The College of Health and Human Development shares wishes of health and well-being and happiness to all this holiday season. Alumni, friends, community members, faculty and staff throughout the College and the CSUN Community--and especially to our students:
We wish you the best for the new year ahead and look forward to joining you in 2017 as we continue working together to make life better for others through research, education and action. Campus will be closed from December 23 through January 2. See you in 2017!
The artwork above is a an edited composite of images. I'm Jean O'Sullivan, HHD's Public Affairs/Communications Specialist, and I created this holiday greeting for Dean Webb to share with the College and community. I wanted to include a few words about the symbolism in it. I have my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English from CSUN; layers of meaning are always intriguing to me.
I did a little editing to the door of the cabin to open it and signal welcoming. This is a message to all who come to learn, engage, encourage, and support the college--students, community partners, friends and neighbors, faculty and staff. The warm glow from the cabin suggests that the people inside are comfortable, happy. The sunflower is the symbol of our College. Sunflowers turn their faces toward sun as it arcs across the sky throughout the day, and a field of sunflowers is like a visual choir in concert. That is the spirit of collaboration in our College.
Why is there a finch in this picture? I thought the "Welcome 2017" sign needed a bird--and the picture needed another splash of yellow. I selected the finch because it symbolizes diversity, vitality and happiness. And the snowperson? A winter guide to let you know you're headed in the right direction! Granted, it doesn't snow in Northridge (well, nearly never) but the hush and calm of a snow-scape and the visage of a cozy cabin has Happy Winter Holidays written all over it!
Read more about finch and sunflower symbolism at reference.com (not affiliated with CSUN).
The message embedded in the text above reads:
To our Alumni and Friends, Happy Holidays! Welcome 2017. Wishing you a Happy, Healthy New Year from the College of Health & Human Development, Farrell J. Webb, Dean, December 2016 CSUN College of Health & Human Development.