May 15, 2008

What: Turlock HEAD Start Kids & Parents Learn Fitness Tips With CSU Stanislaus Varsity Basketball Team.

When: Friday, May 16, 2008, 10 a.m. to Noon at the Pergola Meadows on the
CSU Campus by the Student Dormitories.

Turlock – (May 14, 2008) The Office of Service Learning at California State University, Stanislaus is partnering with Head Basketball Coach Keith Larsen and his Varsity Basketball students to co-sponsor a sports fitness clinic for 3 to 5 year old students and their parents enrolled in the Turlock Head Start program.

Head Start students from Crane Elementary, Cunningham Elementary, Wakefield Elementary and Osborn Elementary will learn how to stay healthy through fun sports-related activities. The track field will be transformed into different sport “stations” for activities such as Dodgeball, Soccer, and Kickball. Under the direction of Coach Larsen, CSU Students, interested in fitness education and health, will be teaching younger students sports related activities and information on healthy eating habits. The young students and their parents will also receive information for healthy food menus along the way. Coach Larsen will also be sharing age appropriate activities and positive ways to encourage children and their parents to adopt and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

This fun and educational event will take place at the CSU Stanislaus at Pergola Meadows near the student dormitories on Friday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to noon. Entry to the campus is off Geer Road at Calaveras Way.

May 15, 2008

CSU Stanislaus to receive $1 million endowment for community college scholarships

TURLOCK - (May 14, 2008) California State University, Stanislaus will receive $1 million as its share of a generous gift to the CSU system from the Bernard Osher Foundation for community college transfer student scholarship programs.

The San Francisco-based Bernard Osher Foundation has committed to donate $16 million to support endowed scholarships for California community college students transferring to 15 CSU campuses as part of the foundation’s overall $70 million private donation to the state’s community college system. CSU Stanislaus will receive a $1 million endowment to provide $2,500 individual scholarships to 20 community college transfer students each year who can use the funds for fees, books, or living expenses.

With 43.9 percent of the students at CSU Stanislaus having transferred from state community colleges, University President Hamid Shirvani said the new scholarship funding will come as a welcome addition to the financial aid program.

“These scholarships will open new doors of opportunity for many community college students who might not otherwise be able to afford to pay their own way in college,” Shirvani said. “Since they will be awarded annually, the scholarships will help deserving students who are committed to continue their education and earn four-year degrees at CSU Stanislaus.”

Of the 997 students who transferred to CSU Stanislaus from community colleges in Fall 2007, 823 were from two-year colleges in California.

The Osher Foundation was founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a respected businessman and community leader in San Francisco. The Foundation seeks to improve quality of life through support for higher education and the arts. A special focus of post-secondary scholarship funding to colleges and universities is on financial assistance for students who are re-entering the education system later in life.

May 15, 2008

Geography students to present Airport Community improvement data on May 19

TURLOCK - (May 14, 2008) Dr. Jennifer Helzer, an Associate Professor of Geography in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at California State University, Stanislaus and students in her urban geography course have been conducting an innovative and groundbreaking project with the Modesto Airport Community in an effort to help residents improve the quality of life in their neighborhood. The students will present their findings during a community meeting at the Airport Neighbors United, Inc. facility, 205 S. Santa Cruz Ave., in Modesto on Monday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Helzer and her students are working with Airport Neighbors United, Inc., and Habitat for Humanity in Stanislaus County to develop an “Asset Map” of the region that highlights the challenges faced by residents there and improvements that are needed. Inadequate local transportation that impacts the ability of residents to attend school and to access commercial services for fresh and healthy food choices has been identified a major issue.

The mapping efforts of the area by students to be presented will serve as supportive data for neighborhood representatives to request improvements at city and county government levels.

Helzer’s students recently presented their work at the 62nd Annual Conference of the California Geographical Society at CSU Chico.

For more information, please call Jennifer Helzer at (209) 667-3010, or Julie Fox, Office of Service Learning, CSU Stanislaus, at (209) 667-3311.

May 13, 2008

Shirvani returns from 10 days of service with the Order of Malta in Lourdes, France

Turlock -- Dr. Hamid Shirvani, President of California State University, Stanislaus returned home last week after spending 10 days in Lourdes, France, serving the poor and the sick as a member of the Roman Catholic Church’s Order of Malta. Shirvani, who is a Knight of Holy Sepulchre, has been nominated to be invested as a Knight of Malta next year.

“It is a distinct honor to have been nominated to such a rank,” said Shirvani. “My trip to Lourdes was the most humbling experience, and I am truly blessed to have been chosen to serve.”

Several leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in the Central Valley commended Shirvani for his involvement in the Order of Malta Lourdes Pilgrimage.

“I was delighted to learn that Dr. Shirvani had the opportunity to accompany the Knights of Malta to Lourdes,” said Stephen E. Blaire, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Stockton. “Each year, the Knights of Malta bring those who have serious illnesses and are poor to Lourdes in France. Not necessarily everyone who goes is cured of their illness, but almost everyone who comes home is spiritually healed and strengthened.”

Father Joseph Illo of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Modesto said, “I find it most impressive that the University president would spend more than a week in service to the infirmed because the healings – both emotional and physical – in Lourdes are evident, and his service to the infirmed is much appreciated.”

The 32nd annual Western Association Order of Malta Lourdes Pilgrimage took place April 29 – May 7 and served 50 people with serious medical conditions. Those who participated in this year’s pilgrimage, including Shirvani, had the opportunity to participate in the 150th anniversary of “Our Lady’s Apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous,” the saint who met with the Virgin Mary through visions at 16 years of age.

The Order of Malta’s principles are summarized in the motto “Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum”, defense of the Faith and assistance to the poor and the suffering, which is demonstrated by the voluntary humanitarian work of the Order’s Dames and Knights in over 120 countries.

For more information on the Order of Malta and the 2008 pilgrimage to Lourdes, visit http://www.orderofmaltausawestern.org/index.htm.

May 9, 2008

Student film project featuring CSU Stanislaus professor showing May 13

TURLOCK - (May 8, 2008) A documentary film project by a Lodi High School video production class on issues such as racism, teen drug abuse, and campus cliques that includes commentary by California State University, Stanislaus History Professor Samuel Regalado will make its debut at the University on Tuesday, May 13.

Admission is free and open to the public for the 6 p.m. film preview in the Student Lounge of the CSU Stanislaus Student Union. Regalado, who served in an advisory role to the student group, will lead a panel discussion after the film is shown at CSU Stanislaus.

Titled “Finding Our Own Way: Teens in Lodi,” the film is made from a teen’s point of view with an authentic teen voice, according to Jerry Pike, a Lodi High School teacher who served as project leader. Pike said Regalado was called upon to be the project’s humanities adviser.

“He was particularly important in providing the teens with a historical context for their topics, especially to the group that made the video about racism,” Pike said.

Lodi High School received a $300,000 grant last June from the California Council for the Humanities to conduct the year-long project. It is one of eight funded by the Council to enable young people to make films about what matters in their lives and communities. With the exception of Regalado’s commentary filmed at CSU Stanislaus, the students conducted their interviews in Lodi with elected officials and experts on drug and alcohol abuse.

The film is also being shown at Lodi Stadium Cinemas on Saturday, May 17, from 9 to 11 a.m.

For more information, contact Lodi High School teacher Jerry Pike at (209) 367-4834 or Maura Hurley of the California Council for the Humanities at (415) 391-1474, ext. 308.

May 8, 2008

Three CSU Stanislaus students claim Warrior Book Contest prizes

TURLOCK - (May 7, 2008) Three California State University, Stanislaus students will be awarded Warrior Book Collection Contest cash prizes on Friday for eloquent reports on their favorite series of books.

C. Anne Engert, an English major from Oakdale, will claim the $300 first place prize for her report on what she describes as the “New Me” collection. Second place prize of $200 goes to English major Maria K. Gasaway of Atwater for her paper on her Swiss Family Robinson collection and History major Abby Peretz of Merced will receive the $100 third place award for an essay about her fantasy literature collection.

The University Library will present the winners with their awards at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 9 in the second floor foyer of the Vasche Library Building. Carolyn Stefanco, Dean of the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, will make the presentations.

Engert said her collection served as a catalyst that helped transform her life. Following a break from her religious tradition, she delved into once forbidden works that explored psychology, mind control, loyalty, disclosure, and various worldviews. Her readings also included an exploration of fictional works detailing the structures of highly controlled, oppressive cultures. Engert said the books embody a search for self-knowledge, each shedding light on “some corner of the human experience that I needed to see when I reached a terrible and thrilling crossroads in my life.”

Gasaway said the Swiss Family Robinson adventures capture her imagination and curiosity with each change discovered in a particular version. Describing her love of books, Gasaway recalled the exhilaration that she felt when, as a third-grader, she was told that she could check out anything she wanted from the library and enjoying the “tickle-your-nose smell of a real library book.”

Peretz noted that her collection of fantasy literature began as a medium for distancing herself from what she described as the restrictive values of her parents. It has since become a bridge that provides a new connection between her and her own child, she pointed out in her essay. “As she begins to conquer my collection I hope, above all else, that she will pick up the messages hidden within the lines of so many of these books: doing what is right is not always easy, heroes can be found in the most unlikely places, and even grown-ups can imagine,” Peretz said in her essay.

May 8. 2008

Dhaliwal, Wing capture firsts at CSU Student Research Competition

TURLOCK - (May 7, 2008) – A pair of California State University, Stanislaus students, one of them presenting on the use of soil analysis to locate historic military fort sites and the other making a report that demonstrated the positive academic impact of music education on young students, captured first place honors in the May 2 and 3 CSU Student Research Competition.

Muninder Dhaliwal, a Psychology major from Turlock, and Kristina Wing, an Education graduate student from Turlock, came home with first place prizes from the systemwide competition held at CSU East Bay in Hayward.

Dhaliwal, mentored by Chemistry Professor Claudia Brackett, won the Behavioral and Social Sciences undergraduate division to top 10 other competitors with her talk titled "The Curious Tale of the Two Misplaced Forts: A Soil Investigation by X-Ray Fluorescence." In her talk, Dhaliwal talked about how new portable X-ray fluorescent technology was used to analyze soil in Arizona to locate the former sites of a pair of military forts once occupied by American and Mexican military forces.

Wing, mentored by Teacher Education Professor Dennis Sayers, won the Education Graduate/Undergraduate division in a field of 11 competitors with a presentation titled "The Impact of Participation in Music Education on the Academic Achievement of Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Students." In her presentation which was compiled as part of her master’s degree thesis, Wing demonstrated her findings with comparative data from the California Standards Test results. Her research revealed that elementary school students in the Ceres School District who participate in regular curriculum music programs outscore those who take part in alternative physical education classes.

Dhaliwal and Wing were joined by 10 other CSU Stanislaus students who qualified for the CSU competition at the University’s March 5 Student Research Competition.

May 7, 2008

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Topic: Summer Mathematics and Science Academy
Date and Time: June 15 through July 3, 2008
Location: California State University, Stanislaus, One University Circle, Turlock, CA
Information: Contact Rita Glynn in the CSU Stanislaus, College of Natural Sciences, (209) 664-6931 or RGlynn@csustan.edu

Turlock -- CSU Stanislaus encourages graduating high school seniors and transferring community college students to apply for participation in the Summer Mathematics and Science Academy scheduled for June 15 through July 3, 2008. This program explores mathematics and its application to other sciences such as biology, chemistry and physics. The Academy provides an excellent introduction to coursework at the University and to the use of the information learned in the working world.

Scholarship opportunities to participate in a Summer Mathematics and Science Academy at California State University, Stanislaus are being offered to area graduating high school seniors and college students who have faced or face social, educational, or economic barriers to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Eligible students receive room, board and meals on the CSU Stanislaus campus during the program.

Student participants also receive a $600 stipend or $575 + TI-84 graphing calculator for attending Monday through Friday classes, laboratories and activities that focus on helping them excel in science and mathematics fields. Participants must be an intended science or math major to qualify. Participants continuing at CSU Stanislaus can earn stipends for academic year enrichment workshops and internships as well.

Application deadline is May 23, 2008.

A description of the program, eligibility requirements, an application and recommendation forms are available at: http://web.csustan.edu/math/AMP.html

Contact Rita Glynn at (209) 664-6931 or RGlynn@csustan.edu for further information.

May 6, 2008

University grad Jacob McDougal named Director of Alumni & Annual Giving

TURLOCK - (May 5, 2008) California State University, Stanislaus graduate Jacob McDougal has returned to his alma mater to become Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving.

Susana Gajic-Bruyea, Vice President for University Advancement, announced McDougal's appointment, effective May 5. As CSU Stanislaus prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, he will work closely with the University's Alumni Council, Alumni Donor Society, and the community to increase the level of engagement with CSU Stanislaus alumni through annual giving and other special support programs as well as special events.

"Jacob McDougal will be a great addition to our University Advancement team," Gajic-Bruyea said. "He is an outstanding graduate of California State University, Stanislaus who has gained excellent experience at non-profit organizations conducting special events and fund-raising. He will be a great asset in building alumni programs and generating enthusiasm and support for the University."

A 2004 graduate of CSU Stanislaus with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies and a Dean's List achiever his last two years at the University, McDougal has been Director of Special Events with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Mission, Kansas, since September 2005. Participation, revenue, and volunteer assistance increased significantly during his tenure with the Foundation, and he orchestrated formation of a number of community partnerships.

"It is an honor to accept the position of Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving for CSU Stanislaus," said McDougal, who is a founding member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity at CSU Stanislaus. "I am excited about the challenges ahead and eager to engage the alumni community and to build key relationships within the Central Valley communities."

Prior to working for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation after graduating from CSU Stanislaus, McDougal served as logistics manager for the Special Olympics in North Carolina where he enjoyed similar success with special events, volunteer networks, and fund-raising. He was lead event manager for Stanford University's Athletic Department for five years before turning his focus to earning a college degree. McDougal said he chose to attend CSU Stanislaus because “of its small class sizes and community feel.”

May 1, 2008

Agricultural Studies Chair Mark Bender receives top state FFA honor

TURLOCK - (April 30, 2008) Dr. Mark Bender, Agricultural Studies Department Chair at California State University, Stanislaus, was recently awarded the Honorary California State Future Farmers of America (FFA) Degree at the 2008 California FFA Conference in Fresno.

As the recipient of the highest award bestowed by the California State FFA Association on April 19, Bender was recognized for his lifelong work with high school agriculture students and the FFA, as well as his statewide efforts for agricultural education at both the secondary and post-secondary levels. He has more than 36 years of service in agricultural education, including seven years at CSU Stanislaus as Founding Chair of the Agricultural Studies Department in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and was one of only three selected for the statewide honor this year.

"This honor is especially moving because it recognizes lifelong achievement and service to the FFA and is the highest degree bestowed by the California Association FFA," Bender said. "As I have dedicated my life to teaching agriculture and serving young people in high school, community college and university, as well as 4-H, FFA, and community organizations, it is truly an honor to have that effort recognized."

Bender was one of 20 faculty from all over the country recognized in June 2007 in Washington, D.C., as an E. (Kikda) de la Garza Fellow in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program (HSINP).

The California Association FFA has a membership of more than 60,000 students and is part of the National FFA, one of the largest youth organizations in the world.

May 1, 2008

Grads, faculty invited to May 9 Human and Health Sciences departments reunion

TURLOCK - (April 30, 2008) Alumni and former faculty of the California State University, Stanislaus Departments of Nursing, Psychology/Child Development, and Social Work are invited to attend the first College of Human and Health Sciences Reunion Reception on Friday, May 9. The program is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the John Stuart Rogers Faculty Development Center.

Refreshments, including wine and hors d'oeuvres, will be served and there will be live jazz music, along with short presentations by current CSU Stanislaus faculty who will talk about their research. Admission is free but people who plan to attend are asked to RSVP at (209) 667-3155 or by e-mail to chhs@csustan.edu.

College of Human and Health Sciences Dean Gary Novak said the program should provide a great opportunity to renew acquaintances and do some networking with fellow graduates. Many of our students occupy professional positions in human and health services throughout the region. More than 5,000 students have earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in the College's respective departments during the nearly 50-year history of CSU Stanislaus.

April 29, 2008

Teacher Education Professors author book titled "Writing to Heal from Rape"

Turlock -- (Feb. 27, 2008) California State University, Stanislaus Teacher Education Professors Dr. Brenda Betts and Dr. Pamela Russ are the authors of a new book that focuses on helping rape victims recover through writing.

Titled "Writing to Heal from Rape," the book is described by the authors as a practical guide for women recovering from rape, as well as their friends, families, and counselors. It is also designed for use in college courses, workshops, and conferences to educate professionals and the public about rape and recovery.

Betts and Russ are Co-Directors of the Healing Ourselves Project which is designed to help women who are recovering from rape through their writing workshops. They combined their knowledge and skills as writers, teachers, and advocates for women and their families to create the unique book with interactive and dynamic writing activities to facilitate the healing process. The authors point out that rape is a topic that many people avoid talking about because they feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. However, Betts and Russ feel strongly that fear and silence give power to the rapists.

"Talking and writing are tools to empower women and to help them recover from trauma," Betts said. "Women and their families desperately need advocacy, compassion, and understanding. The purpose of our book is to help women, their families, and friends understand that they are not alone and to show them that women can recover from this devastating experience. Women need to realize they are rape survivors."

Betts and Russ note that writing can be an effective strategy for healing from trauma. The book includes a collection of powerful and revealing stories written by victims of rape, women who reveal intimate details of their individual struggles to transform themselves from rape victims to rape survivors.

The book also includes a history of rape in the United States, a case study, teaching strategies, writing activities, poetry, and resources to support the journey toward understanding and healing.

More information on the book and the "Healing Ourselves Project" conducted by Betts and Russ is available on their website at www.healingourselvesproject.com or by calling Betts at (209) 667-3793.

April 29, 2008

Executive MBA program cohort gets under way in Stockton

TURLOCK - (April 28, 2008) Following a successful debut in Tracy, California State University, Stanislaus has launched its second cohort of the Executive Master of Business Administration degree program in Stockton.

Focusing on producing well-trained management professionals who are highly sought after by regional industries and organizations, the program welcomed 29 students during its inaugural April 20 session at Old Republic Title Company in Stockton which is partnering with CSU Stanislaus, Grupe Commercial Co., and Partners Real Estate to co-sponsor the program.

"What's really exciting about this cohort is that they come from diverse professional fields such as engineering and health care providers, and from different regions, including the Bay Area, Merced, and Stanislaus County," said Dr. Ashour Badal, EMBA Senior Associate Director and a member of the CSU Stanislaus College of Business Administration faculty. "A number of our students from the Tracy cohort which started last August were at Saturday's opening session in Stockton, and they had some really positive comments about the program. We are off to a great start."

A third cohort of EMBA sessions is scheduled to start up in Turlock on August 23.

The 15-month, 36-unit program offers an aggregate of courses in the University's Accounting & Finance and Management, Operations & Marketing departments. Classes in Stockton run all day Saturdays on seven of the nine-week instruction periods. Students participate in online instruction the other two weeks, which gives them the opportunity to tend to other business on those weekends. An important component of the class draws on the experiences of participating students and how to apply that information to problem solutions.

For more information on the EMBA program, call (209) 667-3288 or visit the website at www.csustanEMBA.com.

April 24, 2008

Economics Professor Eric Houk cited for outstanding achievement

TURLOCK - (April 21, 2008) - Economics Professor Eric Houk has been named recipient of the Elizabeth Anne B. Papageorge Faculty Development Award at California State University, Stanislaus. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding achievement by faculty members who are early in their careers at CSU Stanislaus.

Houk is commended for his commitment to engaging and effective teaching, his scholarly record, and his considerable and involvement in service to both the institution and the region, noted William A. Covino, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

"My philosophy of teaching is to provide a classroom environment that encourages student participation, appreciates student diversity, and inspires students to continue learning outside of the classroom," Houk said.

Since coming to CSU Stanislaus in 2003 from Colorado State University where he earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural & Resource Economics, Agricultural Production & Finance, Houk has been an active member of the faculty. He received College Junior Faculty Awards in 2005 and 2007.

Houk participated as a research associate in a Center for Public Policy Studies study on the City of Turlock's water demand and conservation issues and is involved in a pair of grant-funded projects -- one titled "Preparing Underrepresented Students for Careers in Agriculture through Recruitment, Experiential Learning, and Community Service" and the other a "Campus and Community Sustainability Program" that is focusing on global learning in the colleges issues.

As an active member of the University faculty, Houk serves as Co-Advisor of the University's Economics Club and spearheaded the establishment of an international economics honor society at CSU Stanislaus. His extensive research activities have included participation in a number of programs and organizations at the state and national level.

April 24, 2008

Townsend to be honored, actors performing at Friday Phi Kappa Phi program

TURLOCK - (April 23, 2008) The Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) academic honor society chapter at California State University, Stanislaus will present a special award to Townsend Opera Players Director Erik Buck Townsend, a pair of actors will team up with a University History professor for an on-stage performance, and new members will be inducted this Friday, April 25.

The annual initiation program activities will open with a 3 p.m. reading of the Lee Blessing play "A Walk in the Woods" in the University's Studio Theatre by Los Angeles actor David Razowsky and CSU Stanislaus Professor of Theatre John Mayer. They will be joined by special faculty guest Samuel Regalado of the History Department during the performance that touches on Cold War negotiations and friendship. The performance is open to the public and admission is free.

At Friday's 7 p.m. program in the CSU Stanislaus Dining Hall, Townsend will be recognized for his artistic contributions to the Central Valley, and 36 CSU Stanislaus students will be initiated as new Phi Kappa Phi members. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society.

Townsend is the Founding and Artistic Director of Townsend Opera Players in Modesto where he has produced 74 full operas during a long and successful career as a singer, actor, director, and teacher. A Modesto native, Townsend has performed more than 40 leading roles and a large selection of concert songs, oratorios, and orchestral works in seven languages all over the U.S. and Europe.

Townsend has received a number of honors, including the prestigious Stanislaus Arts Commission Lifetime Achievement in Arts Award and the Modesto Area Music Association Lifetime Achievement in Music Award.

April 24, 2008

Guatemalan forest expert to speak on resource management plans

TURLOCK - (April 23, 2008) Apoliniario Cordova of a Guatemalan organization called The Association of Forest Communities in the Petén which has implemented a successful natural resources management plan will speak at California State University, Stanislaus on Thursday, April 24.

The program sponsored by the College of Humanities and Social Science's Council for Sustainable Futures is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the University's South Dining Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

Cordova will talk about the successful land use negotiations with the Guatemalan government that gave local communities there the right to have managed access to the forests. Until recently the Guatemalan government policy strictly enforced conservation of forests within the Maya Biosphere Reserve and denied local communities access to the forests they had relied on in the past. His presentation will focus on the development of community forest management plans that led to sustainable development in the region and the challenges posed in conserving the forests.

Cordova's organization works directly with communities, conducting training in community development and forest management that allow for sustainable use of the resources.

The College of Humanities and Social Science, Council for Sustainable Futures, is devoted to teaching, outreach, and research sustainability. Cordova's lecture is part of the Campus and Sustainability Program funded by a grant through the CSU Stanislaus Office of the Provost and Office of International Education through the U.S. Department of Education's Global Learning in the Colleges Project.

April 24, 2008

CSU Stanislaus joins Federal Network of Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units

TURLOCK - (April 22, 2008) - California State University, Stanislaus has been accepted as a new member of the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (Californian CESU), part of a national network of federal agencies and partnering institutions that work collaboratively on ecosystem and resources management issues.

The University joins seven other CSU campuses, nine University of California campuses, and nine federal agencies in the Californian CESU — one of 17 regional cooperatives in the CESU national network — to provide research, technical assistance, and education in addressing natural and cultural issues in an environmental/ecosystem context.

"Modern science is a collective and collaborative enterprise," said Patrick Kelly, Professor of Zoology and Coordinator of the CSU Stanislaus Endangered Species Recovery Program who helped bring about the University's admission to the Californian CESU. "Membership increases our potential for expanded collaboration not only with federal partners in the CESU network, but also with our own faculty, departments, colleges, and administration, and with other institutions."

Kelly said that membership in the Californian CESU should prove especially beneficial in providing CSU Stanislaus with streamlined processes to pursue collaborative opportunities and grant programs for a great variety of ecosystem issues and interests spanning the natural and social sciences. He emphasized that the study of ecosystems involves a lot more than studying plants, animals, and biological or physical processes.

“Today, understanding the human dimension is the most important element in how we manage and conserve our ecosystems,” Kelly said.

For more information on the CESU, see the following websites -- http://nature.berkeley.edu/cesu and www.cesu.psu.edu. More information on the University's Endangered Species Recovery Program is at http://esrp.csustan.edu.

April 21, 2008

CSU Stanislaus History students sweep Northern California Conference awards

TURLOCK - (April 18, 2008) Three California State University, Stanislaus History Department students from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences swept top honors at the April 11-12 Northern California Regional International History Honor Society Conference at CSU Chico.

Three of the seven CSU Stanislaus students who participated swept the top three awards in the Graduate Student category of the Phi Alpha Theta Conference essay competition that included students from the California State University system Northern California campuses, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Santa Clara University, the University of the Pacific, and a number of other private universities and colleges.

CSU Stanislaus student Aerynn Dighton of Turlock won the graduate competition with a research paper and presentation titled "Portraiture as Propaganda: Color and Elizabethan Iconography." Grant Louis Ashley of Stockton was second with "Charley Bates: One of Stockton, California's Slaves," and Therese Lunt of Waterford was third with "International Collusion: The Creation of Stateless People in the Japanese Internment Camps." Dighton has been invited to present her paper at the prestigious Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association (AHA) conference this summer.

Other CSU Stanislaus students who presented their research papers and won high acclaim from their panel chairs were Rae Ann Tourville-Nelson of Stockton; Doug Scott Gilbert and Paul Muncy, both of Modesto; and Victoria Gottlieb of Merced. Student competitors were judged on their writing, research, and oral presentation criteria. Dr. Samuel Regalado, History Department Chair, said that the students' success came about through a combination of hard work and dedication to their studies and department discipline as well as dedicated teaching and mentoring by faculty, particularly Dr. Phillip Garone, Phi Alpha Theta adviser.

"The high quality of writing and research exhibited by the Phi Alpha Theta students is in step with the rigid standards of the Department of History itself; whose faculty mentor by example, as seen through their own nationally recognized scholarship in the form of books, articles, and public participation in the discipline of history," Regalado said.

April 18, 2008

History Professor Samuel Regalado to appear on PBS show "American Experience"

TURLOCK - (April 17, 2008) - California State University, Stanislaus History Professor Samuel Regalado, recognized for his expertise on the impact of Latin baseball players in American professional baseball, will make an appearance on an April 21 national public television special about the late Roberto Clemente.

Regalado will be interviewed during the nationally televised American Experience program "Roberto Clemente" on Public Broadcasting Stations (PBS). Locally, the program will air at 9 p.m. Monday, April 21 on KVIE Channel 6 in Sacramento.

A member of the CSU Stanislaus faculty for 21 years, Regalado has appeared in a number of national television specials and was designated a Smithsonian Faculty Fellow in 1994. He recently released the third edition of his popular book titled "Viva Baseball: Latin Major Leaguers and their Special Hunger."

In addition to being interviewed during the program, Regalado served as academic adviser for Monday's documentary film that was produced by award-winning writer and filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz for WGBH Public TV in Boston.

The program reveals that Clemente, who died on New Year's Eve 1972 when the cargo plane he was aboard crashed while flying relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua, was more than an exceptional baseball player. The 37-year-old Puerto Rico native, who had established a special relief fund for the earthquake victims, was a committed humanitarian who challenged racial discrimination and worked for social justice.

During his 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente led the team to a pair of World Series championships, won four National League batting titles, had 3,000 career hits, received the Most Valuable Player Award, and earned 12 Gold Gloves.

April 18, 2008

UC Davis dinosaur expert will step in as keynote speaker at state conference

TURLOCK - (April 17, 2008) Ryosuke Motani, a UC Davis expert on the shapes of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, will step in as the featured speaker on Saturday, April 19 as California State University, Stanislaus hosts a gathering of scientists called California Paleontology (or Cal Paleo) for the first time ever.

Motani is filling in for scheduled keynote speaker, renowned Canadian paleontologist and "Dinosaur Planet" TV show host Scott Sampson who had to cancel on Tuesday night after his mother suffered a stroke. The all-day program is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the new Hashem and Nora Naraghi Hall of Science, with Motani's keynote address opening the event in Room 101. The program is open and free to the general public. The Physics, Physical Sciences, Geology, and Biology Departments and the College of Natural Sciences are co-sponsoring the program along with the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, University Advancement, and the University Paleo Club.

The research presentations will include talks and posters on dinosaurs, giant alligators from Texas, ancient birds from China, mammoths from the Central Valley of California, and other topics. CSU Stanislaus faculty members Dr. Julia Sankey and Dr. Terry Jones are organizing the event. They are also advisors to the University's new Paleo Club, which will help run the event.

Sankey has led paleontological expeditions in the Western United States, has participated in digs in Canada and Mongolia, and has made some significant dinosaur discoveries. Jones uses modern animals and the fossil record to reconstruct the biology of extinct groups, including dinosaurs and their relatives.

Motani, a Geology Department faculty member at UC Davis, conducts physics-based research that focuses on the evolution of animal shapes, such as what made tunas, lamnid sharks, cetaceans, and ichthyosaurs all look similar in silhouette and what constraints were behind the long necks of long-necked prehistoric reptiles called plesiosaurs (elasmosaurs).

April 18, 2008

New Educational Doctorate admissions deadline is April 30

Turlock - (April 17, 2008) April 30 is the priority deadline for admission to the inaugural California State University, Stanislaus Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree program.

Preparations and the student application process for the University's groundbreaking doctorate program that will start in the fall are continuing under the direction of Dr. Steven K. Lee, Founding Director. The program is designed for educators interested in earning a doctorate to advance their careers in education.

The three-year program is designed to meet the need for highly trained educational leaders in the Central Valley. Two specializations will be offered -- one in leadership for preschool to grade 12 schools and the other for community college leadership. Acceptance to the program after April 30 will be based on space availability. Information sessions held all over the region have drawn large turnouts, Lee noted.

"Interest in the program has been diverse, ranging from classroom teachers and professors to district superintendents and college administrators," Lee said. "They have come from the local area and as far as Korea and Hawaii."

Doctoral courses in the program taught by 17 core faculty will be held on Tuesday evenings to accommodate working professionals. Many of the courses are designed so that a significant portion of class requirements can be fulfilled online via the Web. Class registration for the charter cohort of students will be completed after the California State University Trustees and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) provide final clearances this spring.

A new addition to the program's full-time faculty for the fall startup is former Columbia College President Dr. Jim Riggs. He has 30 years of administrative and teaching experience at the community college level and a doctorate in educational leadership from USC. A second full-time community college specialist will join the program by 2009.

Open advising sessions are still available with Lee by contacting him at (209) 667-3364 or by e-mail at edd@csustan.edu. Program information is available on the University website at www.csustan.edu/edd

April 15, 2008

Social Work Professor Robin Ringstad receives national diversity Fellowship

TURLOCK - California State University, Stanislaus Social Work Professor Robin Ringstad has been selected for an E. (Kikda) de la Garza Educational Fellowship in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program (HSINP).

The Fellowship program will be held in Washington, D.C., in June. A member of the University faculty since 2005, Ringstad said she hopes to initiate and explore partnership opportunities between governmental organizations and social work programs in the areas of workforce development, policy-making, community development, and research. She teaches courses in social work practice and policy, research methods and data analysis, and capstone graduate research, and supervises social work interns and student researchers.

The Fellowship program is designed to enhance the professional growth of participants while fostering workforce diversity and strengthening the nation's capacity to provide high quality education and increased opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Mark Bender, Chair of the Agricultural Studies Department, the first CSU Stanislaus recipient of the Fellowship in 2007, said his experience provided an excellent insight to the myriad of opportunities within the USDA and other governmental agencies for grants and contract partnerships and student internships.

Ringstad is working with the CSU Stanislaus student research project that addresses the needs of the homeless at a Turlock resource center. She is also involved in a U.S. Department of Education Global Learning research grant addressing immigration and migrant services in the San Joaquin Valley.

In addition to a Ph.D. in Social Work and Higher Education from the international institution Berne University, Ringstad holds a state Clinical Social Worker license and has extensive social work practice experience in the fields of child and family services, child protection, health and mental health, and substance abuse intervention.

Gary Novak, Dean of the College of Human and Health Sciences, noted that Ringstad has worked closely with faculty colleagues from Nursing, Psychology, and Child Development on developing research grants for the college, including child health and welfare issues related to healthy eating and nutrition.

"This program will acquaint her with many opportunities available through the USDA," Novak said. "In addition, she will be able to meet with representatives from many other agencies relevant to the interests of the College's faculty."

Margaret A. Tynan, Department of Social Work Chair, said Ringstad's Fellowship establishes a partnership between the USDA, CSU Stanislaus, the College of Human and Health Sciences, and the Social Work Department.

"The goals of each entity are very compatible; to strengthen the capacity to provide high quality education, to promote diversity of the workforce, and to prepare that workforce to address social and economic issues," Tynan said. "We are very proud of Dr. Ringstad's achievement. She is an asset to this University."

April 10, 2008

Strongin, Gackowski, Floyd named 2008 Outstanding Professor Award recipients

TURLOCK - (April 9, 2008) - Psychology Professor Dawn Strongin has been named recipient of the Outstanding Professor Award at California State University, Stanislaus while Computer Information Professor Zbigniew Gackowski has been recognized for his research, and Professor of Social Work Charles Floyd was honored for his community service.

Gackowski was named Outstanding Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Professor and Floyd received Outstanding Community Service Professor honors. All three will be recognized at the University's April 11 Faculty Recognition Dinner which will take place in the Main Dining Hall at 6:30 p.m.

Strongin, who joined CSU Stanislaus in 2001, is a highly popular faculty member with large class rosters for all the right reasons -- she is an engaging, innovated and dedicated scholar-teacher who has inspired prospective majors to pursue psychology, and helped non-majors to see psychology as central to the understanding of what it means to be human, said William A. Covino, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He noted that her courses are impressive, her scholarly achievements are highly significant, and her contributions to campus life are welcome and successful.

Gackowski, a member of the University faculty since 1984, conducts research that has been recognized and commended by top scholars and scholarly organizations internationally for its impact on the understanding of information systems and information quality. Recognized as an outstanding information scientist, Gackowski's computer information systems research has motivated him to author four books, eight book chapters, more than 30 journal articles and other documents, and 22 presentations at scholarly conferences.

Floyd, who came to CSU Stanislaus in 1993 and serves as Field Coordinator of the Master of Social Work Program, has played a key role in the development and success of the graduate program. He has been instrumental in creating partnerships between professional agencies and the University while coordinating the field placements of more than 100 Social Work students each year. Floyd has been actively involved with many community agencies all over the region in various capacities. He has drawn high praise for the ethics, energy, and commitment that define his work with a variety of human service agencies.

April 4, 2008

Topic: Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) offering Summer scholarship opportunities
Date and Time: June 16 through July 3, 2008
Location: California State University, Stanislaus, One University Circle, Turlock, CA
Information: Contact Rita Glynn in the CSU Stanislaus, College of Natural Sciences, (209) 664-6931, RGlynn@csustan.edu

Turlock -- Scholarship opportunities to participate in a science and mathematics summer academy at California State University, Stanislaus are being offered to area graduating high school seniors and college students who come from backgrounds that are historically under-represented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or have experienced cultural, social or economic barriers in their pursuit of higher education.

CSU Stanislaus is partnering with Modesto Junior College and San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton to encourage graduating seniors and college students to participate in the California State University - Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (CSU - LSAMP) Summer Academy scheduled for June 16 through July 3. Eligible graduating high school seniors and CSU Stanislaus, MJC, and San Joaquin Delta College students receive room and board and meals on the CSU Stanislaus campus during the program.

Student participants receive a $600 stipend or $575 + TI-84 graphing calculator, and attend Monday through Friday classes that focus on helping them to excel in science and mathematics fields. Participants must be a declared science or math major to qualify.

Eligibility requirements, a description of the program, application, and recommendation forms are on the CSU Stanislaus Mathematics Department Web site at: http://web.csustan.edu/math/AMP.html. Contact Rita Glynn in the University's College of Natural Sciences by e-mail at RGlynn@csustan.edu for further information.

April 4, 2008

Academic technology on display at CSU Stanislaus on April 16

TURLOCK - The California State University, Stanislaus Office of Information Technology (OIT) and Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning will host its 4th Annual Technology Fair on Wednesday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mary Stuart Rogers Educational Services Building lobby. The event is open to the public.

Featuring an expanded program, the event will be a showcase of innovative technologies that support academic instruction in the classroom, office, and home. Selected vendors such as Apple, Dell, Epson, eInstruction, WolfVision, MediaSite, IT Solutions, SoftChalk, AT&T Mobility, and ClearWire will give informal demonstrations of new technology developments. OIT, the Library, Disabled Student Services, and the Common Management System (CMS) administrative software project will have informational displays. For the first time at the Technology Fair, Astronomy’s new portable planetarium also will be demonstrated.

For additional information, contact the University's Office of Mediated & Distance Learning at 667-3171.

March 28

12 students advance to May 2 and 3 CSU research competition

TURLOCK - (March 27, 2008) - A presentation about the impact of music education participation on academic achievement of elementary school youngsters and another about soil studies were the winners as 12 California State University, Stanislaus students qualified to advance to the systemwide Student Research competition in May.

Kristina Wing, an Education graduate student from Pinole mentored by Teacher Education Professor Dennis Sayers, won first place in the graduate division during the March 5 competition with a presentation titled "The Impact of Participation in Music Education on the Academic Achievement of Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Students." Muninder Dhaliwal, a Psychology major from Turlock mentored by Chemistry Professor Claudia Brackett, won the undergraduate division with her talk titled "The Curious Tale of the Two Misplaced Forts: A Soil Investigation by X-Ray Fluorescence."

The qualifying CSU Stanislaus students will go up against competitors from the other 22 California State University campuses in the May 2-3 CSU Student Research Competition at CSU East Bay in Hayward.

Other top finishers at the CSU Stanislaus competition who qualified for the CSU competition included:
Graduate division: Angela Yvonne Harwell, a Social Work master's degree student from Oxford, Massachusetts, second place; Cathy Burrows, Multidisciplinary Studies master's degree student from Steger, Illinois, third place; and runner-up qualifier Gabe Ontiveros Jr., a Multilingual Education, Curriculum and Instruction master's degree student from Turlock.

Undergraduate division: Gurpreet Shiota, a Biology major from Modesto, second place; Kristin Marie Oosterkamp, a Psychology major from Modesto, third place; and runners-up qualifiers Jennifer Nguyen, a Chemistry major from Riverbank; Dave Gant, a Music Composition major from Manteca; and a team composed of Psychology majors Joseph E. Gonzales of Modesto, Heather M. Adams of Mission Hills, and Jacob A. Marciel of Modesto.

Other faculty mentors of qualifying students included Biological Sciences Professor Flora Watson, Psychology Professors AnaMarie Guichard and Victor Luevano, Social Work Professor Valerie Leyva, Art Professor Hope B. Werness, Chemistry Professor Scott Russell, Music Professor Deborah Kavasch, and Teacher Education Professor Juan Flores.

March 28

"Dinosaur Planet" host will speak at CSU Stanislaus paleontology conference

TURLOCK - (March 27, 2008) - Dinosaurs and other creatures from the past will take center stage at California State University, Stanislaus on Saturday, April 19 as Canadian paleontologist and TV show host Scott Sampson makes a presentation.

The University will host a gathering of paleontologists at an event called California Paleontology (or Cal Paleo) for the first time ever. The all-day program is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the new Hashem and Nora Naraghi Hall of Science, with Sampson's keynote address titled "Dinosaurs of West America" set to start at 9:20 a.m. in Room 101. The program is open and free to the general public. The Physics, Physical Sciences, Geology, and Biology Departments and the College of Natural Sciences are co-sponsoring the program along with the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, University Advancement, and the University Paleo Club.

The research presentations will include talks and posters on dinosaurs, giant alligators from Texas, ancient birds from China, mammoths from the Central Valley of California, and other topics. CSU Stanislaus faculty members Dr. Julia Sankey and Dr. Terry Jones are organizing the event. They are also advisors to the University's new Paleo Club, which will help run the event.

Sankey has led paleontological expeditions in the Western United States, has participated in digs in Canada and Mongolia, and has made some significant dinosaur discoveries. Jones uses modern animals and the fossil record to reconstruct the biology of extinct groups, including dinosaurs and their relatives.

Sampson, host of the Discovery Channel's animated television show "Dinosaur Planet," is a Research Professor and Research Curator at the Utah Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah, and has published numerous scientific and popular articles on dinosaurs. He has conducted paleontological field work all over the world and his discoveries on the island of Madagascar have included a number of well-preserved dinosaurs, some of them previously unknown species.

March 27

University of Maryland administrator, faculty member named Education Dean

TURLOCK - (March 26, 2008) - Ruth Fassinger, currently a Professor of Psychology and Interim Chair of the Department of Counseling and Personnel Services at the University of Maryland, College Park, has been appointed Dean of the College of Education at California State University, Stanislaus.

An active member of the University of Maryland's College of Education faculty and administration for 20 years, Fassinger will start her new post at CSU Stanislaus in July. She succeeds Carl Brown, who will retire at the end of the current academic year.

"As we launch the new Doctoral program in Educational Leadership this fall, and continue to train the teachers of the future, Ruth Fassinger brings us scholarly and professional distinction, strong leadership skills, and delightful energy and enthusiasm," CSU Stanislaus Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs said.

In addition to her current post of the past two years in the College of Education at Maryland, Fassinger is a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, an affiliate faculty member in Women's Studies, a founding member of the Consortium on Race, Gender, and Ethnicity, and a founding member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies program.

Fassinger served for five years as Co-Director of the College Park Scholars Advocates for Children program, a university-wide living-learning community serving academically talented first- and second-year undergraduate students. She also served for five years as Director of the College of Education undergraduate Honors Program that focuses on selected junior and senior undergraduate students.

Prior to moving into higher education after earning her Ph.D. in Psychology and becoming a practicing psychologist, Fassinger was a public school teacher for 10 years at both the elementary (second and third grades) and high school (English, drama, and theatre) levels. She remains involved in teaching at the college level, teaming with a colleague to teach an undergraduate English course on identity and difference. Fassinger indicated that she hopes to be able to teach a class at CSU Stanislaus.

Fassinger, who has compiled a long list of published articles during her distinguished career, maintains an active research program while teaching and mentoring graduate students in a demanding professional training program. She serves as a Division President of the American Psychological Association and maintains a small therapy and consultation practice focused on gender, sexuality, and work. Fassinger has received a number of prestigious awards recognizing her scholarly, educational, and service contributions.

Prior to joining the University of Maryland, she served as an instructor and staff psychologist at Arizona State University and at UC Santa Barbara before that. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in English from State University of New York, Fredonia, and a Master's Degree and Ph.D. in Psychology from Ohio State University.

March 25

CSU Stanislaus receives National Community Service Honor Roll Award

TURLOCK - (March 24, 2008) - California State University, Stanislaus has received national recognition for the second straight year citing the University for its extraordinary service to the community.

The University has been named to the Presidents Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction by the Corporation for National and Community Service. CSU Stanislaus was one of 14 CSU campuses selected for the award out of a field of more than 500 colleges and universities that submitted applications.

"California State University, Stanislaus is demonstrating that it is a leader in the area of community service and civic engagement," University President Hamid Shirvani said. "This award is a tribute to the efforts of all members of our University community who work so hard to make a difference in the region."

Leading the way for CSU Stanislaus involvement in the community is the University's Office of Service Learning. The department helps coordinate programs that get students involved in community service activities. More than 50 of the fall semester classes at CSU Stanislaus have a service learning component that enables more than 2,000 students a year to learn through community involvement while also providing about 30,000 volunteer hours of service. Examples of service-oriented programs include a home-based literacy program serving families challenged by poverty and language barriers, a program that helps low-income and migrant workers with their income tax returns, other neighborhood-oriented programs in the region, and a Resource Center in Turlock where the area's homeless learn job-seeking skills and receive housing counseling.

"We are very proud to have faculty at CSU Stanislaus that offer not only a quality education but also the opportunity to use that education to make a difference in the community," said Julie Fox, Service Learning Coordinator. "The university experience expands beyond the lecture hall and takes our students into the community to learn first hand about the challenges faced by a growing and diverse Central Valley. CSU Stanislaus students have the unique opportunity to grow as leaders and engaged citizens as they work hand in hand with the community to forge a better future for themselves and their neighbors."

Launched in 2006, the President's Honor Roll recognizes institutions of higher education that support innovative, effective, and exemplary community service programs. Other co-sponsors of the award include the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA Freedom Corps, Campus Compact, and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

March 21

CRLA Director Jose Padilla to speak at April 3 Cesar Chavez Celebration

TURLOCK - (March 20, 2008) Jose Padilla, California Rural Legal Assistance Director, will be the featured speaker at the 13th Annual California State University, Stanislaus Cesar Chavez Celebration on Thursday, April 3.

The program, a birthday salute to the ideals of the late farm labor leader Cesar Chavez who died in 1993, gets under way at 5 p.m. with a reception featuring Latin jazz and a silent auction in the Carol Burke Lounge. The main program featuring Padilla's presentation follows at 6 p.m. in the nearby Event Center. Admission is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the University Union, Associated Students, and the Cesar Chavez Celebration Planning Board composed of students and staff.

Winners of the annual Cesar Chavez poster art, essay, and poetry contest will have their work showcased at the program and be presented with their awards. Stanislaus County kindergarten through 12th grade students participate in the contest that includes two age groups.

Music and dance during the main program will feature the group "Balet Folklorico, Los Falcones" and a group sing of "De Colores."

Born and raised in the Imperial Valley to parents who came from farm worker families, Padilla has devoted his legal career to serving the needs of California's poor through his work with California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), a legal services program that serves 24 of the state's rural counties. During his 23 years as CRLA executive director, Padilla has been an advocate for the poor in rural counties on issues such as housing, labor, education, civil rights, immigration, pesticides, environmental law, and legislative representation.

After graduating from Stanford University in 1974, Padilla was a head teacher with Campesinos Unidos, providing preschool services to migrant children in the Imperial Valley. He later earned his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley which launched his legal career with the CRLA.

Padilla has testified before President Clinton's Commission on Race and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and serves on the boards of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association. He has been recognized by the Los Angeles/San Francisco Daily Journal as one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States." Padilla has been involved for many years with a project he began as a Stanford University undergraduate student that focuses on migrant education, Latino redistricting, political asylum applications, and oral history work with rural Latino farm workers.

For more information, call Gabriela Nuno at (209) 664-6835.

March 19

Sustainable agriculture expert to speak at CSU Stanislaus on April 2

Turlock - (March 18, 2008) Dr. Miguel Altieri, an agroecology expert from UC Berkeley, will speak about sustainable agriculture as a productive and natural resource preserving process at California State University, Stanislaus on Wednesday, April 2. Part of the CSU Stanislaus Agricultural Studies speaker series sponsored by Yosemite Farm Credit, the program is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Faculty Development Center.

"Challenges and Opportunities for a Sustainable Agriculture in the 21st Century" is the title of Altier's talk. The program is free and open to the public.

A member of UC Berkeley's Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, Dr. Altieri works with a number of universities, non-governmental organizations, and research centers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to promote research, training, and capacity-building in agroecology and sustainable agriculture.

Altieri uses concepts of agroecology to study, design, manage, and evaluate sustainable agroecosystems that are both productive and natural resource conserving. "The contemporary challenges of agriculture have evolved from the merely technical to also include social, cultural, economic, and particularly environmental concerns," Altieri said. "In this light, a new technological and development approach is needed to provide for the agricultural needs of present and future generations without depleting our natural resource base."