Human Development News

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Dr. Van Giffen Receives Teaching Award

On May 10, 2007 during the Celebration of University Achievements, Dr. Katherine Van Giffen was awarded the 2007 Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award. Dr. Van Giffen was recognized for exceptional work with students in the Department of Human Development.  She has served as chair and advisor in Human Development and on thesis committees in Educational Psychology and Psychology as well as Anthropology and Recreation and Leisure Studies. Along with sponsoring over 48 papers in collaboration with undergraduate students, presented at the annual meetings of the Western Psychological Association over the past 20 years, she serves as a mentor with the Partners for Success Program and was a co-founder of the Learning Alliance at CSULB.

Students Receive Awards

At the 2007 Human Development graduation party held at the Soroptimist House on May 31, 2007, several graduating seniors received awards. 

Outstanding Graduate in Human Development: The College of Liberal Arts asks the faculty of each department to select an Outstanding Graduating Senior. The Human Development Student chosen for this award is a superb scholar who makes substantial contributions to the community and/or university. 

• Laura Perez was the 2007 recipient of this award.  Laura had the highest grade point average among Human Development graduates and was a President's Scholar.  Laura worked in peer counseling and was known by her professors as someone who was willing to consider other points of view and think critically about issues.

Alice Hurst Award:  Named after our oldest graduate who, following retirement returned to school, lived in the dorms, graduated with her bachelor's degree at age 72 and went on to the Peace Corps.  She worked tirelessly to promote adult literacy both in Long Beach and in her posting abroad. Alice Hurst embodies the best of Human Development.  Students who receive this award display the characteristics that made Alice special--scholarship, compassion, determination and vision.   This year, two students received Alice Hurst Awards:

• Laura Bosworth was recognized for her scholarship and service to the local community. Laura had the second highest grade point average among Human Development graduates. She was accepted into the masters program in Counseling at CSUF and has received multiple academic scholarships to pay for her graduate training. As part of her work in the local community, Laura served as a member of the Long Beach Storytellers and produced the adult storytelling series at the Found Theatre, the nation's oldest running grassroots independent community theater.

• Kimberly Finegold was recognized for her scholarship and service to the campus community.  Kimberly was an excellent student and served as the treasurer of the Human Development Student Association.  As treasurer she secured funds and managed the budget for various department events including the alumni luau. Kimberly also served as Co-President of the Human Development Student Association during the Spring 2007 semester. Kimberly was accepted to Alliant University for their combined teaching credential and Master's program.
  

Community Action Award: Each year Human Development students engage in projects that benefit our communities and the world at large, some through the Action Project in HDEV 470 (Seminar/Practicum), and others through the Human Development Student Association or other affiliations.  This award recognizes the very best efforts to make our world a better place. Four students received Community Action Awards:

• Tawny Niemann was recognized for her active involvement in the Human Development Student Association and local communities.  Tawny served as the Co-President of the student association and organized a very successful Adopt-a-Family drive.  For her HDEV 470 Action Project, she put together a team of walkers to fight local and world hunger, raising over $2000.

• Lupe Orozco was recognized for her active involvement in the Human Development Student Association and local communities.  Lupe was a very active member of the student association, providing key assistance with many department events.  Lupe also recruited special guest speakers for her HDEV 470 course and organized a team of walkers for cancer research, raising over $1500.

• Beatriz Vega was recognized for her HDEV 470 Action Project. For this project, Beatriz attended training at the East L.A. Women's Center to become a community AIDS educator.  Training involved learning both about the AIDS epidemic and culturally appropriate ways to teach about AIDS. 

• Trang Troung was recognized for her HDEV 470 Action Project. For this project, Trang educated her classmates on the Killing Fields of Cambodia and the exodus of refugees to Long Beach. Trang also worked with the Cambodian Community Center to solicit book donations for their library. Trang was able to secure the donation of 50 children's books.