Leah Hollis

Noted scholar and researcher Leah Hollis will explore the concept of workplace bullying in academia during a special presentation at California State University, Northridge on Wednesday, April 2.

The talk, “Bully in the Ivory Tower: How Aggression and Incivility Erode American Higher Education,” is scheduled to take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the theater on the second floor of the University Student Union, located on the east side of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

“It’s of great concern that university personnel engage in bullying or classic school-yard behavior and do it at an alarmingly high rate — twice that of the private sector,” said special education professor Ivor Weiner, one of the organizers of the event. “Bullying contributes to employee burnout, workplace disengagement and poor productivity.”

Hollis, who spent more than 20 years in higher education, chronicled the results of a recent study on bullying in higher education in her book, “Bully in the Ivory Tower: How Aggression and Incivility Erode American Higher Education,” which examines the scope of the problem and offers some strategies for dealing with it.

She surveyed administrators at more than 175 four-year colleges and universities. Nearly 62 percent of the respondents reported that they had been bullied or witnessed bullying in the previous 18 months. While African Americans, women and members of the LGBT community experienced proportionally higher levels of bullying, men in higher education also reported rates of bullying higher than the national average.

Weiner noted that staff who have been bullied seek to separate from the institution or mentally “check out” as a way of enduring the situation.

“No organization can afford the millions of dollars lost to employee disengagement due to a bully,” he said. “After gathering data through surveys and several interviews with administrators, Hollis has developed a model for a healthy workplace specifically for higher education, which is also applicable to the general population.”

Hollis has held faculty and administrative posts at the University of Pittsburgh, Northeastern University and Rutgers University. She has a doctorate in education from Boston University. She has earned certificates in equal employment opportunity law and affirmative action, as well as conflict resolution and investigation from the American Association of Affirmative Action. As president of Patricia Berkly LLC, she speaks regularly on social justice, gender access, workplace bullying and other healthy workplace issues. Her third book, “Bully Beyond the Tower,” is expected to be released this spring.

Hollis’ lecture is free and open to the public. However, seating is limited, so registration is recommended. Register here.

David Nazarian. Photo by Lee Choo.

David Nazarian Leads $25 Million Fundraising Drive
with Transformational Gift to CSUN College of Business

The California State University Board of Trustees has announced the approval of California State University, Northridge naming its college of business the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics in recognition of Nazarian’s commitment to lead a $25 million fundraising drive for his alma mater. Nazarian ’82 has personally committed a $10 million cash gift to CSUN.

Already among the top 10 largest undergraduate business programs in the nation — with a diverse student population that reflects the demographics of California — CSUN will focus the new funding on expanding its resources and providing its students, faculty and alumni with access to an array of innovative educational programs and experiences.

“David Nazarian is an industry-leading businessman and philanthropist whose integrity and vision are second to none,” said CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison. “We are so proud of his accomplishments and impact both on our city and our region. CSUN is a front-runner in educating future leaders of business and industry, and this unprecedented gift allows us to advance our programs and services to transform the business environment on a local and global scale.”

Nazarian, known for his investing acumen, spoke about the impact of his gift and encouraged others to follow his lead.

“While investing in companies can change lives and improve our economy, nothing is more impactful and important than access to quality education and mentoring. That is why I consider this to be the most significant investment of my career,” Nazarian said. “I’m encouraging my business associates, friends, family and anyone who wants to positively impact the lives of talented young people in our region to join me in supporting CSUN and the amazing work being done there.”

Nazarian’s history as a visionary investor and business builder began with his active involvement in his family’s early identification of the potential for wireless communications technology that ultimately became part of Qualcomm, Inc. As founder and CEO of Nimes Capital, Nazarian has established a consistent track record of identifying opportunities ahead of the pack, actively managing investments in the real estate, manufacturing, water and solar infrastructure, technology and hospitality industries. These investment activities include being a shareholder and serving on the boards of: sbe, an international hospitality company whose holdings include the SLS Hotels in Beverly Hills and South Beach, Miami; Solar Reserve, a developer of large-scale solar energy projects; Poseidon Water Resources, whose Carlsbad Desalination project will be the largest seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere; and Pacific Island Restaurants, an operator of more than 80 restaurants in Hawaii and Guam.

Beyond his more than 30 years of success in business, Nazarian has proven to be a tireless philanthropist, donating invaluable time and funding to an array of causes and organizations. He is the chair of the investment committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of the UCLA Foundation. He also serves as a member of the Investment Committee and the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Nazarian is also a member of the USC Marshall School of Business Board of Leaders, LACMA’s Collector’s Committee, The Hammer Museum Circle and the Young Presidents Organization. He is also the founder of the Youth Leadership Program at Sinai Temple.

“This historic gift and the corresponding fundraising initiative will enable CSUN to be a leader in delivering world-class business education to students throughout Southern California,” said Ken Lord, the dean of the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. “We will focus on enhancing entrepreneurship and real estate offerings, offering additional professional development and student mentoring options, increasing the success of women in business, utilizing additional domestic and global student travel opportunities, and ultimately elevating the reputation of CSUN and our college of business.”

Nazarian said he is grateful to be in a position to repay his alma mater for giving him a solid foundation and passionate to ensure future generations can access the same life-changing opportunities he did while at CSUN.

“CSUN provided me with a foundation for my later success and, thus, opened the door for many opportunities in my life,” Nazarian said. “CSUN gave me the chance to realize the American Dream, and I want to make sure that opportunity exists for as many people as possible. I am excited about the future of the College of Business and Economics, and want to do everything I can to support the College and its faculty and students in achieving their goals.”

More information on how to contribute to CSUN and the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics can be found at www.csun.edu/nazarian.

About CSUN:

California State University, Northridge is a nationally recognized university serving more than 38,000 full- and part-time students in the Los Angeles region. Founded in 1958, CSUN is among the largest universities in the nation and is ranked among the top universities for bachelor’s degrees awarded to minority students. The university has nine colleges and more than 2,000 faculty members who teach courses leading to bachelor’s degrees in 69 disciplines, master’s degrees in 58 fields and doctorates in education and physical therapy, as well as 28 teaching credential programs. Continuously evolving and changing to meet the needs of California and the nation at large, CSUN is home to dozens of acclaimed programs where students gain valuable hands-on experience working alongside faculty and industry professionals.

About the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics:

Serving more than 6,000 undergraduate majors with a full range of business programs, the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics also offers a Master of Business Administration program and specialized Master of Science programs in accountancy and taxation. The college is recognized for excellence by multiple external organizations. Its accreditation by AACSB International places it among the top 5 percent of global business degree-granting institutions. Ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the best part-time MBA programs for three consecutive years, the CSUN MBA enjoyed a 32-point rise in the 2014 rankings released earlier this month and now stands second among the 23 universities in the California State University system. The college has been recognized in Princeton Review’s list of Best Business Schools for the last seven years. Its recently launched undergraduate curriculum in financial planning immediately acquired national acclaim and has been cited over the last two years as one of the “great schools for future financial planners” by Financial Planning Magazine.

About David Nazarian:

In his 30-year career, David Nazarian has established a consistent track record of identifying opportunities ahead of the pack, actively managing those investments and executing effective monetization strategies across a diverse range of investment classes and industries. Nazarian’s history as a visionary investor and business builder began with his active involvement in his family’s early identification of the potential for wireless communications technology which ultimately became part of Qualcomm, Inc., one of the most successful corporations in the history of the telecommunications industry.

Capitalizing on the success of Qualcomm, Nazarian focused on investment opportunities that could be utilized to diversify his family’s holdings. Nazarian displayed his acumen and investment vision by orchestrating the roll-up of aerospace equipment manufacturers during a challenging period in a highly cyclical industry; acquiring vast holdings of real estate from the Resolution Trust Corporation in the early 1990s; and strategically investing in the hotel industry following the economic downturn in the early 2000s, then divesting a majority of those investments prior to 2008. Nazarian started three early-stage venture funds concentrated on wireless communication and broadband infrastructure businesses, and he backed highly innovative clean technology companies. Nazarian’s philosophy is to be active in the management of investments via a variety of roles, including serving as an executive, investment committee member, member of the board of directors and/or formal advisor to the underlying companies.

In addition to his business activities, Nazarian is extremely active in the greater Los Angeles community through his support of numerous charitable organizations, including his role as Chair of the Investment Committee and a member of the Board of Directors of the UCLA Foundation, his involvement with the Board of Governors and Investment Committee for the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and his membership on the USC Marshall School of Business Board of Leaders. After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from CSUN, Nazarian received his MBA from the University of Southern California.

About Nimes Capital:

Nimes Capital is the private investment arm of Nazarian Enterprises, concentrating in investments in alternative asset classes. Nazarian Enterprises has a well-established track record of successful investing, including its role as a lead early-stage investor in Qualcomm, Inc. Led by David Nazarian, the Nimes Capital team has numerous investments in real estate and in operating company holdings across a broad spectrum of industries. Nimes Capital seeks to make control equity investment opportunities in stable, well-rounded companies with a history of positive cash flow.

Manuel Pastor

Sociologist Manuel Pastor will explore what California’s shifting demographics and widening economic gap mean for the future of higher education in the state, during a special presentation on Monday, April 21, at California State University, Northridge.

Pastor, a professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity at the University of Southern California, will give the spring 2014 lecture of CSUN’s “Dialogues with the Provost” speaker series. The lecture will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Recital Hall of Cypress Hall at the southwest corner of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

Chicana/o studies professor Juana Mora said several CSUN faculty members attended a conference last fall where Pastor gave a keynote address on California’s changing demographics and the future economic stability of the state

“The conference focused on demographic change and leadership, embedding a culture of equity, effectiveness and excellence, rethinking remediation, using data to track student success and developing an identity as a Hispanic Serving Institution,” said Mora, who serves as assistant to the provost on Hispanic Serving Institutions and Diversity Initiatives. “We were impressed with his presentation and thought CSUN could benefit from what he had to say. I think his visit will help the campus consider the implications of California’s changing demographics, California’s workforce needs and our role as a major institution of higher education in the region.”

Pastor directs the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity and co-directs the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration at USC.

Pastor’s research focuses on the economic, environmental and social conditions facing low-income communities. His more recent book, “Just Growth: Inclusion and Prosperity in America’s Metropolitan Regions,” argues that growth and equity can and should be linked. He also co-authored “This Could Be the Start of Something Big: How Social Movements for Regional Equity are Transforming Metropolitan America.”

In 2012, the Liberty Hill Foundation awarded Pastor the Wally Marks Changemaker of the Year honor for social justice research partnerships.

While Pastor’s speech is free and open to the pubic, seating is limited. To make a reservation, email linda.noblejas@csun.edu.

Josh Sides

California State University, Northridge’s annual Whitsett Graduate Seminar and Lecture will spotlight the rising academic stars in the area of California history.

The graduate seminar features the work of 10 graduate students and engaging discussions with leading experts in topics related to California. The event will be held Thursday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in CSUN’s Sierra Tower room 451.

“Each year, we invite submissions from graduate students in history or related fields,” said history professor Josh Sides, CSUN’s Whitsett Chair of California History. “And each year, we end up selecting some of the nation’s rising stars. It says a lot about the reputation of CSUN’s history department in the American history profession.”

The event will continue in the evening with the Whitsett Graduate Seminar and Lecture at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker Natalia Molina’s with her talk, “What Gentrification Erases from Echo Park: The Importance of Place and Place-makers in the Life of a Los Angeles Community.” Molina is a professor of history and associate dean for faculty equality, division of arts and humanities at UC San Diego. Molina is also the author of books “Fit to be Citizens,” and “How Race is Made in America.”

“Our seminar and lecture reaches different audiences differently,” said Sides. “For undergraduates, the events expose them, perhaps for the first time, to a professional academic conference in which scholars debate, refine and re-imagine historical narratives; for graduate students, it provides them with high-level insights into the profession that will aid them in the completion of their studies and the refinement of their professional goals. For the broader campus audience and for the surrounding community, the events are fun, entertaining, edifying, and, best of all, free.”

The seminar and lecture is open to the public. To RSVP or to find out more information, call (818) 677-3566.

Lou Cozolino, an expert on neuroscience and relationship building, will discuss how emerging research on the brain can help teachers become more effective in the classroom at the next Education on the Edge lecture on Thursday, May 8, at California State University, Northridge.

Cozolino is a psychology professor at Pepperdine University and the author of several books on the brain and how humans make relationships, including “The Social Neuroscience of Education: Optimizing Attachment and Learning in the Classroom.”  His presentation, sponsored by CSUN’s Center for Teaching and Learning, is scheduled to take place from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Northridge Center of the University Student Union, located on the east side of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

“Dr. Cozolino has an exceptional reputation as a speaker, and we are excited that he is continuing our focus on cutting-edge research to practice in education,” said Wendy W. Murawski, executive director and Eisner Endowed Chair at the Center for Teaching and Learning. “His topic is one with which many are not familiar with. So, we know he will be opening our eyes to what we, as educators, parents and administrators, can do to further help all students.”

Cozolino holds degrees in philosophy and theology from Harvard University and State University of New York, as well as a doctorate in clinical psychology from UCLA. He has conducted empirical research in schizophrenia, the long-term impact of stress and matters of child abuse.

In his most recent book, “The Social Neuroscience of Education,” Cozolino argues that teachers can use the latest research in brain science — from studies that show that close, supportive relationships stimulate positive emotions, neuroplasticity and learning to studies that show an awareness of how the mind, brain and body are interwoven can lead to an improvement of classroom performance.

The Education on the Edge speaker series is free and open to the public. However, reservations are required. To reserve a seat, register at http://www.CTLcozolino.eventbrite.com.

CSUN’s Center for Teaching and Learning is the research, collaboration and professional development arm of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education. Through the center’s coordinator, faculty from departments across the college are able to conduct cutting-edge research and professional development to address the needs of schools in collaboration with K-12 teachers, administrators and community members.

The center was established in the summer of 2002, thanks to a generous gift from the Eisner Foundation, the family foundation of Michael and Jane Eisner. The center initially focused on neurodevelopment and how knowledge of those constructs can be taught to teachers and ultimately impact the way they teach and the way students learn. During the past few years, the center has broadened its scope. Faculty and affiliates of the center are researching, analyzing and teaching multiple innovative approaches to instruction, assessment, educational planning, collaboration, differentiation and professional development.

Scene from 2013 commencement at CSUN. Photo by Lee Choo.

Nearly 10,000 students are expected to walk across a California State University, Northridge stage and receive the congratulations of their faculty and university officials, including CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison, as the university celebrates its 2014 commencement ceremonies.

An estimated 9,999 students — 7,647 bachelor’s, 2,325 master’s and 27 doctoral degree candidates — are eligible to take part in the ceremonies scheduled to begin the evening of Friday, May 16, with the university’s Honors Convocation.

“Commencement is a special time at a university,” Harrison said. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to join with the students and their families and friends in celebration of what is always a momentous and joyous occasion. Throughout the year, I have enjoyed interacting with many students and learning about their outstanding work in the classroom and in the community. Honors Convocation and the commencement ceremonies give me a formal setting in which to celebrate our students’ accomplishments.”

There will be seven graduation exercises over the course of four days. CSUN’s commencement celebration begins at 6 p.m. on May 16 with the Honors Convocation on the lawn in front of the Delmar T. Oviatt Library. This year’s speaker will be alumnus Keith Weaver, executive vice president of worldwide government affairs for Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Weaver, who earned a bachelor’s in journalism in 1996 and a master’s in public administration in 2007 from CSUN, oversees all aspects of Sony’s government relations and public policy activities, as well as community affairs. He has been with the company since June 2002, when he joined as vice president of government affairs, and served as senior vice president from October 2005 until being named executive vice president in September 2011.

Last year, Weaver was elected chair of the California State Film Commission and has served as vice chair of the Board of Neighborhood Commissions for the City of Los Angeles. Additionally, he serves on the boards of the Exceptional Children’s Foundation; Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation; Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs; Providence Health and Services Community Ministry Board; and Slavery No More.

The commencement ceremony for the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication will take place at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 19, on the Oviatt Library lawn. The College of Health and Human Development’s ceremony will be take place at 6 p.m. that day on the lawn.

The graduation ceremony for undergraduates from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences will take place at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, on the Oviatt Library lawn. The ceremony for the master’s candidates from that college has been combined with the graduation ceremonies for the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Science and Mathematics, which will take place at 6 p.m. on May 21 on the Oviatt Library lawn.

The university’s commencement exercises will culminate on Thursday, May 22, with the ceremony for the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics at 8 a.m. on the Oviatt Library lawn, as well as the ceremonies for the College of Humanities and Michael D. Eisner College of Education at 6 p.m. in the same location.

An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters will be bestowed on William C. “Bill” Allen, president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, during the ceremony for the Nazarian College.

In addition to his work with the development corporation, Allen is the 2012 board chair of Film L.A., vice chair of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley and board secretary for the Valley Presbyterian Hospital. He also is a member of the board of directors of the Weingart Foundation, International Economic Development Council, California Stewardship Network, Regional Economic Association Leaders of California Coalition, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy and Jobs, Unite L.A. and the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.

Active in regional economic development for more than a decade, Allen was the first CEO of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, from 1996-2000, and, in 2000, was named California’s Civic Entrepreneur of the Year by the California Center for Regional Leadership. While at the Economic Alliance, Allen raised more than $5 million and assembled an unprecedented public-private partnership involving all of the leading cities, colleges and business organizations in the San Fernando Valley. Under his guidance, the alliance launched programs to expand international trade, improve local education and workforce development and developed viable solutions to regional transportation challenges.

Acclaimed actors Paul Adelstein, Amy Brenneman, and Kate Walsh, together with musical guests Brooke White, Chris Stills and Gloria Loring, will be using their celebrity to shine the spotlight later this month on the CHIME Institute, housed at California State University, Northridge.

The actors are joining dozens of other performers in the annual CHIMEapalooza to raise funds for the institute — which has been hailed as a national leader in the development and implementation of inclusive education, where children who develop typically, children with special needs and children who are gifted learn side by side.

CHIMEapalooza is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, in CSUN’s Campus Theatre, located on the southwest side of the campus near the corner of Nordhoff Street and Darby Avenue. The show will be preceded by a reception at 6 p.m.

Amy Brenneman hosting last year’s CHIMEapalooza. Photo by Stacey Kelly Photography.

“We are thrilled that CHIMEapalooza has grown to an annual event that showcases the creativity, energy and enthusiasm we all share for the CHIME Institute,” said Brenneman, one of the evening’s organizers. “CHIME is a national leader in teaching school inclusion, and everyone who attends leaves this event inspired and awe-struck by its mission and accomplishments.”

The evening will feature live musical performances and original theater. Tickets for the event are $100 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www.CHIMEapalooza.org.

Established in 1990, the CHIME Institute is a national leader in developing and implementing model educational programs and dynamic research and training environments to disseminate best practices in inclusive education. The institute’s research and training center is housed in CSUN’s Michael D. Eisner College of Education.

The institute began with an early childhood education program based on the CSUN campus. The success of that program, coupled with needs of the community and sound research, prompted a group of parents and CSUN faculty to develop a public charter elementary school in 2001 and a public charter middle school in 2003. The two schools merged into a K-8 school located in Woodland Hills in 2010.

Paul Adelstein at last year’s CHIMEapalooza. Photo by Stacey Kelly Photography.

Inclusive education at CHIME means that children who reflect the demographics of the surrounding regions learn side by side. CHIME’s model allows for the individual needs of each child to be addressed in a manner that enhances each child’s strength, while also providing educational progress.

CHIME also serves as a model for educators through its partnerships with the Eisner College and the Los Angeles Unified School District. It facilitates research opportunities and regularly hosts visitors from around the United States and the world who are interested in replicating its successes in their own schools. The institute has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a model for full inclusion of students with disabilities and for providing a blueprint for local schools across the country.

Proceeds from the CHIMEapalooza will go toward supporting inclusive practices in the institute’s educational programs and school. For more information about the CHIME Institute, call (818) 677-4979 or (818) 346-5200 or visit its website www.chimeinstitute.org.

The stars were shining bright in California State University, Northridge’s Campus Theater on Saturday, May 17, as acclaimed actresses Amy Brenneman and Kate Walsh joined musicians Gloria Loring, Chris Stills and American Idol finalist Brooke White in celebrating the CHIME Institute, which is housed at CSUN and is considered a national leader in the development and implementation of inclusive education.

Brenneman served as host of the annual CHIMEapalooza, which featured an evening filled with humor and music, including a reworking of the song “Facts of Life,” the song Loring and her husband, Alan Thicke, wrote for the popular 1980s television show of the same name, to celebrate the inclusive nature of CHIME.

The evening’s theme, “All ALOUD ALLOWED,” spotlighted the performers’ belief that “every child has a right to an education.”

Established in 1990, the CHIME Institute is a national leader in developing and implementing model educational programs and dynamic research and training environments to disseminate best practices in inclusive education — where children who develop typically, children with special needs and children who are gifted learn side by side. The institute’s research and training center is housed in CSUN’s Michael D. Eisner College of Education.

Highlights from the show included readings of funny and often poignant stories from CHIME parents, children and teachers about their experiences at the institute by actors Walsh, Paul Bartholomew, San Griffiths, Michael Linstroth, Oscar Nuñez, Justine Reiss, Carmella Riley and others. The stories covered such topics as waiting to hear if a child’s name was called in the lottery for CHIME’s charter school to friendships formed between typical learning and special needs children.

The institute began with an early childhood education program based on the CSUN campus. The success of that program, coupled with needs of the community and sound research, prompted a group of parents and CSUN faculty to develop a public charter elementary school in 2001 and a public charter middle school in 2003. The two schools merged into a K-8 school located in Woodland Hills in 2010.

Inclusive education at CHIME means that children who reflect the demographics of the surrounding regions learn side by side. CHIME’s model allows for the individual needs of each child to be addressed in a manner that enhances each child’s strength, while also providing educational progress.

CHIME also serves as a model for educators through its partnerships with the Eisner College and the Los Angeles Unified School District. It facilitates research opportunities and regularly hosts visitors from around the United States and the world who are interested in replicating its successes in their own schools. The institute has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a model for full inclusion of students with disabilities and for providing a blueprint for local schools across the country.

Proceeds from Saturday night’s festivities will go toward supporting inclusive practices in the institute’s educational programs and school. For more information about the CHIME Institute, call (818) 677-4979 or (818) 346-5200 or visit its website www.chimeinstitute.org.

Jay Kvapil

Jay Kvapil, director of the School of Art at Cal State Long Beach, has been named the new dean of California State University, Northridge’s Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication.

Kvapil, a respected ceramic artist who has sat on the boards of several national art education organizations, is expected to begin his new post Aug. 1.

“We hired Jay mainly as a leader,” said CSUN Provost Harry Hellenbrand in his announcement to the campus about Kvapil’s appointment. “You would have a hard time finding another accomplished artist with his understanding of the California State University system, Los Angeles and higher education.”

Kvapil said he was looking forward to joining the CSUN community and learning the ways of the campus.

“Northridge is a campus that is obviously on an upward trajectory,” Kvapil said. “I am interested in learning the campus’ goals and the individual department goals in the college, and how I can help them succeed.”

Kvapil earned a bachelor of arts degree in literature, with honors, from the University of the Pacific in 1973. Shortly thereafter, he traveled to Japan to study tea ceremony ware at Takatori Seizan Pottery in Kyshu, achieving the rank of Journeyman Potter in 1975. Kvapil returned to the United States to earn a master of arts in ceramics in 1979 and a master of fine arts in plastic arts in 1981 from San Jose State University.

Kvapil joined the faculty at Cal State Long Beach in 1986 as an assistant professor of art. He rose through the ranks. He chaired the art department and eventually became director of the School of Art in 2011. Between those posts, he has been associate dean and interim dean of the College of Arts.

He also has held several national positions, including conference director for the National Council for Education in the Ceramic Arts. He has been a board member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, as well as a member of the association’s executive committee. He is currently a member of the association’s commission on accreditation.

While pursuing his academic career, Kvapil has continued to create art. His work in ceramics shows deep meditation on the relations of Asian and American art — on the delicate shapes and intimate scale of the tea ceremony, as well as the richly textured and organic shapes of mid-century American expressionism. He has exhibited widely. His most recent show was last fall at the Couturier Gallery. Entitled “Jay Kvapil — New Works,” the exhibition showcased the depth of his exploration into the boundaries of wheel-thrown forms and intriguing crater glazes.

His work has been included in numerous exhibitions, including “American Porcelain, New Dimension in an Ancient Art” at the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C.; the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Taiwan; “On and Off the Wall: Shaped and Colored” at the Oakland Museum; and a one-person exhibition at the Downey Museum of Art. His work also can be found in the public collections of the Long Beach Museum of Art and the San Jose Museum of Art.

An estimated 9,999 graduates — 7,647 bachelor’s, 2,325 master’s and 27 doctoral degree candidates — made the long walk across the stage in seven separate ceremonies during California State University, Northridge’s commencement proceedings that started May 16 with Honors Convocation and concluded May 22. Please keep coming back to CSUN Today for photos from each of the ceremonies.

Some undergraduates expect to learn from the brilliant minds of major social figures, but only a handful of students get to realize this grand dream. At California State University, Northridge, this dream came true in former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle’s Political Science 471A seminar.

Lingle ’75 (Journalism) noted at the beginning of the spring semester that she planned to use her contacts and 30 years of experience as a public servant to give the more than 20 students a taste of public policy.

“It’s not every day a student can take a course and learn firsthand experience from a governor,” said political science sophomore Paulin Minassian, who hopes to some day become a judge. “She taught us things that aren’t in our books and things that are overlooked in life.”

Minassian was the only sophomore in the seminar course — usually reserved for seniors and second-semester juniors — giving her a fresh take on the application of her studies to the real world. Beyond that, she became acquainted with a highly supportive environment that promoted critical thinking, public speaking and strong writing, she said.

The course was based on three projects. Students were asked to present a speech and brief — a memo no longer than three pages, according to Lingle — on a local, state and national policy. Points of view from which presentations could be given included lobbyist, politician and activist.

“[Gov. Lingle taught us] how to correctly write policy memos and testimonies, the importance of thinking through policy problems and that for any one policy issue, multiple solutions are available,” said Jessica Markham ’14 (Political Science). “She has a way of guiding your thought to reach a logical conclusion.”

The class heavily emphasized writing, and the students were expected to meet high standards.

“She was always willing to go over papers and make [students] see why [they] should shorten a certain sentence or rearrange paragraphs for clarity,” Markham said. “The former governor’s journalism training was very apparent and useful to the group of political science majors.”

Lingle was also able to help students stretch beyond their skill sets. For Diana Benitez ’14 (Urban Planning), the only non-political science major in the seminar, this meant relating the world of policy to her academic background.

“It was my last semester at Cal State Northridge, and I wanted to take a fulfilling course that would incite curiosity and help me to hone my skills for the future,” Benitez said. “As an urban planning major, I learned a lot of community-level work. I wanted to know how policy worked — how it was formed, how it came to be.”

Students learned through texts and practice, as well as anecdotes from Gov. Lingle and her array of guest speakers. The governor’s own connections led to class discussions with her former staff, including Linda Smith, Lingle’s senior policy advisor, and Corrie Heck of her communications team. Discussions also included local political celebrities such as L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and Bipartisan Policy Center President Jason Grumet. Lingle’s connections with Congress also provided the class a second chance to chat with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who had a public speaking engagement on campus over lunch. The intimate lunch was only one example of networking opportunities provided by Lingle’s experience and know-how.

Networking was a key part of the class, said Minassian, who began to connect with guest speakers. Visitors were able to provide students with their own life stories and hardships that led them to their current positions. The variety of fields represented also helped students see themselves in niches relevant to their interests.

The networking went beyond the classroom for Benitez. “I ran into [Gov. Lingle]  at this year’s CSUN Distinguished Alumni Awards, and she introduced me to an urban planner,” she said. “I was able to connect with him and visit his office a few weeks later to talk about urban planning in the private sector. I have had my eyes opened to the world of policy and have decided to continue taking policy courses at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs, as an urban planning master’s candidate.”

Ultimately, the students loved the course and admit to having learned more than they anticipated in a senior seminar.

“I think I speak for the whole class when I say [Gov. Lingle] didn’t do [this] because it was her ‘job.’ She helped us and taught us because she really wanted to inspire and prepare us for what’s ahead,” Minassian said. “This is what I’d categorize as an experience of a lifetime.”

“[Gov. Lingle] is very invested in her students’ success,” Markham said. “She is willing to talk about aspirations outside of the classroom and do whatever she can to help [them] meet those aspirations.”

Images from the 2014 Commencement for California State University, Northridge’s College of Humanities and Michael D. Eisner College of Education.

Students graduating from California State University, Northridge participated in a pinning ceremony for registered nurses receiving their bachelor of science and nursing degrees on May 18 at the Grand Salon in the University Student Union .

The ceremony was sponsored by Valley Presbyterian Hospital. A slide show presenting the students’ different experiences with events during their program being shared by their families and a reception followed the event.

“The event was very memorable and inspiring,” said Samira Moughrabi, assistant director of the nursing department, “The pinning ceremony is an important aspect of our program where faculty, families and students celebrate each others’ successes and achievements.”

The nurse pinning ceremony is a tradition in which pins are presented to newly graduating nurses by their faculty as a symbolic welcome into the profession.  When receiving the pin, newly graduated nurses recite the Nightingale Pledge.

The pins – specifically designed for the CSUN nursing class in 1996 – have the image of an oil lamp. The image symbolizes the lit lamp used by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern-day nursing.

Sandra Buenrrostro became the first graduate at CSUN to win the Outstanding Nursing Award.

“Throughout these past three years we lived, laughed and cried together,” Buenrrostro said. “I thank everyone for their support and most of all their friendship. I wouldn’t have been able to make it without them.”

The CSUN Nursing program offers an accelerated nursing program for students who hold a bachelor’s degree and want to earn the (BSN) that qualify to take the RN licensing exam in 15 months. Students entering programs with RNs can enhance their education through the BSN or the public health nursing certificate. Options include taking advantage of a partnership between CSUN and College of the Canyons which allows students to enroll in both nursing programs concurrently, taking courses for their BSN from CSUN while completing their associate degrees at College of the Canyons.

Linda de Vries

Former California State University, Northridge theater professor Linda de Vries recently received the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award after being nominated by her former student Gabriel Ortiz.

De Vries worked in CSUN’s Department of Theatre for 27 years, teaching classes and working on the student productions.

“I became a teacher because I was taught,” said de Vries. “I learned that to teach was to open doors, to challenge and to transform. I could imagine no greater vocation.”

CSUN theater professor Peter Grego hailed de Vries as a mentor.

“Linda was all about the work, and when students or faculty could get it stronger, she was there to help,” said Grego, de Vries former office mate. “Although you’d think we couldn’t get closer than sharing an office together, she also worked as vocal/speech/dialect coach on most of the productions I directed for 18 years. But I think the strongest work we shouldered was coaching students for their prospective graduate school auditions. Linda was unflagging in her devotion and the commitment she made to each student. How she managed to drive after rehearsals ended at CSUN at 10 p.m. to her home in Whittier still amazes me.”

It was that passion to teach, encourage and push people to do their best that changed Gabriel Ortiz’s life.

“I don’t remember what she said or how she convinced me to stay, but I do remember this woman got to me,” said Ortiz, who nominated de Vries for the accolade.

De Vries recalled having Ortiz in her classes for six semesters, directing him in multiple shows and coaching him in about six more.

Ortiz said that in his time with her, “she reached across the lines of socioeconomics, race, class, gender and privilege to show she cared and remind me that I was somebody.”

De Vries is one of only six educators nationwide to receive the award, which included a $10,000 grant.

“The grant is awarded based on the nomination letter from the student. Thus, I feel this award was as much Gabe’s as mine,” said de Vries.

She gave half of the $10,000 to Ortiz, which he used in three key ways: a life-saving operation for his family dog, paying off the credit card debt of his first writing teacher who is dying of cancer and to buy books for the at-risk kids in the middle school where he is associate principal. De Vries donated the other half other of the grant to the ongoing mission of the chorus in which she sings and for which she is chair of the board of directors.

“I believe an award such as this should be paid forward,” she said. “When I wrote to Stephen Sondheim in thanks, explaining how the money had been used, he wrote back, ‘Your letter moved me so much I can hardly reply.’ He later forwarded the letter to the CEO of Music Theatre International, the organization that provides the money for the award.

“My goal with this award, as with all else I do or that happily comes my way, is to support arts and education and those who dream of these opportunities for all of our citizens,” said de Vries.

“I would hope this award would also add to the validatity the professors at CSUN,” she said. The devotion and care taken in teaching those often first-generation students is incredibly rewarding for students, professors and society. I would hope it would encourage all professors to a renewed commitment to their students and that it brings emphasis, in particular, to the importance of arts programs, both at the University level and K-12.”

The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards publicly recognize specific teachers by spotlighting their extraordinary impact on the lives of students. The awards celebrate the teaching profession, the important role of teachers in society and seek to inspire others to pursue this profession. These former students’ stories exemplify the power one teacher has to inspire others and transform lives.

Designs for flight vehicles were showcased at the 2013 Art of Innovation Conference. Photo by Armando Tellez.

For the second year in a row, California State University, Northridge’s College of Engineering and Computer Science will host the Art of Innovation (AOI) Conference for students, educators and professionals in the community.

Taking place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 20, the event will focus on the latest accomplishments in all areas of innovation, including quality management, manufacturing processes, supply chain management, product design, assistive technology, university-industry collaboration, engineering education and entrepreneurship. Attendees will meet and network with other industry professionals and educators to discuss challenges related to innovation and entrepreneurship in the 21st century.

“This event is crucial to CSUN and the engineering communities in the San Fernando Valley, as this is a one-of-a-kind conference on innovation in the [region],” said Shereazad “Jimmy” Gandhi, a co-chair of the conference. “Considering the competitive advantage that innovation can give local industry, it is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to come together and learn from — as well as discuss with — others in the innovation domain.”

The conference is organized by Gandhi, director of the Ernie Schaeffer Center of Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Ileana Costea, chair of the Department of Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Management. The event will be co-hosted with Aerojet Rocketdyne’s In2:InThinking Network 2014 Forum and is set to feature keynote speakers Ed Tackett of RapidTech and Michael Scully of BMW.

Tackett is the director of RapidTech with the National Science Foundation Center for Additive Manufacturing at University of California, Irvine. Beyond his 16 years of experience with additive manufacturing and product development, he has worked with more than 700 start-up companies, some of which have become Fortune 500 members.

Scully, the creative director of global design for BMW Group DesignworksUSA, was the lead designer on the Team USA bobsleds that took three medals at the Winter Olympics in Sochi earlier this year. He has led the design and development of a series of innovative carbon fiber BMW bobsleds, leading to 23 medals for the U.S. in the 2014 World Cup.

Two panels will be held at the conference. The first, “Innovation and Manufacturing,” will feature Jane A. Skeeter, CEO of UltraGlas; Peter Athanas, senior consultant for California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC); Daniel Feiman of Build it Backwards; and Charles Chase, senior program manager of Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works. Topics will include the alignment of market needs with manufacturing capabilities, the negative impacts of not innovating and “game-changing innovation transition.”

The second panel, “Growth through Innovation,” will feature speakers from CMTC. Moderated by Virginia Green, a specialist in innovation and growth management, the speakers will be Dennis Grogan, a senior consultant on enterprise transformation, and Elizabeth Glynn, a senior consultant experienced in exporting and global business. A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion.
The conference also will include an educator’s competition and poster display. Selected educators who have been working on innovative projects in their respective fields will present their work at the AOI conference during the “Innovation Paper Winners of Educator’s Competition” session.

The poster display portion of the event will be open throughout the day. Accepted work will be displayed in the main conference room.

For those in the area the day before the main AOI conference, a pre-conference workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 19 in the Northridge Center of the University Student Union. Reservations are required. The pre-conference workshop will feature Dale S. Deardorff, director of innovation and strategic thinking for the Rocky Peak Leadership Center, on the topic of “The Course in Creativity.”

Registration will be available to participants the day of the conference. Faculty registration is $125, and student registration is $40. Payment may be made with credit card or check only.

“Bringing experts from industry and academia to the AOI 2014 Conference offers the needed cross-pollination of experience and know-how from both sides,” Costea said. “Sharing lessons learned and networking will enhance the engineering community knowledge on applying innovative ideas with an entrepreneurship spirit. Another hidden agenda is to excite young people into STEM so that they can have rewarding engineering careers, and employers can get a more creative and qualified work force.”

Parking on the CSUN campus in student lots is $6 per day. For more visitor information, please visit the Department of Police Services.

California State University, Northridge incoming freshmen will explore a dystopian future — written in the form of a blog — in “The Postmortal.” 

In the year 2019, a newly discovered “cure” to aging is given to protagonist John Farrell. The story follows him after his body stops maturing at 29 years old. Social change and issues arise as the cure gains popularity across the globe, leading to much political and moral debate.

“The book’s dark vision raises ethical questions about overpopulation, mortality, the environment, families, birth, marriage, death, interpersonal relationships, income inequality and the role of government in the lives of the governed,” said English professor Cheryl Spector, director of CSUN’s Academic First Year Experiences program. “The Freshman Common Reading Selection Committee members believe the book will generate very interesting classroom discussion across a broad range of disciplines.”

Members of the CSUN community are invited to prepare for this year’s incoming freshman class by reading and discussing the book with faculty and staff in a summer book group discussion. English professor Debbi Mercado will lead the discussion from 11 a.m. to noon on July 17 in Sierra Hall 439. All participants will be eligible to receive a free paperback copy of the book. Refreshments will be available.

“We invite new freshmen and other members of the CSUN community to read the book and to discuss it as part of a campuswide community of readers,” Spector said. “The Common Reading Program allows everyone on campus to think, talk and learn together across and beyond the boundaries of any single classroom.”

The book’s author, Drew Magary, will be the keynote speaker at the university’s annual Freshman Convocation on Thursday, Sept. 4.

The Freshman Common Reading Program is part of Academic First Year Experiences, which strives to help freshmen and transfer students make a successful transition to CSUN. Programs such as the Common Reading Program and Freshman Convocation provide opportunities to link curricular learning so that first-year students begin university life smoothly. For more information about the Academic First Year Experiences program or to RSVP for “The Postmortal” book group discussion, call (818) 677-6535 or visit the Freshman Common Reading page.

Samayoa said most programs separate the 9-year-old twins because of their special needs. Her son, Zael, has cerebral palsy and his brother, Gael, is a typical child but “shy.”

“Usually, I’ll take one to practice and the other has to sit and watch,” Samayoa said. “This program has brought them together and helped build their self-esteem.”

The two-year-old Sensory Motor Program is offered by the Department of Kinesiology for five weeks in the summer to children ages 4 to 12. The program, which is free to the community, works on developing the children’s motor skills through physical activities, including jumping, running and handling a ball. The class is a mix of children with typical skills and those with disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Gael Samayoa plays on a scooter that assists with balance. Photo by Victor Kamont

CSUN’s program is one of the few of its kind open to typical children and those with disabilities.

“Motor development is important for students with or without disabilities,” said kinesiology professor Teri Todd, director of the program. “This has been a wonderful opportunity to bring children together who have different skill levels and abilities in a positive, supportive environment.”

Twice a week for 50 minutes, the participants receive one-on-one attention from CSUN undergraduate students enrolled in a kinesiology motor behavior principles class. The students with more severe disabilities work with adapted physical activity kinesiology graduate students who volunteer their time. One of the first things the CSUN students do is assess the children’s skill level in the areas of local motor, object control and body awareness, and rhythm and dance. Instead of having the children simply run, jump or throw a ball, the CSUN students try to make the exercises fun by incorporating them in activities and games like soccer and basketball.

“All the kids are equalized,” said Mark Genderlink ’92 (Sociology), M.A. ’05 (Educational Technology), who has two children enrolled in the program. His 7-year-old son, Carter, has some “social relations” problems, Genderlink said, and his 9-year-old son, Dean, has ADHD.

“They get one-on-one attention and gain some confidence,” Genderlink said.

Ecuador is only about half the size of France, but the country is one of the most biologically diverse spots on the planet — nearly 17 percent of the world’s plant species and 20 percent of the world’s bird diversity live in its forests.

That’s why California State University, Northridge invites undergraduate and graduate biology students to travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands as part of the Tropical Biology Semester program, a special package of courses offered every other year.

Twelve students recently completed the program, spending four weeks on campus to attend lectures and participate in labs and short field trips before heading to Ecuador for the majority of the semester.

Undergraduate students in the Tropical Biology Semester program have the chance to study unique wildlife in the field. Here, CSUN students get close to native wildlife in the Galapagos Islands.

Once there, students worked on two independent research projects each and learned about tropical ecology and conservation, in Amazonian and high-elevation forest regions. They also spent eight days on the Galapagos Islands, where more than 20 percent of the marine species are unique to the area.

After the trip, the students returned to CSUN for the final four weeks of the semester, presenting their work in a mini-symposium to the Department of Biology and the College of Science and Mathematics. Professors David Gray and Fritz Hertel and associate professor Tim Karels lead the expedition every two years.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime to do first-hand research in an amazing location,” said Karels. “A lot of the undergrad students have gone on to master’s programs after the semester. They really got hooked on the research and the diversity of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. It’s a right of passage for a biologist to be able to walk in the footsteps of Charles Darwin.”

Andrea Haberkern, who recently returned from the trip during her final semester as an undergrad student in evolution and ecology, couldn’t agree more.

“It’s priceless to be able to get this kind of field experience — you’re really treated like a biologist, and whatever your passion is, you get to study it,” said Haberkern, who learned during the trip that she had been accepted at CSUN as a master’s candidate in biology.

This “tiger tarantula,” held by CSUN biology master’s student Andrea Haberkern on her trip to Ecuador during the Tropical Biology Semester, was previously unknown to science. The spider was in the process of being described by one of the biologists at the Yasuni National Reserve station.

The first of Haberkern’s two projects in Ecuador examined the environments in which small mammal populations were the most diverse. Her second project, inspired by her longtime fascination with bugs, studied the correlation between a spider’s body shape and how it forages for food.

“This was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had,” she said. “We were so remote, and every day brought a new surprise. To be able to study like that in someplace so beautiful is something I’ll always remember.”

Visit http://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/tropical-biology-semester for more information on the semester program.

The New Student Orientation leaders will assist new students during their various orientation sessions at CSUN.

The start of California State University, Northridge’s annual season of new student orientations begins July 30.

The Office of Student Involvement and Development will host multiple New Student Orientation sessions from July 30 to Aug. 22 for first-time freshmen, transfer students and international students. Led by red-shirted new student orientation leaders, the incoming students will be welcomed to campus by CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison or her representative, participate in a campus tour, and attend a service fair and a series of “small group discussions” with current students and campus leaders.

“At New Student Orientation, our goal is to support the process of integrating new students into the academic, cultural and social context of this incredible university,” said Christopher Aston, assistant director of the Office of Student Involvement and Development.

The orientation leaders train for hours to learn how to best assist and advise the new students. The students are divided up into the one-day orientations based on their major and admission to the campus.

This year, orientation leaders are expecting approximately 5,800 first-time freshmen, between 600 and 800 international students and 500 first-time transfer students to participate in the daylong orientation workshops.

The office also will host an orientation for parents of new students in October.