A Legacy of Equity and - CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CHANNEL ISLANDS / 2020 Fall Magazine
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C A L I F O R N I A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y C H A N N E L I S L A N D S / 2020 Fall Magazine A Legacy of Equity and Inclusion
Fall 2020 / Vol. 25 / No. 2 / Biannual
Channel is an official publication of California State
University Channel Islands. It is published twice a
year for students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and the
community at-large by the Communication & Marketing
office within the Division of University Advancement.
We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please
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PRESIDENT
Erika D. Beck
VICE PRESIDENT FOR
UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT
Nichole Ipach
CHANNEL MAGAZINE STAFF
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Nancy Covarrubias Gill ’05
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Joanna Murphy
COPY EDITOR
Pamela Dean
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Marya Barlow
Pamela Dean
Nancy C. Gill
Kim Lamb Gregory
Andrew Lorenzana ’16 and ’19
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Sarah Schumacher
PHOTOGRAPY & VIDEO
Brian Paumier
STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER
Clepsy Hernandez, Art
DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR
Kristin Steiner ‘17
CSU Channel Islands Mission Statement
Placing students at the center of the educational
experience, California State University Channel Islands
provides undergraduate and graduate education that
facilitates learning within and across disciplines through
integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential
and service learning, and graduates students with
multicultural and international perspectives.
SAFE AND IN PERSON
Student nurses learn while
adhering to COVID-19 safety
precautions at the Nursing
SIM Lab.
2 CHANNEL MAGAZINE
PRESIDENTʼS MESSAGE In the Issue
A Grateful Farewell
IN THE NEWS
4 Accolades for Excellence
As many of you know, in January I will be leaving Cal State Channel Islands 6 New Student Government
(CSUCI) to become the President of California State University, Northridge 7 Realizing Racial Justice
(CSUN). FEATURES
My time at CSUCI has been incredible. When I first arrived on campus four 8 Adventures in Virtual Learning
and a half years ago, I had an idea of what my experience might be like and the 11 A Leader in Information Security
12 The Doctor is In
possibilities filled me with excitement. However, today, I realize I really had no 14 A Legacy of Equity and Inclusion
idea just how amazing, inspirational and transformational my time at CSUCI 22 Internships Reimagined
would actually be. ALUMNI PROFILES
Since I arrived, I have had the privilege of being a part of a campus community 24 Diana Gutierrez
that holds a collective and unwavering commitment to students and their success. 25 Charlie White
26 Michelle Gatto Withey
I have witnessed the immense generosity and grace from our faculty and staff who 27 Brenda Bravo
never lose sight of academic excellence even through fires, mass shootings and a
DONORS
world-wide pandemic. 21 A Dream Fulfilled
I have learned that our students are the leaders of today. They have proven 28 Building a Better University
their resiliency and determination over and over again. I am immensely grateful with Data
30 A Courtyard Honor
to have had the opportunity to learn from them and benefit from the hope,
31 Foundation Annual Report
optimism and transformational change they are imparting on our society. 32 Donor Honor Roll
Today, our campus is leading through crisis and as I reflect upon my time at
CSUCI, I know this campus will emerge even stronger. Despite the challenges,
our campus has increased student retention and graduation rates and remains
steadfast in its commitment to our mission and values.
As you will read in the following pages, CSUCI remains nimble and responsive
to the needs of our academic community. We have enacted a 7-Point Framework
for Realizing Racial Justice through collective and comprehensive efforts. As
COVID-19 remains a very real threat to the health and safety of our campus com-
munity, our faculty have continued to innovate their curricula to keep our students
engaged and challenged in the virtual environment. Through the dedication of our
supporters and donors, CSUCI continues to advance to new heights with capital
projects, student support services and scholarships. This is a small portion of the
work being done around our campus that is shaping our new normal.
I cannot express how much I will miss our vibrant campus community.
However, I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue working alongside
Cal State Channel Islands as a part of the California State University system and
I will continue to cheer on CSUCI students, faculty, and staff as they work to
reimagine higher education for a new generation and era.
Sincerely,
Erika D. Beck, Ph.D.
President
GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL
GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL
3
{ In the NEWS }
Accolades for Excellence by MARYA BARLOW
The President’s Innovation Awards recognize the significant
innovation and contributions of faculty, students and staff in
advancing the University’s mission and impact.
Elizabeth Skartvedt, Course
Reserves & Streaming Media
Specialist
President’s Staff Award for Excellence
As the Course Reserves and Stream-
ing Media Specialist in the John Spoor
Broome Library, Elizabeth Skartvedt
plays a quiet but significant role in pro-
moting student equity on campus. She
coordinates the library’s print reserves
and eReserves services, which
increase access to no-cost print and
digital materials for students. She aligns
her efforts with openCI initiatives, fur-
thering equitable access to information
Nicholas Centino, Assistant Professor of Chicana/o Studies that is integral to students learning.
2020 President’s Award for Innovations in Teaching and Learning
Skartvedt’s nominators said she
In their nomination letter for the their families, and the public to “embodies library values of free access
President’s Award for Teaching join in learning and discussion. to information, equity for all, support-
and Innovation, eight CSUCI Pre-pandemic, he and his stu- ing the right to learn, and encouraging
faculty members paid Nicholas dents organized a two-day con- lifelong learning. She is an exemplary
Centino the ultimate compli- ference highlighting the lasting employee who embraces the Univer-
ment: “May we all be so adept at legacy of “Las Pachucas” — a sity’s mission and her commitment to
serving the students in our care.” subculture of young zoot-suited student success makes a difference in
Since he joined CSUCI as an Mexican-American women in the the everyday lives of our students. She
assistant professor of Chicana/o ‘40s and ‘50s who challenged is for the most part hidden from view,
Studies three years ago, Centino conventional notions of feminine yet most professors couldn't do their job
has made a profound impres- beauty and even helped close without her.”
sion on colleagues and students the event in a swing dance per-
with his fresh, fun approach formance. As COVID hit, Centino
to teaching and educational earned praise for his exemplary
equity. He invites students to efforts to ease the burden
express their reactions to read- on students of limited means
ings in spoken word poems through outreach and asynchro-
that build confidence, creativity, nous classes.
activism, and public speaking “I tried to refocus and meet
skills. Centino regularly hosts the needs of the students who
Facebook watch parties and were in the same spot I was
Facebook Live events, welcom- psychologically, mentally and
ing guest speakers, students, spiritually,” Centino said.
4 CHANNEL MAGAZINE
{ In the NEWS }
LaSonya Davis,
Associate Professor of Nursing
Inaugural President’s Faculty Fellow
While learning to build her leadership capacity
in higher education, the President’s inaugural
Faculty Fellow, Associate Professor of Nursing
LaSonya Davis, will focus on helping CSUCI to
foster a diverse and inclusive academic commu-
nity as well as developing strategies to eliminate
equity gaps for students of color. A faculty mem-
ber since 2012, Davis has more than 25 years’
experience as a registered nurse and over 18
as a nurse practitioner in family and women’s
health. Her dedication to service is evident in the
classroom and community. In addition to mento-
ring students in “the art of caring,” and treating
women, children, geriatric patients and other
vulnerable populations, she developed a thriving
community mobile health clinic that provided
free screenings, immunizations and health edu-
cation to the public, while also giving students
real-world clinical and community service expe-
rience. The President’s Faculty Fellow program
was launched this year by President Erika Beck
as an initiative to
cultivate faculty
leadership
Robin Mitchell, Associate Professor of History through the
Rising Author and ‘Twitterstorian’ advancement
Associate Professor of History Robin Mitchell is gar- of institutional
nering media and critical acclaim for her new book, mission
“Vénus Noire: Black Women and Colonial Fantasies in fulfillment.
Nineteenth-Century France” (Athens: The University of
Georgia Press, 2020). Mitchell and her work have been
featured on BBC3, the History News Network, and in
the New Yorker, where she was highlighted as one of
the nation’s prominent “Twitterstorians — historians with
Twitter accounts, who have attracted big followings with
their historically informed takes on the dumpster fire
that is America in the year 2020.” The bio for Mitchell’s
Twitter account, @ParisNoire, which boasts almost 8,000
followers, says it best: “19th C French Historian. Fat Fem-
inist. Author of #VenusNoire about black women in Paris.
Revolutionary. Tenured. Will block you. I cut off all my
hair. She/her.”
GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL 5
{ In the NEWS }
New Student Government by MARYA BARLOW
Building Unity from Afar
Student Government President Sophie Nguyễn and Vice President Emily Quiñonez
Long before COVID-19 tested their Nguyễn is a Sociology major, The two elected officials work
plans, Student Government Chicana/o Studies minor and com- closely with a team of three execu-
President Sophie Nguyễn and Vice muter student who transferred from tive members, nine senators, nine
President Emily Quiñonez vowed Ventura College as a junior. interns, University leaders, CSU
to build unity in the CSUCI campus “Growing up in Oxnard as the constituents, and California state
and community. After the pandemic daughter of two immigrants has officials to advance a wide-array
forced CSU classes online, they instilled in me a deep sense of of priorities that include every-
redoubled their efforts to keep responsibility and gave me a pas- thing from educational access and
fellow Dolphins “swimming sion for empowering, uplifting and affordability to student health and
together.” advocating for fellow underrepre- welfare. The Student Government
“It has been a challenge to sented students,” she said. team has been instrumental in pro-
create personal connections even Quiñonez is a first-generation moting digital connection, racial
within Student Government, being Chicana college student from the justice, college affordability, envi-
that we are not in our office work- City of San Fernando, double-ma- ronmental sustainability, and sup-
ing together in the same joring in Political Science port for students’ mental/emotional
space,” they said. and Chicana/o health and basic needs.
“We prioritize Studies. As Vice Nguyễn and Quinonez, are espe-
communicat- President, she cially proud of encouraging student
ing with our hopes to civic engagement and activism
team and champion during a particularly challenging
creating underrep- time. Though CSUCI is one of the
a warm, smaller campuses of the CSU and
inclusive UC systems competing in
space the California Secretary
so team of State’s Ballot Bowl,
members it consistently gar-
can con- ners an impressive
nect and percentage of
bond. We students regis-
have found tering to vote. To
tools like social Nguyễn and Qui-
media, and Insta- nonez, that is an
gram specifically, to be affirmation of the
extremely beneficial in reaching ABOVE value of Student
more students. Instagram tools President Government.
such as direct messaging, Ques- Sophie Nguyễn “Considering how
tion & Answer boxes, polls, IGTV, RIGHT Vice challenging it can be to
and Instagram Live have been President Emily engage with students and
Quiñonez
especially great in allowing us to build community in a virtual envi-
connect with our student body.” resented students and ronment, the community we have
Their slogan, “Empower, Uplift, marginalized communities and been able to foster is something
Unify,” distills the organization’s over- encourage more students to “find we celebrate and are continuously
arching vision down to three words. their place on our campus.” working to grow,” they said.
6 CHANNEL MAGAZINE
Realizing Racial Justice by PAMELA DEAN
THE RACIAL JUSTICE CRISIS the CSU system. The department that enhance community and ulti-
that has gripped the nation’s implemented the community pub- mately student and staff success,”
attention this year has deepened lic safety recommendations made said Associate Vice President
CSUCI’s resolve to stamp out by President Obama’s Task Force for Student Affairs Charles Osiris,
racially-biased policy and pro- on 21st Century Policing. A Police Ph.D. “Being empowered by this
cesses on its campus. Advisory Council has also been awareness and skill develop-
“Our campus is not immune to the formed to expand the collabo- ment will help us better serve our
pervasiveness of systemic racism,” ration, build trust and enhance students.”
CSUCI President Erika D. Beck, transparency between the campus Other critical campus steps
Ph.D. told a virtual audience of community and the campus police. include an Advancing Faculty
faculty and staff at this year’s Con- Robust and ongoing anti-racism Diversity project which is looking
vocation address. “The first step in trainings are being developed and at ways to attract, hire and retain
combating institutional racism is in implemented across all areas. For more diverse faculty; the hiring of
acknowledging its presence and example, Student Affairs launched three new tenure-track faculty with
embracing the understanding that a training program in the fall called expertise in anti-racism and the
we do not all experience our aca- “Power, Prejudice and Identity.” The experiences of the Black commu-
demic community in the same way.” program examines white privilege nity; the creation of a new minor
The University has already taken and implicit bias among other topics. in Africana studies; and concen-
steps toward dismantling racism “Our primary goal is to provide trated efforts to recruit more Black
and realizing racial justice on cam- a diversity, equity and inclusion students.
pus and is rolling out many more framework for Student Affairs that Additionally, the Faculty Affairs
campus-wide strategies in the com- is a foundation for growth, devel- office is overseeing several pro-
ing months. opment, knowledge acquisition fessional development workshops
Over the summer, the Uni- and skill geared toward administrators and
versity’s Police Department sets faculty. “There is a need for all
underwent training on implicit faculty, staff and administrators to
bias and de-escalation. Two develop equity-minded compe-
campus officers are certified tence in order to value all the won-
instructors for Principled derful diversity we have at CSUCI,”
Policing, a course focused said Associate Vice President for
on implicit bias and pro- Faculty Affairs Sheila K. Grant, Ph.D.
cedural justice, and will
› Read more at: go.csuci.edu/channel-rrj
be delivering that training
to CSUCI officers as well
as officers throughout LEFT Santi Visalli's photo of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A dventures in Virtual Learning
by MARYA JONES BARLOW
FACULTY HAVE A FEW TRICKS UP THEIR SLEEVES TO MAKE ONLINE
INSTRUCTION IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 FUN, FORMATIVE AND FAIR.
W
HEN CLASSES SHIFTED creative exchange between all CSU dance programs.
online last spring, CSUCI Their resources were so popular they received thousands of
Performing Arts faculty members views on the web, won endorsement from the Dance Studies
Heather Castillo and MiRi Park Association, and were adopted by universities around the
faced a challenge unique even world. In August, Castillo and Park earned recognition from
among educators: How do you the CSU Chancellor, who honored them with a 2020 Faculty
teach students to dance when all they’ve got to work with Innovation and Leadership Award, recognizing extraordinary
is four square feet of space and a smartphone? leadership that advances student success.
Fortunately, Castillo and Park had faced that problem “It was an unintended special honor,” said Castillo. “I
before. Through wildfires, campus closures, and other was well supported at CSUCI to teach and mentor oth-
disruptions, they’ve become adept at keeping CSUCI ers as a Teaching and Learning Innovation faculty fel-
students dancing online. In the COVID-19 pandemic, low. MiRi and I had a little bit of a head start in online
they saw an opportunity not only to improve their skills, instruction and wanted to use it to help the entire dance
but also to share knowledge with a global community of community.”
educators and dancers trying to navigate virtual learning. Castillo, an assistant professor and veteran professional
In a published guide, online workshops and webinars, dancer and choreographer, teaches students from a make-
the duo imparts their trials, tribulations and tips. They shift studio (formerly her children’s playroom) in her
launched CORontine Corps, an online space for dancers Thousand Oaks home. She intentionally made the space
from around the world to share and archive performances small, so her movements are restricted to match those of
and virtual education best practices. They also helped start students joining class from cramped bedrooms and hall-
the CSU Dance Collective, a collaboration to foster virtual ways. Two cameras and a large wall mirror capture her
8 CHANNEL MAGAZINE
{ FEATURE Article }
instruction from different angles, while she coaches stu- Castillo and Park have spread their work to build online
dents in real time on gallery view from her computer. community beyond the field of dance. Answering the call to
Park is a CSUCI lecturer, professional dancer, choreog- action in the Black Lives Matter movement, Park launched
rapher, producer and scholar. Each week she introduces an educational activism project called the ReadIn series,
new movement to students in pre-recorded videos and with Castillo as co-producer. They enlisted noted Black
then meets with the class for actors, broadway stars and
synchronous practice and scholars to read aloud in an
feedback. She also incorpo- online read-a-thon of “Black
rates a strategy developed Reconstruction in America,”
by Castillo to connect with a resonant historical text by
students in smaller group civil rights leader, educator,
cohorts — ensuring they get writer and scholar W.E.B.
individualized attention and Du Bois. The series has
maintain ties to each other. drawn widespread interest
While online instruction and acclaim.
is not ideal — Castillo says “I feel fortunate that we
it’s more than three times can still connect and be
the work of an in-person politically, socially and phys-
class — there are silver lin- ically active in this medium,”
ings. Students who never Park said. “I’m proud to say
danced before are flourish- that I teach at a place that
ing. Experienced students values the online learning
say that leaving the studio, space with equity in mind.”
with its big wall mirrors and
capacity for comparison with EXPERIMENTING
classmates, gives them more WITH VIRTUAL
freedom to forge comfort- LEARNING
able identities as dancers. For CSUCI Chemistry pro-
For her Dance Ensemble fessor Blake Gillespie, life is
class, Castillo provided all one big experiment. So, nat-
12 students with a four-foot- urally, when classes moved
square cardboard box for a online due to COVID-19,
project she’s calling, “Boxed he embraced the pandemic
In.” Each week, students use as an experiment in virtual
the boxes as a stage or canvas learning.
to explore their sense of con- Gillespie converted his
tainment during COVID-19 garage and backyard in Santa
through movement, art and Barbara into makeshift labo-
journaling. Their recorded ratories to perform experiments for students such as using
video performances will be presented at the end of the year ethanol to make gunpowder explode (with the unequivo-
in a CSU Dance Collective virtual concert. cal warning: “DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!”). Still,
“I’m surprised how much they are learning,” she said. “It something was missing.
takes more time to do it well and do it safely, but is it import- “Blowing stuff up in the backyard, really, I got zero pos-
ant that we keep doing it in this moment? Heck, yeah.” itive feedback about that from students, which was deeply
LEFT A socially-distanced chemistry lab class led by Professor of Chemistry Blake Gillespie
ABOVE Dancers in Heather Castillo's class work on themes of confinement
GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL 9
discouraging,” he said. “But it cemented my conviction up with the help of CSUCI’s Information Technology
that students learn best when they do something, create Services so all students can use the same software tools
something.” remotely, regardless of variations, disparities or inequali-
By fall, Gillespie had revamped online classes to ensure ties in technology access.
all students could “engage with their learning to be cre- “The real story is that we're able to do some scientific
ators, not consumers.” heavy-lifting using remote-learning technologies,” Gillespie
His Molecular Structure Determination course blends said. “In the grown-up world of biomolecular structure
in-person and online learning so students can actively partic- determination, folks often don't collect data manually, in
ipate from the lab or home. On campus — socially distanced person. The best facilities are remote-access, shared-use lab-
and wearing full PPE — students learn about structure in oratories. So, our students are actually having quite a 'real-
biomolecules by growing crystals of proteins in the lab. world' experience, partly because of the pandemic.”
Gillespie also enthuses about some of the ways vir-
"THE REAL STORY IS THAT WE'RE ABLE tual learning has enriched an interdisciplinary course
called “Science/Fiction” that he co-teaches with Assistant
TO DO SOME SCIENTIFIC HEAVY- Professor of English Raquel Baker.
LIFTING USING REMOTE-LEARNING “Raquel and I tag team on managing the discussion,
TECHNOLOGIES" –Blake Gillespie breakout rooms, and group chat,” he said. “We've had
some really powerful student insights about our readings,
Students who are unable to come to campus can join and I feel like I've grown as a result of them. Because
online, in real time or asynchronously via video feed of it's all discussion/creation all the time, students step up,
the lab’s microscopes. They help score the experiments that come ready to work, and even support us by drawing our
in-person students began and identify the best conditions attention to pieces we might miss, like someone raising
for obtaining crystals. their hand or a comment in chat. In this class, we’ve seen
After growing the crystals, the students mount and a level of excitement and buy-in that all professors dream
ship them in liquid nitrogen to Stanford Synchrotron of, regardless of delivery modality.”
Radiation Lightsource at the Stanford University/U.S.
Department of Energy SLAC National Accelerator LEARN MORE
› https://corontinecorp.heathercastillo.cikeys.com/Project/
Laboratory. From 350 miles away, the students operate
› TheReadInSeries.com
a remote-controlled robot to perform research and data View video at: go.csuci.edu/channel-virtchem
collection. The virtual machine environment was set
10 CHANNEL MAGAZINE{ FEATURE Article }
A LEADER
in Information Security
K
by PAMELA DEAN
EEPING CSUCI’S INFORMATION “CSUCI is the first campus in the CSU system to fully
technology and computer systems secure implement multi-factor authentication for all faculty, staff
from hackers and cyber criminals is Jim and students, giving us an excellent layer of protection
August’s expertise. against phishing and other attacks” August said.
He joined CSUCI as the University’s new Associate Vice He has led his staff of 37 full-time employees and 10 stu-
President for Information Technology Services and Chief dent assistants through multiple changes to improve service
Information Officer in April 2019 with more than 25 and increase efficiency across the University and is currently
rolling out a new information technology governance pro-
cess involving campus stakeholders to help guide future
projects. His team has also absorbed roles from other units
"Technology is continuously advancing, but as of the Division of Business & Financial Affairs and consol-
a smaller University, we can make significant idated positions when possible to reduce costs.
gains by making better use of technology we During the pandemic, ITS focused on shoring up
already own or adopting technologies already cloud-based systems to enable the University’s faculty,
staff and students to work remotely. They also configured
proven by other CSU campuses."
and distributed over 100 laptops to faculty and staff and
– Jim August
re-purposed nearly 300 existing laptops for distribution to
students in need.
years of experience. He previously served in information For the future of technology at CSUCI, August is guid-
security leadership roles at the University of the Pacific in ing the University toward making better use of features in
Stockton, California and at the Tarrant County College systems the campus already owns rather than investing in
District in Fort Worth, Texas. costly new ones.
Since his arrival he has faced many challenges and “Technology is continu-
implemented numerous changes within Information ously advancing, but as
Technology Services, but a string of phishing attacks a smaller University,
forced information security to the top of his list. we can make sig-
“Within my first few months on the job, students across nificant gains by
the country, including at CSUCI, were hit by a series of making better use
successful phishing attacks targeting their bank accounts of technology we
and financial aid,” August explained. “Improving security already own or
became my highest priority.” adopting tech-
August’s team enhanced basic information technology nologies already
processes for inventory management, vulnerability scan- proven by other
ning, software patching, and expanded antivirus coverage. CSU campuses.”
Student directory information was moved off the public
internet to reduce phishing attacks and projects to encrypt
data and deploy the DUO multi-factor authentication
system were accelerated.The
Doctor
is In
CSUCI gains a
new champion for
healthcare in Health
Science Professor
and Program Chair
Sonsoles de Lacalle
by MARYA BARLOW{ IN FOCUS Faculty }
I N 2 0 1 9 , A N E W FA C U LT Y L E A D E R A R R I V E D De Lacalle balances her administrative role with teach-
on campus to help CSUCI prepare the next generation ing, research, publishing, and service. Outside of her
of healthcare professionals for one of the nation’s fastest- classes — Careers in Health Science, Health Ethics, and a
growing vocations. capstone research course in the fall semester — she main-
Sonsoles de Lacalle, Ph.D., M.D., has a resume that tains an open-door policy (albeit a virtual one during
any physician, neuroscientist and educator would be COVID-19), and encourages students to prioritize self-
proud of: Fulbright scholar, faculty at Harvard Medical care as they persist in their journey to care for others.
School, founding director of three university programs “For me the proudest accomplishment is watching my stu-
in biomedical sciences, published research in presti- dents thrive and take a step forward in their career,” she said.
gious medical journals, presentations at international This year, de Lacalle helped CSUCI land its first
symposia, and awards from the National Institutes of National Institutes of Health grant, as lead investigator
Health (NIH) and American Association of Colleges of on a project called "Initiative to Enhance Diversity in the
Osteopathic Medicine, to name just a few highlights. Biomedical Research Workforce at CSU Channel Islands.”
In her newest job as Professor and Chair of CSUCI’s Joined by three CSUCI co-authors and an interdisciplin-
Health Science program, de Lacalle hopes to help an ary faculty team, she will direct a three-year, $1.1 million
already thriving Health Science program develop into a grant encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to
“
well of regional opportunity and talent. pursue careers in bio-behavioral fields. The project will
expose students to the broad spectrum of biomedical
”
careers, design new curriculum and faculty development
The world of health is more than programs, and examine how those support measures con-
being a physician or a nurse. tribute to student success.
-Sonsoles de Lacalle “As a result of the study, CSUCI will have a better
understanding of effective approaches to student engage-
“It was serendipity, in a sense,” she said. “I had been ment and mentoring, research capacity building, and fac-
seeking a new challenge. I love developing programs ulty’s contribution in the process,” de Lacalle said.
and bringing them forth. And as a native of Spain, the De Lacalle grew up in Madrid, Spain, and became inter-
Spanish influence of California resonates with me.” ested in medicine and neuroscience at an early age. Her
Health Science, formerly under the umbrella of younger sister, Gloria, was born mentally handicapped
CSUCI’s Nursing program, became a stand-alone program with structural brain damage.
in 2019. With the hire of de Lacalle, both the Nursing and “Through the effort of my parents, she was able to have
Health Science programs are positioned to take vital next a semi-independent life,” she said. “That was a powerful
steps to ensure their growth. CSUCI Nursing, chaired by experience, because I saw my parents taking care of her,
Lynette Landry, R.N., Ph.D., is one of the state’s top-rated committed to her well-being, finding the resources, and
Nursing programs. Health Science, with approximately not stopping at doing their best.”
800 enrolled students, is one of the University’s most pop- After medical school in Pamplona, de Lacalle came to the
ular majors. Because entry into Nursing is so competitive, U.S. on a Fulbright scholarship for postdoctoral research at
Health Science is a popular option for students still hoping the University of Chicago. That led to faculty and adminis-
to enter Nursing or other healthcare fields. trative appointments at Harvard, CSU Los Angeles, Charles
“The world of health is more than being a physician or a Drew University, and Ohio University over the next 20 years.
nurse,” de Lacalle said. “There’s a need to understand what Among her goals at CSUCI, de Lacalle hopes to forge
makes human beings better-adapted to the environment, more internships and job pathways for Health Science stu-
to be happier and more productive all around. Health dents in the region.
Science involves fields like nutrition, exercise, ergonomics, “Any group or company that has a commitment to wellness
medical records, radiology, health education, occupational would be a great partner,” she said. “Our students can offer
therapy, behavioral therapy, public health … the sky’s the wellness programs for employees — programs for fitness,
limit. A bachelor’s in Health Science is a place to start to nutrition, cooking — you name it. It’s not just about curing
explore those potentials.” diseases; it’s about providing preventative care.”
GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL 13{ COVER Article }
A Legacy of
Equity
and
Inclusion
President Erika Beck’s Tenure at CSUCI by KIM LAMB GREGORY
AFTER MORE THAN FOUR YEARS AT THE HELM OF Achieving this level of equity on campus required
CSUCI, President Erika D. Beck, Ph.D., will become the a multi-tiered, multi-pronged effort involving stu-
next President of CSU Northridge (CSUN) beginning dents, faculty, staff and a strong connection with the
January 11, 2021. community.
Beck accepted the post after four and a half years “As an institution, we have never been more involved
of leadership at CSUCI, noting that leaving the campus or more engaged or had more conversations about
was bittersweet. diversity, inclusivity, equity and racial and social justice,”
In a message to the campus community Beck stated, said Associate Vice Provost for Student Success &
“It is with mixed emotions that I leave this campus,” Beck Equity Initiatives Amanda Quintero, Ph.D.
said. “I have cherished the opportunity to serve as your
President. Your unwavering commitment to student suc-
Listening, learning and laying a foundation
cess, your resiliency to challenges—and we’ve had our Beck began her tenure at CSUCI in August of 2016 and
share!—and your support of one another has been most was formally recognized and celebrated as president at
impressive. Your individual and collective work truly her investiture in May of 2017.
transforms individual lives, generations of families and “The thing I most admired about her is she took
entire communities.” almost a year doing a listening tour of the campus,” said
The numerous campus accomplishments that distinguish CSUCI Foundation Board Chair George Leis. “She felt
Beck’s tenure at CSUCI are rooted in her belief that every- it important enough to get the students, faculty, staff,
one deserves an opportunity to earn a college degree, alumni, and foundation board’s perspectives before she
and enough support to thrive and graduate on time. implemented her strategy.”
GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL 15President Beck's CSUCI Years
• Conducted comprehensive • May 5 –
listening tour President Beck’s
• Launched strategic initiatives Investiture
planning process • Honorary
• Largest Commencement to Doctorate of
date – 2,200 students to graduate Humane Letters
awarded to Joe I.
2017 Mendoza
• Launched planning to meet the • University
CSU's GI 2025 Initiative welcomes 19
new tenure-track
• Established President's Advisory faculty members
Council on Inclusive Excellence
with Professor José Alamillo • Regional Transfer Success
2016 serving as founding chair Summit aimed at ensuring a
seamless transfer to the campus
• August 8 – Erika D. Beck begins • Launched President's Staff
tenure as CSUCI President Award for Excellence with • CSUCI selected by Foundation
Alison Potter receiving for Student Success to serve
• Santa Rosa Village and newly as mentor campus for colleges
expanded Islands Café inaugural award
and universities from Ohio,
ribbon-cutting ceremony • Campus Connecticut and Colorado.
• 17 new tenure awarded
fifth Tree • Campus selected as one of
track faculty two universities from around
members are Campus
USA the world to attain the New
welcomed to Media Consortium’s Center of
the University recognition for dedication to
healthy trees Excellence Award
“She listened to community leaders, she listened to Professor of Chicana/o Studies José Alamillo, Ph.D.
the faculty, she listened to students,” said board member For example, in 2017, Beck established the President’s
Lynn Pike. “With it being a public institution and the huge Advisory Council on Inclusive Excellence with Alamillo
gap California was going to have in terms of college serving as founding chair.
graduates, she was focused on that goal and mobilized
everybody. She turned everything upside-down, shook “She empowered me and my
everything out and reassembled it.”
Beck looked to solid data when figuring out ways to colleagues to speak our minds.”
support historically underserved students who were – José Alamillo
often the first in their family to attend college.
CSUCI’s status as a federally-recognized Hispan- “She saw the need for more diverse leadership and
ic-Serving Institution (HSI) was something Beck and she sought out faculty who were passionate about this,”
campus leaders took seriously. In 2019, CSUCI became Alamillo said. “She empowered me and my colleagues
one of only nine institutions in the nation and the only to speak our minds. I think she really put equity front
university in California to earn the inaugural Seal of and center on our campus.”
Excelencia for facilitating the success of Latinx students.
“I think there are several things she has done to make
Inclusion at all levels
our campus more than a Hispanic-enrolling organization, Beck also began creating spaces that reflect the cam-
but a Hispanic-serving institution,” said Program Chair and pus commitment to equity and inclusion with the instal-
16 CHANNEL MAGAZINE• Opened Dolphin • CSUCI hosted inaugural • First four-year uni-
Food Pantry, faculty-guided undergraduate versity in California
established the research fellows’ program to receive Bee Campus USA
emergency distinction
• Launched new bachelor of
student loan
science degree in Mechatronics • Campus ranked 26th in Washing-
program, and
Engineering ton Monthly’s “Best Bang for the
secured resources
Buck” among Universities in the
to address student • Largest Commencement to date –
West
housing insecurity 2,260 students eligible to graduate
• Ranked 9th safest campus in the
• Named one of the 10 safest 2018 nation by Crime Stoppers
campuses in the nation by Crime
Stoppers • May 2018 – President endorses • Named by Peace Corps as one
finalized Strategic Initiatives Plan of the top volunteer-producing
• Established Retention, Outreach
Minority Serving Institutions
and Inclusive Student Services and • Launched CI Connect
the Multicultural Dream Center • First CSU campus to establish
• Launched inaugural climate
Z-majors
• Three CSUCI faculty served survey
as CSU International Resident • Welcomed new Vice
• Tree Campus USA recognition
Directors in France, Italy and President for Student
attained for sixth year
Spain Affairs, Richard Yao,
• President's Staff Award for Excel- Ph.D.
• CSUCI selected by Getty lence presented to Danielle Quillan
Center to host Pacific Standard • National Science Foun-
Time LA/LA, a collaboration • Honorary Doctorate of Humane dation awards campus
across Southern California that Letters awarded to Mary Eliza- with nearly $200,000
explored the critical importance beth “Tipper” Gore and Honor- to develop a model
of Latin American and Latino ary Doctorate of Laws awarded to for increasing under-
Art in Los Angeles Judge Michele Castillo represented minority
faculty in STEM
lation of an exhibit in University Hall to honor Chicana the Borderline shootings and the fires, and she didn’t
artist/poet and Oxnard native daughter, Michele Serros, hesitate to bring the students into the fold.”
as well as the trail restoration/rebirth of Sat’wiwa, a
sacred site of the Chumash.
Leadership during a crisis
Beck named Associate Professor of Nursing The COVID-19 pandemic and campus switch to virtual
LaSonya Davis, DNP, FNP, as the inaugural fellow learning was another crisis through which Beck led the
for the President’s Faculty Fellow program, which is campus.
designed to cultivate faculty leadership through the “She kept us in the loop and said that it’s going to be hard
advancement of institutional mission fulfillment. at times and there are a lot of different challenges to virtual
“I told her ‘Thank you for seeing me,’” Davis said. instruction,” Ball said. “And that they were trying everything
“Thank you for seeing me as a Black woman, as one they could to offer a quality education for students.”
of the few black faculty on this campus. Thank you for Staff leaders like former Staff Council Chair Rosario
providing me with opportunity and support.” Cuevas appreciated Beck including staff voices during
Student Government Vice President Isaiah Ball and the fast-moving crises that befell the University such as
former Student Government President Atticus Reyes the 2018 fires and subsequent evacuations.
appreciated Beck including students in key decisions. “She had a special meeting of the Staff Council to
“President Beck really walked the walk,” Reyes said. talk about concerns on behalf of the staff,” Cuevas said.
“Everybody says ‘We really prioritize students,’ but Pres- “She made sure the entire President’s cabinet and
ident Beck really did that. When I was president, we had Police Chief heard about our concerns.”
GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL 17Affairs programming impact on • Inaugural President's Award for
Graduation Initiative 2025 Student Innovation presented to
Melissa Soriano
• Largest Commencement to
date – 2,513 students eligible to • President's Staff Award for
graduate Excellence presented to Ricky
Medrano
2019 • Honorary Doctorates of Humane
• Earned Tree Campus USA Letters awarded to Janice Bryant
designation for the seventh year Howroyd, Deborah Santiago
in a row and Sarita Brown, and Honorary
• College Magazine ranked CSUCI Doctorate of Laws presented to
among the Top 10 colleges for • Established the Bedford and Laurence K. Gould Jr.
surfers Dr. Irene Pinkard Multicultural
Living-Learning Community • One of nine institutions in the
• Campus hosts Migrant Summer nation to attain the inaugural
Leadership Institute for 200 • Launched LEAD CI Seal of Excelencia for facilitating
students • Began trail restoration for Round the success of Latinx students
• Campus ranked 18 in U.S. News
th Mountain, Sat’wiwa, sacred to • Ranked by Time’s Money
& World Report’s listing of Top the Chumash people magazine as the 9th Most
Ranked Public Schools • $5 million in funding awarded Transformative University in the
by the State of California country based on post-graduate
• Launched the Peer
for a feasibility study for success of alumni
Mentor Ambassador
Program and secured a childcare facility and
the lead gift to establish lab school that will serve
an endowment for as a model for expanding
Undergraduate Research access to high-quality
and Creative Activities early childhood education
for underserved communities
• Created interactive data
dashboard serving as a model for • Opened the Michele Serros
the CSU in measuring Student Exhibit and Collection
When current Staff Council Chair Annie Block-Weiss and data science to analyze diabetes prevention, breast-
took the post and met with Beck, COVID-19 had feeding determinants and opioid prescription abuse,”
changed everyone’s lives. Powers said. “We have many CSUCI students who have
“With the fires and COVID-19 and everything, I told participated in our internship program and have become
her staff morale was really low,” Block-Weiss said. “She County employees. We are grateful to have had the part-
came up with virtual cupcakes that sent staff recognition nership with Dr. Beck and the University. I appreciate her
through dancing cupcakes on email. I heard from a lot of enthusiasm, passion and commitment to education and
the staff that the simple recognition made them feel so our community.”
appreciated.” Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D–Thousand Oaks)
championed a new Mechatronics program on the floor
The campus-community connection of the state legislature and CSUCI welcomed its first
Throughout her presidency, Beck cultivated partner- Mechatronics students in fall of 2018.
ships between the community and the campus. “President Beck understood the need to develop
The relationship between the county and the campus a workforce that especially serves companies in the
has strengthened during her tenure according to Ventura county,” Irwin said. “The incredibly diverse student
County Chief Executive Officer Mike Powers, who refer- body at CSUCI will be exposed to an interesting and
enced the Data Analytics project as of one of the reward- constantly evolving field that provides a good living.
ing collaborations between CSUCI and the county. The profession benefits because it has historically
“The project brought the County staff together with lacked the perspective and talents of women and
CSUCI students for a real-world use of machine learning people of color.”
18 CHANNEL MAGAZINEGO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL 19
• Largest Commencement to date • Due to global pandemic, tran-
– 2,700 students were eligible to sitioned nearly every academic
graduate and student support service to a
2020 primarily virtual environment
• Launched renovation of Manza-
• Designated Bee Campus USA nita Hall to serve as the home of
recognition for second time the Martin V. Smith School of
• Tree Campus USA recognition Business & Economics
for eighth year • Student persistence data increased
• President's Staff Award for • Significant gains made in the CSU
• Ranked 4 best college in the
th Excellence presented to Elizabeth Graduation Initiative 2025 Goals
nation for transfer students by (Bitten) Skartvedt moving up 7.1% points from the
the Association of American • Honorary Doctorates of Humane previous year for the First Time
Colleges & Universities Letters awarded to Irene Pinkard Full Time four-year graduate
• Secured funding for Gateway Hall and Esther Wachtell rate and reducing the Under
Represented Minority Equity gap
• Ombuds office established • Launched President’s Leadership by 6.6 points
Programs Faculty Fellow program
• Established the President’s Adviso- with LaSonya Davis serving as • Authorized the hiring of three
ry Council for Cultural Protocols the Inaugural Fellow new faculty whose teachings
• Secured a multi-million dollar focus on anti-racism
• Africana Studies approved
gift to construct a performing arts • Launched Master of Science in
center on campus • Established 7-Point Framework for Nursing (MSN)
Realizing Racial Justice
• Campus ranked 5th in the nation • Record number of
for Social Mobility • Completion and dedica- students eligible to
tion of Central Mall graduate
• Developed comprehensive plan with newly installed
to improve campus emergency permeable pavers • Solar panel project
communication and response between University Hall installation off
including $1.2 million to upgrade and Bell Tower University Drive started
facilities
Framework for the future A sustainable campus was a priority during Beck’s
tenure, so a solar array project is being installed at the
Irwin recognized that CSUCI has the potential to be front of the University to provide 68% of the campus
a model for providing an early childhood education power load.
center, which will offer childcare for students and area
farmworkers. Irwin moved this idea forward to realize “Even though I will no longer
a successful $5 million ask to the legislature, which
resulted in funding for a feasibility study for the early be serving as your President,
childhood education center.
Under Beck’s leadership, the campus launched
know that I will be supporting
the largest planned capital improvement project to your work and cheering you
date — Gateway Hall at the entrance to the campus.
Other projects also include the renovation of Manza-
on!” –Erika D. Beck
nita Hall for the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Beck stressed that she leaves the CSUCI campus
Economics; a campus-wide facilities and emergency filled with Dolphin pride.
communication upgrade to strengthen campus safety “I am grateful to be continuing my work alongside you
and security; completion of the third phase and most in the CSU, and furthering its mission for access, equity
recent renovation of Central Mall; a feasibility study for and excellence. Even though I will no longer be serving
a mixed-use capital program; and the realization of a as your President, know that I will be supporting your
$2 million bequest for a new performing arts theater. work and cheering you on!”
20 CHANNEL MAGAZINE{ ADVANCING THE UNIVERSITY }
CENTRAL MALL
A dream fulfilled by MARYA JONES BARLOW
IT WASN’T THE GROUP blessing led by Raudel Bañuelos, donors and supporters for your phil-
celebration President Erika Beck CSUCI Director of Facility Support anthropic contributions to make all
hoped for, but it was momentous and Chumash elder. William “Bill” of this possible.”
nonetheless. On September 24, Kearney, a founding supporter of Renovations began in 2012 to
Beck stood on the newly completed the University and CSUCI Founda- transform the Central Mall from an
Central Mall at CSUCI and cut a red tion Board member, shares the his- asphalt roadway into a park-like
ribbon dedicating the space to the tory of Central Mall and thanks the pedestrian plaza. Over the next eight
Dolphins – past, present and future 1,495 donors who contributed to its years, in three separate phases, it
– who made it possible. evolution. progressed with tranquil gardens
“You have helped transform “The 60,000-square-foot Cen- with native plants, decomposed
this special place into the heart tral Mall represents much more granite walkways, benches, perme-
of the CSUCI campus,” she said than aesthetic improvement to an able pavers, and an iconic center-
to supporters in a dedication cer- already beautiful campus,” Kearney piece fountain where new students
emony held virtually because of said. “It symbolizes our collective dip their hands in a shared tradition
the COVID-19 pandemic. “Thanks hope and vision that our graduates to begin their journeys as Dolphins.
to you, it has become the spot will lead our region’s future and The Central Mall was also
where students can gather, learn economic prosperity.” expanded to welcome the growing
and engage, and where we will The event closes with comments record classes of graduates, along
celebrate the achievement of their from Associate Professor of Physics with their friends and families, who
highest educational aspirations: Greg Wood and Student Govern- celebrate the conclusion of their
commencement. Once we return to ment President Sophie Nguyễn. CSUCI journeys there in the com-
campus, we look forward to cele- “Some of my most cherished mencement ceremony. At the 2019
brating this space with our students memories on our campus have commencement, more than 21,000
and community at many future com- been at the fun events and gath- guests celebrated a graduating
mencements and other events that erings – connecting with students, class of over 2,700.
will be taking place right here.” clubs and organizations at tabling Until ceremonies can take place
A video of the dedication cere- events and hanging out with friends again in person, the Central Mall
mony, viewable at: go.csuci.edu/ and fellow classmates – all at the remains a quiet haven symbolizing
cm-dedication, captures the Cen- heart of our campus, Central Mall,” the power and beauty of community
tral Mall and campus in majestic said Nguyễn. “On behalf of my support. The heart of the CSUCI
images and heartfelt tributes. The fellow Dolphins, the students of campus is waiting to beat once
ceremony kicks off with a Chumash CSUCI, I would like to thank our again with the echoes of applause.
GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL 21internships
reimagined
by PAMELA DEAN
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Students interns Zaira Miranda, Matthew Macrini, Brittney Demello, Britnay Haddox,
Federico (Fred) Quintero, Kristine Garcia, Edgar Rios-Valdez
FACING PAGE, FROM LEFT Interim Dean Susan Andrzejewski, Associate Professor Ekin Pehlivan, Director of ESBI
Cynthia Sherman
22 CHANNEL MAGAZINE{ FEATURE Article }
T H E PA N D E M I C M AY H AV E P U T T H E
traditional summer internship on hold for many
college students across the country, but Ekin
Pehlivan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing in the
Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics (MVS
then COVID-19 hit. I started hearing from students that
they were losing their jobs as childcare providers, bartend-
ers or retail workers. Some even told me they were taking
out loans. This pushed me to propose a fast-tracked way.”
“It was a true team effort to speed up the process,”
School), saw it as the perfect opportunity to jump start a Pehlivan continued. “Interim Dean of the MVS School of
unique learning opportunity she hadn’t planned on rolling Business & Economics Susan Andrzejewski, Ph.D., ESBI
out until 2021. Director Sherman, MVS School Program Analyst Michele
Micro-internships—hands-on learning projects with Morris, and Program Coordinator Paulina Rodriguez
pay—are tailor-made for this time of social distancing worked tirelessly to make sure the legal and payment struc-
and are run through the MVS School’s Entrepreneurship tures were in place as we started the projects.”
& Small Business Institute (ESBI) under the director- Similar to freelancers, the students worked from their
ship of Cynthia Sherman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of homes on marketing-related projects for two Ventura
Management. County-based companies.
Instead of individual students heading to a company’s “The students and I met virtually twice a week to check
office each day and reporting to a company supervisor, on their progress,” said Pehlivan. “If they were stuck, we
micro-internships allow students to work remotely on solved the problem together as a team, if they needed
comprehensive projects as a team with Pehlivan serving feedback we provided feedback as a team. We learned
as their supervisor. from each other’s experiences this way.”
Pehlivan was originally planning on using her upcom- Pehlivan explained she had offered these hands-on learn-
ing sabbatical to develop and map out how the micro-in- ing experiences as in-class projects for several years, but her
ternship concept would work on the CSUCI campus. students wanted and needed more real-world experience
But when she saw the impact the pandemic was having than a semester-long project could provide.
on many students, she proposed to accelerate the idea, “One way to offer our students a path to professional
and offered to run two pilot projects through the ESBI. careers and entrepreneurship is through the connections
“We were planning to launch the program upon my we build with our small business partners and industry
return from leave as I would have prepared the structural mentors,” Pehlivan noted. “Having a portfolio before they
and operational components,” explained Pehlivan. “But graduate puts them a step ahead of other graduates.”
> READ MORE AT GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL-MICINT
GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL 23{ ALUMNI Profile }
DIANA
GUTIERREZ
’10 B.A.
Psychology
restoring confidence, one patient at a time
S
by PAMELA DEAN
ANTA BARBARA-RESIDENT AND CSUCI possible, but if the Oxnard native’s parents had had their
alumna Diana Gutierrez is enjoying a dynamic career way, Gutierrez would not have attended college at all.
as a physician assistant at Aesthetic Center for Plastic “I am the daughter of Mexican immigrants and the first to
Surgery. As a vital member of the center’s team she assists attend and graduate from college,” Gutierrez explained. “My
with cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries, manages pre- parents come from a cultural background where higher edu-
and post-op patients and runs the practice’s injectable and cation was not a priority, so naturally they could not encour-
laser clinic. age me to pursue something they didn’t fully understand.”
“Plastic surgery is the most diverse specialty in the med- Despite their lack of approval, Gutierrez persisted with
ical field because you deal with problems from head to toe her goal of earning a college degree and had every confi-
and with patients ranging from newborns to older adults,” dence her parents would one day understand.
Gutierrez explained. “I think there is a misconception about She chose to study Psychology to fulfill her initial desire of
plastic surgery and what it means. Most of the time people becoming a community college counselor and helping other
associate the word with celebrities and cartoon faces and bod- first generation students achieve their dreams and aspirations.
ies. More often than not, you are restoring a She chose to attend CSUCI after taking a campus tour.
smile in a child that was attacked by a dog, “My first impression was that the University was a hidden
treating traumatic wounds, or helping a gem. It is a state-of-the-art facility situated on beautiful,
woman regain her confidence after can- serene land,” she said. “The quality of education offered at
cer has left her without breasts. I get the CSUCI really stood out when I compared it to other larger
most joy in seeing people smile and universities. It quickly turned into my first choice.”
feel confident again.” Gutierrez credits Psychology Professor Virgil Adams for
Her bachelor’s degree in encouraging her to take her education to the next level.
Psychology from CSUCI “He encouraged me to get a master’s or a Ph.D. The
and her master’s degree from thought was absurd and seemed far-fetched at the time, yet
MGH Institute of Health here I am.”
Professions made her dream
> READ MORE AT GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL-DG
of working in healthcareYou can also read
