Dedication Events for New Molecular and Life Sciences Center
at California State University, Long Beach Set for Sept. 10

Rita Colwell, former director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and now chairman of Canon US Life Sciences Inc., will be among the speakers at events to dedicate the new Molecular and Life Sciences Center (MLSC) at California State University, Long Beach.

Colwell will present a lecture on “Interdisciplinary Science in the 21st Century: A Cholera Paradigm” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, in the University Student Union Ballroom. She also will speak at the dedication ceremony on Friday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the building’s Glenn M. Nagel Courtyard. Dedication of the Nagel Courtyard, named for the late dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, is scheduled at 9 a.m.

Guests will have the opportunity to tour the building and view poster presentations describing student research projects.

The 80,000-square-foot state-of-the art building opened this fall semester for classes in chemistry, biochemistry and biological sciences. It includes 24 group research laboratories, 20 instructional labs and 46 faculty offices. The American Institute of Architects bestowed its Honor Award for Excellence in Design on the three-story facility.

J. Mario Molina, M.D., president of Molina Healthcare Inc. and a CSULB alumnus, will be the keynote speaker at the dedication. The Long Beach firm operates a managed medical care program in five states, focusing on serving low-income patients. Other guests will include California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed.

NSF has rated Cal State Long Beach as the top master’s-level university for the number of graduates who go on to earn doctoral degrees in science. Its faculty and students are engaged in research in a variety of fields ranging from umbilical cord stem cell differentiation, nanotechnology and molecular wire development, to marine biology and nitric oxide chemistry, among other areas.

Dedication events are open to the public at no charge. For additional information, contact Donna Alexander at ext. 5-4707 or dalexand@csulb.edu.

Keynote Speaker
J. Mario Molina, M.D., is president of Molina Healthcare Inc. and a CSULB alumnus. His father, Dr. C. David Molina, founded the company in 1980 to address the special needs of low-income patients. Molina assumed leadership of the firm in 1996. He is a member of the American College of Physicians and the Medical and Surgical Association of Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he performed his medical internship and residency. He also serves on the Financial Solvency Standards Board of the Department of Managed Health Care and on the boards of the New America Alliance, California Association of Health Plans, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and on the Council of Legislation of the California Medical Association.

Distinguished Visitors
Rita R. Colwell retired as director of the National Science Foundation in February to become chairman of Canon U.S. Life Sciences Inc., which develops applications in diagnostics and medical instrumentation. A microbiologist and expert on infectious diseases, she also serves on the faculties of the University of Maryland, College Park, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She received a B.S. and M.S. from Purdue University and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington.

Charles B. Reed is chancellor of The California State University. He was appointed chancellor in 1998 after serving as chancellor of the State University System of Florida. He previously was chief of staff to the governor of Florida and has spent more than 40 years as a faculty member and administrator in higher education and government. He holds B.S., M.S. and Ed.D. degrees from George Washington University.