Professor honored

The Distinguished Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity Award was awarded to Fen Rhodes, professor of psychology at Cal State Long Beach, for his work in HIV/AIDS prevention. 

When the HIV and AIDS diseases came to light around 1985, many scientists scram-bled to learn more about them. Rhodes jumped at the opportunity to put his research skills to work and spent 14 years developing programs preventing the spread of HIV.

"They were just becoming an issue and it was a place where my skills could be useful," Rhodes said. 

Rhodes obtained a position in psychological research at CSULB in 1964, after serving in an administrative position at another university. 

"It was what I wanted to do," he said.

Rhodes' work spawned the Center for Behavioral Research and Services. Here, many programs help educate people  on the prevention of the spread of HIV.

"They've been very successful," said Eduardo Archuleta, program coordinator for the Center, about the programs. 

Rhodes' main focus has been to research through interviewing and testing people in "at-risk" situations to describe the prevailance of HIV in the community.  Rhodes says the disease is not terribly high, compared to the average, in Long Beach. 

To further the outreach in the city, Rhodes' center took place in the Long Beach Gay Pride Weekend.  At their booth, people could obtain condoms, bleach kits to clean needle for people who inject, information pamphlets and register for educational programs.