Honorable Mentions
University recognized for Hispanics earning degrees and diversity
The national magazines “Diverse Issues in Higher Education” and “The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education” again rated CSU Stanislaus in their “Top 100” listings for the number of Hispanic students receiving degrees. More than 25 percent of the University’s students are of Latino heritage. The CSU Stanislaus Athletics Department was recognized by the NCAA for overall excellence in diversity. CSU Stanislaus was one of only two CSU athletics programs honored with the 2008 Diversity in Athletics Awards, which applaud the winners for staff and athlete gender and racial diversity that reflect the population of their regions along with competitive excellence.
Stevens, Youngblom author science education research articles
Upholding a tradition in which University faculty continue to make extraordinary research contributions in their respective fields, Dr. Michael T. Stevens and Dr. Jim Youngblom of the Department of Biological Sciences are participating in different research projects about science education issues that were highlighted in articles published in the highly-regarded international journal “Science.” Stevens, whose research expertise includes biology education and plant ecology, participated in a report titled “Science Faculty with Education Specialties” that was published in the December 2008 issue. Youngblom, an expert in genealogical and DNA research, co-authored an October 2008 article titled “Genomics Education Partnership.”
University photographer Cary Edmondson wins international honor
University photographer Cary Edmondson was selected as the grand gold medal winner in the Photographer of the Year competition of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The leading international education promotion organization, which includes more than 3,400 colleges, universities, independent elementary and secondary schools, and educational associates in 61 countries, selected Edmondson’s photographic work over 31 other finalist entries. A member of the CSU Stanislaus University Advancement staff since May 2007 and a graduate of Fresno State University, Edmondson previously worked at newspapers in Fresno County, Florida, and Nevada. He has also won a number of awards in the University Photographers’ Association of America (UPAA) competition. Edmondson’s award-winning photography was on display at the July 9, 2009 CASE Circle
of Excellence Awards Program in San Francisco. Many of his photos can be viewed in the CSU Stanislaus Web site photo galleries at http://www.csustan.edu/galleries/CASE/ and http://www.csustan.edu/Communications/photogalleries.html.
CSU Stanislaus included in Forbes’ “Top Colleges For Getting Rich”
California State University, Stanislaus ranks among the top public universities that produce top wage-earning alumni, according to a recently published article on a salary potential study published by Forbes.com. In the “Top Colleges For Getting Rich” ratings based on the salaries of college degree holders from the country’s more than 600 public universities, CSU Stanislaus was ranked 137th. The list of 175 top state universities by salary potential included 13 CSU campuses. CSU Stanislaus graduates earn a “mid-career” median of $71,400 and a starting average salary of $38,000, according to the study. A University survey of 2007 graduates reveals that 82 percent of them are employed full-time or are attending graduate school.
Executive MBA program continues with more cohort startups
The University’s Executive Master of Business Administration Degree program, which has attracted students from all over Central California to serve workforce needs, launched its newest 2009 cohort in Modesto on April 25. The program made its debut in 2007 in Tracy and produced its first group of graduates in December 2008. Plans call for another cohort to start in Tracy in September 2009. Directed by Dr. Nael Aly, Dean of the College of Business Administration, the 15-month, 36-unit program focuses on producing well-trained management professionals who are highly sought after by regional industries and organizations. More than 100 students have participated in the program thus far, with two cohorts still underway in Stockton and Turlock. Under the direction of the College of Business Administration and administered through the University’s Office of Extended Education, the program has seen its popularity spread far and wide. Students from as far as the Bay Area and Monterey County have enrolled in the degree program that focuses on helping career professionals enhance their managerial skills.
Student team reclaims Western Regional Human Resources Games
Turning in one of its strongest performances ever, the CSU Stanislaus student team defeated its opponents by a wide margin to claim the 2009 Pacific Western Regional Human Resource Games Championships and a co-national championship. The team of Tabitha Lilly of Victorville, Demetrios Zarefakis of Lodi, Kenny Brown of Turlock, and Melanie Haberlack of Bakersfield scored eight wins and no losses along with a bye in the April 3 and 4 competition at Boise State University in Idaho to claim its fourth Pacific Western title. Team coach Dr. Ed Hernandez of the College of Business Administration faculty said the CSU Stanislaus student quartet scored one of the largest ever margins of victory in beating out a field that included other top finishers Fresno State, University of Nevada Reno, and Boise State University. Lilly and Zarefakis joined Crystal Gutierrez as recipients of $5,000 internship scholarships presented at the Society for Human Management Conference in New Orleans. Lilly and Zarefakis won scholarships in 2008 and performed summer internships at Foster Farms. The three 2009 national scholarship winners are doing summer internships with the City of Modesto.
Groundbreaking Education Doctorate program underway
History is being made at CSU Stanislaus with the startup of the inaugural Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree program. It is the first doctoral program offered at the University, with CSU campuses having been given the authority in 2007 to institute the highest degree. Dr. Steven K. Lee is Founding Director of the program which is designed to meet the need for highly trained educational leaders in the Central Valley. The program opened in September 2008 with a full cohort of 29 students and a second cohort started classes on June 16. Specializations are in leadership for preschool to grade 12 schools and community college leadership. It is the only program in the CSU system focused on instructional leadership. Doctoral courses taught by expert faculty are held on Tuesday evenings.
Dr. Patrick Kelly receives national recognition for preservation efforts
Dr. Patrick Kelly, Coordinator and Director of the University’s Endangered Species Recovery Program (ESRP), was named one of the country’s 18 recipients of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 2008 Recovery Champion Award in March 2009. One of two bestowed in the agency’s Pacific Southwest Region, the award recognizes recipients for contributions to the recovery of threatened and endangered species in the United States. Kelly was cited for his leadership efforts and hard work on programs aimed at preserving riparian brush rabbits which were at one time on the brink of extinction in the San Joaquin Valley. Kelly credits a combination of sheer dedication and hard work by the ESRP staff. A variety of other animals and some plants are on the project list for the ESRP which has generated more than $24 million in grants and contracts from public agencies since its startup 15 years ago.
Kim Duyst inducted into U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Hall of Fame
Former CSU Stanislaus track and field and cross country coach Kim Duyst was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame in December 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona. Now an Associate Athletics Director and Senior Administrator in the University’s Department of Athletics, Duyst was in a group of just eight coaches from all over the country who were awarded Hall of Fame honors. During her 20 years as coach, Duyst guided her athletes to 70 All-American honors, four individual national champions, and a fourth place national track and field team finish in 1994. Virtually every track & field and cross country school record was broken during her tenure.
Warrior athletes excel during spring sports season
The Warrior athletics program had a highly successful spring season in 2009, with pole vaulter Kasey Burlingham claiming a national championship while tennis player Verena Preikschas and baseball player Kyle Loretelli were awarded All-American honors and the golf and softball teams won regional titles. Burlingham cleared a school record 17 feet, 8 ½ inches to win the University’s first national title since Chaunte Mitchell captured back-to-back pole vault championships in 2004 and 2005. Preikschas was the California Collegiate Association Most Valuable Player in compiling a 10-0 conference record. Loretelli hit .323 in 52 games and broke the Warrior career home run record in leading the baseball team to its third straight 30-win season. Selected in the Major League Baseball draft in June along with Loretelli were pitchers Dakota Watts and Eric Federico. The young and rebuilding Warrior golf team finished second in the Central/West Super Regional in Nebraska.