events

University celebrates student research with college-wide showcases

Michael Broder — Mon, 22 May 2023 18:10:10 +0000

University celebrates student research with college-wide showcases

Author: Strategic Marketing & Communications

May 18, 2023

Photo Credit: Michael Broder

Students at the CHSS Undergraduate Showcase present posters in Seven Hills Conference Center

Students across campus have been sharing their research at various student project showcases

As the academic year comes to a close, SF State’s colleges are celebrating the scholarship, research and creative activities of the University community with multiple student project showcases. In April and early May, undergraduate and graduate students from across campus shared their work through research posters, presentations and performances. Students, staff, faculty and community members saw everything from student-built prototypes of engineering projects to the exploration of evolution through dance to presentations on the history of global fashion.

This year, the Colleges of Health & Social Sciences (CHSS), Liberal & Creative Arts (LCA), Science & Engineering (CoSE) and Ethnic Studies all had research events. While the LCA and CoSE showcases have become annual campus traditions, CHSS’ Research & Creative Works Showcase (held at the Seven Hills Conference Center Thursday, May 4) was the College’s first. The College of Ethnic Studies Student Showcase, also on the newer side, was held Thursday, May 11, on the fifth floor of the Administration Building.

“When I found out about the CHSS Undergraduate Research & Creative Works Showcase I knew I had to participate. Research has been such a key component of my SF State experience,” said Nathan Burns, who is graduating this semester with a degree in Sociology and a minor in LGBTQ Studies. “For my senior seminar last semester I created ‘SURV(IO)LANCE,’ a textual and visual zine where I incorporated academic research and my personal experience as a queer, trans, disabled person to discuss surveillance. For the CHSS Showcase I was able to print a few copies of the zine to share with people in attendance. It was so exciting to be able to not only share my research with other campus members, but get to see just how much incredible work is being done across campus that I otherwise might not have heard about.”

Eduardo Hernandez, a senior Criminal Justice Studies major, also participated in the CHSS showcase. His work explores how the overlapping interests of the prison industrial complex, the U.S. military establishment and law enforcement lead to mass incarceration. He says that his project represents his solidarity with individuals who have been exploited in prisons.

“My research experience at SF State enabled my academic potential to be significantly developed by showcasing my research project for fellow peers, scholars and visitors. I am honored to have been recognized and have granted the privilege to participate in the CHSS Undergraduate Showcase with scholars at SF State. Presenting at the event, I experienced a great sense of joy and relief knowing nearly six months of research and preparation allowed me to represent SF State in its highest light possible: an incredible research facility in the SF Bay Area,” he said.

From story by SF State News

See photos from CHSS Showcase

Read abstracts from CHSS Showcase

“It was so exciting to be able to not only share my research with other campus members, but get to see just how much incredible work is being done across campus that I otherwise might not have heard about.”
— Nathan Burns, Sociology major

SSS & SOAR TRIO host First-Generation College Celebration Day

Michael Broder — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 01:16:07 +0000

SSS & SOAR TRIO host First-Generation College Celebration Day

Author: Juan Carlos Gonzalez

December 12, 2022

Photo Credit: Cecilia Cao

Pictured: First-Generation College Celebration Day Committee

San Francisco State University’s fourth First-Generation College Celebration Day, hosted jointly by Student Support Services (SSS) and Student Outreach and Academic Retention (SOAR) TRIO, was held on campus at Seven Hills on National First-Generation Day, November 8. Celebrations around the nation have been held on this day since 2017, when the Council for Opportunity in Education and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators created this day to recognize and honor first-generation students and help “[transform] higher education to drive first-generation student success, effectively and equitably, across education, career, and life…encouraging [our] communities to understand better the systemic barriers plaguing higher education and the support necessary for you — our critical and resilient First-Generation students, to continue thriving.”

The celebration began with SF State President Lynn Mahoney’s opening remarks. She commended students for taking the most important step to elect to enter higher education. She went on to acknowledge and thank the “village” represented by the community partners present at the celebration and share her parent’s experience being first-generation.

The celebration proceeded with a moment of silence and a land acknowledgment kindly provided by Professor and Chair of Counseling Rebecca Toporek. The event intentions and a brief meditation followed, bringing focus on the difficult task of being a student in recent times and impacted by a worldwide pandemic. SOAR TRIO director JC Gonzalez said, “We see and acknowledge how hard you’re trying to keep things working. And we know we’re not in a situation where it is easy for anyone.”

Sherria Taylor, associate professor of Family & Community Sciences and director of Healing Circles in the College of Health & Social Sciences (CHSS), perfomed a phenomenal rendition of “God Bless the Child” as performed by Billie Holiday. She introduced the song with the powerful history and trailblazing work of Billie Holiday, “… through her pain and all of the things that she went through, even as a child and a Black woman during that time — which still resonates with many of us now … she used her voice to stand for something in her own special, beautiful way.”

Following the song, a panel of first-generation students, staff and administrators was introduced, and panelists took turns offering their testimony of being a first-generation student, staff member and leader. This was followed by lunch and networking.

See event photos on Facebook.

First-Generation Panel

Damarcus Johnson, former SSS-TRIO student, B.A. in History, and former Educational Opportunity & Pathway Programs (EOPP) mentor
Jocelyn Bonilla, Biology major with concentration in Physiology
Al Huynh Phuong, SOAR trio alum, graduated class of 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and minors in Counseling and Asian American Studies
Zachary Young, former EOP Counselor at CSU East Bay, EOPP counselor at SF State, part of the first TRIO cohort in EOPP from 1997
Antonella Cortez, program coordinator for SSS TRIO, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
Bibiana Arreola, interim director of Advisor Development and College Advisors
Oscar Martin Gardea, director, EOPP

First-Generation College Celebration Day Committee

Antonella Cortez, program coordinator, SSS TRIO, EOPP
Jessica Duna, administrative support coordinator, SSS TRIO, EOPP
Juan Carlos Gonzalez, director SOAR TRIO, CHSS
June Parra, SOAR TRIO advising coordinator, CHSS

Community partners in attendance

Financial Aid
Tutoring and Academic Support Center
Metro Academies Success Program
Asian American & Pacific Islander Retention Education Program
Institute for Civic &Community Engagement
Educational Opportunity & Pathways Program
Health Promotion & Wellness
Project Connect
SF SF Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity
Dream Resource Center

SSS TRIO is celebrating 25 years on campus, and SOAR TRIO is celebrating seven years on campus. The programs have had the honor and privilege of serving a combined 29 distinct cohorts of first-generation students at SF State over the years.

Dean welcomes CHSS community back to campus at Fall Opening Meeting

Michael Broder — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 19:05:01 +0000

Dean welcomes CHSS community back to campus at Fall Opening Meeting

Author: CHSS Communications

August 29, 2022

The College of Health & Social Sciences held its annual Fall Opening Meeting on August 18 in hybrid in-person and virtual format. In-person attendees enjoyed breakfast and mingling before the meeting at Seven Hills Conference Center.

The program included remarks by Dean Alvin Alvarez and presentation of the 2022 Faculty Excellence Awards by Associate Dean John Elia. The event also included the presentation of the Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Emerita Mickey Eliason (virtually).

The dean acknowledged the difficult, uncertain times we are in and celebrated the fact that so many members of the CHSS community were together again in person after two years of virtual Fall Opening Meetings. He remarked that personal connections are what give meaning to our work and make us “more than cogs in a wheel.” The CHSS community, he said, is one that “strives for kindness, respect and decency.”

View more images from the event on Facebook

Dean Alvarez recognized the College’s newly tenured and promoted faculty members, introduced new members of the CHSS faculty and staff and announced the appointments of current members to new roles:

New faculty

Miguel Abad, Department of Child & Adolescent Development
Angela Fillingim, Department of Sociology & Sexuality Studies
Cynthia Martinez, Department of Counseling
Soheyla Mohammadigorgi, Family, Interiors, Nutrition & Apparel Department

Read bios

New staff

Nhi Nguyen, Department of Public Health
June Parra, SOAR TRIO
Saya Santos, Student Resource Center
Saya Tanaka, School of Nursing

Appointments to new leadership roles

Kate Hamel, Assistant Dean for Faculty Development & Scholarship
Erik Rosegard, Assistant Dean for Student Success
Valerie Francisco-Menchavez, Assistant Dean for Restorative and Transformative Racial Justice
Sherria Taylor, Faculty Director, CHSS Racial Healing Circles
Juliana van Olphen, Chair, Department of Public Health
Jackson Wilson, Chair, Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism
Ruth Cortez, College Business Officer