Provost's Message February 2025
CSULB Celebrates Black History Month
CSULB is proud to celebrate Black History Month throughout the month of February. This heritage month celebration engages the entire campus as we honor the life and legacy of those who have come before us and highlight the contributions and accomplishments of the Black community at The Beach. CSULB will offer an array of events, resources, workshops, and opportunities complemented by food, music, and fun.
Dr. Roudi Roy Appointed Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research
The College of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce that Dr. Roudi Roy, Professor of Child Development and Family Studies in the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences, has been appointed the Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research. Dr. Roy officially started her new role on January 21, 2025.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Roy to her new role!
Save the Date: Metaverse & AI Symposium
Mark your calendar for an engaging afternoon with colleagues and experts, featuring a series of insightful presentations and discussions on the topics of Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse (AR, VR, & XR).
You will have the opportunity to discuss and critique the use and implications of Generative AI and XR technology in the classroom. The event will include a keynote from an industry expert, a student panel, and an open mic session, allowing attendees to engage in a lively discourse on AI and XR topics.
Event: Metaverse & AI Symposium
Date: April 25, 2025 from 11:30 am – 5:00 pm
Location: LA2
Invitation to follow in March.
Throughout Feb. – Black History Month Events
Feb. 19 - The Black Student Movement in Los Angeles, 1960s and 70s with Dr. M. Keith Claybrook Jr.
Feb. 20 – Zotero & Citation Management with librarian Khue Duong
Feb. 20 – Kleefeld Contemporary Spring 2025 Opening Reception
Feb. 20 – Know Your Rights & Safety Planning
Feb. 21 – Honoring Haji Malcolm X
Feb. 23 – BCCM Tribute to Black Artists Concert
Feb. 25 – Undocu-Ally Training
Feb. 27 – LBSU Night at the Anaheim Ducks Game
CSULB Professor Dr. Rashida Crutchfield Honored with Wang Family Excellence Award
Social work professor Rashida Crutchfield, well-known for her pathbreaking research exposing the realities of college students living with homelessness and food insecurity, has received new recognition for her service – the prestigious Wang Family Excellence Award.
Dr. Shadnaz Asgari Recognized with 2 Biotechnology Awards
Dr. Shadnaz Asgari, professor of biomedical engineering and computer engineering and computer science, was awarded the 2025 CSU Biotech Faculty Award and CSU Biotech Andreoli Faculty Service Award. Asgari was recognized during the 37th annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium, held Jan. 9-11.
CSULB to Introduce a Doctor of Public Health Degree in Fall 2025
Cal State Long Beach is set to debut its fifth doctoral program in fall 2025. The forthcoming Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) will be an interdisciplinary degree, adding to The Beach’s strength in health education while preparing future graduates for advanced practice and leadership.
View the latest accolades and see how our Academic Affairs faculty members are contributing as experts in the news.
View the latest grants and gifts recipients of our Beach community.
Celebrate Dee Abrahamse’s Legacy with LBCS’s “Toward Heaven” Concert
The Long Beach Camerata Singers (LBCS) are hosting a choral concert, Toward Heaven: Harmonies of Peace and Hope, in honor of the late Dee Abrahamse. Dee was the founding dean of the College of Liberal Arts at CSULB and a monumental figure on campus, whose caring leadership resonated with many colleagues. She was also a prominent member of LBCS.
Join us on March 16 at 4:30 PM at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Long Beach for this special event. Tickets, ranging from $42 to $65, can be purchased on the LBCS website.
Alumni Mentors Share Life Lessons with CSULB's First-Generation Students
Learning takes many forms at Cal State Long Beach, and mentors are often an important part of the campus experience. As students develop proficiency in their chosen majors, mentors can share insights helping students to use their newly gained knowledge in their pursuit of success and fulfillment. The First-Gen Spring Mentorship program is among several Beach Nexus offerings helping students connect with and learn from alumni.
Celebrating Excellence and Brilliance at the Beach
The Black/Pan African Graduate Association (BPGA) in collaboration with the Graduate Center hosted its inaugural symposium on February 7, 2025. This year’s theme was Elevating Black/Pan African Brilliance: A Celebration of Graduate Student Excellence Across Disciplines. The symposium focused on elevating and celebrating the brilliance and achievements of our graduate students at the Beach! The event included hearing from Provost Dr. Karyn S. Gunn, Associate Dean Dr. Bre Evans-Santiago, keynote speaker Dr. Kris Marsh, and graduate student presenter Jaysyn Green (History, MA), and graduate student panelists Nkese Jack (DPT), Albert Akolly (Chemical Engineering, MS), and Dr. Branson Boykins.
GradMentor creating space for mentorship and support for graduate students
The Graduate Center hosted the Spring 2025 GradMentor kickoff on February 6 for mentees and mentors! The CSULB GradMentor program pairs incoming graduate students with current, experienced graduate students as their mentors. Mentors provide guidance, help navigate challenges, and recognize opportunities, while mentees receive resources to develop a sense of belonging in graduate school. Attendees heard the encouraging impact from mentors and their relationship with them.
Student Research Competition
The purpose of the Annual Student Research Competition is to showcase excellence in scholarly research, and highlight creative activity conducted by CSULB undergraduate and graduate students. The Student Research Competition will feature oral presentations to an audience of fellow students, university community members, and a jury of distinguished faculty. Join us at the 37th Annual Student Research Competition on Friday, March 7, 2025, and cheer on our students as they share their inspiring research and creative ideas.
Week of Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity
The 4th annual Week of Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity (RSCA) will be held April 14-18, 2025, at CSULB. This event showcases some of the amazing work of students, staff, and faculty, emphasizing the immense value and importance these projects have on campus and within local communities. Attendees can meet with presenters, engage in dialogue regarding various scientific and social topics, and network with members from various disciplines across CSULB. Week of RSCA encourages participation in sessions both within and outside one’s own discipline.
Save the Date: CHHS Lauda Lecture
Wednesday March 26 from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM at the Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center
All are welcome to this year’s free Lauda Lecture, with light food and beverage available. This year’s topic is Abolition: Imagining Safety Without Prisons, given by our own Dr. Mimi Kim from the School of Social Work and Chris Johnson, Executive Director of ‘Success Stories’, a program aimed at helping those impacted by the justice system. Please RSVP to attend.
Save the Date: CHHS Spring 2025 Wine Event
Friday, April 25 from 6-9 PM at The Queen Mary
More details to follow on how to reserve your table. Come see our Hospitality Management students display their skills at this fun event with great wine and food in a spectacular venue!
Planning an Event at The Japanese Garden
Reserving the Japanese Garden for your event just became that much easier. Omar Navidad, the new Events Specialist at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, is here to streamline the process for booking any School/Department event.
Affordable Learning: Integrating OERs into Your Curriculum
Friday, February 28, 2025 | 10-11am | REGISTER
Would you like to make your course materials more affordable and find alternatives to expensive textbooks?
In this hands-on workshop, participants will be introduced to Open Educational Resources (OERs) and explore repositories, such as MERLOT and LibreText. Get tips on how to search, evaluate, and integrate these no-cost quality learning materials into your curriculum. We'll also discuss other opportunities to reduce the cost of student learning and create more equitable resources.
Presented by Academic Technology Services.
Catching Up with Shawn Austria and the Beach Pluralism Project
In Fall 2024, CSULB launched the Beach Pluralism Project in an effort to promote constructive engagement between people, regardless of identity and viewpoint. A 2-semester initiative, 18 students were chosen as Conoley Fellows and given a stipend to support their journey. Now that the first semester is finished, we spoke with Shawn Austria '25, CNSM Pre-health Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology major, about the project, what he hopes to gain, and why pluralism matters.
Introduction to 3D Modeling @ISPACE
Thursdays | 1-2pm | @ISPACE XR Lab, University Library, lower level
Join us in-person at the ISPACE for this hands-on workshop to gain basic skills in 3D modeling using Blender, a free software. You'll walk away with the knowledge you need to use the 3D printers at the ISPACE to realize your academic or personal projects. All skill levels are welcome! Open to students, faculty, and staff; please sign up in advance.
Presented by CSULB instructor, Devin Wilson, Lecturer, College of the Arts.
CPaCE Certificate Programs Help Working Pros Rise to New Levels
CPaCE offers certificate and professional designation programs that provide life-changing skills and experiences for early and mid-career professionals. Hear from alumni in a wide range of professions who have utilized these programs as stepping stones towards roles spanning the arts, law enforcement, healthcare and emergency services, human resources, trade and transportation, and much more.
CPaCE Debuts ‘PACE/ing Your Future’ Podcast
CPaCE has debuted the first episode of a new podcast, PACE/ing Your Future, which is now available to listen to (almost) everywhere you listen to podcasts. In the first episode, host Pahole Sookkasikon speaks with CPaCE Associate Dean, Dr. Tom O'Brien, as he introduces the idea of PACE (Proactive, Adaptable, Creative, and Engaged) as well as career paths into global logistics.
Take Control of Your Future: Learn the Power of Estate Planning with a Fiduciary
Date and Time: February 26, 2025, 12-1 PM
This webinar offers expert guidance on securing your legacy through effective estate planning with a fiduciary. Whether you're starting your plan or refining an existing one, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need. Please register to attend.
You’re Invited to Kleefeld Contemporary's Spring 2025 Opening Reception
February 20, 5:30pm-8:30pm
Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum
We're thrilled to invite you to Kleefeld Contemporary's Spring 2025 exhibitions opening reception. Be among the first to see new exhibitions including Inner Vision: Abstraction and Cognition, Jodie Mack: Glistening Thrills, Brittany Mojo: A Vocabulary of Objects, Laurie Steelink: A Love Supreme, and more.
Enjoy music, entertainment, refreshments, cash bar, art activities, and good vibes. There will be live performances by the CSULB Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Laptop Ensemble and hoop workshops with Yliana Luz. — This event is FREE and open to all. RSVP is highly suggested.
Cambodia Town Tour: Resilience and Roots
Project Resilience invites you to join us for an enriching experience on the Cambodia Town Tour: Resilience and Roots on March 21st from 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM.
This guided bus and walking tour, led by CSULB Cambodian American faculty, students, and alumni, will explore cultural, religious, and community sites that highlight the resilience and contributions of Cambodian Americans in Long Beach. The tour includes stops at key landmarks and a lunch at a Cambodian restaurant.
We encourage you to take part in this meaningful opportunity to learn and engage with the Cambodian American community in Long Beach. If you have any questions, please contact Renee Te.
Tour Details:
Date: Thursday, March 21st
Time: 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: CSULB → Cambodia Town
Open to CSULB faculty and staff (limited space available)
Submit items for upcoming messages to aa-communication@csulb.edu with a hyperlink.
