Provost's Message - October 16, 2019

Message From Provost Jersky

Dear Campus Community,

As I write this, we are almost half-way through the semester– time has gone by in the blink of an eye! In this short period of time, we have seen the political climate swirl into a near vortex of insanity. I have never in my lifetime witnessed such a flurry of pure political frenzy like what we have seen over these past few months.  Our university also had its own scary situation that caused us all concern.

When our campus experienced the credible threat, the emergency BeachAlert ‘shelter in place’ notification successfully went to everyone in our system. We discovered after the fact however, that there was variance in response during the crisis. I want to reiterate and highlight the resources the campus police currently have on their website. One such source, Active Shooter Critical Information Guide for Faculty and Staff (PDF), has excellent information relevant for our campus. Another is the “Run, Hide, Fight Surviving an Active Shooter” video from the CSU. 

Most importantly, know that everyone’s safety is paramount to all of us on campus. We have taken this event seriously and are actively looking at ways we can adapt and improve knowledge and physical spaces to keep us all informed and safe.  

When the news nationally and locally is so negative, I see how it has the power to dim the positivity and possibility we still possess. I understand this slippery slope, so this month I want to focus on what is possible.

I do see positive signs happening all around. Mental health awareness has taken a front-row seat in meaningful conversations. With ‘World Mental Health Day’ occurring in October, this focus helps all reflect on our lives and be mindful of our own health. Suicide in college students is the second leading cause of death after traffic accidents. Since this rate has tripled since the 1950’s, higher education has to proactively plan resources and counseling for students in need. I am thankful that our faculty, staff and administration continues to provide research and services for our current and future students.

Along these lines, Student Affairs will be hosting Beach Wellness during October 21 – 25. This is a great reminder that overall health and wellbeing for all our students, faculty and staff remain a top priority on this campus.

Our campus is celebrating ‘OUTober’ this month. As a gay man myself, this one is of personal significance to me. I have felt a tremendous sense of inclusion and acceptance here at CSULB, but I know this is not the case everywhere and for all in the LGBTQ+ community. Although I have seen several strides towards acceptance for our community, I know our transgender sisters and brothers continue to experience rejection and the sting of feeling like they don’t belong. So until all of us are free to be whom we are, none of us are truly free.

We again see the next generation standing up to demand change for our environment. When 16-year-old Greta Thunberg spoke up regarding climate change at the UN Climate Action Summit, a watching world listened. No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, we cannot ignore the way one voice can resonate with a generation. This spark of resolve is what we hope for all our students— we want them to make a difference in our world. I thank Greta for reminding us all of this important lesson.

As we continue on through the semester, my hope for you all is to cling to what is good. All these lights that surround us do shine brighter when the night is darker.

We cannot change the past, but we can hope for more today, and never stop dreaming for a better tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Brian Jersky
Provost and Senior Vice President

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News

• Why Diversity Matters - The Grunion Gazette by President Jane Close Conoley

• Graduate Research Conference, Tuesday, November 19, 2019 from 4-7pm in the USU Ballrooms - CSULB graduate students from all fields will be presenting their scholarly work.

• Podcast with the Provost - ASI President, Lizbeth Velasquez - She's a remarkable student with great insight, goals and direction for student government. 

• Student Affairs is hosting Beach Wellness Week - Help us get the word out to our students. Encourage them to take advantage of: free massages, flu shots, meditation and more.

• Faculty Welcome Back Reception - Light food and beverages will be served. Thursday, October 24 from 4 pm - 6:30 p.m. - Chartroom.

• Data Fellows Open Forums on Student Success - See How Faculty are Leading Research to Improve Student Success at the BEACH.

Academic Affairs News

• The most ambitious and coolest aspects of the mayor’s development forum – Long Beach Post
• Gwen Goodmanlowe - Illegal shipment of 6,000 shark jaws find new purpose at St. Anthony High School in Long Beach – ABC 7
• Cal State Long Beach gets disaster prepared with annual safety expo – Long Beach Press-Telegram
• Festival will help Long Beach prepare for emergencies – Long Beach Press-Telegram
• Galen Pickett - CSU Long Beach Aims to Save Dying Breed of Physics Teachers – NBC 4 
• Chris Lowe – Gray Laws on White Sharks – Hakai Magazine
• CSULB political analysts on Monday, Oct. 7, will discuss major issues facing the U.S. Supreme Court as it begins its newest term – Long Beach Press-Telegram
• Kris Slowinski - Limitless Potential: The Power of a Growth Mindset in College – Newswise
• Shirley Feldmann-Jensen, Inaugural Recipient - Emergency Management Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Award
• Ten Cal State Long Beach Health and Human Services students receive $50,000 in scholarships

Grants and Gifts

Avery Olson. LA Pierce College/JPL Solar System Lab Project Evaluation. Educational Leadership. CED. LA Pierce College. $23,321. (May 2019 - March 2019)

Kevin Sinchak. Physiology of Hypothalmic Neurostroidal Progesterone. Biological Sciences. CNSM. UCLA via NIH. $19,072. (March 2015 - January 2020)

Lorin Johnson. ArtsBridge: Downey Foundation for Educational Opportunities. COTA Administration. COTA. The Downey Foundation for Educational Opportunities. $16,031. (August 2019 - May 2020)

Erin Booth-Caro. Justice Corps. Career Development Center. SA. Justice Corps. $30,300. (August 2019 - August 2022)

Frank Fata. Language Training Center. Comparative Literature & Classics. CLA. Institute of International Education. $9,155. (June 2019 - May 2020)

Yu Yang. Acquisition of a Laboratory-scale steam power plant to advance thermal power systems research and education. Chemical Engineering. COE. Department of Defense - US Army. $182,117. (September 2019 - September 2020)

Pei-Fang Hung. Improve AAC Accessibility for People with Aphasia from Diverse Linguistic Backgrounds. Speech-Language Pathology. CHHS. American Speech, Language and Hearing Association. $7,000. (August 2019 - November 2020)

Rashida Crutchfield. Developing Promising Practices for Serving California University Students Basic Needs. Social Work. CHHS. ECMC Foundation. $541,244. (August 2019 - July 2021)

Richard Marcus. California Global Education Project. Global Studies Institute. CLA. The Regents of the University of California, Office of the President. $36,000. (July 2017 - June 2020)

Tracy Maples. MESA Schools Program (MSP). Engineering Student Success Center. COE. UCOP. $180,000. (July 2019 - May 2020)

Aftab Ahmed. First Optics and Laser Laboratory. Electrical Engineering. COE. Department of Defense - US Army. $449,320. (September 2019 - September 2020)

Shireen Pavri. HSI Caminos Project. CED Administration. CED. US Department of Education. $549,734. (October 2017 - September 2022).

Kristi Hagans. Interdisciplinary Training to Advance Implementation of Tier 3 Academic Supports for CLD Youth with Disabilities. Advanced Studies in Educ & Counseling. CED. US Department of Education. $245,577. (December 18 - November 2023)

Edwin Achola. Culturally Responsive Transition Support in School Counseling and Special Education (CREST). Advanced Studies in Educ & Counseling. CED. US Department of Education. $249,963. (January 2019 - December 2023)

Kristin Powers. Multicultural Secondary Transition Services for Students with High Needs Disabilities. Advanced Studies in Educ & Counseling. CED. US Department of Education. $249,978. (December 2019 - December 2023)

Nancy Meyer-Adams. UCCF-UCLA/DCFS Title IV-E Training/Stipend Program 2018-2021 (Years 28-31). Social Work. CHHS. UCCF UCLA/ DCFS Title IV-E Training Stipend Programs. $1,574,406. (July 2019 - June 2020)

Joy Goebel. Quality Improvement Resource Center II. Nursing. CHHS. Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System. $27,949. (August 2019 - July 2020)

Raisa Hernandez-Pacheco. Collaborative Research: Applying the CURE model to facilitate multi-institutional investigations across levels of biological inquiry using Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders. Biological Sciences. CNSM. University of Richmond via NSF. $8,690. (October 2019 - September 2020)

Susan Gomez-Zwiep. Aligning the Science Teacher Education Pathway. A Networked Improvement Community. Science Education. CNSM. CSU East Bay Foundation via NSF. $74,727. (July 2019 - May 2020)

Laura D'Anna. My Sisters Keeper - Evaluation Project. Center for Health Equity Research. CHHS. Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services. $49,500. (September 2019 - December 2020).

Bita Ghafoori. My Sisters Keeper. Advanced Studies in Educ & Counseling. CED. Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services. $40,000. (January 2020 - September 2021).

Ruth Piker. Early Childhood Education Training for Licensing Program Analysts of the Community Care. Teacher Education. CED. California Department of Social Services. $218,571. (September 2019 - May 2020)

Lora Stevens. CSU LSAMP 2018-2023. Geological Sciences. CNSM. University Enterprises, Inc. via CSU Chancellor's Office. $24,200. (September 2019 - August 2020)

Krista Coriaty. 1 for All grants for PR campaigns classes. Journalism & Public Relations. CLA. Middle Tennessee State University. $2,000. (August 2019 - December 2019)

In Memorium

Associate Professor Emeriti Stacy E. Dukes passed away. He was a faculty member within the Design Department from 1964 to 1986.

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