching.
  • John L. Shelton (’61, ’63 M.A.) made early contributions to the gospel music community as part of the Shelton Brothers and later continued his music ministry in the Baptist Church while working days as a real estate officer.
  • Hershel K. Swinger (’66, ’68 M.A.) was a retired professor of counselor education. He founded and was senior director for Project Fatherhood, through Children’s Institute, which was nationally recognized for helping disadvantaged fathers develop better parenting skills.