Provost's Message - July 17, 2019

2019 Message From Provost Jersky

Provost Brian Jersky

Dear Campus Community,

These past few weeks we have experienced turbulent times; from several earthquakes that jolted us, to the continuing border devastation which has our country facing difficult questions. Sometimes we need these wake-up calls to remind us what is important. The one issue that I have a particularly hard time dealing with is what is happening on the border.

This growing crisis continues to expand with haunting images of children suffering or families being separated. More reports have surfaced detailing the deplorable conditions people are being forced to live in, with the youngest innocent victims being the ones seeming to suffer the most.  

A couple of weeks ago President Conoley wrote regarding the lifelong negative effects on children who have been separated from their families. Her perspective, which comes from social science expertise, clearly stated the damaging effects these children are facing. She spelled out the need for a paradigm shift of thought for us all to remember the importance of being globally aware and inclusive, not just nationally focused.

I want to echo this sentiment. Being an immigrant myself from South Africa, I saw firsthand the negative outcome of dividing people in that country. The ‘insider’ vs ‘outsider’ mentality my fellow compatriots and I experienced left devastating consequences. The end result of this thinking was an erosion of our shared humanity. I see the same division today.

We are better together when working towards common goals and purposes. All of us benefit from simple acts of human kindness shown to others. When we do this, we remember our common humanity when it comes to people in need at the border, especially innocent children. When they experience kindness, we all gain. Conversely, all of us are tainted when anyone is treated with cruelty. The worst part is that people are being allowed to be maltreated in our name.

Do you ever wonder what you would do if our economy fell apart, and violence, crime, and starvation threatened us? Would you flee for a better life since the one you were currently living in could have deadly consequences for your family? Would you too risk an unknown future in the hope of a better life? I believe I would. I would also hope to be treated with compassion and understanding.

We certainly need a sensible immigration policy, but we cannot deny people humanitarian assistance, especially children. Children are innocent of the choices their parents made in desperation.

That being said, what can we do? I understand the situation seems dire and hopeless, but we must be vigilant to stay compassionate and to take action whenever we can. What we do have is the power of our collective voice. We can call our federal representatives to share our anguish and concerns about the current situation. President Conoley added a website with organizations through which you can donate to children. Here is another website with additional information if you want to help.

I alone do not have the answers to this crisis, but I do believe we have the shared power to make our voices be heard.

Please join me.

Brian Jersky
Provost and Senior Vice President

News

Academic Affairs News

Grants

Andrea Caban. Scholar in Residence at the Chateau de la Bretesche. Theater Arts. COTA. Albert and Elaine Borchard Foundation. $30,000. (August 2019 - July 2020)

Michael Gardner. Beverage Container Recycling Program. Physical Planning & Facilities Management. A&F. Cal Recycle. $296,611. (March 2019 - June 2021)

Katarzyna Slowinska. The use of high frequency simulation of human dermal fibroblast in increased production of collagen and elastin for cosmetic application. Chemistry and Biochemistry. CNSM. Shiseido, CO. LTD. $45,500. (May 2019 - May 2020)

Vahid Balali. AGC Education and Research Industry Residency. Civil Engineering & Construction Engineering Management. COE. AGC Education & Research Foundation. $20,000. (May 2019 - July 2019)

Vahid Balali. AGC Education and Research Industry Residency. Civil Engineering & Construction Engineering Management. COE. Swinerton. $20,000. (May 2019 - July 2019)

Emel Demircan. Validation of the IMU based human kinematics measurement systems. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. COE. NextGen Aeronautics. $7,000. (May 2019 - August 2019)

Shadi Saadeh. City and County Pavement Improvement Center (CCPIC). Civil Engineering & Construction Engineering Management. COE. UC Davis. $34,684. (January 2019 - December 2019)

Niloofar Bavarian. Exploring deterrents to prescription stimulant diversion and misuse-related behaviors. Health Science. CHHS. NIH - National Institute of Drug Abuse. $11,564. (July 2018 - June 2021)

Forouzan Golshani. Engineering Student Program. COE Administration. COE. Boeing. $450,000. (May 2019 - May 2020)

Shadi Saadeh. Joint Training and Certificate Program - Supplemental + Extension. Civil Engineering & Construction Engineering Management. COE. State of CA Department of Transportation. $248,450. (June 2017 - December 2019)

Thomas O'Brien. SWTCW. CITT. CPIE. Federal Highway Administration. $187,500. (October 2014 - December 2019)

Vas Narayanaswami. CSULB MARC U*STAR Training Program. Chemistry & Biochemistry. CNSM. NIH-NIGMS. $346,013 (June 2017 - May 2022)

Michelle Scott. Educational Opportunity Center. Educational Equity Services. SA. US Department of Education.$264,534 (September 2017 - August 2022)

Katarzyna Slowinska. Collagen Hybrid Peptides and Facilitators in Targeting-Free Cell Selection and Uptake of Malignant Cells. Chemistry & Biochemistry. CNSM. NIH-NIGMS. $110,625 (May 2018 - April 2022)

Seiji Steimetz. 2019 LB Regional Economic Forum. Economics. CBA. LA County Board of Supervisors. $1,000. (March 2019 - December 2019)

Frank Fata. Language Training Center. Comparative Literature & Classics. CLA. Institute of International Education. $355,333. (June 2019 - May 2020)

Andrea Calabrese. STAR 2017 LO-CO-ISO LOw COst ISOlators for seismic protection of Engineered and non-Engineered constructions in UE and Developing Countries (LO-CO-ISO). CECEM. COE. Universita Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II. $5,000. (April 2019 - April 2020)

Forouzan Golshani. Aerospace Tech. & Engineering Research. COE Administration. COE. Air Force Research Laboratory. $50,000. (May 2019 - May 2020)

Mahdi Yoozbashizadeh. Propulsion Research. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. COE. Air Force Research Laboratory. $50,000. (April 2019 - April 2020)

Sara Moghtadernejad. Materials Development Research. Chemical Engineering. COE. Air Force Research Laboratory. $50,000. (April 2019 - April 2020)

Wade Martin. Economic Impact on the Regional Economy of Long Beach Transit. Economics. CBA. Long Beach Transit. $48,971. (May 2019 - December 2019)

The next Provost’s Message will be published on Wednesday, August 21st. Items for the upcoming message should be submitted by Friday, August 16th, to aa-communication@csulb.edu.