Traveling the Landscape of the Spring Semester

Overheard: "After the third week of the semester, it's mid-term until finals." The way the semester sweeps past, that does seem to be true.  As we have crested mid-term and hike along toward finals, the students are engaging in their projects and making great strides through their degree programs. Around the next bend: Honors Convocation and Commencements! (HHD's Commencements are Sunday, May 19th) 

We offer a tremendous thank you, as always, for your involvement with HHD at every level, from within the campus community to the furthest extent of our global reach.  Your support influences the ways that together, we enhance, enrich, and empower the human experience.

Featured Stories

Kwan's research addresses the health disparities faced by Southeast Asian Americans (SEA) in Greater Los Angeles, emphasizing the importance of disaggregating data to understand the diverse needs of SEA subgroups.

Ten physical therapy students were recognized this spring for their dedication to helping others through physical therapy. They received scholarships from the Roy and Roxie Campanella Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. 

From finding ways to build housing from ocean-bound plastics to creating lighting design for optimal learning, the projects inspired by the inaugural HHD Research Excellence and Innovation Conference (2022) opened opportunities for faculty and students with awards of up to $10,000. By fall 2023 and spring 2024, most of these projects have reached completion.

This spring, Mirna Troncoso-Sawyer, faculty in Health Sciences/Public Health, became the new Director of the Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing in the College of Health and Human Development. We asked her for some insight into next steps for the Institute.

"I interact with just about everyone from students, other staff, faculty, and community members. I am such a people person, but, must admit that I am a huge cheerleader and advocate for our students. Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance are truly inspiring and make me strive to be a better person."

CSUN Recreation and Tourism Management lecturer Francisca Castillo was honored in March by the Los Angeles Civil Rights Department and their Recreation and Parks Department at their Raise the Bar Luncheon for the significant impacts she has made in gender equity and sports.

Christopher Rogers, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences, has been selected as the 2024-2025 CSUN Research Fellow for the College of Health and Human Development. For this fellowship, Rogers will expand his current research with a study titled, "Assessing Neighborhood Factor Effects on an Intervention Program and Youth Mental Health."  We congratulate him on this well deserved honor.

Faculty and graduate students from the College of Health and Human Development are playing a significant role in a CSUN $1.25 million federal grant-funded project to develop an interdisciplinary program that will bridge the divide between different areas of professionals who work with young children with disabilities. The group includes educators, behavior interventionists, and speech-language pathologists. 

Family dynamics are often complex, but those who study families can help us understand, seeing ourselves, and each other, in more constructive ways. In this article, Family and Consumer Sciences faculty Uma Krishnan shares some of the history of Family Studies and offers a companion piece with a couple of key examples of students' career pursuits after graduation. 

What are the biomechanical factors that contribute to falls in the older population? Often, task-specific interventions call for expensive equipment. Can qualified health and fitness practitioners develop evidence-informed, exercise-based programs that are affordable? Kinesiology faculty Sean Flanagan, Victoria Jaque, Jake Hinkel-Lipsker have published a study in Strength and Conditioning Journal that shows how it can be done. Part of the team was Ryan Baylor who worked on the study as part of his master's thesis under the direction of Flanagan.

Taylor Yates' major is Child and Adolescent Development, and she completed the University 100 Freshman Seminar in 2023.  This completion was a factor that made her eligible for the Marino J. Riccomini Family Scholarship.  Of the 1,705 students who completed the course, only two were awarded scholarships.  Congratulations to Taylor Yates! The Riccomini scholarship recognizes students for demonstrating a desire and commitment to succeed in their academic careers.

Zarmine Naccashian is Nursing faculty and a Certified Diabetes Educator who is Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management. She is geriatric nurse practitioner who has established a community case management program and coordinated the care of  the chronically ill patient population in their home settings.  Last summer, Naccashian travelled to Armenia and Lebanon to share her expertise at the 6th International Medical Congress of Armenia (6IMCA). 

April 23, 2:00-3:15 P.M.: Nicole Harper Rawlins, Black. Woman. Entrepreneur. Leader. Get all the info; HHD Events.

April 24, 7:30 P.M.; April 25 2:00 and 7:30 P.M.: Spring Dance Concert, Kinesis: Emerging Choreography Get all the info; HHD Events.

May 2, 6:00 P.M., Annual TRENDS Students Fashion Design and Merchandising Fashion Show: Get all the info; HHD Events.

May 2, 1:30 - 3:00 P.M.: Tea Haven Spring Connection, Resources, and Wellness Event Get all the info; HHD Events.

May 11, 6:00 P.M.: Honors Convocation, info on the CSUN Commencement and Honors Convocation site.

May 19, 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. (Sunday): HHD's Commencements, Morning and Evening Ceremonies. Which one is for you? See the schedule.

About Honors Convocation and Commencements: Everything you need to know, from schedules, to receptions and hooding ceremonies, when to arrive, to where to park, what to bring--and what not to bring--it's all on the CSUN Commencement and Honors Convocation site.

Ongoing: Browse Marilyn Magaram Center Wellness: Whole Body Health;  Thrive with Diabetes; Wellness Products and Services

Farrell J. Webb, PhD: With heartfelt gratitude for all he did for us in the College of Health and Human Development and at CSUN, we announce the passing of former Dean of the College, Farrell J. Webb, PhD, on Nov. 14, 2023.  At the time of his passing, Webb was serving as provost of the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Webb served at CSUN from 2016-23.  

Read More about Dr. Webb in HHD News

Salvador Esparza, DHA, MSHA, BSN-RN, FACHE:  With sadness, we are sharing the news of the passing of Salvador Esparza, Professor of Health Administration (Health Sciences) who passed away on March 27, 2024. A pillar of the CSUN Health Administration program, Salvador Esparza was a vibrant, dedicated member our community. He is known for the enthusiasm he brought to the program, department, college, campus and the professional and local communities.

Read More About Dr. Esparza in HHD News

Enhance, Enrich, Empower: Give

Making a donation to CSUN HHD can fund scholarships, deep-impact learning experiences, innovative projects and technology, and much more. Your generosity can enhance, enrich, and empower the human experience.

Your gift strengthens projects, programs, and events like the ones we are sharing about today. Your gift helps our students and faculty improve the quality of life across the lifespan locally, and globally.

Land Acknowledgement
The CSUN College of Health and Human Development recognizes and acknowledges the Sesevitam, the first people of this ancestral and unceded territory of Sesevenga that is now occupied by our institution and our college, and it honors their elders, past and present, and the Sesevitam descendants who are citizens of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. We recognize that the Sesevitam are still here and we are committed to lifting up their stories, culture, and community.
Learn more about the Land Acknowledgement from CSUN Today (2020)

HHD News Now is the newsletter for the alumni, community partners, friends,
faculty and staff of the CSUN College of Health and Human Development. About HHD News Now (scroll to last headline).