STAN Magazine Fall 2019

STAN STANISLAUS STATE

FALL 2019

MAGAZINE

Preserving Cultural Ties

A Word From the

PRESIDENT Fall is an absolutely wonderful time on college campuses, as new and returning students continue their educational journeys, inspiring the faculty, staff and administration with their presence, positive energy and indefatigable spirit.

Our entire Warrior community is working for a better future — for ourselves and for the region. And right now, we’re seeing tangible — and yes, literally concrete — signs of progress being made on our campus with the ongoing construction and renovation projects.

I’m happy to say that we’re only a few months out from the completion of the $52 million student-funded University Student Center. I applaud all the students who conceived of this project and brought it to their peers for a fee referendum in 2015, and I also would like to thank everyone currently involved in bringing the project to fruition. Students, as well as faculty and staff, will come to find that a well-designed and well-managed Student Center is a place where classroom conversations can overflow and emerge with greater depth.

Alumni will have a special place at the new Student Center.

It will feature an Alumni Plaza, which is allowing a limited number of alumni, students and members of the campus community to etch their names in the history of Stanislaus State with a personalized brick, demonstrating their Warrior Pride.

While the Student Center is the most visible current construction project, it’s equally exciting to witness the renovations that will make our Vasché Library a

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state-of-the-art center for learning. The Library has begun a two-year renovation project, and the many temporary portable modules on campus are housing most of the services and offices that used to be in the Library.

As the other original campus structure, we haven’t forgotten about Bizzini Hall. In August, I announced that we were seeking funding from the Chancellor’s Office to construct Classroom Building II, and if all goes according to our plan we could be opening it for the fall 2024 semester. At that time, we then would embark on a renovation project for Bizzini Hall.

I also announced that we are seeking funding for a much-needed building to replace Acacia Hall on the Stockton Campus. The new Stockton building is planned to be a three-story edifice that will serve as an all-in-one academic and student services facility.

So as the leaves change color and the morning frost tickles our beautiful campus, we’re reminded that it’s the right time to renew our dedication toward life-long learning, to remember that everything we do is with our feet firmly planted in the present but with eyes focused on the future.

Warmly,

Ellen

Fall 2019 STAN Magazine is published by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs in the Division of University Advancement at Stanislaus State.

President

Ellen Junn Vice President for University Advancement

Michele Lahti

Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement

Jason Geiken

Senior Associate Vice President for Communications, Marketing and Media Relations

Rosalee Rush

Director for Communications and Creative Services

Kristina Stamper (’06) Senior Writer and Content Specialist

Brian VanderBeek Content Specialists

Nan Austin (’79) Tatiana Olivera (’17) Gina Oltman Linda Mumma Solorio Lori Gilbert Digital Communications Specialist

Sara Balisha (’13)

Marketing Specialist

Cristina Soliz (’12)

Senior Graphic Designer

Steve Caballero

Senior Web and Electronic Communications Developer

Mandeep Khaira (’02) Photographers

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Tracee Littlepage Justin Souza Josh Hanks Stay in touch!

Phone: (209) 667-3131 cpa@csustan.edu www.csustan.edu/stan-magazine If you receive more than one copy of STAN Magazine, please pass it along to a friend of Stanislaus State. If you would like to support Stanislaus State, visit www.csustan.edu/giving.

Stanislaus State serves a diverse student body of more than 10,000 at two locations in the Central Valley — a beautiful 228-acre campus in Turlock and the Stockton Campus. Widely recognized for dedicated faculty, high-quality academic programs and exceptional value, the University offers more than 100 majors, minors and areas of concentration, along with 15 master’s degree programs, seven credential programs and a doctorate in educational leadership. We are a proud member of the 23-campus California State University system.

COVER STORY Steve Arounsack (’99, ’01) captures cultural legacies through the lens of critically acclaimed documentaries.

Alyssa Dye's (’11, ’19) experience at Stan State has prepared her for the pursuit of a doctoral degree 1,787 miles away in Lawrence, Kansas. Read about her story on page 30.

CONTENTS 04 News Briefs 10 Just Did It 12 Informing the Community 14 T'ai Chi

16 Visual Impact 20 Meet a Warrior 24 Out of Their Comfort Zone 27 Upskilling 29 A Thirst for Knowledge

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NEWS BRIEFS

ALFARO NAMED DIVERSITY CENTER DIRECTOR

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Carolina Alfaro, a versatile member of the Stan State staff since 2003, was named the first director of the University’s Diversity Center in June.

Alfaro, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Stan State and is completing her master’s degree in educational counseling, most recently served as the University’s assistant director for Admissions and Outreach.

During the Library renovation the

Diversity Center has been relocated to Library Annexes 6 and 7 but still provides a full range of services and welcoming spaces, affirmation and validation for individuals and student groups. One of Alfaro’s first steps has been to draw on the creativity of the entire Stan State community to create a unique name for the Diversity Center.

ATHLETICS UPDATE A busy season was capped by the news that a total of 68 Stan State athletes were named to the California Collegiate Athletic Association All-Academic team for the 2018-19 season, while five members of the women’s tennis team earned all-academic honors in the PacWest Conference. In addition, a Stan State player was taken in the Major League Baseball draft for the second straight year, with ace pitcher Chase Wheatcroft taken in the 37th round by the Oakland Athletics. In track and field, hammer thrower Eric Bejaran earned All-American honors for the second straight year with his fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships, held in Kingsville, Texas.

Chase Wheatcroft

Stan State athletes named to the California Collegiate Athletic Association All-Academic team

Eric Bejaran

QUALITY MATTERS CERTIFICATES Stan State’s commitment to providing students with the best possible educational experience was recognized again, as the course Community Health Theory (NURS 4400), part of the University’s online RN-to-BSN program, received certifications through the California State University’s Quality Matters (QM) course review.

According to the CSU, the goal of the QM certification program is to build a culture of quality and continuous

improvement in online course offerings through cross-campus collaboration and recognition of mature courses that successfully meet the program’s standards.

The course is the second at Stan State to receive QM certification. Last year, Brent Powell’s Family Health (KINS 4330) course successfully completed the QM peer review process and was certified. To date, 170 courses across the CSU system have attained certification.

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COMMENCEMENT A record 3,562 graduates walked the stage during Stan State’s 59th commencement ceremonies, held at the University Amphitheater on May 23-24, and they were urged to remember and embrace their journeys to this point as they embark on the future. The importance of supporting education and embracing life-long learning

was a recurring theme among the speakers, a group that included Congressman Josh Harder, labor and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta and businessman Edwin Rizo. In addition, Dorothy Bizzini received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of a lifetime of supporting education throughout the region.

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OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARDS Five Stan State faculty members were honored for their outstanding work during the annual faculty awards dinner on May 13.

Dr. Xamuel Bañales (Anthropology, Geography and Ethnic Studies) was honored with the Outstanding Community Service Award for his work, which included his playing a key role in the organization of several cultural events on and off campus.

Dr. Kurt Baker (Psychology) was named Outstanding Professor. Baker is a willing and active mentor to both peers and students, and has developed a reputation as a great listener and creative instructor.

Dr. Panos Petratos (Management Information Systems) was lauded with the Outstanding Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award. Petratos is a prolific writer and has presented at 30 conferences, including two international conferences regarding information quality and copyright law for digital intellectual property in cyberspace.

Dorothy Bizzini

Edwin Rizo

Dr. Chris Nagel (Philosophy and Modern Languages) received the Outstanding Faculty Governance Award. Nagel has participated in many levels of University engagement and service in regard to shared governance on campus and continues to be an advocate for lecturers to be included in faculty governance.

Dr. Renato Alvim (Philosophy and Modern Languages) received the Elizabeth Anne B. Papageorge Faculty Development Award. Alvim has revitalized the Portuguese program at Stan State through his launching of a Portuguese Club and taking on the role as Director of the Portuguese Program.

ECONOMIC GROWTH IN CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECTED TO SLOW

Dolores Huerta

Josh Harder

Photo by Port of Stockton

The biannual San Joaquin Valley Business Forecast produced by Gökçe Soydemir, the Foster Farms endowed professor of business economics at Stan State, sees a high probability of slower economic growth in the Central Valley than in other regions through 2019.

The region’s agriculture-based economy is more susceptible to tariffs and retaliation and also proved sensitive to 2018’s interest rate hikes.

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WASC ACCREDITATION RENEWED After a nearly two-year process of self-evaluation leading to multiple on-campus visits from the accreditation site team, Stanislaus State received an eight-year reaccreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Accreditation assures stakeholders that an institution has been rigorously evaluated and that it meets or exceeds the criteria required to maintain accreditation.

The commission praised Stan State’s commitment to students and community and our intentional efforts to remain “unimpacted.” It noticed and commended the restored trust and collaboration across the entire campus. It gave the University high marks for its clarified Retention, Promotion & Tenure (RPT) criteria and process and noted the inclusive process and broad campus support during the development and implementation of a new strategic plan. In addition, the commission praised that we are a data-driven campus — a place where decisions are made based on evidence and student learning outcomes.

WARRIOR WARDROBE HELPS STUDENTS DRESS FOR SUCCESS Warrior Wardrobe is open to students who need professional attire for job interviews or presentations. The closet of donated clothing is located in MSR 230. If you have items to donate, please contact Rebecca Stephens at rstephens2@csustan.edu or call (209) 667-3661 to arrange a donation drop-off time in MSR 230.

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WIFI RECEPTION IMPROVED ACROSS CAMPUS A project to improve WiFi coverage across campus is well underway and on track to be completed by the start of 2020.

WiFi was improved over the summer in indoor and outdoor spaces where students gather and study. The final phase of the project will improve WiFi in parking lots.

YO PUEDO BOOT CAMP ENCOURAGES HIGHER EDUCATION Yo Puedo College and Career Readiness Boot Camp introduced 50 middle- and high-school students from Merced and Stanislaus counties to the Warrior experience in July.

Funded by an IDEAS grant, the program increases highereducation awareness among first-generation students.

STUDENT CALL CENTER THROUGH DECEMBER 10, our students will be calling to update you on the latest campus news and to share how annual giving to Stan State prepares them for a lifetime of learning and discovery. We hope you will answer the call and make a difference for Stanislaus State.

IDEAS GRANTS FUND INNOVATIVE PROJECTS ON CAMPUS

Honoring the entrepreneurial and community spirit of innovative leaders from the Central Valley.

In Partnership With The A total of 19 IDEAS grants have been awarded over the past two years to implement and test innovative proposals from faculty and staff to solve problems and improve students’ ability to succeed.

Started in 2017, the seed money, grants promote the goals of the Stan State’s strategic plan.

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ATHLETICS

JUST DIDIT. Stan State Signs Groundbreaking Athletics Deal with Nike and BSN SPORTS Brian VanderBeek

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The worldwide recognition of the Nike swoosh logo serves to underscore the scope of the corporation’s reach.

As of the second quarter of 2019, Nike had the largest market capitalization of all sports apparel companies at $110 billion.

By comparison, the second and third companies in that sector — Adidas and Under Armour — had a combined market cap of $65 billion. Meanwhile, BSN SPORTS is the largest supplier of team sports equipment and apparel in the US with more than 100,000 customers and sales professionals in all 50 states.

Providing the best possible experience is at the heart of the promise Stanislaus State makes to all its student-athletes.

That promise extends to the gear the Warriors will be wearing on the fields and courts — not only at home but throughout the California Collegiate Athletic Association, as Stan State has signed a groundbreaking deal with Nike and BSN SPORTS, for all Warrior teams to be outfitted by Nike.

“It’s a great time to be a Stan State Warrior,” said Director of Athletics Terry Donovan. “Our new longterm partnership with Nike and BSN SPORTS will provide Warrior student-athletes with premier apparel and equipment. This will enhance the experience for student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and fans.”

As part of the agreement, Nike will outfit all Warrior teams and provide additional gear at a substantial discount. In addition, an online store for Stan State athletics apparel has been established and Stan State branded Nike merchandise will be sold at many Warrior home contests.

“This is the first all sports apparel agreement in athletics department history for Stan State,” Donovan said.

“Nike is the world’s largest athletic apparel company and we are thrilled to be a part of the family.”

“This agreement with Stan State affirms our mission to deliver elite, customized products and services across every single corner of campus,” said Ray Buck, Vice President of Sales at BSN SPORTS. “We are genuinely excited to get to know all of the coaches and campus administrators associated with this great athletics program and work tirelessly to put time back into their day so they can spend more time elevating and impacting student lives.”

“It is a really big deal for Stan State to become a Nike school,” said Stan State Men’s Basketball Coach Paul Trevor. “I think being a Nike school definitely helps with recruiting. Nike is the undisputed leader in athletics footwear and sports apparel. The brand is beyond recognizable and our student-athletes are so excited to be wearing their gear.”

The brand awareness of Nike is particularly strong in basketball, Trevor said.

“In the sport of basketball, Nike is it,” Trevor said. “The legends of basketball have always worn Nike. Think of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James. Nike is the brand leader and young athletes — especially in the sport of basketball — are excited to be a part of the brand and the University that it supports. Stan State basketball with the Nike swoosh is a big deal.”

The same sentiments were shared

by Warriors Volleyball Coach Mallori Gibson-Rossi, who sees the partnership with Nike as a step toward taking the entire athletics program to a higher level.

“It is amazing to see a multinational corporation such as Nike recognizing

our Athletics Department,” GibsonRossi said. “It adds a sense of pride and prestige to our brand.

“It’s not uncommon for recruits to ask what brand we wear and most recruits prefer Nike. Nike uses innovative and groundbreaking technology to create their products. It’s more than just a uniform — it’s a uniform that provides a level of comfort and confidence to our student-athletes.”

Since several Stan State teams recently purchased uniforms, it may take a year or two for all Warriors to be sporting the swoosh in contests.

But according to Donovan, the impact of the new contract will be both significant and immediate.

“This partnership will provide significant savings to the Athletics Department and allow us to wear the highest quality gear,” Donovan said. “It’s a win-win for our University and we are grateful Nike and BSN SPORTS believe in the future of our Warrior Nation.”

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ALUMNI

Informing the Community The entire award-winning Turlock Journal editorial staff has Warrior roots

By Brian VanderBeek The first editions of the Turlock Journal rolled off the press in 1904, which means it predated the town’s incorporation by four years and the establishment of the 15th campus of the California State University system by 56 years.

Eddie Ruiz Angelina Martin

Frankie Tovar Sabra Stafford Kristina Hacker

Photos by Candy Padilla The Turlock Journal

The newspaper has been a witness to nearly every large Stanislaus State happening — commencements, inaugurations and other events. And any time the editors or writers at the newspaper want to see a Stan State alumni reunion, all they have to do is call a staff meeting.

It wasn’t planned, but on the other hand it’s hardly coincidental that the entire five-person editorial staff of the Turlock Journal is made up of Stan State graduates since a major part of the University’s mission is to prepare the regional workforce.

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With five staffers, typical of a twice-weekly publication dedicated to community journalism, the Journal — as the city’s chronicler of record — has served as the impartial observer of the perspective of the relationship between the city and University. Yes, they remain impartial even as they beam proudly when talking about their common alma mater.

“Stanislaus State was a great learning environment for me and as you look around our newsroom you can see that it’s produced a lot of outstanding journalists,” said Frankie Tovar (’11, Communications). “Coming from Stanislaus all gave us the ability to think forward, and we all share that.”

Tovar is the digital content manager for the Journal, which recently won three California Newspaper Publishers’ Association statewide awards for excellence. The newspaper has a circulation a little less than 5,000 for its primary twice-weekly product and also produces a weekly free shopper, a local news video magazine and also publishes 209 Magazine, which distributes throughout Stanislaus County with six issues annually. The staff is small, but mighty, and committed to its intensely local coverage.

The editorial staff is led by editor Kristina Hacker (’07, Organizational Communications) and in addition to Tovar features writers Sabra Stafford (’05, English), Eddie Ruiz (’14, Communications Studies) and Angelina Martin (’16, Communications Studies). All five either wrote for the campus newspaper, The Signal, or worked at the campus radio station, KCSS, and credit that experience for igniting the spark to be journalists.

Some of that spark was created while working with Shannon Stevens, assistant professor in communications studies and Signal advisor.

“In my journalism classes and at the Signal we talk all the time about the importance of a strong local press, and having our graduates carry that

message forward with the quality work they do is the ultimate in 'giving back' to the community,” Stevens said. “My current Journalism students are lucky, too, that our alums are willing to come to campus and talk about their lives in the field, making that link between coursework and career visible in important ways.”

“Stanislaus State was a great learning environment for me and as you look around our newsroom you can see that it’s produced a lot of outstanding journalists.”

- Frankie Tovar (’11) Hacker, who has worked at the Journal since 2005 and became the paper’s editor during her final semester at Stan State, is one of those who can credit the Signal for her start as a journalist.

“I got into journalism at Stan State after starting off as a biology major,” said Hacker. “I took organic chemistry and wondered what I was doing. I always liked writing and the Signal class is what got me into being a newspaper reporter.

If you want the opportunity to work for the student newspaper and find out what journalism is all about, Stanislaus provides that.”

Stafford, whose primary beat is crime and courts, caught the journalism bug earlier than most of her co-workers. She wrote for student newspapers at Modesto High and Modesto Junior College before enrolling at Stan State.

“My experience as Signal editor really helped me,” she said.

“I was a little older than the other students and I understood that the Signal was all about allowing students test the waters of journalism. Even though I was the editor of the Signal, I wasn’t completely sold on the idea of going into journalism. I knew I wanted to write, and about a month after I graduated a job opened up here.”

Martin played softball at Stan State as a freshman, and not only got hooked on journalism during her time at the Signal but became convinced that she wanted to cover her hometown of Turlock for her hometown newspaper.

“I wouldn’t be a journalist, period, if it weren’t for the Signal, so I wouldn’t be a journalist if it weren’t for Stan State,” said Martin, whose Journal beat includes coverage of Stan State.

“Growing up, I always read the Journal and got excited when I was in the paper. It was special to me, so given my

knowledge of the town I always thought I could give back in that way after graduation. The Journal means a lot to the people of this town and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Ruiz, a first-generation college graduate, admitted that he knew very little about Turlock before arriving at Stan State from his hometown of Salinas, but quickly came to love the town.

“I wanted to go to college in a good town, and Turlock is terrific,” said Ruiz, the Journal’s sports editor, who worked at KCSS with Tovar. “I’ve been fortunate — blessed — by having gone to Stan State. I took the first step by deciding to go to school there, but they took care of everything else as long as I did my part. I could have gone to another college, but I see now that Stan State was my best path. It’s worked out perfectly.”

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T ’ai Chi: The slow-motion martial art of T’ai Chi has joined the fitness options at Stanislaus State, where students say the discipline fights stress and improves academic concentration.

“Rather than just going through motions, T’ai Chi teaches me to put effort into things, no matter the time it takes, or how insignificant it seems on the surface,” said Alec Austin, who took T’ai Chi spring semester at Stan State.

“I begin my days much more relaxed and more aware of my surroundings. I’ve noticed that my concentration and my focus in my classes have improved,” said Viridiana Baca. Baca took T’ai Chi as a kinesiology elective, hoping to find a better life balance while carrying a heavy course schedule.

Austin Jiang noticed his posture and breathing improved after each class. He knew of T’ai Chi from watching senior citizens moving in unison in San Francisco parks. “The most unexpected part of taking this class was how young our crowd was,” he said.

The elegant symmetry of a class moving in unison makes it look deceptively simple.

“I did not expect the motions to be so difficult to learn due to seeing elderly people doing it with ease.

But they must have trained for years to become so smooth,” said Juan Salas. The class taught him patience, he added, “The slow and well-executed motions soothe the mind as everything around you melts away and it is just you.”

A Chan ge of Pace for Stressful L ives

By Nan Austin

practices T’ai Chi on a regular basis may develop a kind of strength that is like a steel bar wrapped in cotton.”

A student recovering from a car accident and a dancer derailed by injuries valued T’ai Chi as a low-impact workout. Others said the balance and stretching improved their traditional workouts and sports.

“This has a lot of positive effects in flexibility and strength. But mostly it’s about de-stressing.”

- Naser Ataee Holland Sargis chose T’ai Chi as an early workout without getting “sweaty, hot and gross” for later classes.

“I do truly believe it has helped me relax and de-stress.

I overall have been doing a lot better in my other classes as well,” Sargis said.

T’ai Chi’s slow, deliberate moves offer mental and social benefits as well as physical exercise.

“This has a lot of positive effects in flexibility and strength,” Ataee said. “But mostly it’s about de-stressing.

This is an activity performed very quietly. You have 30 people shifting forward and shifting back. Nobody is talking. I think it creates harmony between people.

Nobody’s judging. Everybody’s in unison. We all have different speeds in life, but everybody’s got to give a little in order to stay together.”

Students often come to the class thinking T’ai Chi is for the old, but it began centuries ago as a martial art for self-defense in rural China, said instructor Naser Ataee.

Ataee, owner of T’ai Chi Ch’uan Academy, filled in this spring for his former student Chuck Wagley, who returns for the fall semester.

“Moving slowly, the mind directs the body and with practice the mind and body become one,” Ataee said.

“When speed is needed, the moves are much faster. The mind leads.”

That martial art muscle appealed to Vianca Briones.

“T’ai Chi isn’t just an art form, it’s also a life teaching experience that you can utilize in everything that you do,” Briones said. Watching the moves of martial artists like Jet Li, she added, “I realized how powerful T’ai Chi really is.”

“It is an internal martial art. Strength comes from the inside,” Ataee said. “In China they say one who 14

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Instructor, Naser Ataee demonstrates T’ai Chi motions to students in the Fitzpatrick Arena courtyard.

STUDENT WELLNESS

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COVER FEATURE

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Visual

Impact Steve Arounsack’s video work is leading the next generation of anthropology 

By Brian VanderBeek

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The stories of people forced to move out of their home countries often focus on their gains and losses, of leaving behind belongings, careers and even family members for the promise of a new start in a new land.

Overlooked in many of these stories is an infinitely valuable item abandoned by many of these families — culture. As Mexicans become Mexican Americans, those from Japan become Japanese Americans, and so on, the addition of the word “American” can be viewed as a symbol of the immigrants’ willingness to accept the culture, language and ways of the new country.

However, those in the Central Valley striving to keep the arts and ways of their native lands alive in the Central Valley are having their stories captured on film by Stan State professor Steve Arounsack.

Arounsack (’99, ’01), who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree at Stan State, and return as a lecturer in 2005, is gaining acclaim not only for his own film work, but for lighting the fires of curiosity in students who take his courses and produce their own films in the University’s Keck Visual Anthropology Lab. “Some of our students have moved on to master’s programs in visual anthropology and that’s something that we’re quite proud of since we’re a smaller program,” Arounsack said.

As he speaks in the lab, he gestures around to the many colorful posters on the walls, each representing a film produced by one of his Stan State students.

“Despite being small, we’re right up there with some of the top programs, having arguably one of the most advanced undergraduate visual anthropology labs in the state,” he said. “And that’s something we pride ourselves in — not just having the equipment that can get us the quality we aspire to have, but in the experiences we can foster and how we build bridges with the community.

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These are tools. It’s not just about electronics in a room.”

Arounsack’s own film work in cultural anthropology is gaining nationwide attention for himself and for Stan State. In May, his documentary “Next Arounsack (seated second from left), Gen Asian American age 3, posing for a family photograph Art” was shown more than 500 times on PBS member stations across labs throughout Asia and Europe for the country, and the development. In addition, Arounsack equipment in the Keck Lab made it is serving as a consultant for a Walt the first film sponsored by Sacramento Disney Animation Studios’ 2020 PBS station KVIE completely shot feature titled “Raya and the in 4k.

Last Dragon.”

The documentary explores how Asian But at the heart of his teaching at Stan Americans in the Central Valley use State is the telling of the stories of more art to reveal and maintain their legacy recent immigrants to this region: the as immigrants and to reshape tired Sikhs, Laotians and others. His films narratives. It received a documentary chronicle their struggles and successes fund award from the Center for Asian in enriching the region by adding the American Media. cultures of their native lands to the A second Arounsack documentary Central Valley’s already-rich fabric. film, “Getting Lao’d: The Rise of “Stan State has strong community ties Modern Lao Music and Films” and Next Gen Asian American Art world premiered at the Seattle is yet another example of what can AsianAmerican Film Festival and has be produced when we view the entire screened at major Asian American Valley as a center of learning,” he said. film festivals across the nation. It “I think national audiences will be features many of the country’s most amazed at what’s being created here. prominent musicians and filmmakers What do we see when we hold a mirror and is perhaps the most comprehensive to the Central Valley? Having grown up examination of the rise of modern here, I always saw something magical, music and films in Laos. It took more something worth sharing.” than 13 years to film.

In many ways, by telling the stories of He also is co-producing a featurethose who came to the Central Valley, length film, “Raising a Beast,” also set Arounsack is revealing his own journey. in Laos, which was one of only four Born in Laos, where his father was a international film projects invited doctor and his mother was a teacher, to pitch at the 2018 Tribeca Film Arounsack was four years old when his Institute Network event. The project family — which included two brothers was also selected by several major film

and a sister — fled Laos, around 1980.

At the time, the vast Vietnamese refugee exodus received the bulk of the world’s attention, but the flow of people out of Laos was historic. Between 1975-80, nearly 300,000 Laotians — 10 percent of the population — fled the country as the communist movement Pathet Lao rose to power following a civil war.

“We left in the middle of an upheaval — a consequence of many political decisions that were beyond our pay grade,” Arounsack said. “We also had the spillover effects of what was happening in Vietnam, so the people, especially those in northern towns, had it pretty bad. Many of the planes flying back to bases into Thailand from Vietnam flew over Laos, and it was dangerous for them to return full of bombs so they would be dumped on Laos. That was heartbreaking.”

Like many of the refugees, Arounsack’s family spent time in refugee camps in Thailand. They found a sponsor family in Hawaii and around 1986 relocated to the mainland, settling in Modesto.

“When we came to this country my parents had to start completely over, because they couldn’t be doctors or teachers here, and I saw the struggle with them just trying to make ends meet,” said Arounsack, who graduated from Downey High School before enrolling at Stan State. “When it was time for college I kind of considered myself a first-generation student. I wasn’t one by the technical definition, but I knew I was in the cultural sense since we were starting over in America.”

Arounsack admits he may have been one of those typical fully assimilating immigrants, disconnecting from his heritage in the land of rock and roll and Big Macs. That changed when he was 17, when his family returned to Laos for the first time.

“It was after my dad died and the family took what essentially was a pilgrimage back to Laos,” he said, adding that he’s since returned to Laos more than a dozen times. “It was a touchstone trip for me that changed the trajectory of my entire life. I saw over there what could have easily been my life, because there’s nothing that I did to bring me here. I’m here through no merit of my own, and I began to understand that more clearly on that first trip. It was just a matter of luck for me to be born into my family.”

It was a lesson that stayed with Arounsack through his undergraduate years at Stan State and into his graduate work in ecology at UC Davis, which resulted in his earning a Ph.D. in ecology. While leading student discussions at UC Davis, he began to notice students responding well to video lessons. Having dabbled in video, using his family’s VHS recorder to shoot short movies since his high school days, Arounsack began to incorporate more visual tools into his teaching, and brought those tools with him to Stan State.

In 2013, a $250,000 grant allowed Arounsack to lead the development of the Keck Visual Anthropology Lab at Stan

State, which from the beginning has been dedicated to preserving the memories and rich cultures of the Central Valley’s immigrant population.

Six years later, he still sees the vast potential of the lab.

“We’re actively looking at ways to bring this to the next level,” he said.

“If we have the right partnerships we can really make this an international program. That’s our intent. We want to show the diversity of our region to the world.

“That’s the important thing for our program and that’s why it’s important to have this program right here at Stan State. We have all these people, all these cultures right here. This is one of the most diverse places in the world right now, and many of these people are underserved.”

Right now, visual anthropology is a single course at Stan State — not a program and not yet a concentration.

Arounsack obviously would love to see the course grow into a program, and in the meantime will be doing what he can to expose the region’s students to the discipline, which in turn exposes the rich mosaic of the Central Valley region to the world.

“I just can’t think of doing anything else other than using what I have and what I know to show kids a different path,” he said. “I know what it’s like to grow up in the Valley, where some of the kids view the mountain ranges as restrictive.

People don’t leave and it’s hard to leave.

“That first trip I took back to Laos got me hooked to seeing what the world is really like. It’s important for me to be here to try to do something to prevent the brain drain. I’m back. I’m here.

And I’m proud to be part of a culture of building.”

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INCOMNG STUDENTS

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STAN MAGAZINE

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A WARRIOR MEET THREE INCOMING STUDENTS WHO SHARE HOW STAN STATE IS GOING TO HELP THEM FULFILL THEIR PURPOSE

BY TATIANA OLIVERA

Isaiah Ringis: Composing His Future at Stan State Isaiah Ringis, a freshman from Long Beach, wanted to attend a California State University campus that allowed him to study both music technology and composition.

That combination meant Stanislaus State was the perfect choice. More than that, as the lone CSU campus to offer a concentration in music technology, Stan State was his only choice.

“This was the only place that had both,” Ringis said. “From what I’ve seen already, the programs are really great.”

Being a Warrior means being a part of this family, this is like a community. I’m excited to be a part of that community and work with all sorts of people.”

- Isaiah Ringis

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Ringis immigrated to Long Beach when he was three years old. He attended public school and took violin lessons for six years, beginning in kindergarten. That is, until he accidentally broke his violin.

He stopped attending lessons for a month while he waited for his violin to be fixed, and when he got it back, he realized he no longer remembered how to play.

Ringis’ mother didn’t know this, so she signed him up for band in junior high school. So, Ringis took advantage of his time in band and learned how to play the oboe. Taking the class also helped him discover a passion for music composition when he was tasked with writing a song and performing it for his final exam.

“We weren’t evaluated on the merits of the composition.

We were graded for doing the project and having fun with it,” Ringis said.

Now a Stan State student, Ringis is ready to hone his skills as a musician and composer. Before classes started, he checked out an oboe from Stan State’s music tech department. His eyes lit up when he saw the music tech lab, a sparkling white room with whiteboard walls and sleek black desks propping up monitors and musical keyboards. He spotted the piano in the corner of the room and began playing a melody from memory. Then he picked up a dry erase pen and filled a musical staff on the wall 

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with notes, composing a melody on the spot.

Stan State quickly has become a new home for Ringis, one that is more than 300 miles away from his home in Long Beach. His three suitemates already know him as “the music guy.” Ringis brought a small selection from his vinyl collection at home along with his turntable, keyboard and speakers. He chose to live in on-campus student housing because he wanted to connect with other students.

“Stan State is a community.

It’s like a small city on campus.

I’m excited to be a part of that community and to work with all sorts of people,” Ringis said.

Most of all, Ringis is excited that Stan State will provide him with the opportunity to develop his passion. He wants to either be a music producer, compiling music for albums by writing it or organizing tracks, or a film scorer, composing music for TV, film, video games and other media.

“I just really want to write and create things that I can share with people, and that’s why I’m here,” Ringis said.

Teresa Mejia: A Mother and Child Advocate at Stan State For transfer student Teresa Mejia, coming to a fouryear university is not only a privilege, but a symbol of reformation and a stepping stone to a better life, one in which helping others is a top priority.

Teresa Mejia

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“My mom, a single parent of ten children, immigrated to the United States from Mexico to rescue us from a life of abuse and poverty,” Mejia said.

“I am inspired by her to live a better life and to leave a legacy of diligence, compassion, love and respect.”

“To me, being a Warrior means leaving a legacy for my children.”

- Teresa Mejia But life wasn’t always great, even in America. Mejia dropped out of high school to be with her high school sweetheart, only to realize later on that she was in a toxic and abusive relationship.

History was repeating itself.

“I went through some very low points in my life. I made a lot of bad choices,” Mejia said.

It was only after she met her husband and had her first child that she decided to reevaluate her life and make a change.

“I decided I’d better educate myself and go back to school.

I wasn’t satisfied with being a high school dropout,” Mejia said.

Mejia received her high school diploma after taking adult classes and decided she wanted to pursue a higher education. She attended MJC for four years, during which time she had two more children. At Stan State, she is pursuing a degree in criminal justice with the goal of becoming a child advocate attorney.

“Growing up, my mom didn’t really understand the language in America, let alone the laws. Having witnessed her difficulties made me want to help others,” Mejia said. “I think God gives everyone at least one talent; I believe mine is reading comprehension and explaining difficult concepts to others in a very dignified manner. So that’s why I decided to become a lawyer.”

Mejia chose Stan State because of its resources and its proximity to her home in Modesto.

Compassion is at the root of her decisions. Her experiences have taught her to practice selflessness and to be aware of what others might be going through.

“Because I suffered all this, I can help people and say, ‘Let’s come out of it together. I know how hard it is.’ That’s what I mean by being compassionate,” she said. “I want to get to a position where I can help children. I believe that protecting children’s innocence and assuring them a healthy upbringing, aligned with a holistic approach, can have a great impact. I want to do my part to treat children with dignity and help prevent abuse from happening.”

Jacqueline Castellanos: Finding Her Future in Helping Others at Stan State Helping others has always been a priority for Jacqueline Castellanos, a pre-nursing major at Stan State.

Growing up in a foster home, Castellanos found joy in taking care of her younger siblings.

“When I was little, I was basically taking care of my brothers and sisters, so I’ve always had that mentality of helping others,” Castellanos said. “I always put others before myself. That’s why I chose a nursing career. I’m always going to put my patients first.”

Her older foster sister also helped her decide to choose a career in the medical field.

“My older sister is currently in medical school,” Castellanos said. “She told me about her experiences helping people, and what stood out to me the most was when she helped children with cancer. So I’d really love to be a pediatric nurse practitioner.”

She also wouldn’t mindworking in an emergency room because she’s interested in saving people’s lives.

In fact, Castellanos helped save lives before coming to Stan State. She was a member of the Kelseyville Community Organization for Rescue and Public Service (K-CORPS).

K-CORPS is an organization comprised of high school students in their junior and senior years and is deployed by the Lake County sheriff’s office. Students are trained to conduct evidence and missing person searches as well as traffic control.

K-CORPS and is one of only two organizations of its kind in the U.S. Twelve high school students are chosen to enter the program each year, starting their junior year. The students are on call 24/7, 365 days a year for the two years they are in the program.

“You go out and search for people who are missing by using the skills you’re taught, like tracking, technical roping and CPR,” Castellanos said. “I got many hours of community service just by helping out with the Sheriff’s Department, making sure people are safe.”

Castellanos says she would love to start a similar program at Stan State. She envisions students helping the University Police Department and training others using the skills she learned in K-CORPS. “It would not only be a service to the students, but also to the community.”

Castellanos said.

Coming from a foster home and being a role model, I want my little brother and sister to see that they can achieve anything.”

- Jaqueline Castellanos

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Out of Their COMFO

Boston, Massachusetts Photo by Osman Rana on Unsplash

What do internships provide students? Three interns from Stan State — Juliana Aguiar, Natalie Mendez and Karina Ayala — agree that internships have provided them with professional experience that can be applied anywhere and serve as a much needed push for students to get out of their comfort zones.

Juliana Aguiar Boston, Massachusetts Prior to landing a summer internship in the federal Office of the Comptroller of Currency’s (OCC) Boston office, Stanislaus State business administration major Juliana Aguiar gave little thought to the intricacies of bank oversight and regulation.

“I knew nothing about the details of bank supervision or the OCC, so I have already expanded my knowledge a lot over the past four weeks,” said Aguiar during her 10-week internship sponsored by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).

By pairing her with OCC bank examiners assigned to an East Coast 24

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bank, the internship gave Aguiar a first-hand look at how the federal government assesses bank risk, supervises banking operations and ensures that banks follow protocols.

“I now have a better understanding of a business sector I would not have thought to look into if it weren’t for the internship,” she said. “I learned how to assess how much risk a bank takes, and I was fortunate to sit in on important calls with different departments in the bank.”

A native of Hughson, Aguiar is a world traveler who has studied abroad in Thailand and Spain and visited 12 countries in the past couple of years.

She plans to study abroad in Costa

Rica this fall and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in May before pursuing a master’s degree in international business.

Despite her extensive travels, she was a “little bit nervous” about moving to Boston and working in a skyscraper for the summer. She expected an unfriendly, big-city atmosphere, but was pleasantly surprised.

“We wore business attire and worked in a big skyscraper building downtown, so I was a little worried that the people I worked with might be stern, but they were fantastic and willing to share their passion and depth of knowledge of with me,” she said.

A typical day for Aguiar included poring over documents and audit reports, updating procedure manuals and reviewing the liquidity risks of a bank during the previous four quarters.

She also traveled with a compliance bank examiner to a bank headquarters in a nearby state and spent a few days

ORT ZONE

INTERNSHIPS

Internships provide three Stan State students with opportunities to expand their horizons

By Gina Oltman and Tatiana Olivera

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Washington, D.C. Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

there working on audit reports. She enjoyed the variety of her assignments, being exposed to multiple aspects of the agency’s work and learning from the seasoned professionals around her.

“Most of the bank examiners had been working in their specific field for a very long time and are really good at their jobs,” she said. “They had many experiences to share. Working with them gave me a well-rounded feel for what a bank examiner does in their day-to-day work.”

Aguiar believes that her study abroad experiences and travels gave her the confidence she needed to take on a meaningful internship in a big city, and she praised the Stan State Study Abroad staff for their past guidance and assistance.

“While studying abroad, I had a taste of living on my own in a foreign place.

Of course, I was very nervous at first, but I quickly adapted,” she said. “Those experiences taught me a lot about how

to adapt. So, compared to both Spain and Thailand, Boston was a piece of cake to live and work in.”

Even if she doesn’t pursue a career in banking, she believes the insight and experience she gained during her HACU internship will pay dividends well into the future.

“Money makes the world go around,” she said. “So, learning about banking is a great asset regardless if I become a bank examiner or not.”

Natalie Mendez Suitland, Maryland On the day of her 2019 graduation from Stan State, Natalie Mendez received an email notification congratulating her on her acceptance — she was now an official Smithsonian intern and had just one week to pack her bags and travel to the Washington Beltway community of Suitland, Maryland.

“I couldn’t believe it!” Mendez said.

“I had to read the email three times, and I sent it to my dad. He was speechless and ecstatic. He knew I had worked hard on my application for this and that this would be the next step to reaching my goal of being a museum conservator.”

Mendez was introduced to the world of conservation when she visited the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in New Mexico as a child. The thrill of discovering ancient artifacts was what led her to pursue a degree in anthropology at Stan State. But it was her directed labs class with professor Jennifer Ringberg that exposed her to the field of conservation. It also was the first step in her journey of becoming an assistant to conservators in The Smithsonian Institution, the largest international complex of museums and conservation research. Mendez was confident in the skills instilled in her by her Stan State professors, so when she was informed about the  FALL 2019

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knows how to utilize resources for her analyses and has gained excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Thanks to the foundational knowledge she acquired at Stan State and the hands-on experience she is receiving from the CIBA internship, Mendez now feels prepared to enter the Chico State museum studies program, which she will be attending in the fall.

Washington, D.C. Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash

Conservation Internship for Broadening Access (CIBA) she did not hesitate to apply.

The Smithsonian Institution is comprised of 19 museums and nine conservation research institutions that house more than 150 million items. CIBA interns get to choose up to three museums in which they would prefer to work, and CIBA places the interns in the conservation department of a museum based on the interns’ preference, previous experience and personal statements. CIBA’s goal is to help interns understand and practice museum conservation, learn about requirements and advanced technology in the field as well as industry standards and gain the skills they need to work in labs and other professional environments.

Mendez was placed in the Museum Conservation Institute (MCI) in the Museum Support Center. For the first few days, she met the conservators, the other interns and her mentor. She was then introduced to the objects she would be researching, including historic artifacts and quilts. To help her get started, her mentor gave her some background knowledge about the objects and explained how to best conduct testing based on the objects’ fragility and hazardousness.

“I would come into the lab with background knowledge of the object, and that influenced how to best conduct my analyses and how best to handle it,” Mendez said “I try to really get acquainted with the objects I’ve been working with.”

While in the CIBA program, Mendez has learned professional skills needed in the field. She now understands how to conduct full research on artifacts,

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Her advice to Stan State students who are considering applying for internships is: “Don’t hesitate! There’s an internship out there that is waiting to accept you.”

Karina Ayala Washington, D.C. The idea of gaining career experience while still in school instantly appealed to Karina Ayala when, in her second year at Stanislaus State, she learned about the HACU National Internship Program. As a business administration major with a concentration in human resources, she understood that professional experience would give her an advantage after graduation.

Bureau’s headquarters in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland.

Her everyday assignments covered a broad range, including acting as an assistant to the chief of the human relations division, handling administrative tasks and updating documents and receiving visitors.

Special assignments included working with other division chiefs and designing signs for recruitment events and conferences.

“It’s been busy, but I’ve really enjoyed it,” she said. “Everything I learned in school, I’ve seen it all in action. It was a really good experience for me.”

In addition to her assignments, Ayala was included in training programs and events offered to Census Bureau employees. She said she participated in customer service training, attended lectures and engaged with a Toastmasters group.

“The culture was very good and they offer so many opportunities for growth,” she said.

Ayala, who grew up in Oakdale, Hesitant at first because she was believes overcoming her initial only a sophomore, Ayala applied hesitancy to apply for her first for an internship and landed a paid internship more than two years ago 10-week assignment with the U.S. was a turning point for her.

Department of Veterans Affairs in the Privacy, Information and “That experience helped me Identity Protection Office in adapt to a new culture, grow Washington, D.C. “That experience helped me adapt to a new culture, grow my work ethic and apply my knowledge to the projects I was assigned,” Ayala said. “It was life-changing, as it was my first time moving out and being on the East Coast working for a big agency.”

my work ethic and apply my knowledge to the projects I was assigned.”

- Karina Ayala

With the internship completed, she returned to Stan State energized and motivated to help other students pursue similar opportunities through HACU. She became a HACU ambassador and began working with the University’s Career and Professional Development Center to get the word out about the organization’s program.

Now a 2019 graduate with her bachelor’s degree in hand, Ayala recently completed her second HACU summer internship. This time she worked for 10 weeks as a program analyst in human resources development at the U.S. Census

“Reflecting back, I do wonder how my career path would have been different, because I almost did not apply for the program,” she said. “Getting out of my comfort zone is what really got me to where I am today.”

And getting out of her comfort zone taught Ayala a valuable lesson that she readily shares with others: “Do not be afraid of getting out of your comfort zone,” she said. “Branching out personally and professionally will open doors and lead you to achievements beyond your expectations.”

SCHOLARSHIPS

Upskilling Stanislaus Community Foundation Scholarship Students Begin Upgrading Their Nursing Degrees ď ľ

By Gina Oltman Members of the first cohort of scholarship recipients.

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Stanislaus State faculty and staff are joined by Stanislaus Community Foundation representative, Martha Flores, to celebrate with the scholarship recipients.

The first group of registered nurses upskilling from associate degrees to bachelor’s degrees with scholarships from the Stanislaus Community Foundation's Health Careers Fund have begun entering Stanislaus State’s online RN-BSN program.

2019 Scholarship Recipients Yu-Han Chao Felicia Boyette Megan Reese Michelle Childree Parveen Bajwa Brittany Smith Oscar Collaso Nabjoy Rall Mercy Cone Shannon Hayes Elsa Gomez Pedro Aguirre

Four students graduated from Modesto Junior College in May, passed the national exam to become registered nurses and started Stan State’s 12-month program in late August to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Another eight MJC nursing students are on track to enter the Stan State program in spring 2020.

All 12 of the scholarship recipients are or soon will be working nurses, making the online program especially attractive because it allows them to study on their own schedules between shifts that frequently last up to 12 hours.

For busy scholarship recipients like Michelle Childree, a mother of four teenagers who was inspired to become a nurse after she gave birth to triplets, the ability to study online is essential.

“I’ve worked really hard going to school, working, raising a family and commuting four hours a day to accomplish what I have so far,” said Childree.

“And I’m still working at it, thankfully, due to the convenience of Stan State’s online program.”

The scholarships of $10,000 each were awarded from Stanislaus Community Foundation’s Health Careers Fund, which was established in 2017 with a $2 million gift that emanated from the sale of the Delta Blood Bank to the American Red Cross.

The goal of the fund is to grow Stanislaus County’s healthcare workforce, address the region’s shortage of healthcare professionals and improve health outcomes for area residents.

Each scholarship requires the recipient to commit to working locally for at least three years after earning a bachelor’s degree. According to Debra Tavernier, director of Stan State’s School of Nursing, this requirement presents no problems. “Most of our students don’t want to leave this area because they

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are already established here with their work and family,” she said.

Tavernier added that helping registered nurses earn bachelor’s degrees is beneficial to the community. It improves the overall quality of care in the region’s hospitals and other healthcare facilities because nurses broaden their knowledge and sharpen their critical thinking skills while studying for their bachelor’s.

She noted that studies published by the Institute of Medicine, an affiliate of the National Academies of Science, and the highly regarded public health journal Medical Care showed that increasing the percentage of bachelor’s prepared nurses in hospitals greatly decreases mortality rates.

This academic year’s cohort of 12 students is the first of two groups that will move directly from MJC into Stan State’s online and traditional BSN programs over a two-year period. In all, $240,000 in scholarships from the Health Careers Fund will go to upskilling RNs. Scholarship recipient Megan Reese, a mother of three, noted that the financial help will enable her to work fewer overtime shifts as a labor and delivery nurse while pursuing her bachelor’s degree and raising her children.

Reese plans to give back to the Stanislaus community by volunteering with providers of obstetric services to underserved patients in the area. Meanwhile, Childree said she plans to serve the community by obtaining a wound care certification and applying those skills in a hospital or home health setting.

The Health Careers Fund is also the source of a $60,000 grant to Stan State to fund two years for a health careers navigator position. The navigator reaches out to local high school and community college students to educate them about the many career opportunities in healthcare and generate interest in healthcare professions.

“We’re directing students to the healthcare possibilities they might consider for their careers,” Tavernier said. “That includes nursing, but not just nursing. For some students, a different healthcare profession, such as respiratory therapy, might be a better fit for them.”

GRADUATE STUDENTS

A Thirst For

KNOWLEDGE Graduate Research Leads Stan State Students to Find Their Passions 

By Gina Oltman

Germán Silva (’19) observes the Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge where he conducted undergraduate research.

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Silva and Dye display elements of their research.

Germán Silva, a 2019 Stan State graduate, found research he participated in while earning his bachelor’s degree to be a pivotal experience.

Once the geography major started using GIS technology to monitor the long-term health of California’s coastal salt marshes, he was hooked.

The recent recipient of a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship, Silva is studying at UC Santa Barbara in a combined master’s-doctoral program he plans to complete in five years. At Stan State, he found that conducting research in the field taught him to better apply the techniques and skills he’d learned in the classroom while enhancing his critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

“It is one thing to learn in the classroom, and it is completely something else to take what you have learned and apply it, then write an article on what you have found,” Silva said. “Once I started presenting my work at conferences 30

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and communicating more about the importance of this type of research for the environment, I realized that I was absolutely in love with researching wetlands and haven't looked back since.”

Silva plans to follow his passion into a career of coastal management.

“In California, only a small percentage of our historical coastal wetlands still exist and now that there are efforts being made to restore and maintain wetlands, there is a need to know how they respond to our changing environment. I hope to expand that conversation.”

Silva’s experience is not unusual for students who embark on research projects. As they plunge themselves into their subject matter, they frequently find their passion and begin clarifying their career goals.

“When a student learns how to do research, they become empowered,” said Alison McNally, an assistant professor of geography and McNair Scholars Program mentor. “They begin to realize that what they are learning and applying can actually answer questions or solve problems. They truly beam when they present their research at a professional or academic conference.”

McNally also finds that research helps students ascertain the topics in which they are most interested, and it can motivate them to continue their education in pursuit of postbaccalaureate degrees.

“The research process certainly contributes to students deciding what to pursue,” she said. “Often, they have no idea what possibilities will be available upon graduation, and because they spend so much time on their research projects, their world of options really opens up.”

Stan State encourages and supports student research activities with an

array of grants and other resources.

The University has 30 grants and other sources of internal funding to support the research activities of close to 250 students, with many more students conducting unfunded research through their capstone classes, graduate programs and the University Honors Program, according to Joyce Bell, director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

Roughly 500 students a year from Stan State pursue post-baccalaureate degrees or credentials, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Student Tracker. The preparation and experience they get from participating in research projects can propel them forward in their careers.

Alyssa Dye While pursuing a master’s degree in psychology at Stanislaus State, Alyssa Dye delved into a few research projects. She studied the factors that affect whether new fathers with depression seek help, the effects of

childhood trauma on college students and perceptions of foster children.

As she worked through her projects, she also learned something about herself.

“I learned that I love research,” said Dye, who began a doctorate program at the University of Kansas this fall. “I love discovering more about humankind and how we can improve lives. I love the process of research, especially qualitative research, and learning about others’ experiences on an individual level.”

She believes everyone has a unique story to tell, and she enjoys helping people share their experiences in order to help others. In fact, she plans to make it her life’s work.

“I know I have much to learn, but research has given me a thirst for knowledge.”

- Alyssa Dye “The faculty and staff at Stan State were incredible in providing support and encouragement to pursue my research, particularly my advisor, Dr. Kurt Baker,” she said.

In the future, she hopes to mentor other students as she was mentored at Stan State.

“I know I have much to learn, but research has given me a thirst for knowledge.”

Dye has a crystal-clear vision of her future contributions to society.

She plans to work as a counseling psychologist and a California State University faculty member while continuing research in the area she feels passionate about – perinatal mental health.

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