|
|
||||||||
Office of the ProvostMarch 10, 2026 Updates on events, resources, & achievements. ANNOUNCEMENTSEngineering Receives Record $30M Gift from Hing and Doris HungThe College of Engineering has received a transformative $30M gift from Hing and Doris Hung. Hing received his MS in electrical engineering from The Beach in 1985. The COE will be renamed the Hung Family College of Engineering in their honor, pending approval from the Board of Trustees on March 11, 2026 Congressman Robert Garcia Presents Library with $2.1M Funding for Special CollectionsOn February 13, the Library hosted a press conference announcing $2.175 million community project funding sponsored by Congressman Robert Garcia. Congressman Garcia visited the Library to formally present the funding, which will support the modernization, digitization, and expansion of the Library’s Special Collections area. He also took a tour of Special Collections and University Archives. CSULB Celebrates Women’s History Month, Immigrant Heritage Month, and Jewish Heritage WeekCSULB is proud to celebrate Women’s History Month, Immigrant Heritage Month, and Jewish Heritage Week. A series of exciting events are happening throughout March to honor these communities. You’re Invited: 2026 Metaverse & AI Symposium at The BeachThe Division of Academic Affairs and Academic Technology Services invite faculty and staff to join us for the 2026 Metaverse & AI Symposium, an engaging exploration of the evolving role of AI and the Metaverse in higher education. The symposium will feature a keynote address from Bruce Thompson, Global Higher Education Leader at Microsoft Education, along with faculty presentations on XR and AI, and a live demonstration of AI tools. Space is limited, so we encourage you to RSVP soon to secure your spot. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will close when capacity is reached or on April 1. Virtual attendance is also available and will close on April 13. A continental breakfast and boxed lunch will be provided for in-person attendees. This event will be on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Horn Center. If you have a question about this event, please reach out to AA-AcAffairs@csulb.edu. EVENTSMar. 13 – Beach XP Symposium: Innovative Ideas for College Readiness Mar. 14-15 – 53rd Annual CSULB Pow Wow at Puvungna Mar. 20 – Annual Women’s Research Colloquium Mar. 21 – Cirque Kalabanté – Afrique en Cirque Mar. 23 – Workshop: Microsoft Word Accessibility Mar. 25 – Workshop: PDF Accessibility Mar. 25 – Fireside Chat: Spring 2026 Mar. 25 – 2026 Lauda Lecture Mar. 26 – Faculty: Coffee & Community at the Kleefeld Museum Mar. 26 – Sanctuary Making: A Book Talk with Author Carolina Valdivia POINTS OF PRIDESonia Muñoz-Duran Named Recipient of 2026 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates AwardIn collaboration with Penguin Random House Publishing, the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition has recognized Sonia Muñoz-Duran as one of the recipients of the 2026 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates Award. Sonia Muñoz-Duran is a higher education professional with over 15 years of experience in academic advising, program coordination, and student support services. At CSULB, she has played a key role in mentoring first-generation students and developing effective retention strategies, particularly through her leadership of the GenExcel Mentoring Program. Sonia's expertise also includes academic recovery and career development, with a strong track record of creating and scaling student success initiatives. Throughout her career, Sonia has served as a lecturer, academic advisor, and coordinator for programs like Supplemental Instruction, impacting hundreds of students each year. She is a dedicated advocate for inclusive, student-centered learning environments and is actively involved in campus-wide initiatives and committees supporting first-generation students. Africana Studies Major Places First in National Council of Black Studies Undergraduate Student Essay ContestAfricana Studies major Alyssa Rowland won first place in the National Council of Black Studies Undergraduate Student Essay Contest and will attend the NCBS conference to receive her award. Penelope Gaibor Named February Employee of the MonthPenelope Gaibor ‘19, ‘24, executive assistant to the vice provost in Academic Planning, has been named February’s Employee of the Month. A first-generation college graduate who earned her bachelor’s degree in health science at CSULB, Gaibor began her professional journey on campus supporting undergraduate research students before completing a master’s degree in healthcare administration and joining Academic Affairs. In her current role under Vice Provost Dhushy Sathianathan, she supports planning initiatives such as Beach XP and the Data Fellows Program, coordinating communications, events, and strategic projects. Colleagues describe her as collaborative, detail-oriented, and empowering, citing her leadership in managing complex logistics and onboarding new team members. CNSM Alum Dr. Rachel Wigginton Appointed to Governor’s Office PositionThe College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Whitcraft Mud Lab alum, Dr. Rachel Wigginton, was recently appointed by the Governor of California as Special Assistant for Planning and Science for the Delta Stewardship Council. “This role is unique, providing dedicated leadership to our interagency coordination efforts,” said Executive Officer Jessica R. Pearson. “With her strong scientific background and experience working for two of our sister agencies, Rachel will play an essential role in coordinating and accelerating Delta Plan implementation efforts across the network of agencies that help us advance the state’s coequal goals for the Delta.” We are proud to see Dr. Wigginton applying her expertise in service of California’s environmental and policy initiatives. Biochemistry Graduate Student Receives Don Eden Graduate Research AwardAmber Peek, a biochemistry graduate student in Dr. Deepali Bhandari's lab, was selected as the recipient of the Don Eden Graduate Research Award from CSUBIOTECH in January 2026. This is a highly competitive, CSU-systemwide award designed to recognize and promote successful scientific communication to general audiences, to celebrate the work of outstanding graduate student researchers, and to highlight the pioneering work of collaborative faculty-student research groups. Receiving the Don Eden Graduate Research Award is a true testament to Amber's hard work, dedication, and excellence in research.
NEWS & UPDATESBoost Your Skills with The Accessibility GuyShawn Jordison, accessibility subject matter expert and founder of the YouTube channel, The Accessibility Guy, is coming to CSULB as a special guest to present two popular workshops on document accessibility basics. Faculty and staff are encouraged to register now for these sessions:
March Entertainment at the Carpenter CenterAdd some excitement to your month with shows at the Carpenter Center! Check out Versa-Style Street Dance Company Tribute: Guardians of Street Dance, Kandace Springs: Lady in Satin, and Cirque Kalabanté – Afrique en Cirque. Student tickets are only $25 with code HOTTIX. Faculty and staff save $10 on all season shows with code CSULBFACSTAFF and an @csulb.edu email address at checkout. CSULB Pow Wow at Puvungna Celebrates Native American Pride and CultureCSULB’s longstanding tradition of celebrating Native American cultures continues March 14-15 when the 53rd annual CSULB Pow Wow at Puvungna returns to campus. Pow Wow honors Indigenous Nations throughout North America and, for over more than half a century, has provided a gathering place for Native Americans. The event has endured as a multi-generational tradition for many families who have retained Native American languages and dances, said Craig Stone, professor emeritus of American Indian Studies and art. Annual Women’s Research Colloquium - President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW)Explore engaging research conducted by women or relating to issues concerning the experiences of women at PCSW's Women's Research Colloquium. The colloquium theme is Revolutionizing Womanhood and will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Anatol Center. Save the Date: Sunstone Innovation ChallengeThe Sunstone Innovation Challenge is an annual campus-wide student business plan competition. This isn't just a pitch deck presentation; it’s a high-stakes arena where the next generation of founders compete for $15K in seed funding and space, marketing, legal, and accounting services totaling up to $35k. Save the date for the event on Tuesday, April 21 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register for the CSULB AI Essentials Workshop SeriesThe CSULB AI Essentials workshop series aims to help faculty and staff get acquainted with available AI tools and best practices for using them.
College Corps @ The Beach Secures $3 Million Renewal; Applications Now Open for 2026–2027College Corps @ The Beach has been renewed for three more years with a $3 million grant! Under the continued leadership of Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Beth Manke, Dr. Christine Whitcraft, and Dr. Juan Benitez, this CSULB program will continue advancing student social mobility while making a meaningful impact in Long Beach and beyond. Student recruitment is now open for Cohort 5 (Fall 2026–Spring 2027). College Corps is a two-semester, 450-hour paid internship program for full-time undergraduate students. Participants receive up to $10,000, enroll in a 3-unit internship course, gain faculty mentorship, complete professional development workshops, and serve the community through four high-impact focus areas: environmental stewardship, food insecurity, K–12 student success, and healthy futures. This program is open to all interested students without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this opportunity with students. Students may apply now for College Corps Cohort 5. The application deadline for priority review is April 14, 2026. For more information, to request a classroom presentation, or to refer a student, please contact collegecorps@csulb.edu. Department of Design Reimagines Former Gym as Immersive Design Research LabSince March 2025, the downtown CSULB Immersive Design Research Lab (IDRL) has become a public-facing gathering spot for "happenings": experimental, high and low-tech installations, photography, performance, and research for those curious about human interactions with technology, art, design, and space. Fireside Chat: Spring 2026This fireside chat at the Library will be about The Eleventh Hour: A Quintet of Stories by Salman Rushdie. Prof. Pravina Cooper from Comparative World Literature and Prof. Norbert Schürer from English will discuss the five stories in this collection that spans India, England, and the US. The Eleventh Hour marks Rushdie’s return to fiction, after his own brush with mortality, with deeply poignant stories about identity, legacy, and life and death. Please register to attend. 2026 Data Fellows SymposiumCSULB’s Data Fellows will host its 2026 Symposium on Friday, April 24 from 9–11 a.m. on the second floor of the University Library. The in-person event will showcase this year’s Data Fellows team projects, highlighting collaborative, data-informed work designed to advance student achievement and institutional effectiveness across campus. The symposium provides an opportunity for campus partners to learn directly from participating teams about the questions they explored, the insights they uncovered, and the practical applications of their findings. Building on a tradition of sharing cross-divisional student success research—like past symposia featuring team presentations across access, retention, and future pathways initiatives —this year’s gathering continues the program’s commitment to actionable data and meaningful collaboration. Learn more about this year’s nine teams and past projects on the Data Fellows webpage. Please register to attend. 'The VITA Experience' Yields Tax Return Prep for Accounting StudentsThe Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program empowers CSULB accounting students to get practical experience in tax preparation while learning how to meet the challenges of their chosen profession. 2026 Lauda Lecture: Exploring the Connectivity Between Arts & WellbeingThe connection between arts and wellbeing is real and measurable. Join us for an overview of this exciting field with local practitioners advancing programs, research, and policy frameworks. Industry leaders from Performance Hypothesis will be joined by Joe Garcia of San Quentin SkunkWorks, Jenifer Kuo with California for the Arts, and Lead Teaching Artist with the Arts Council for Long Beach, Betty Rosen. Learn more about this year’s lecture and guest speakers on the Lauda Lecture webpage. This event will be on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center. Please RSVP to attend. Sanctuary Making: A Book Talk with Author Carolina ValdiviaThe Dream Success Center and HSI Initiatives invite the campus community to a book talk with Dr. Carolina Valdivia, Assistant Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at UC Irvine. Dr. Valdivia will discuss her new book Sanctuary Making, sharing research and personal reflections on navigating the education system amid the realities of immigration policy. The conversation explores the expanding reach of immigration enforcement and its lasting impacts on immigrant young adults and their families. This event will be on Thursday, March 26 at 12:00 p.m. 38th Student Research CompetitionThe 38th Annual Student Research Competition took place on Friday, February 27, 2026, showcasing excellence in scholarly research, and highlighting creative activity conducted by CSULB undergraduate and graduate students. The event featured oral presentations to an audience of fellow students, university community members, and a jury of distinguished faculty. Please join us in congratulating our SRC winners, many of whom will compete in the CSU-wide Student Research Competition hosted by San José State University. Raíces del Éxito: A Celebration of Community and ConnectionStudents and alumni are invited to attend Raíces del Éxito, a Latinx alumni and student networking event focused on building meaningful connections across generations of the Beach community. The event creates space for students to connect with alumni, hear about their professional journeys, and strengthen networks that support mentorship, career exploration, and community. Please RSVP to attend. Week of Research, Scholarly, and Creative ActivityThe Week of Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity (RSCA) fifth annual event will take place April 20 - 24, 2026. This event will focus on highlighting some of the amazing work currently being done across the CSULB campus by students, staff, and faculty. We hope to show the immense value and importance that the projects have not only on the campus but also within local communities. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet with presenters, have dialogues regarding various scientific and social topics, and network with members from various disciplines across CSULB. Week of RSCA encourages students, faculty, staff, and community members to not only engage with the sessions that are related to their own disciplines but also attend and engage with those that are outside of their own disciplines. View the Week of RSCA webpage for more information and to submit an event. CSULB Leads Nationwide Movement in Green FilmmakingCSULB and its students have become national leaders in the green filmmaking space. CSULB is one of the two founding members of the Green Film School Alliance, which is now 50-plus collegiate members strong, in 10 countries. Professor Hayward wrote “Green Filmmaking: A Guide to Sustainable Movie Production,” published by Routledge in 2025. This spring, he is teaching CSULB’s first “Sustainability in Film” class. Africana Studies Chair Keith Claybrook Affirms Black Culture while Fostering Human ConnectionsFor more than 20 years, M. Keith Claybrook Jr., chair of CSULB’s Department of Africana Studies, has been steeped in researching and teaching the history of the African diaspora and the immeasurable influence that descendants of enslaved people have had in the United States for the past 400+ years. His interest and curiosity are vast, running the gamut from the liberation movements on the African continent and in the Caribbean to the history of Black Los Angeles and hip hop. His goal today in the classroom? Help students gain a greater understanding of the joy, pain, and complexities of the Black experience. The AANHPI Spring Showcase is Around the CornerThe AANHPI Initiatives team invites students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners to join us for the AANHPI Spring Showcase on April 28, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Ngai Alumni Center. This event will highlight programs, partnerships, and initiatives that support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander student success at CSULB. The showcase will feature campus collaborators, student voices, and opportunities to connect with the growing network advancing AANHPI student achievement. Please RSVP to attend. Faculty Workshop – Faculty Service: Theory and PracticeDesigned to help faculty make more meaningful and engaging contributions to our shared governance through service, this two-part workshop brings together two key areas of faculty service work in an informative, friendly context. The first panel will feature Neil Hultgren, Chair of Academic Senate; Ann Kinsey, Academic Senate Chair Assistant; and Alexis Pavenick, Chair of the Academic Senate Nominating Committee, discussing how faculty can build shared governance through service, as well as service opportunities on our campus. The second portion will feature Danny Paskin, Journalism & Public Relations, as he leads an informative session on Robert’s Rules of Order and best practices in implementing them during faculty meetings. This workshop will be on Thursday, March 12, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. and includes lunch. Please register to attend. Grad Fair at The Beach is Happening NowGrad Fair at The Beach is happening from March 9 – 12! This annual event officially rings in Commencement season and offers everything needed for the ceremony from cap and gowns, announcements, class rings, and even signs to help celebrate the big day. Explore the Graduation Central page to learn more. Beach XP Symposium: Innovative Ideas for College ReadinessThe Beach XP Faculty Taskforce, in partnership with the Faculty Center, is excited to host a Spring Symposium designed to elevate the Beach XP program while focusing on college readiness and the first-year student experience. This symposium aims to increase program visibility and foster meaningful dialogue across our campus community about how best to support today’s first-year students and Gen Z learners. This hybrid symposium will be on Friday, March 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and includes lunch. Please register to attend. Faculty Workshop: Supporting Graduate Student SuccessThis interactive workshop facilitated by Dina Perrone, interim dean of Graduate Studies, will highlight key strategies and campus resources that faculty can use to support graduate student success at CSULB. It will explore common challenges graduate students face, such as financial stress, balancing work and study, and navigating research expectations, while discussing how faculty can play a key role in fostering supportive and inclusive environments. The session will also introduce practical tools and programs, including Graduate Center services, mentoring initiatives, and funding opportunities and will create space for faculty to exchange strategies, identify needs, and share actionable steps to strengthen graduate student support across programs and the broader campus community. This workshop will be on Tuesday, March 17, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. and includes lunch. Please register to attend. Essay Writing Workshops at the University Writing CenterThe University Writing Center is hosting an Essay Writing Series of student workshops this month. Students can attend the workshops covering organization in writing, revision strategies, and proofreading strategies to sharpen their essay writing and editing skills. Get Creative at Kleefeld ContemporaryThe Kleefeld Contemporary Museum is hosting a variety of fun and creative events throughout March. There are community events, art workshops, artist talks, and much more. Check out the museum website for a full list of programs and events. Graduate Center & Career Development Center Unite to Celebrate Women’s International History MonthThe Graduate Center, in collaboration with Career Development Center, will host a Career Readiness panel titled “Her Path Forward” on Tuesday, March 10, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Come to build connections with one another and get some insight from experienced individuals on how to succeed in the job market. Please RSVP to attend. Graduate Studies Funds 52 Graduate Students to Attend Professional & Academic Conferences through the Graduate Travel FellowshipThe Graduate Travel Fellowship (GTF), from the Graduate Studies (GS) office, funds graduate students to present or attend academic and professional conferences. Graduate Studies has been funding the Graduate Travel Fellowship since 2014. GS funded 52 students through the GTF for the fall 2025 academic year totaling over $26,000! Funding is available for both the fall and spring semesters. Submissions Open for April INSIDE Academic Affairs NewsletterSubmit items for our April edition by April 6. Please email submissions to AA Communications. Submissions should be brief and include a related hyperlink. Please note, we cannot guarantee that all submitted items will be published. However, submission items can be used to share in other channels (i.e. social media, news story, etc.). More Faculty & Staff ResourcesFind more campus resources online. aa-communication@csulb.edu | 562.985.5587 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
