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CSUDH Magazine

CSUDH Magazine

The Official Magazine of California State University, Dominguez Hills

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Spring 2025

Spring 2025

Money Changes Everything

How NIL Cash is Changing College Athletics

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Contents


  • Message from the President
  • Featured Stories
  • Photo Story
  • Campus News
  • Faculty
  • Alumni Profile
  • Philanthropy
  • Class Notes

Message from the President

Featured Stories


Dean Caron on stage in the University Theater, with rows of seats on view in background.

The Future of Humanities: A Conversation with Dean Tim Caron

Dean Tim Caron champions arts, equity, and inclusive education at CSUDH while exploring AI and student empowerment​.

Illustrated college athletes in various sports paired with ads

Money Changes Everything

NIL money reshapes college sports, as CSUDH navigates new challenges and opportunities in athletics and recruiting​.

Illustrated capitol building with graph bars superimposed over.

Dymally Institute Expands Its Footprint on Campus

The Dymally Institute at CSUDH gets a new home, fostering Black leadership, policy change, and cultural programming.

Students at mock crime scene in field at night.

A Unique Forensics Class Gives Would-Be Investigators a Crash Course in How to Handle a Crime Scene

A hands-on CSI course gives CSUDH students a thrilling, realistic crime scene experience with police and faculty.

Jeremy Dent-Smith dribbling basketball with hoop in background.

Loyalty Inside His DNA

Despite big offers, star athlete Jeremy Dent-Smith stays at CSUDH, choosing loyalty, growth, and community over money.

Photo Story


Historic Basketball Season

Both CSUDH basketball teams made historic runs to the NCAA DII title games, showing loyalty, grit, and record-breaking performances.

Jillian in Va'a canoe on the water

Jillian Elwart, Toro Paralympian

CSUDH alumna Jillian Elwart competes in the 2024 Paralympics and now helps children as a prosthetics specialist​.

Class enters creek in waders.

Going with the Flow

CSUDH students collect river data in the Sierra Nevada, aiding research on drought and climate change​.

Campus News


Brackish Water Los Angeles Marks CSUDH as Premier Art Destination

CSUDH explores art, ecology, and culture in ‘Brackish Water Los Angeles’—a major Getty-funded exhibition and student-led project.

Toro Star Nala Williams Named National Player of the Year

CSUDH’s Nala Williams named 2025 NCAA DII Player of the Year, leading her team to a historic national championship appearance.

Clinical Science Pays Off

CSUDH clinical science grads earn over $120K annually, with a 99% licensure pass rate and high ROI for students.

Gerth Archives to House Hutchinson Collection

CSUDH’s Gerth Archives becomes home to Earl Ofari Hutchinson’s manuscripts on race, politics, and American life.

Plant Life Key to Professor’s Work in Preserving Indigenous Language in Mexico

Professor Mantenuto uses native plants to preserve Mixtec language in Oaxaca through research, film, and education.

Mural depicting abstract faces blooming from stems

New Mural Blooms on Campus Library

Artist Cristina Martinez’s ‘Women in Bloom’ mural celebrates CSUDH’s diverse women students in bold, vibrant color.

Conductor’s hands

Exploring African Immigrant Identities through Song

Professor Ojakovo highlights African sacred music and identity through song, archives, and academic collaboration at CSUDH.

Architect’s rendering of campus dining hall

Campus Transformation Continues with Four Major Construction Projects

CSUDH invests $228M in new housing, wellness, and academic facilities, reshaping student life and sustainability.

Conductor leading orchestra

BSI Launch Event

CSUDH hosts statewide event launching the Black Serving Institution designation, promoting equity in higher education.

Black graduates in regalia

Black Servingness Institution: A New Designation for a Commitment CSUDH Already Fulfills

CSUDH exceeds Black Serving Institution standards with holistic support, mentorship, and cultural programs for students.

Person in lab coat dips instrument into beaker of biochar.

Burnt Yard Waste Becomes Sustainable Energy Storage

CSUDH physicist turns burnt yard waste into low-cost energy storage, using off-the-shelf materials and student-led research.

Jahan Abdi holds up a microscope slide.

Fish Oil to Cure Cancer? Professor Sees Promise in Store-Bought Product

CSUDH professor explores fish oil’s potential as a cancer treatment, involving students in lab-based clinical science research.

Evolutions of Japanese toilets illustrated as characters.

The Not-So-Humble Toilet:
Japan’s Unlikely Symbol of Modernity

CSUDH historian links Japan’s modern identity to the evolution of toilets, from wooden latrines to smart tech Washlets.

From Tragedy to Triumph

CSUDH prosthetics students helped Zoe, a maimed dog from Egypt, walk again through a partnership with Unstoppable Dogs​.

Faculty


Alfredo Carlos

Making Sense of Latino Support for Trump

Despite Trump’s rhetoric, some Latino voters support him due to economic frustrations and political disillusionment​.

Illustration of woman with medium complexion, long dark hair, adorned with a pink flower.

L.A.’s Chicana Leaders

Professor Marisela Chávez’s book explores intergenerational Chicana activism and forgotten Latina political pioneers​.

Purple flowers on campus.

Faculty News in Brief

CSUDH faculty earn honors, grants, and media attention for groundbreaking work in education, science, and policy.

Alumni Profile


Esther with DJ setup in LA Chargers stadium

Esther Anaya Alumni Spotlight: Chargers DJ, Musician, Proud Toro

CSUDH alum Esther Anaya brings music, violin, and energy to Chargers games and global festivals as a star DJ​.

Philanthropy


Campus admins and members of the Philanthropic Foundation.

Philanthropic Giving

Record-breaking gifts took philanthropic giving to new heights.

Grade school student in STEM lab.

CSUDH and Apple: Five Years of Changing Local Students’ Lives

A 5-year CSUDH-Apple partnership empowers K-12 students and teachers with hands-on STEM tools and innovation training.

Class Notes


Alumni at dinner table.

Class Notes – Spring 2025

CSUDH alumni are making waves in business, education, tech, and public service across generations and industries​.

Group of ten people in professional attire holding up toro signs.

The Alumni Advisory Council Needs You!

CSUDH’s Alumni Advisory Council seeks graduates to mentor students, shape campus goals, and champion Toro pride.

Published by University Communications & Marketing

President

Thomas A. Parham, PhD

    Director of Communications

    Mason Stockstill

      Senior Writer

      Nick Bulum

        Contributing Writers

        Philip Bader
        Lilly McKibbin

          Graphic Designers

          Kevin Narvaez
          Shin Mi Pak

            Multimedia Designer

            Hillary Griffin

              Photographer

              Matt Brown

                Videographer

                Nathan Brown

                  Web Content Strategist

                  Romel Edmond

                    Production Coordinator

                    Kandis Newman

                      Social Media Coordinator

                      Isabel Casillas

                        Toro Giving Day. Give. Impact. Repeat.

                        Thank You for Your Support!

                        Toro Giving Day 2025 just passed, but you don’t have to wait until next year to donate! Your generosity makes a lasting impact on our students’ futures. Every gift—big or small—helps fund scholarships, enhance academic programs, and enrich the student experience at CSUDH. Join us in empowering the next generation of leaders. 

                        Make every day a Toro Giving Day!

                        Your gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For additional information, please call University Development at (310) 243-2182 or email us at development@csudh.edu

                        MAKE A GIFT

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