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Office of the ProvostOctober 13, 2026
We are now approaching the midpoint of the fall semester, and I hope the term has been productive and meaningful for you. October is a vibrant month at The Beach. As we conclude Latine Heritage Month and our first HSI Week, we also have opportunities to acknowledge Indigenous Peoples’ Day, OUTober (LGBTQ+ History Month), Filipino American History Month, World Mental Health Day, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Sustainability Month, and other observances that invite reflection, learning, and connection across our community. This month also brings continued recognition of Cal State Long Beach’s impact and excellence. CSULB was recently ranked No. 10 among the “Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars” by Washington Monthly, earned 5 out of 5 stars in Money’s “Best Colleges in America” rankings, placed among the top 50 institutions in The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse’s 2026 rankings, and was named No. 8 among national universities for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. These recognitions reflect the collective work happening across our campus every day. They speak to the dedication of our faculty, staff, administrators, and students, and to the many ways our community continues to advance academic excellence, student success, access, and opportunity. I hope each of you sees your own contributions reflected in these achievements. I want to express my sincere appreciation to our entire Beach community. Thank you for the care, commitment, and excellence you continue to bring to your work and for helping make The Beach a place where students can learn, grow, and thrive. Go Beach! Karyn Scissum Gunn, Ph.D. ANNOUNCEMENTSJoin the 2026 CSU Student Success SymposiumFaculty, staff, and administrators are invited to tune in to the 2026 CSU Student Success Symposium livestream on October 22–23. Building on Graduation Initiative 2025, this year’s symposium will focus on the next evolution of student success across the CSU through the theme, “The CSU Promise in Action: Powered by Purpose. Driven by Opportunity.” Participants will hear from university leaders, explore promising practices, and deepen their understanding of the CSU Student Success Framework through keynote presentations, collaborative learning experiences, and campus-led conversations. Share your thoughts at the Presidential Listening TourThe CSULB community is invited to take part in upcoming Presidential Listening Tour sessions. These sessions are open opportunities to engage in the conversation and contribute to the university’s strategic planning efforts. Students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and community partners are invited. An e-response form is also available. EVENTSThrough October 28 - OUTober Events Through October 29 - Cybersecurity Awareness Month Events Through October 29 - Sustainability Month Events October 14 - CLA Day October 14 - Recuerdos: A Mini Ofrenda Workshop with Featured Artist Jacqueline Valenzuela October 14 - Mental Health Awareness in Action: Recognizing Distress and Responding with Support October 16 - Seed Stacks Potting Workshop October 19 - BIDC: John Wood Jr. “Confronting the Culture War with the Beloved Community” October 21 - Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony Orchestra October 21 - Academic Book Publishing 101: From Proposal to Publication October 24 - CNSM's Science LIVE! October 29 - Guest Lecture with Dr. Elena Jackson Albarrán October 29 - Halloween (not) at the Museum with Fiber Arts Club October 29 - CSULB Night at the Anaheim Ducks Game October 30 - Staff Council’s Halloween Spooktacular November 1 - Chrysanthemum Event at the Japanese Garden November 6 - Shaping Energy: Clay as Creative Healing November 13 - CSULB AANHPI Alumni Mixer POINTS OF PRIDEEducational Leadership Doctorate student Quay Dorsey named recipient of the 2026-27 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding AchievementCSULB doctoral student Quay Dorsey has been named the university’s 2026–27 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement recipient, the CSU’s highest recognition of student achievement. A former K–12 educator and current senior program manager at WestEd, Dorsey is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership while advancing research focused on college access, advising, and economic mobility. CSULB seniors Lucy Sanzobrin and Shakhzoda Khodjakhonova win moot court competitionCSULB's Moot Court team traveled to the Loyola University Chicago (LUC) site of the 2026 City of the Broad Shoulders Classic. This competition featured CSULB, LUC, and the University of Michigan. For the second year in a row, CSULB emerged victorious. CSULB seniors Lucy Sanzobrin and Shakhzoda Khodjakhonova won the title in a 2-1 decision over LUC. All CSULB teams won rounds, and four advanced to the elimination rounds. CSULB ranks No. 8 among national universities for promoting social mobilityCal State Long Beach has ranked No. 8 among national universities for “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings. Kleefeld Museum collection pieces featured at The MetThe Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum interim co-directors, Erin Stout and Alyssa Torres, traveled to New York in September to oversee the loan and installation of two works by painter Lee Krasner into New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art for the exhibition Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous. The two paintings, Stretched Yellow and Gothic Frieze, are part of the Kleefeld Museum's permanent collection. The Met's Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous runs from October 4, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Stretched Yellow was also featured in a show at the Kleefeld in 2023 and can be seen in this CSULB news spotlight written at the time of the exhibition. CSULB Design-Build Team named Region 7 winner of 2026 Design-Build Institute of America National Student Competition, will advance to nationalsThe CSULB Design-Build Team has been named the Region 7 Winner of the 2026 Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) National Student Competition and will advance to the next National RFP Stage of the competition. The team was supervised by Dr. Elhami Nasr and was comprised of students in the Construction Management program. CSULB earned the top position among five Region 7 teams, competing against Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and two teams from Cal State Fresno. Nationally, 33 student teams participated with eight competition-region winners advancing to the next stage. Classics professor wins national award for outstanding scholarshipDebby Sneed, an assistant professor of classics, recently received the national Barbara McManus Award for Outstanding Scholarship. The annual award is presented by the Women’s Classical Caucus, a national organization that, since 1971, has advocated for the representation of feminist and gender-informed perspectives in the study and teaching of women in classical antiquity. With co-author Erin Lawrence-Roseman, Sneed published “A Dwarf Maiden on the Athenian Acropolis: Disability and Dedication in the Archaic Polis” in The Art Bulletin, one of the most prestigious journals for art and archaeology in the field. Scholarship winner centers the Golden State’s LGBTQ+ historyKass Malcor ‘26, the inaugural awardee for the Susan M. Rigney Scholarship, has returned to The Beach to research the history of HIV and AIDS in California. Their studies build on an award-winning 2025 paper, “Moralization and Mystification: Rhetoric of California AIDS Propositions, 1986-1988,” which contrasted attempts to enact laws at the polls with municipal ordinances intended to protect civil rights and public health. Malcor completed their bachelor’s degree in history, minoring in queer studies. They are now pursuing a master’s degree in history.
NEWS & UPDATESFrom classroom to career: Michelle Taylor’s CSU LIFT project builds durable skills for the workforceDr. Michelle Taylor, Associate Professor in the Child and Family Studies program, was selected as a 2026-27 CSU Learning Innovation for Future-Forward Teaching (LIFT) grantee – a competitive, one-year funding opportunity that supports teaching innovations designed to prepare students to learn, adapt, and thrive in the modern workforce. Dr. Taylor’s CSU LIFT grant, entitled “Workforce-Ready Foundations: Updating Child Development Coursework for Modern Career Paths,” focuses on making durable skills visible in Child and Family Studies coursework, specifically revising curriculum to emphasize critical thinking, equity and inclusion, and technological literacy that help prepare students for their future careers. CSULB AANHPI Alumni MixerThe CSULB Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Alumni Mixer aims to help alumni reconnect, build community, and strengthen connections. The event will take place on November 13 from 5:30-7p.m. at the Ukleja Room in the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. Food and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to reserve your spot. Nursing students honored with Manke family giftThree CSULB nursing students are receiving stipends from Dr. Beth Manke and her siblings to help offset the demands of required clinical experiences, which can leave little time for paid work. Inspired by their mother’s legacy as a nurse and educator, the Manke family gift reflects a commitment to empathy, access, and helping students translate classroom learning into meaningful careers. Free flu shot clinics at The BeachProtect yourself and our Beach community this flu season! FREE flu shot clinics are open for all students, faculty, and staff with locations popping up around campus throughout the semester. CSULB AANHPI alumni invited to join alumni networkThe CSULB Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Alumni Network is a virtual community that brings together AANHPI alumni of CSULB to connect, build community, and stay engaged with The Beach. Whether you graduated recently or decades ago, this network aims to help you stay connected to the CSULB AANHPI community and to one another. Interested alumni can join through Beach Nexus.
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Dear Colleagues,
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Your answers will be anonymous, and the survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. Students, staff and faculty members who wish to be entered into a drawing will have the chance to win a $25 gift card or an iPad.
Her father built CSULB's library; now she's funding what comes next
Jo Anne Boorkman is the daughter of founding librarian Charles J. Boorkman, who led the university library for 27 years before retiring in 1976. He was the third person to be hired in 1949 and oversaw the construction of the first library building. In honor of her father’s contributions, Jo Anne has established the Charles J. Boorkman Library Fund, which is creating an endowment to benefit the library, its faculty and staff. The Boorkman gift will help library faculty and staff stay current with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, data tools, digital scholarship platforms, accessibility technologies and new library systems.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Join us this October for expert webinars, practical security tips, and opportunities to strengthen your cybersecurity knowledge. Visit the Cybersecurity Awareness Month website to explore opportunities. Also, look out for weekly cybersecurity tips landing in your inbox.
Career Ready Educator Series
Faculty are invited to learn strategies for incorporating NACE Career Readiness Competencies into the classroom by highlighting workforce-relevant skills, connecting course learning to career competencies, enhancing existing assignments, supporting students' articulation of their skills, and assessing learning along the way. Participants will also discover Career Development Center resources and experiences that can reinforce career readiness within and beyond the classroom.
The Career Ready Educator Series includes three webinars. Participants may attend all three webinars or select the sessions most relevant to their work and interests.
Sessions are presented by Virginia Gray, PhD, RD, Professor and Chair Family & Consumer Sciences and Erin Booth-Caro, MS, Director, Career Development Center.
Please RSVP for each session.
Graduate Studies recruited at the Fall 2026 Graduate & Professional Schools Fair
The Graduate Center participated in the Fall 2026 Graduate & Professional Schools Fair on October 8. Sponsored by the Educational Opportunity Program, the fair connected CSULB students with representatives from CSULB graduate programs and approximately 130 public and private university programs. To help our CSULB undergraduates prepare for the event and the graduate application process, the Graduate Center hosted four workshops: Navigating the Cal State Apply Application Portal; Writing a Statement of Purpose for Graduate School; Funding Your Graduate Studies; and Preparing for the Graduate & Professional School Fair. Graduate Studies also supported 15 of our graduate programs to recruit at the fair.
Plan for tomorrow today
Join the Office of Planned Giving for a free webinar on October 22 during Estate Planning Awareness Week: Beyond Tomorrow: Estate Planning for Individuals and Couples Focused on Legacy. Estate planning attorney and CSULB alumna Laura Meier will share guidance on protecting your wishes, assets, and legacy. Register for the webinar and explore free online estate planning resources.
Faculty invited to book publishing workshop
On October 21, the Faculty Center invites all faculty to join a Zoom workshop on Academic Book Publishing 101: From Proposal to Publication. The workshop will feature Kerry Webb, Senior Acquisitions Editor of the University of Texas Press, and CSULB’s Samiha Rahman, Associate Professor of Human Development, author of Black Muslim Freedom Dreams: Islamic Education, Pan-Africanism, and Collective Care (NYU Press, 2026).
Popular clay shaping workshop returns
On November 6, a popular workshop will return: Shaping Energy: Clay as Creative Healing with Tia Santana, Assistant Professor and Program Head of Ceramics Art Studies. Tia will lead a group through the process of shaping clay with their hands and with pottery wheels in the ceramics studio, and the group will enjoy lunch catered by Bai Plu Thai afterward. Space is limited so sign up now and keep your eye out for confirmation emails.
Lecturers invited to a spooky appreciation dinner
The Faculty Center and Lecturer Lifeline invite all lecturers to celebrate their work on campus at The Lecturer’s Lair: A Halloween Haunt & Appreciation Dinner on October 29. RSVP to join for tarot card readings, creepy classics by Dr. Jarvy Jarv, Halloween candy, costumes and more! Dinner is included.
OURS Summer 2026 Research Newsletter
Check out the OURS Summer 2026 Newsletter! Each semester and summer, OURS publishes a newsletter to highlight students, faculty, and staff for any work they have done as part of the various undergraduate research programs on campus. This is a great opportunity to recognize the amazing research work/experiences that our students, faculty, and staff are part of at CSULB. Read about students who have participated in summer research programs, have received awards/recognition, presented at conferences, and more!
Mumu Fresh at the Carpenter Center
Friday, October 16 at 8 p.m.
Grammy-nominated Maimouna Youssef (Mumu Fresh) draws from her expansive musical background in gospel, jazz, soul, hip-hop, and more in this uplifting program.
Tickets: Up to two free tickets for CSULB students/faculty/staff by showing campus ID at the door. $15 general public.
The Sa Dance Company
RISE: A Journey Through Resilience
Saturday, October 24 at 8 p.m.
This all-female dance ensemble celebrates women’s empowerment through Indian classical and folk dance and contemporary movement and storytelling.
Tickets: CSULB students $25 online.
CSULB faculty/staff save $10 with code CSULBFACSTAFF at checkout.
Show off your spooky side at Staff Council’s Halloween Spooktacular
Get ready for a scary good time at Staff Council’s annual Halloween Spooktacular! Join colleagues for festive treats, costume parades, and plenty of Halloween fun. Put your creativity to the test in the office decorating, group costume, individual costume, and pumpkin decorating contests. Visit the event website for full details and information on how to participate.
Annual Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill
CSULB will be participating in the annual “Great Shakeout” earthquake drill on Thursday, October 15, 2026. All members of the campus community will receive a test alert from the campus emergency notification system (BeachALERT) at 9:00 a.m. This is an opportunity to assess your usual surroundings and identify safe places in advance where you could “DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON” in the event of an earthquake.
Staff departments and other campus groups can request free training from UPD on a variety of safety topics, including earthquake preparedness.
For more information on campus drills or other emergency procedures, please visit the University Police website.
Sustainability Month at The Beach
Every fall semester, CSULB Sustainability and other campus and community partners collaborate to host FREE events throughout October for Sustainability Month. Don't miss these events that will inspire you to create positive change in the environment and in your community.
Visit the Sustainability website for a list of upcoming events for the month.
Celebrate OUTober: LGBTQ+ History Month at The Beach
CSULB is celebrating OUTober with a variety of events and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to connect, learn, and build community throughout the month. OUTober offers many ways to honor LGBTQ+ history, identities, experiences, and contributions at The Beach. Explore the full schedule to find an event to join.
Seed Stacks Potting Workshop
Join members of Sustain U for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn how to plant herb seeds and care for them as they grow. Seeds and potting materials will be provided by Seed Stacks, the CSULB Library's new seed library!
BIDC welcomes John Wood Jr. for fall speaker event
The Beach Institute for Dialogue and Community invites the campus community to its fall speaker event featuring John Wood Jr., former national ambassador for Braver Angels and founder of the OmniAmerican Society. Wood will present “Confronting the Culture War with the Beloved Community” on Monday, October 19, from 2 to 3:15 p.m. at the Karl Anatol Center. Join the conversation and explore approaches to dialogue, community, and navigating difference.
Submissions open for November Inside Academic Affairs newsletter
Submit items for our November edition by November 2. Please email submissions to aa-communication@csulb.edu. 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 Resources
Find more campus resources online.
aa-communication@csulb.edu | 562.985.5587
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