CSULB No. 1 in the CSU for GE math and more Beach achievements
Making Waves is a monthly column that celebrates accomplishments of the CSULB community.
CSULB No. 1 in the CSU for GE math and quantitative reasoning
CSULB ranks No. 1 in the CSU system for General Education Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning completion, according to the CSU Legislative Report on Academic Preparation of First-Year Students. Cal State Long Beach ranked the highest in the percentage of first-year students (from the 2024 cohort) who completed foundational math by the end of their third semester, according to the report.
The Math GE Redesign Committee has been working for the past 10 years to develop new courses and update student support structures for general ed completion. The committee comprises CSULB Mathematics and Statistics Department faculty Babette Benken, Ryan Blair, Jen-Mei Chang, Josh Chesler, Florence Newberger, Kagba Suaray and Tianni Zhou, as well as math leadership Will Murray (outgoing chair), Tangan Gao (incoming chair) and Krzysztof Slowinski (associate dean).
Alumni receive Fulbright awards to study and teach abroad
Two recent graduates from Cal State Long Beach have received 2026-27 Fulbright awards, enabling them to study, teach, conduct research and exchange ideas abroad. Samuel King ’26, who obtained a master’s degree in geography, will be an English teaching assistant in Lusaka, Zambia. He will be based at the University of Zambia, and will serve as a cultural ambassador, visiting scholar and guest lecturer teaching advanced English skills.
Sequoia Sanchini ’26, who earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and translation studies, has also won the Fulbright’s English Teaching Assistant Award, and will head to Indonesia to teach English at high schools or trade schools in rural areas. In total, 24 CSU students, recent graduates and faculty members received Fulbright Student and Scholar Awards for 2026-27.
CSULB faculty selected for inaugural CSU LIFT projects
Eight Cal State Long Beach faculty members have been selected for the inaugural cohort of the CSU Learning Innovation for Future-Forward Teaching (LIFT) Initiative, a competitive, one-year funding opportunity that encourages teaching innovations that prepare students to learn, adapt and thrive in 21st century work and life. The CSULB awardees are:
- Guido Urizar — A Community Health Equity Approach to Promoting Student Durable Skills
- Michelle Taylor — Workforce-Ready Foundations: Updating Child Development Coursework for Modern Career Paths
- Wikrom Prombutr — Making Financial Valuation Visible: Embedding Applied Learning and Reflection in FIN 300
- Jonathan Ocón — Geography at Work: A Department-Level Model for Career-Ready Learning
- Aparna Nayak — Assessing Global Competencies and Cultural Literacy in World Language Classes
- Richard Marcus — Discourse Across Disciplines: A Faculty Module Development Initiative
- Gayathri Manikandan — AI-Augmented Learning: Embedding Durable Skills in Entry-Level Mathematics Courses
- Mohammad Daneshvar Kakhki — Thinking with AI: Durable Skills for a High-Enrollment Gateway MIS Course
Across the CSU, 45 projects were selected for the inaugural LIFT cohort.
Professor’s book explores Black American Muslim diaspora in Senegal
Samiha Rahman, an assistant professor in human development, recently published a book titled “Black Muslim Freedom Dreams: Islamic Education, Pan-Africanism, and Collective Care” (NYU Press). Drawing on more than a decade of ethnographic engagement, the book explores the Islamic educational opportunities created for and by Black American Muslims in Medina Baye, a city in west-central Senegal. Medina Baye has become the headquarters of a pan-African Sufi movement and the book chronicles the dreams, sacrifices, struggles and joys of young people and parents who live, learn and strive for liberation between the United States and Senegal. The volume traces their journeys between these two worlds.
Alumni office wins two CASE awards
CSULB’s Office of Alumni Engagement, led by Noemi Guevara ‘08, received two Circle of Excellence Awards recently from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The first was a silver award under the category of Engagement/Student Engagement for the “Senior Send-Off: Invest in Your Success” event held in May at the Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center.
The second was a bronze award under Engagement/Volunteer Engagement for Day at The Beach, the free annual spring open house hosted by CSULB for newly admitted students and their families. The Circle of Excellence Awards recognize exceptional achievements in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing. CSULB’s Alumni team was notified of the awards on July 1; certificates will be presented in the fall.
Employee of the Month: Amber Robertson
Amber Robertson, department coordinator for the Department of Finance, has been named CSULB’s Employee of the Month for July 2026. Over the past year, Robertson has played an integral role in coordinating major campus and college initiatives, including the Finance Department Symposium, Day at The Beach, the Finance Department advisory board meeting and Commencement activities. She also served as interim executive assistant to the dean for six months while continuing to fulfill her responsibilities as department coordinator.
“Amber Robertson has exhibited exceptional service, professionalism and performance through her consistent reliability, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment to supporting the Department of Finance and the broader CSULB community,” wrote Lu Zhu, chair of the Department of Finance, in her nomination. Robertson was honored July 13 at Friendship Walk, joined by President Loren J. Blanchard, College of Business associate deans Sabine Reddy and Jasmine Yur-Austin, campus colleagues and family.
Have an item for Making Waves? Send your submissions to Richard Chang.
