Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler ,
(818) 677-2130
carmen.chandler@csun.edu

CSUN Names Planetarium for Former Dean

Bianchi, one of the university's earliest faculty members, died in March 1996, following a brief illness.

CSUN President Blenda J. Wilson formally will name the planetarium for Bianchi during a 4 p.m. ceremony on the lawn of Science Building 3 near the center of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge.

"Dean Bianchi's leadership was the sustaining factor in developing Cal State Northridge's science complex," Wilson said. "There was a great groundswell of support among our faculty and students to name one of our science buildings in his memory, and I'm delighted for his family that we will help commemorate his legacy for all time in this way."

Bianchi joined the biology faculty in 1959, when the campus was still known as San Fernando Valley State College. Fourteen years later he became dean, a position he held for 23 years, including two years when he also was acting vice president for Academic Affairs.

As dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, Bianchi was instrumental in the creation of the four-building science complex, laying the foundation for the college's outstanding achievements in research and teaching.

His own professional accomplishments included numerous journal articles and books on such topics as cell biology, microbiology and botany.