October 14 Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
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News from the Office of the Provost
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Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,
With our eye to the future of our university, Sac State is working to create an environment that promotes deeper collaboration across departments and increased partnerships with the greater community. We know that students who engage in interdisciplinary collaborations and have opportunities to connect their academic knowledge with real-world experiences are more likely to excel academically and develop essential skills for future career success. President Wood and I share this vision of collaboration and engagement.
But what does the vision look like in practice? One example is the Center for Math and Science Education (MASE), housed in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. This is an outward-facing project that serves STEM educators in the region and is fully funded by external support. They do excellent work with teachers, who describe how the Math Project helps them improve math learning for all students in this video. Another example of working together across campus while reaching outward is the College of Education’s annual Multicultural Education Conference, celebrating its 30th year this April, an excellent example of diverse disciplines sharing pedagogical strategies for the shared goal of equity-based educational success.
Sometimes the best way to broaden our impact as faculty is to step up when our work has broader implications for campus. As Professors Stark, Razavi, Dugan, and Jackson showed us when they organized a faculty-led roundtable on the Middle East last month, putting yourself and your work forward during difficult times is not easy. But helping our students put together the pieces in their still-developing social consciousness is perhaps the greatest privilege we have as educators.
Let us break down the silos and work together to advance our research and teaching in service to our students. For those of you looking for ways to become more collaborative and engaged, scroll the list below to engage with the impressive work you and your colleagues across campus are working on and accomplishing. There is so much rich scholarship and teaching happening at Sac State; I encourage each of you to explore new opportunities, whether it's through joint research projects, team-taught courses, or simply engaging in dialogue with colleagues from other departments. These collaborations not only enhance our individual academic journeys, but also strengthen the fabric of our university community.
Carlos Nevarez
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary StudiesThe Seen Iranian Woman exhibit is open - An exhibit at the Union Gallery, curated by Jaleh Naasz, MFA (Family & Consumer Sciences) will be open until Nov. 16 with a closing reception on Nov. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. This exhibit features artwork from Sac State students and Iranian artists, poets, and designers as well as donated garments and textiles by Sac State alumni. This exhibit is the result of collaborative involvement from the Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center with support from the Fashion Merchandising and Management Department, College of SSIS, and University Enterprises.
Students engage with psychology of happiness - On Oct. 18, students enrolled in the Psychology of Happiness course in the Psychology Department held an event in the University Union lobby to share with the Sac State community the benefits of happiness and why it is necessary to be happy. Students of the course engaged with passersby and had event visitors fill out sticky notes about what makes them happy to fill a board with happy thoughts. Visitors were also able to enter drawings to win prizes.The Psychology of Happiness course is taught by Sac State’s first ever Endowed Professor in Happiness, Dr. Meliksah Demir.
Sac State Professor hosts Rep. Ami Bera at the Union - On Oct. 9, Political Science Professor Dr. Kim Nalder moderated a conversation and Q&A with U.S. Rep. Ami Bera M.D. in the Hinde Auditorium in the University Union. The conversation focused on the Oct. 3 removal of the Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy of California. Dr. Bera spoke about this topic and many others including the current political divide, homelessness, and student financial aid.
Psychology alum breaks barriers in Major League Baseball - Alyssa Nakken, a graduate of Sac State’s Psychology program and the first woman assistant coach in major league baseball working for the San Francisco Giants, has interviewed for the manager position. She is also believed to be the first woman to interview for a major league managerial position. Nakken played softball for Sac State from 2009 – 2012 and has been a coach on the Giants staff since January 2020.
College of Health & Human ServicesStroke recovery research and practice - The Center for Health Practice, Policy and Research (CHPPR), in collaboration with Stroke Onward, held their Distinguished Speaker event Oct. 7, featuring Debra Meyerson and Steve Zuckerman who presented: Rebuilding Identity in Stroke Recovery. A Health Fair took place after the event featuring various HHS departments and community resources. Approximately 200 attendees took part in the event.
Former HHS Dean honored by alumni association - Dr. Robin Carter 77, MSW ’82 (Social Work) was awarded a Distinguished Service Award and was celebrated at this year’s Sac State Distinguished Alumni Awards. As the true embodiment of the #MadeAtSacState spirit, Dr. Carter earned two of her three degrees at Sacramento State and, upon completion of her Ph. D at the University of Southern California, returned to our campus as a faculty member in social work. Robin was a student, faculty, department chair, associate dean, director, vice provost, and dean at Sac State – serving over 31 years before her retirement. Dr. Robin Carter influenced policies, practices, and culture while mentoring hundreds. Read more about Dr. Carter’s exceptional career and life here.
CAPCR receives $399,111 grant for restorative justice work - The Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution (CAPCR), under the direction of Criminal Justice professor Ernest Uwazie, has received two one-year grants totaling nearly $400,000 to fund victim-offender dialogue work for the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation. Uwazie, an internationally recognized expert on conflict resolution, was the Oct. 23 feature story in the Sacramento Observer.
Faculty member co-authors new textbook - Edidiong Mendie, Criminal Justice, has a new textbook publication Gender-Based Violence, Law, and African Society, co-authored with Dr. Abiodun Raufu and Dr. Omolade Olomola. It addresses different dimensions of gender-based violence in Africa, such as the challenges of patriarchy, the limits of the law, and the cultural acceptance of violence against women in the private sphere.
School of Social Work director honored by peers - Tyler Argüello, professor and department chair of the School of Social Work, received a 2023 Social Worker of the Year award at the annual conference of the National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter. Argüello was nominated by his peers for his accomplishments, multi-level benefits to the public, students, and interprofessional colleagues, as well as contributions to the profession. The Social Worker of the Year is one of four awards given each year to leaders and community members who have made exceptional contributions to the profession and to honor the ways they are improving lives, transforming systems, and living social work values and ethics every day.
Arts & LettersState Hornet wins top honor - The State Hornet, Sac State’s student-run news site that is overseen by the Communications Department, won two Placemaker Awards from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) at the Fall 2023 National College Media Convention. The Hornet was honored in both the Multiplatform and Online Publication categories, the first time it has received two Pacemakers in one year. These awards are the pinnacle of student journalism excellence and the Hornet’s success is a testament to the continued professionalism and commitment of the students and faculty in the journalism program. The State Hornet has won five Pacemakers in the last six years, including the Online Pacemaker Award in 2022-23.
Climate change conference in Greece features Sac State faculty - Katerina Lagos, History, organized an international conference titled “Envisioning the Greek Landscape: From Thera to Climate Change”, in collaboration with UCLA, Simon Fraser University, and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The conference, held Oct. 19 to 21 at the University of Athens, addressed environmental concerns from antiquity to the present. Lagos moderated the panel “Modern Approaches, Modern Problems: The Early Greek State and the Environment, Part I”. Another Sac State History professor, Nikolaos Lazaridis, presented the paper “Mother Nature Delivers Moral Lessons: Invoking the Natural Environment in Ancient Greek Wisdom” at a panel titled “The Past is the Future: Climate Change in Antiquity”.
Sac Public Library discussion features English prof - The Notable Books Lecture Series at the Sacramento Public Library continues at the Central Library with a discussion of Wilkie Collins’s famed 1868 detective novel, The Moonstone led by Jason Gieger of Sac State’s English department on Nov. 18 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Find out more here.
History professor marks podcast milestone - Michael Vann, History, has just released his 75th podcast for the New Books Network. Episodes of the podcast have been downloaded well over 500,000 times. His guests include Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen, journalists Taylor Lorenz and Elizabeth Becker, Chapo Trap House' Matt Christman, and his colleagues Anne Lindsay, Tony Bly, Mona Siegel, and Maria Quintana.
Comms professor presents on U.S. presidents and their spiritual advisors - Andrea Terry, Communications Studies, presented a research paper titled "Spiritual Advisors to the U.S. Presidency: Mapping the Rhetorical Terrain" at the Oct. 24 Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement (CCSE) research conference via Zoom. CCSE brings together scholars from across a variety of fields to present research on issues incorporating content from the C-SPAN archives including video, audio, and text.
Learn more about Japanese puppetry with Sac State professor’s new film - Jeffrey Dym’s latest documentary “Traditional Japanese Puppetry: Beyond Bunraku (人形浄瑠璃)” has been released. It provides an in-depth look into the history, mechanics, and art of traditional Japanese puppetry.
A scholarly approach to Star Trek - Alyson Buckman, Humanities & Religious Studies, presented “‘I prefer cybernetically-augmented, thank you very much’: Disability and ‘Star Trek: Discovery” at the Northeast Popular Culture Association (NEPCA) annual conference on Oct 13. NEPCA is a community of scholars interested in advancing research and promoting interest in the disciplines of popular and/or American culture.
College of BusinessStudent funding available for international business case competitions - Jai Lee and Nathan (Nam Kyoon) Kim, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, were awarded $20,000 in Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) and City of Sacramento funding to support underrepresented students attending an international business case competition in 2024. Interested students should contact Professor Jai Lee at jlee@csus.edu.
College of Business alum is SacBee Black Changemaker - Michael Casper, a graduate of Sac State’s Executive Masters in Business Administration program, was named one of the Top 20 Black Change Makers by the Sacramento Bee. Casper co-founded Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT), a college preparatory program for young men of color. IYT offers mentorship, tutoring, life skills seminars, and more, and currently includes more than 3,500 young men across California.
BSBA grad’s startup is fastest growing in the area - Clutch, co-founded by Sac State alum Rachel Zillner, was named the #1 Fastest-Growing Company among the top 50 in the Sacramento region by the Sacramento Business Journal. With a 4,405.63% revenue growth over the past three years, the award recognizes 50 companies in the region that must have operated for at least nine months in 2020 and had revenue of at least $200,00 that year.
College of Engineering & Computer Science (ECS)
Two ECS faculty secure major grant funding- Praveen Meduri (EEE), with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), was awarded a U.S. Dept. of Education 5-year, $3 million Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) program grant award, titled “TECH4Equity,” to expand flexible, online course options that align with customized online wraparound student support services. Meduri also received a $595,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant award, titled “Project ACE,” to focus on student engagement and to address equity gaps in six EEE courses on the critical path to graduation.
Zoi Dokou (CE) was awarded $100,000 of a 3-year $300,000 NSF International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) grant award, titled “Post-hurricane recovery of island freshwater lenses: Understanding the impact of social and hydrological dynamics.” Dokou was also selected as the “2022 Outstanding ASCE Faculty Advisor Award” by the Sacramento Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Sac State Student Tyler Bernard (CE – “Outstanding Civil Engineering Student”) will also be honored by ASCE with part-time instructors Mathew Salevson (CE – “Outstanding Civil Engineer in the Private Sector”) and Rob Burns (CE – “Arthur Elliot Bridge Award”).
ECS students and staff represent Sac State at MESA conference - A group of nine ECS Students attended the MESA Student Leadership Conference held Oct. 20-22 in San Diego. The students were joined by ECS Internship and Career Services (ICS) Director Voun Sa. Sac State was the second largest school represented at the conference, and three of our students placed on teams in the IDEA Accelerator program: Muna Mandoob (CE - first), Mohamed Ahmed (CS - second), and Ana Saavedra (CS - third).
College of Education
Multicultural Education Conference call for proposals - The College of Education invites poster presentation proposals from researchers, educators/teachers, graduate students, community practitioners, and others to participate in the 30th Annual MCE Conference. Proposals may focus on the conference theme or feature innovative ideas and pedagogical practices addressing social/racial justice and equity in multicultural education. The proposal submission deadline is Dec. 1, 2023.
Dean Sidorkin is an invited speaker at the Hong Kong 2023 Humanities Conference on Comparative Cultures of Care - The Hong Kong 2023 Humanities Conference on Comparative Cultures of Care endeavors to extend the consolidated discussion on care ethics and politics through a two-day conference on the campus of the Education University of Hong Kong. Dean Sidorkin, along with speakers from Canada, UK, US, Australia, and Hong Kong, will be presenting their original papers and engage in dialogue.
Dr. Aaminah Norris research trip to Italy - For the first two weeks in November, Aaminah Norris and members of her Expanding Girl Power by Design research team will be Visiting Scholars at the University of Bologna in Northern Italy, the western world's oldest university. They will collaborate with researchers from the “Managing Identities in Diverse Societies Project”, led by PI Elisabetta Crocetti. The primary purpose of this work is to engage in a comparative analysis of identity development of minoritized girls with access to and engagement with culturally responsive curricula and technologies across two international contexts.
College of Natural Sciences & MathematicsSpecial all-day event with visiting STEM scholar Bryan Dewsbury - The College of NSM, in partnership with the College of Engineering & Computer Science and the Center for Science and Math Success, is excited to host visiting DEI scholar and STEM education innovator, Dr. Bryan Dewsbury, on Thursday Nov. 30. Dewsbury is an Associate Professor of Biology at Florida International University (FIU). He is the Principal Investigator of the Science Education And Society (SEAS) research program, which blends research on the social context of teaching and learning, faculty development of inclusive practices, and programming in the cultivation of equity in education. He is an Associate Director of the STEM Transformational Institute where he directs the Division of Transformative Education. He is also a Fellow with the John N. Gardner Institute where he assists institutions of higher education cultivate best practices in inclusive education.
Dewsbury will share his expertise with the Sac State community through a keynote seminar and series of workshops:
- 9:20 to 10:20 a.m., Faculty Workshop I, “Equity-Minded Strategies,” AIRC 3009
12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Keynote, “Beyond Inclusion - Education for Civic Engagement and Participation,” RVR 1015
2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Faculty Workshop II, “On the Assessment of the Equity-Minded Classroom,” ALP 148
4 to 5 p.m. Student Workshop, TSC 1002
Find more information here.
NSM will participate in GEW - The Carlsen Center hosts a Pitch Competition each Fall to kick off Global Entrepreneur Week (GEW). NSM students will participate in the competitions Nov. 6 “Pitch Day.” This event is a student idea-based competition, meant to inspire innovation in problem-solving. Students will have the opportunity to present ideas on how to improve their lives, and the lives of those in their community, by solving real-world problems. All Majors are welcome. The winners are chosen by a panel of judges as they compete for monetary awards. Last year, NSM has 2 winners from our college. Find out more here.
NSM hosts fireside chat - NSM will host a fireside chat with Matthew Amicucci as part of Global Entrepreneur Week. The event will take place in the Carlsen Center on Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 2 to 3 p.m.
College of Continuing Education
Students to build a home in Roatán, Honduras - Students who have demonstrated an interest in residential construction will have the opportunity to enroll in CM 96C, a unique six-week summer course. As part of the Faculty-Led Study Abroad program offered through the College of Continuing Education (CCE), students will travel to Roatán, Honduras for ten days to build a single-family home during the summer of 2024. This hands-on study abroad program allows students to experience a diverse culture and construction practices while building connections and expanding their professional network internationally, as well as developing important skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. The course will include a 10-day study abroad experience in which students travel Honduras to build a single-family home. Read more here.
CCE faculty member named a Top 20 Black Changemaker - Angelo Williams, an adjunct professor in CCE’s Master of Arts in Workforce Development Leadership program, was named one of the Top 20 Black ChangeMakers by The Sacramento Bee. Williams earned a doctorate degree and went into education, first as an adjunct professor at UC Davis and Sac State and later as the chief deputy director of First Five California, an organization that aims to help parents navigate early childhood development. Williams told the SacBee he hopes he has helped broaden students’ minds during his time as a teacher, saying, ““I hope that I’ve provided the value of inquiry. The ability to question and to understand different cultures and perspectives.”
University Library
StingerStudio Makerspace Expanded Hours - Beginning Monday, November 6, StingerStudio will increase their hours, making hours will now be 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Mondays and Fridays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Hours are always available on our website.
Community Engagement Center (CEC)
Community Engagement Center Welcomes New Jumpstart Site Manager
The CEC is excited to announce a new Jumpstart Site Manager, Katherine Abu. Jumpstart is a national early education organization that recruits and trains college students to work with preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. Katherine is a first-generation Sierra Leonan-American with extensive experience with social impact organizations, nonprofits, and education in underserved communities. After acquiring her B.A in Sociology from the University of San Francisco, Katherine spent 6 years as an educator, working with all grade levels, from preschool to high school. After finishing her Master’s in Management from Oakland’s Mills College, she went on to work with social impact and non-profit organizations. Katherine is excited to join the CEC team and serve the Jumpstart mission. You can find out more about Jumpstart here.
Request for Spring 2024 Internship/Service Learning (IN-SL) Agreement
The CEC reminds faculty and staff to plan ahead when preparing for the spring semester and beyond, particularly when planning to have a new community partner for academic internships and service-learning courses. Use this form to request that an Internship/Service Learning (IN-SL) Agreement be put in place between Sac State and a proposed community partner. The IN-SL Agreement, a legal contract between the community partner and Sac State, must be in place before the student(s) can begin their academic internship and/or service-learning hours. Requests submitted by Nov. 1 will have priority. Requests submitted after that date will be accepted and processed on a rolling basis.
Thanksgiving Food Distribution - The CEC, in partnership with River City Food Bank, is hosting a Thanksgiving Food Distribution volunteer event dedicated to alleviating hunger in Sacramento County. The event will take place Nov. 17, 18, and 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at three locations. Volunteers will ensure a smooth distribution process and accommodate food preferences, aiming for safety and satisfaction. The CEC is looking forward to supporting this positive service opportunity in our community, alongside students, faculty, and staff. Visit the CEC page for future volunteer opportunities.
Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is a week-long celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship that takes place around the globe. The theme for GEW 2023 is “Entrepreneurs Thrive Here.” The Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship will offer a full-week of events, activities, competitions, and networking focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. By actively engaging with the regional ecosystem, we are contributing to Sac State’s Anchor University initiative.
GEW 2023 FourthWave: The Power of Women Entrepreneurship - This event will discuss leadership and entrepreneurship as well as how the increase in women-founded companies will lead the way to a brighter future. Entrepreneurs are the builders of our world and women starting new businesses at unprecedented rates brings a hopeful future with the creations and solutions to our world's challenges. The panel will include founders within the FourthWave community. Register here.
GEW 2023 - 5th Annual Sacramento Entrepreneurial State of the Union - This event is set to launch us into a full week of events, workshops, and pitch competitions.This signature event will highlight the region's growing innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem and will address how the Sacramento Entrepreneurial Growth Alliance is fostering an increase in connectivity in the Greater Sacramento region with an intentionality to grow entrepreneurship as economic development and expanding the investment landscape. The Sacramento Entrepreneurial State of the Union will feature a variety of discussions ranging from how we plan to grow our region from within to the role that growing our regional capital base plays. Register here.
GEW 2023 Mentor Sprint – In partnership with StartupSac, the Carlsen Center will offer another GEW mentor sprint. The Mentor Sprint is an opportunity for early-stage entrepreneurs and startups to gain invaluable expert advice and connections to solve persistent issues in their ventures. Mentor Sprint is like speed dating for startup/small business founders and mentors. Participants will have the opportunity to (virtually) meet with several expert mentors, investors, advisors, subject matter experts, and experienced entrepreneurs in 15-minute sprint sessions. The goal of Mentor Sprint is to further connect startup founders and mentors and prove the value of mentorship. An application sign up is required to reserve a spot in the Mentor Sprint. To be mentored, or become a mentor, please sign up here.
GEW 2023 Spark Venture Competition - The Spark Venture Competition in Sacramento is an annual venture competition for early-stage startups and social impact ventures during Global Entrepreneurship Week. A total of $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. The competition is open to early-stage ventures aiming to operate in the Greater Sacramento Region. An application is required to be considered for Round 1 of judging. Finalists will be announced virtually and are invited to an optional pitch workshop to help prepare for the final round. In the final round, teams compete by presenting their pitches to a panel of judges (5 min presentation and 5 min Q&A) to win cash prizes. Register here.
LevelUP E3 Sacramento | Town Hall - The LevelUP E3 Sacramento Ecosystem Town Hall is an opportunity for aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs to be heard, connect, and pave the way for greater community support. Whether at the idea stage or well into your Series A funding, the LevelUP E3 Sacramento Ecosystem Town Hall is an event that's tailored to support entrepreneurs at all points along their journey. Register here.
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Dean Sasha Sidorkin interviewed by SacBee about barriers facing prospective teachers in California.
Sac State exhibit utilizes fashion to bring awareness to the struggles of Iranian womenJaleh Naasz, Fashion Merchandising & Management, talks to KCRA about the newly-opened “The Seen Iranian Woman” exhibit.
The Sacramento Observer profiles Criminal Justice professor Ernest Uwazie and interviews those who have studied restorative justice with him.
KCRA interviews Gwénaëlle Begue and Matt Brown of the Kinesiology department about their research on slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease in patients.
Sahar Razavi, political science, explains why she and Religious Studies prof Harvey Stark organized a forum for students to discuss events in the Middle East.
Wesley Hussey, Political Science talks to KRON about what Gavin Newsom signing ambitious labor laws this year says about his future political plans.
Political Science professors Kim Nalder and Wesley Hussey explain how Laphonza Butler’s appointment impacts the California Senate race in an Oct. 9 CalMatters story.
Laura Legé, Physics and Astronomy, talks to KCRA about Sac State’s Oct. 14 eclipse viewing party.
Phillip Reese, Journalism, discusses AI and the future of journalism in a CBS Sacramento interview.
Mario Estioko, Design, walks a reporter from CBS Sacramento through the new card game he created called “Run!”.
Wesley Hussey, Political Science, puts a poll numbers in context for the SacBee.
Katie Savin, Social Work, comments to Cap Radio on the importance of Sac State’s new Disability Cultural Center.
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