The Volunteer Service Awards acknowledges the outstanding individuals who serve the academic college or department in which they graduated.
Volunteer Service Awards College Recipients
The Volunteer Service Awards acknowledges the outstanding individuals who serve the academic college or department in which they graduated.
Volunteer Service Awards College Recipients
Myra Cohen
College of Health and Human Development
CSUN has been a big part of Myra Cohen’s life — but more so since she retired as a registered dietician. Cohen, a longtime San Fernando Valley resident, first started coming to campus to enroll her children in university programs. But later, she became deeply involved with the College of Health and Human Development.
Since 2016, Cohen has served as a committee member on the HHD Dean’s Circle and has been a highly valued ambassador for the college. Cohen served on the committee for the Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics’ 25th-year anniversary event in 2016 and is currently serving on a committee for an upcoming to-be-announced HHD event.
Cohen has also been a member of SAGE (Study, Activity, Growth and Enrichment), a self-supporting group of retired and semi-retired people who share a passion for learning and meet to exchange knowledge and develop new interests. With the group, she has helped organize scholarship and luncheon events. Cohen has donated to numerous areas on campus and has been a behind-the-scenes hero.
Filiberto Gonzalez ’97
College of Humanities
Filiberto Gonzalez earned his bachelor’s degree from CSUN in 1997 in Chicana/o Studies, becoming the first college graduate in his extended family.
In 2016, after years of wanting to make a more meaningful impact at his alma mater, Gonzalez started a scholarship for CSUN’s undocumented students – who are unable to secure public grants and most scholarships due to their status – and named it in honor of his mother, Elia Torres. Torres, now 81 years old, raised Gonzalez and his brother as a single mother with an indomitable determination to see them succeed in school and life.
In response to news about the first award, friends and colleagues responded in droves with donations of their own to the Elia Torres Scholarship Fund. As a result, after awarding one scholarship the first year, three were awarded in the second year.
A tireless advocate for CSUN, Gonzalez is constantly reaching out to his network to gain support for the university’s students. Gonzalez has worked to help elevate CSUN students, particularly those from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Gonzalez is the Vice President of Development and Strategic Initiatives for Grapevine Development, LLC — a Sherman Oaks-based real estate development firm that specializes in transit-oriented and mixed-use developments in historically underserved communities. Gonzalez lives in Northridge with his wife and three daughters.
Dan Chernow ’67, M.A. ’89, M.A. ’03
Michael D. Eisner College of Education
Dr. Dan Chernow was honored with a CSUN Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001. He currently chairs the newly formed College of Education Alumni Chapter and serves as a member of the CSUN Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Chernow serves as a board member of the California Coalition for Public Higher Education; as the volunteer Executive Director of Californians for Public Higher Education; and, as a member of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education’s Dean’s Council at CSUN. He has previously taught courses in the Eisner College. He has also served on the California State Board of Education, acting as its Legislative Committee Chairperson; on the California Curriculum Frameworks and Supplemental Materials Commission, serving a term as its Chairperson; and on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Chernow’s career started as a secondary teacher before he worked as a Vice President and Assistant General Manager with Pacific Theatres Corporation. He then returned to education as the Executive Director of the UCLA School Management Program. Chernow and his wife Cindy, CSUN’s Alumni Association Board President, have endowed three scholarships for future teachers through the College of Education. To date, 48 scholarships have been awarded. Chernow also holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCLA.
Joni Campanella Roan
College of Health and Human Development
Joni Campanella Roan is a champion for the College of Health and Human Development. Her connection to CSUN began in 1995 but blossomed in 2010. She is the daughter of champions — legendary baseball Hall of Famer Roy Campanella and his wife Roxie, who together pursued better care for people with spinal care injuries. Under the Roy and Roxie Campanella Foundation, physical therapy students at CSUN and other CSU schools and USC began receiving scholarships in 1995. So impressed by what she saw at CSUN, Joni designated the funding in 2010 solely to CSUN students. She has worked alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to increase funding and expand the efforts for CSUN’s College of Health and Human Development. In 2018, 25 CSUN students were awarded scholarships.
“I care about students. I care about change. And I care about community,” she said. “The quality and caliber of students that I’ve met through CSUN and its commitment to education and community has made me proud to be a volunteer and help in any way I can.” Joni is retired, having worked at the Los Angeles Daily News as director of its Literacy in Education program, which she helped raise $2.5 million for to provide newspapers at no cost to schools. She is proud her impact at CSUN and in her career, and even more proud of her son, Cary — a sergeant in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Honey Amado
College of Humanities
Honey Kessler Amado is a respected appellate attorney in Los Angeles. Honey and her late husband Ralph A. Amado first came to know CSUN when their daughter, alumna Gabrielle Amado Shabah, was considering colleges. They recognized CSUN’s strengths in the arts and humanities, which were Gabrielle’s interests, and learned that the Jewish Studies Program, which became Gabrielle’s minor, was the finest in the CSU system. Honey is pleased that her son-in-law, David Shabah, is now a student here.
At the direction of Ralph and Honey, The Maurice Amado Foundation-funded, through the College of Humanities and the Jewish Studies Interdisciplinary Program, the Maurice Amado Endowed Professorship in Applied Jewish Ethics and Civic Engagement. Honey has continued Ralph’s and her support of CSUN and the Jewish Studies Program. Today she proudly sits on the CSUN Foundation Board.
Honey has an extensive history of service in the Los Angeles community. Long active in the Jewish community, she was a delegate on the 2002 AJC (American Jewish Committee)-Konrad Adenauer Foundation trip to Germany to address post-Holocaust relations between Germans and Jews. She also served as a delegate on two additional delegations, both times at the invitation of the Adenauer Foundation. From 2015-2017, Honey served as President of the Board of Directors of Temple Isaiah (Los Angeles). In 2012, she was a visiting adjunct professor of law at the Faculty of Law, University of Osijek, in Osijek, Croatia.
Jeffrey Marine ’81
David Nazarian College of Business and Economics
Jeffrey Marine earned his bachelor’s degree from CSUN in 1982 in Marketing. Marine has used the skills learned at CSUN to become a successful senior executive with more than 38 years of work across the manufacturing, retail, clothing, and consumer product industries. Marine has been contributing to the university for the last three years in numerous ways. He currently sponsors the annual Bull Ring New Venture Competition that provides seed money to help fund business ventures of the students who win the event. Marine's dedication to CSUN has empowered CSUN students to think big and has elevated the entrepreneurial spirit at the university.
Marine has held leadership positions at companies including Hybrid Apparel, Jem Sportsware, and Awake Inc. As Co-CEO of Hybrid Apparel, he helps lead the manufacture of apparel for major chain stores with partners including Macy’s, Walmart, Kohl’s, JCPenney and Target. Marine was recognized by the Fashion Industries Guild as the fashion industry’s Man of the Year in 2006. Marine serves on the Board of Directors and is a member of Young Presidents Organization in Los Angeles. Marine and his wife Joni are members of the President’s Associates.
John Behring
Michael D. Eisner College of Education
John Behring is an accomplished television director with a variety of prime-time television content in his filmography. He has directed multiple episodes of hits such as CSI: NY, Numbers, Charmed, Ghost Whisperer, Arrow and Grimm and is currently directing Lethal Weapon, Blue Bloods, Instinct and Shades of Blue with Jennifer Lopez.
In January 2018 John volunteered in helping produce and direct “Teaching Inspires,” a recruitment campaign including 22 alumni teacher testimonials from the Michael D. Eisner College of Education. Behring has directed, produced, and donated a film for the CSUN's Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES). He has also served as a part-time instructor of directing in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts. Behring is part of a family committed to CSUN. He has two children who are CSUN graduates and his wife, Dr. Shari Tarver Behring, has served for 33 years as a faculty member, department chair, and is now serving as Interim Dean of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education.
The Behrings are donors to the Arts in Education Program and are members of the Ambassadors Group and the Executive Circle at The Soraya.
Matthew Keating ’08
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
Matthew Keating earned his bachelor’s degree in Orchestral Studies with an emphasis in Cello Performance from CSUN in 2007. Following graduation, Keating was accepted as a part-time cellist in the Honolulu Symphony. Keating also served as full-time director of the orchestra program at the the Punahou School, assisted in creating an elementary orchestra program in the local school district, and worked as an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University.
In the spring of 2011, Keating and his wife Jessica welcomed Collette, their first daughter and soon after decided to move back to California to raise a family. Later welcoming daughter Clara in 2015. Keating began teaching cello at the Claremont Community School of Music in 2012 and became the Executive Director at the school in 2013. The Keating’s are both proud graduates of CSUN and fondly remember the time there as students.
Keating is a frequent guest lecturer in CSUN's Department of Music' entrepreneurship class. He has also helped provide employment and internships for CSUN students and alumni at Claremont Community School.
“I am ever so grateful for the scholarship I was given as a music student to study at CSUN and for the tremendous support given to me by the CSUN music faculty, in particular, Dr. Diane Roscetti. The university has shaped me as a musician, cellist, and as a person in general.”
Felix Rabinovich
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Felix Rabinovich has volunteered his time and services to CSUN for more than a decade. As a member of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) Industrial Advisory Board, Rabinovich has helped shape curriculum for the newly formed Computer Information Technology department. After getting involved with CECS Honors Cooperative Education, a program for students to gain valuable practical experience in a technical job while in school, Rabinovich was invited by Dean S.K. Ramesh to join the Industry Advisory Board. Rabinovich has also helped to prepare CECS departments for ABET certification, which accredits college and university programs in the field of natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. Rabinovich, who has taught computer science classes at CSUN since 2014, said his passion for CSUN comes from the university’s commitment to prepare students with an education that will launch their professional careers. “I love how CSUN, and specifically CECS, prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow,” Rabinovich said.
Diane Manzella M.A. ‘72
College of Health and Development
Diane Manzella’s relationship with business partner and dear friend Julie Gardner was tied together by CSUN. The two received their master’s degrees from CSUN and were professors in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD) before starting one of the first private speech pathology clinics in the U.S. As their company grew, Manzella and Gardner hired numerous Matadors to work for the clinic.
After Gardner’s passing in 2011, Manzella and her family set up the Julie O. Gardner Language Speech and Hearing Center Fund. The award is given to a communicative disorders graduate student who has a desire to go into private practice in speech pathology. Manzella, who received the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014, has continued to be a vital asset for CSUN. She spent two years as the Vice President and four years as the President of the Dean’s Circle for the department of HHD, which helps bring together alumni and community partners together to explore the role of the CSUN HHD in the community.
Manzella has assisted several HHD Deans, including current Dean Farrell Webb, in developing relationships within and outside the CSUN community to set philanthropic goals and objectives for the HHD. She is also on the CSUN Foundation board. “I could never have done what I did and achieved what I’ve achieved if it wasn’t for Cal State Northridge,” Manzella said. “I owe CSUN and I owe them a lot.” The Manzella family also established an endowment which funds the Department of Communicative Disorders Clinic and adds in perpetuity funds for the summer Boot Camp Program for master's students.
Ralph Courtney
College of Humanities
Ralph Courtney III has lived in Northridge since 1958. As a child, he would often ride his bike onto the infant campus of San Fernando Valley State College. It began a 60-year connection to the university. Though he went to UCLA, Courtney has been a longtime supporter of nearly all things CSUN. His father, Ralph Jr. volunteered for CSUN. His sister, Barbara, and son, Ralph IV, earned degrees from CSUN.
He and his wife, Judyth, have financially supported the President’s 21st Century Fund, the Younes and Soraya Center for the Performing Arts, The New 88.5 FM (formerly KCSN), Matador Athletics — most notably men’s and women’s basketball — the College of Humanities — namely their biggest passion, the annual Phenomenal Woman Awards. “I have a lot of phenomenal women in my family,” Courtney said on why it’s important to him.
Courtney previously served on the CSUN Foundation Board of Directors, like his father before him. He serves on the CSUN Athletic Directors Circle Board. He and Judyth are members of the President's Associates. They will celebrate their 50-year wedding anniversary in 2018. "Because I know the value of the work being done there and to contribute in any way to enhance that work or those achievements I’m proud to be part of,” Courtney said on why he has served CSUN.
Linda Conlon '76 M.A., '86 Credential
College of Science and Mathematics
Linda Conlon’s passion for gardening drew her to CSUN’s award-winning Botanic Garden, a place which holds more than 1,000 different species of plants, a greenhouse and more. A former teacher at Balboa Magnet Elementary, Conlon returned to her alma mater after hearing about the university’s garden eight years ago. As a master gardener, Conlon knew she had to help out.
“After I retired from teaching I had extra time, so on Thursday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 I do anything [botanic gardener manager Brenda Kanno] needs from me,” Conlon said. “My volunteering could be weeding, pruning, gardening or moving sheds. The Botanic gardens are wonderful.” Conlon’s positive experience at CSUN, both as a master’s student in the Early Childhood Education program and in the teaching credential program, is a main reason why she felt the need to give her time to CSUN.
Conlon’s volunteering can also be found at Balboa Magnet Elementary, where every Tuesday she teaches vegetable gardening to second and third graders.
Marc J. Wolf ‘79
David Nazarian College of Business and Economics
Marc Wolf’s successful career as a certified public accountant is a direct reflection on the quality education he received as a Matador. Wolf recently joined CohnReznick as the Partner in charge of Financial Services for the South and West Region. Prior to joining CohnReznick, he held similar positions at KPMG and Rothstein Kass. His time at CSUN has led to Wolf dedicating his time to the department of accounting and informational systems advisory board, the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics advisory board and the CSUN Entrepreneurship advisory committee.
He has also served as a guest lecturer in CSUN’s “Professor for a Day” program, which allowed him to mentor fellow Matadors looking to advance their career. “My own positive experience at CSUN and the success my degree has enabled me to achieve is what led me to want to be more involved with the university,” Wolf said.
To Wolf, the diverse student population and the ability for many of the students to have an immediate socio-economic impact for the community is one of the major reasons he’s volunteered at CSUN for more than a decade. Wolf isn’t the only one in his family who bleeds Matador red. His wife, Margaret graduated in 1981 and his daughter, Lauren, earned her master’s in Education and Administration in 2012.
Joan Vitale '77
Michael D. Eisner College of Education
CSUN provided Joan Vitale with a quality education that led to her working for 15 years at the Los Angeles County office of the Public Guardian, a service which helps those who are unable to properly care for themselves. But to Vitale, the university provided her with much more. Her son, Paul, was a gifted watercolor artist who was a special needs person. After his passing, CSUN enabled Vitale to fulfill a long held wish to have Paul’s artwork displayed on campus. “In 2010, I made arrangements with the Michael Eisner College of Education to set up a gallery to show the watercolors created by my deceased son, " Vitale said. It is to be supported by my estate in perpetuity."
The gallery was introduced as the “Paul Vitale Gallery/Art Outside the Lines,” at its grand opening on Feb. 11, 2011. The event was a tremendous source of pride for Vitale and further instilled in her a sense of commitment to CSUN. To Vitale, the gallery is a source of inspiration to CSUN students who want to work with special-needs people. Vitale remains dedicated to providing support to the university and looks forward to enjoying the continued growth of CSUN.
Robert C. Bassler
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
In 1997, Robert Bassler retired after 33 years teaching in CSUN’s Visual Arts department. However, his contributions to the university have remained steadfast 20 years later. Bassler has spent years volunteering his time to the university, including representing CSUN at the National Association of Schools of Art and Design Convention in order to promote the university’s desire to offer students a degree in the Master of Fine Arts, the terminal degree for the visual arts.
To this day, Bassler is still involved in developing an ongoing program to facilitate the installation of large-scale sculptures and artworks at selected locations on the CSUN campus. Bassler has also provided several scholarships to visual art students in order for them to further their education and has been an active member of the Executive Board of the Dean’s Circle.
“Although it’s now been over 20 years since my active teaching days, I still enjoy contact with current students, as well as keeping up with some of my past students,” Bassler said. “My passions concerning all the arts at CSUN remain and I am still involved with programs and projects that I initiated many years ago.”
Balaji Iyer
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Approximately seven years ago, Naval engineer Balaji Iyer was asked to continue an educational partnership agreement between the California Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) and CSUN’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. Not only did he continue the partnership, he helped enrich it. Iyer, the director for the Offensive Electronic Warfare Systems Engineering Division in Point Mugu, has worked with the college on a mutually beneficial design project produced annually by CSUN students under the leadership of CSUN faculty. The advantage for CSUN’s students is obvious — the opportunity, work experience and prestige. But the Navy also benefits because the partnership creates visibility and a hiring channel to bring in talented, innovative engineers.
Balaji serves on the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Industry Advisory Board and he is a judge for senior design project showcases. Though he never attended CSUN as a student’ he feels a strong connection to the university. “Working with the professors there, hiring students from CSUN and being there for senior design showcases where I see the work students are doing — all that helps build a relationship,” Iyer said. “And by building this relationship I feel like I’m a part of CSUN.”
Martin Lebowitz
College of Health and Human Development
Dr. Martin Lebowitz was brought into the CSUN family by his wife Joanie, who earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics from the university in 1975. The Lebowitzes have been loyal, indispensable supporters of the College of Health and Human Development having served on the HHD Dean Circle’s Advisory Board and thus have opened up ideas and opportunities for the college’s fundraising efforts. They also set up two endowments at the university. Both are named in honor of their daughter, Suzan Jean Lebowitz, who passed away at just 2 years old, and provide funds for research in nutrition and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
When her daughter passed away, Joanie began taking college courses, first at Santa Monica College and then at CSUN. Martin said the university has meant so much for her and has also become a special place for him. “CSUN is important because it was an outlet for my wife to gain a college education, and it was something dear to her heart and opened up to her when her daughter died,” Martin said. “She decided to go to school and in CSUN found a home, and we have a very warm spot for CSUN. We want to do everything we can to help CSUN.
Enrique and Prosy de la Cruz
College of Humanities
Enrique and Prosy de la Cruz have dedicated their lives to service. Enrique is the former chair and faculty member of CSUN’s Department of Asian American Studies (AAS). Upon his retirement in 2011, he was elected professor emeritus. He established the annual Social Justice Award for students in AAS to encourage them to be more involved in social-justice issues. He continues to donate annually to enable the Asian American Studies department to give the Social Justice Award to a deserving student.
Enrique and Prosy have been avid supporters of the department’s Glenn Omatsu House. Prosy writes a weekly lifestyle column for the newspaper Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes,” that has featured the Omatsu House on numerous occasions.
Prosy has a four-decade commitment to community volunteerism in the areas of civil rights, human rights, prevention of hate crimes and women’s and leadership development. She served three years on the city of Los Angeles’ Civil Services Commission.
In retirement, Enrique has served on boards of community organizations such as the Filipino American Service Group (FASGI), Search to Involve Filipino Americans (SIPA), Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (FilCRA), and the Liberty Hill Foundation. He has also volunteered his time in developing culturally aware health education and health prevention programs for Filipino Americans. Working with the Filipino American Service Group (FASGI), he developed a health education workshop to help older Filipino Americans stay active and manage their chronic illness symptoms more effectively.
Michael Bershad ’12
College of Science and Math
As a transfer student to CSUN, Michael Bershad’s time at the university may have been short, but felt anything but. He began taking upper-division biology courses and was instantly amazed by his professors who taught everything from embryology to cellular and molecular biology. He was further inspired by the research that they did. Knowing that he aspired to attend pharmacy school upon graduation, he said it was his invaluable education that he received at CSUN that prepared him for what was to come.
Once he began attending pharmacy school at USC, Bershad knew he wanted to continue his affiliation with CSUN — the school that had given him so much.
In 2013, Bershad became a member of the Biology Alumni Chapter board. And as the newly appointed vice president of the chapter, he played a key role in planning the yearly biology bashes, which showcase the incredible research of CSUN’s biology faculty and students. Additionally, Bershad participated in resume and networking events held for the benefit of current CSUN students. His current project is planning the Biology Chapter’s first career fair. “In short, I am incredibly proud of the time I have spent at CSUN, and I hope to continue this partnership for as long as they’ll have me,” Bershad said.
Heather Briggs ’98
David Nazarian College of Business and Economics
Heather Briggs transferred to CSUN from another university in 1995. Briggs had been riding the roller coaster of majors until, as a senior, she landed in the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics as an accounting major. It’s there where, she said, she found her tribe.
Between the students, the professors and the accounting clubs, she found a passion for accounting and a path to a successful and fulfilling career. “I can truly say that the reason I am successful today is directly related to the skills I learned and experiences gained during my time at CSUN," Briggs said. “Because of that, I feel like I have a responsibility to help provide that same experience for the students.”
Over the years she has participated in a variety of accounting recruiting functions, spoken to students either through Professor for a Day or as part of programs put on by accounting and business clubs. She worked with the Department of Accounting and Information Systems to create a proposal for a course in the master’s in accountancy program, which the department later asked her to teach. Briggs is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. She is also an adjunct professor and routinely lectures in a leadership seminar for accounting and information systems students.
Tom White ’78
Mike Curb College of Arts Media, and Communication
Tom White is an award-winning designer who began his career in corporate brand development as the youngest marketing executive in the history of Lockheed-Martin. White has worked with the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication on a pro bono basis to create the brand for “Commerce of Creativity Distinguished Speakers Series.”
He was involved from the beginning on the formation and creation of this lecture series that has brought attention and prestige to the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication, and was one of the first speakers in 2012. This inspirational series has brought influential, creative visionaries to campus to relay their invaluable experiences and thoughts to current Matadors.
White has also served on the Mike Curb College Dean’s Executive Board for several years. He has served as a consultant on the development of a Design Thinking certificate program at Tseng College and has been a guest speaker on campus for TED Talks organized by the Associated Students. He has also participated in the ongoing development of LACI@CSUN and has served on the CSUN Innovates! interest group, the Monday morning collaborative that brings together CSUN’s innovation stakeholders. White was also a speaker at the LACI@CSUN CEO Breakfast Series.
White, the founder of 3DI2 — a management consulting company, is known for setting new standards for linking brand development to sales growth, and for introducing new products based upon the creation of an emotional identity.
Eric Bossuk '80
College of Business and Economics
Eric is a highly successful and widely recognized executive in the insurance industry. Most recently, Eric co-founded an advisory council for the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics’ Center for Risk and Insurance. The goal of the council is to assist the Nazarian College in bringing more young professionals into the insurance business. Eric has also pledged money to the Nazarian College to enable the Center for Risk and Insurance to reach more students, give them internship and employment opportunities, and to provide scholarships for students who are studying insurance. He is a founding member of the Insurance Degree Steering Committee at CSUN and works with CSUN professor of insurance and finance Dr. David Russell to show students the opportunities available in the field. Eric is Chairman and CEO of B&B Premier Insurance Solutions in Agoura Hills, a firm that employs seven CSUN graduates.
Additionally, Eric met his wife at CSUN. Outside of his work for CSUN, he was president of the Independent Agents Association of the San Fernando Valley and served as chair of the finance committee of the State Association. He was also on the board of directors of West Hills Pony Baseball League. His firm also puts on a charity golf tournament for “Coach For Kids,” a Cedars-Sinai Medical Center-sponsored charity where more than $75,000 has been raised annually for the charity.
Cindy Chernow '78
Michael D. Eisner College of Education
Cindy has two degrees from CSUN, her husband has three degrees, and both her son and daughter-in-law have degrees from CSUN. Because of the education that they all received, Cindy and her family want to be a part of CSUN’s continued upward mobility and are committed to helping build a culture of giving back. Already busy with family and being the president of Chernow Consulting, it hasn’t stopped Cindy from serving. She was a CSUN Foundation Board member representing the Michael D. Eisner College of Education, a member of the Foundation Board’s Engagement Committee, a CSUN Alumni Association volunteer and guest speaker and a volunteer and supporter of the Family Justice Center. Additionally, Cindy has given back by being a scholarship donor and volunteer for the College of Education, a mentor for graduate students in CSUN’s Master’s in Career Counseling Program and a speaker for the California Career Development Association student chapter at CSUN and for the Student Health Administration program. She also lent her expertise as a member of the search committee for the Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. Over the years, Cindy has worked on volunteer projects in Kenya, East Africa, India and Nicaragua. She spent more than 20 years working in the field of career development helping college students at universities throughout the United States and has remained actively involved in student and professional mentorship programs.
Pradip Choksi
Rekha Choksi
College of Engineering
Pradip and Rekha Choksi are wonderful friends of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at CSUN, where they established the Pradip and Rekha Choksi Endowment in 2008. Since then, many of the college’s most talented students have received scholarships from the endowment. The Choksis believe in the college and its mission to educate a diverse group of engineers well prepared to take their place in the professional world of engineering. Dean S.K. Ramesh feels tremendous admiration for the Choksi family and is extremely pleased to have them as friends. As dean of the college, Ramesh has managed its tremendous growth as its reputation for educating highly qualified engineers has grown. The enhanced reputation of the college would not be possible without the friendship of supporters like the Choksi family. Their generosity allows the college to help more of its students pursue careers in the critically important field of engineering. Pradip and Rekha are co-founders of Resenex Corporation, a San Fernando Valley-based manufacturer of medical and industrial devices.
Joanie Lebowitz '75
College of Health and Human Development
Joanie and her husband, Marty, established the Suzan Jean Lebowitz Nutrition Sciences Endowment in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in 2010. The endowment was initially established to support student scholarships and has recently been re-purposed to provide a mini-grant for faculty engaged in nutrition, dietetics and food sciences research. Named in memory of their daughter, who passed away at 2 years old, the program provides funds for research in nutrition, a topic close to the Lebowitz’s hearts, since Joanie studied it while earning her second bachelor’s degree at CSUN.
Since 2010, Joanie and Marty have been generous supporters of the College of Health and Human Development and the Valley Performing Arts Center. They also created an endowment in memory of their daughter that supports faculty and student research to understand Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Thanks in part to the Lebowitzes, CSUN’s College of Health and Human Development is furthering efforts in this area through engagement with other institutes and centers, is hiring additional researchers and is purchasing additional research equipment. Since 2010, Joanie and Marty have donated time and money to the university and have been working to help raise funds and awareness for the programs.
Deane Leavenworth
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Deane humbly stated that he is hesitant to use the word “volunteer” because he was acting as the steward of others’ resources as opposed to so many people he has encountered at CSUN who are giving of their own time, resources and prestige. However, Deane can take a bow for his commitment to helping the university on a number of levels. Many years ago when he was a teacher, Deane would visit CSUN. The faculty was very gracious and generous in providing professional enhancement and guidance, he said. The passion and commitment of the faculty, the staff and the other volunteers, boosters and advocates was contagious.
Deane originally began working with CSUN during his time as the district director for Council District 3 under Los Angeles City Council Member Laura N. Chick. When he moved over to Time Warner Cable, where he is currently a regional vice president of government relations, the media giant featured CSUN professor Dr. Dan Blake’s Valley Economic Forecast on Time Warner Cable’s “Parallax Forum,” hosted by Lee Alpert, for several years. Eventually, through serendipity, Deane met Dean Stella Theodoulou and became involved in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and eventually Envisioning California. Deane serves on the college’s Dean’s Advisory Council as well as the CSUN Foundation Board.
Ravi Sawhney '79
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Ravi and his wife, Amalia, created the annual Ravi K. and Amalia Sawhney Creative Excellence Award — a cash award recognizing and celebrating creative achievements and professional promise as a graduating senior in CSUN’s Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication. In the past, he was a guest speaker as part of the College’s Commerce of Creativity Distinguished Speakers series. He was asked by President Harrison to represent the university at a national conference in Washington, D.C. in January 2015. He also was the guest CEO speaker for a LACI@CSUN (Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator) event in March 2015. Ravi volunteered his time and facilitated and hosted a brainstorming session at his business to develop and create a new academic program in the Tseng College focused on Industrial Design. Ravi majored in art three-dimension at CSUN. He is an influential industrial designer and founder and CEO of RKS and founder and chairman of the board of LoanGifting.
Paul Jennings Paul Jennings is one of the most active donors and volunteers at the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. He is the vice chair of the college’s advisory board, and has participated in the college’s annual Professor for a Day event for the last five years. Paul is also a judge in the annual Business Honors Case Competition. He has committed more than $1 million to support the college and encourages others to engage and support. In 2011, he represented the CSUN Alumni Association at the college's commencement. Paul is also a member of the university’s Heritage Society, and he and his wife, Adrienne, are founders of the Jennings Family Foundation. |
Peggy Nelson Currently working as Sector Vice President, Engineering and Global Product Development, Peggy Nelson is responsible for leading the Aerospace Systems (AS) engineering organization and managing the processes and tools used to design and develop the products across the sector and overseeing a workforce of more than 9,000 employees. For several years, Peggy has been a tireless supporter of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and CSUN. As a member of the College Industry Advisory Board, she played a major role in elevating the profile of the college’s programs across Northrop Grumman’s business sectors and led to the college’s selection as a Core University Partner by the corporation in 2013. This partnership provides our students with enhanced internship and career opportunities, our faculty with the opportunity to work on contemporary research projects through design clinics and our academic programs to remain on the cutting edge. Peggy is strongly committed to building a diverse workforce and recently secured a $45,000 grant from Northrop Grumman to support the college’s efforts to recruit, retain and mentor women in engineering – especially in aerospace engineering. An active, long-time participant in the WISE program (Women in Science and Engineering), she freely donates her time mentoring and supporting students in the college’s programs. |
Joni Novosel As the Executive Director of Valley Care Community Coalition, a nonprofit health and mental health planning agency, Joni Novosel has mentored many CSUN students by providing internships and field experience through the agency. Currently, she is Director of the Center for Healthier Communities at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where she partners with CSUN and various centers and institutes on a variety of projects that benefit CSUN students and area residents. |
Earl Greinetz Loyal supporters of the university and its mission, Earl Greinetz and his late wife, Toba, have been conscientious donors to the campus for several years, including to the Michael D. Eisner College of Education, where a classroom is named in their honor. In 2004, after being introduced to the Jewish Studies Program in the College of Humanities, Earl became a member of the Steering Committee and a generous benefactor for the Friends of the Jewish Studies Program, a group of more than 300 community members supporting the program. Also a loyal patron of the Valley Performing Arts Center, Earl was one of a small group of volunteers who tirelessly reached out to other donors on behalf of the VPAC campaign, raising the funds needed for construction and maintenance of the complex. |
Ron Feinstein As a friend of the university, Ron Feinstein has contributed time and funds to CSUN. Ron and his wife, Gayle, have been generous benefactors to the Family Justice Center at the Michael D. Eisner College of Education. Ron supports the college’s community division agency, Strength United (formerly the Valley Trauma Center), whose mission is to provide a unique interdisciplinary approach to ending abuse and violence through the collaboration of mental health professionals, educators, researchers, students and volunteers. This agency partners with the Family Justice Center, the only one in Los Angeles County, which serves as a conduit for local agencies that work to combat family violence. Ron is president of the Mid-Valley Police Council, which supports the LAPD’s Van Nuys-area station. He continuously advocates through the council on behalf of the Family Justice Center. He also sponsored the construction of the Welcome Center at the new Family Justice Center location. |
Richard J. Parent Actively involved in serving CSUN, Richard Parent is a member of the CSUN Foundation Board and its Finance & Investment Committee and the MCCAMC Dean’s Circle Executive Board and Advisory Board. In addition, he is a former member of the Valley Performing Arts Center Executive Advisory Board and its Gala Committee, Volunteer Leadership Summit Steering Committee, MCCAMC Arts Council Executive Board, Legislative Advocacy Network and the President’s Circle. He has contributed to the VPAC Gala Fund and the MCCAMC Music Department. |
Sue Fritsche Sue Fritsche and her late husband, professor emeritus Gene Fritsche of the Department of Geological Sciences, always enjoyed the outdoors and loved giving back to their community, as well as other communities around the world. In 2004, they began to organize and personally lead a series of GeoTrek hikes as a way of offering the CSUN community and the public an opportunity to learn about aspects of geology surrounding the San Fernando Valley and the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains. |
Jaime de la Vega As a member of the SBS Urban Studies and Planning Alumni Council at CSUN, Jaime de la Vega serves on the review board for the Urban Studies department, helping to make sure the department continually meets compliance needs. As an extension of this activism, he participates in the Urban Studies department alumni mentoring program. He arms students with influential advice and information that contributes to the advancement of their careers in the public sector by providing information about internships and potential job leads. On multiple occasions, Jaime has served as a guest lecturer. |
Kenneth Floyd Kenneth Floyd is the retired CEO of Artissimo Holdings, Inc. The company is one of the world's largest manufacturers of innovative and trend-focused wall décor products. A few years ago, Kenneth's good friend and fellow CSUN alumnus Dick Fager helped him re-engage with the College of Business and Economics and the university. Since then, Kenneth has become a member of the college’s advisory board. Kenneth acts as a guest classroom speaker and provides mentorship and guidance to multiple student groups. He actively recruits his colleagues to participate in college activities. Kenneth and his wife, Ana, are major financial supporters of the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics and the university's athletics program. He is a member of the CSUN Heritage Society and the President’s Associates. |
Christopher Erikson Although not an alumnus of the university, Christopher Erickson has been a committee volunteer for the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS). Christopher has been a member of the CECS Industrial Advisory Board since 2009, and has been appointed as the college-designated board member for CECS. Serving as a judge each spring for the college’s Senior Design Project Showcase, Christopher commits to a demanding schedule that requires hours of showcase attendance and review of a wide variety of student projects. He has 35 years of experience working with propulsion and energy technology and currently serves as chief engineer of energy and advanced programs at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Canoga Park. He has successfully guided partnerships between the company and the college, including the college’s Honors Co-Op Program, which have resulted in the employment of many CSUN graduates. In addition, he is a member of the CSUN Foundation board of directors. |
Ruth Rothman In 2010, Ruth Rothman established the Ruth S. Rothman Scholarship Endowment at CSUN, which is dedicated to providing tuition support to students pursuing a teaching credential in the Michael D. Eisner College of Education and specializing in speech therapy. Two years later, she established the Ruthie’s Kids Fund in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences. The fund provides families in need with grants to help pay for enrolling their children in the Early Intervention Program at CSUN’s Language, Speech and Hearing Center. On March 18, 2013, Ruth passed away at the age of 89. In her will, she left the bulk of her estate to continue tuition support for the Ruth S. Rothman Scholarship Endowment. She was a member of the CSUN Heritage Society and President’s Associates. |
Michael Bloch Michael Bloch is a loyal supporter and friend of the College of Humanities, as well as for the entire CSUN community. He established the Michael Bloch Queer Studies Scholarship, which was first awarded this year. As an active volunteer and alumnus, Michael was instrumental in starting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally alumni chapter, otherwise known as CLAASS (CSUN LGBTQA Alumni Association). His leadership and connections to the LGBT community, locally and nationally, were vital in starting the chapter. |
Barbara Pinchuk Friend of the University Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication Barbara Pinchuk initially became involved with the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication because of her lifelong dream to have a performing arts center in the San Fernando Valley. As a member of the college’s Dean’s Circle, Barbara has demonstrated an active interest in the college and the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC). She has raised awareness of the university’s role in the community and advocated for both academic and public programs. |
Barbara Caretto Friend of the University College of Science and Mathematics Following her retirement from CSUN as the Director of Development for the College of Science and Mathematics, Barbara Caretto continues to maintain her connection with the campus by volunteering at the Botanic Garden. In addition to wielding her sharp editorial pencil on garden publications, she nurtures the plant collection with her precise attention to detail. During her tenure as director of development, she authored numerous successful grant proposals. Two of them—grants from California ReLeaf and Caltrans—proved significant to the Botanic Garden and its volunteers. They funded the purchase of 220 trees and plants for the Gymnosperm Forest project and for the garden. Barbara collaborated with biology department faculty and staff to establish the Friends of the Garden and Memorial Bench programs. She also collaborated with Tseng College staff to design a gardening series and open house events—activities that have attracted numerous donors and volunteers to CSUN. |
Mary Anne Wolfson Mary Anne Wolfson is an outstanding volunteer tutor in the college's Michael Patterson History Writing Center, which provides support for students taking history classes who want to improve their writing skills. Mary Anne met each student on his or her own level, allowing them to move forward at their own pace. She read and offered constructive comment on dozens of draft essays and met with students individually to explain the fundamentals of writing and editing a paper. At a time when financial constraints have limited the amount of individual attention CSU students can receive from university staff, Mary Anne played a vital role in maintaining CSUN’s commitment to providing students with the help they need to excel in their coursework. |
Sue Haber Since her retirement as a faculty member in the Department of Business Administration and Economics, Sue Haber has been an active CSUN supporter, volunteer and donor. She currently serves on the MCCAMC Dean’s Circle Advisory Board. Last year, she played an instrumental role in initiating the Dean’s Opportunities Project, a program that helps the college’s most promising students achieve unique educational and career goals by connecting them with successful industry professionals, arts patrons and dynamic community leaders. Sue is an active member of the President’s Senior Associates and with her husband, Judge Alan Haber, has given generously to support the college’s Dean’s Fund and the Valley Performing Arts Center. |
Roy Salter Roy Salter is a founder and member of the board of directors of California United Bank. A member of the COBAE Advisory Board since 2009, Roy created and now leads a field-study course that teaches students how to assess comparative business potential, and connects them with CEOs and companies in the Los Angeles area. Now in its second semester, students who completed the course have retained internships and jobs from the networking opportunities and skills that the course provided. Roy volunteers countless hours teaching our students and helping them prepare for CEO meetings as well as grading and editing papers, all while running the Salter Group. He also served on the Valley Performing Arts Center Gala Committee. |
Theresa Quary Theresa Quary has a long history of significant volunteer service to CSUN and the CHIME Institute, a CSUN partner school. Since 2005, she has been instrumental in raising funds for the institute and providing organizational and planning support for numerous CHIME events. She has motivated many others to become involved in the organization, giving generously of her time and skills. In addition to volunteering countless hours, she plays an instrumental role at the Family Focus Resource Center (FFRC), recruiting, coordinating and managing volunteers for the organization. FFRC is an organization that, through the college, assists families of children with special needs. She also served for five years on the CSUN Advisory Committee for CULTURE in Early Childhood Special Education. The primary goal of the project was to produce highly qualified early interventionists and early childhood special educators. |
Charles H. Volk, Ph.D. As vice president and chief technologist for Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems Division in Woodland Hills, Charles Volk has been the “man on the inside” for the college as a friend, advocate and supporter for many years. A recent example was his arrangement for the donation of a key component to enable a CSUN student team to take first place in the national Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition. He has been a member of the CECS Industrial Advisory Board since 2005. |
Ronora W. Sayaman Ronora Sayaman was the first to establish a scholarship in the Queer Studies Program with the Wong-Sayaman Equality Award, named after her parents, to provide support to students from any academic major who are committed to a leadership role in the Queer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities. This year, Ronora was instrumental in the chartering the CSUN Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Ally Alumni Association (CLAASS) coinciding with the grand opening of the Pride Center in the University Student Union. CLAASS serves as an LGBTQA-focused and alumni-driven organization whose role is to provide networking, educational, mentoring and other benefits to LGBTQA students, alumni, faculty and the community. |
George Thomas, Ph.D. George Thomas began volunteering at the Botanic Garden in April 2005, after his retirement from Goodyear. George quietly works in the garden and greenhouse complex, whether by himself or as part of a team of volunteers. He can be counted on to finesse solutions to the day’s projects, such as constructing shady areas for sheltering sensitive plants or pruning an unruly shrub. No matter how complicated or onerous the task, Thomas will take care of it with neither fuss nor fanfare. His dedication to the garden is much appreciated. |
Kurt Christiansen Serving on the college’s Urban Studies Alumni Council for many years, Kurt Christiansen has acted as a liaison between the Urban Studies and Planning Department and the American Planning Association (APA). His volunteer leadership roles include serving as the Los Angeles section director, the California chapter president and in his current position as vice chair of the National Chapter Presidents Council. During his term as Los Angeles section director, he established an annual scholarship for a CSUN student in the department. He also assisted the department with their first effort to gain accreditation from the Planning Accreditation Board. Last year, Kurt served as one of the co-chairs of the National American Planning Conference, held in Los Angeles. He was instrumental in influencing the national APA organization to allow CSUN students to participate in the early career program for student members. He has served as a distinguished alumni speaker for urban studies students and is a member of the President’s Circle. |
Jeremiah “J.B.” Williams J.B. Williams is being honored for his extraordinary volunteer efforts on behalf of the college in connecting students with the MPA program. He has single-handedly recruited nine cohorts (270 students) into the program. An enthusiastic volunteer, J.B. has set a goal to recruit at least 200 more people into future cohorts. |
Joan Boyett |
Timothy Wall |
Ford Roosevelt |
Michael Gross |
Nancy Petry Nancy has served on the HHD Academic Advisement Committee Think Tank to develop Advisement Moodle Communication. She is often invited to make presentations to assist and inform students interested in transferring to the Child and Adolescent Development major at CSUN. Nancy promotes and supports chapter professional development programs and encourages involvement in the Alumni Association. |
Joe Vecchiarelli Joe is highly involved in the fashion industry and with judging and producing fashion shows. Vecchiarelli Brothers, Inc., a family owned business, was established in 1936. Joe continued to source information about the apparel business and the company grew from a single entity to four companies averaging $38 million in annual sales. |
Janet Reagan At CSUN, she has contributed at all levels, most notably in her service as member and chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, member and chair of the Personnel Planning and Review Committee and on the Committee on Program Review. Among other awards, Janet received the CSUN Meritorious Performance and Professional Promise Award in 1989. |
Dan and Jan Shiells |
Donald Petrie |
David P. Malone |
Munir Sindir Since becoming involved with CSUN in 2007, Dr. Munir Sindir has worked diligently to promote the college and the department. He has created opportunities for faculty and students to become involved with research and engineering projects at Rocketdyne and to work with engineers and scientists at the organization. Munir has volunteered and served on the Mechanical Engineering Department’s Advisory Board, and played a key role during the ABET accreditation team visit to the department. He continues his involvement and encourages his co-workers to become involved with the college and the department. Munir represented his firm at TechFest, the college’s annual showcase of local companies, at which he discussed employment opportunities with CSUN students and promoted the pursuit of technical degrees. |
Audrey Clark Since retirement, Clark initiated and co-directed the Head Start-Higher Education project for staff development of San Fernando Valley and Ventura County Head Start teachers. The project has provided scholarships and mentoring for 36 Head Start teachers to receive bachelor's degrees and 14 to receive master's degrees from CSUN. |
Ruth Harris Since her retirement in 2003, she has continued to generously volunteer by assisting the university in its connections to the financial donor community and by opening her home for social and fundraising events. At present, she is one of the organizers of a department campaign to support development of a new specialty clinic for the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences. In addition, she is a member of the Valley Performing Arts Center Gala Committee. |
D. Zeke Zeidler In recent years, CSUN alumnus Daniel Zeke Ziedler friend and volunteer for the College of Humanities (COH). Zeke presented the 2006 COH commencement address, wrote an inspirational piece for the COH Newsletter and in 2008 participated in the celebration of the new Queer Studies program, along with 300 faculty, staff, students and community members. In 2008, Zeke agreed to serve as an advisor to the COH initiative to create the Rainbow Research and Resource Center (RRRC). His contribution of contacts in the community enabled the college to create an advisory board that will take the lead on the RRRC project. |
Henry Abrash |
Randy Rhodes |
Dean C. Logan |
Bruce Rosenblum Bruce Rosenblum and Senior Vice President Liz Huzarik were instrumental in paving the way for Cinema and Television Arts class “Audience Analysis” to be taught at Warner Bros.—the only course regularly taught at the Burbank studio. With funding he solicited from Nielsen Media, Bruce helped create the Nielsen Media Research Lab in Manzanita Hall, and he continues to seek funding from Nielsen on CSUN’s behalf. Bruce created the David Somerville Memorial Media Research Scholarship at CSUN and also provides Warner Bros. scholarships for students studying audience analysis at the studio. Bruce has also served as a guest lecturer in Professor Bob Gustafson’s CTVA television program development course at the CBS Studio Center. |
Carl Raggio |
Vaughn Cable Ph.D Vaughn currently holds an adjunct faculty position with CSUN where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in electromagnetics and is presently assisting with the restoration of the Microwave Lab. Vaughn has been the trustee for WB6TAM, the CSUN Amateur Radio Club since its inception in 1977. |
Nancy Owens In 2007, she co-chaired the ITAA annual conference in Los Angeles, which has brought international recognition to the CSUN Apparel Design and Merchandising program. Nancy and her husband have endowed scholarship programs in the FCS Department and in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and created an endowment to support the textile laboratory and the costume collection. She has received several honors, including an Outstanding Professor Award from CSUN in 1998, Sorority “Favorite Faculty” Award, the California Faculty Association WHO Award and a Distinguished Service Award from the ITAA. |
LeRoy Nyquist |
Janet Bryant |
Philip Browning |
Dennis Brodie |
John Nicoll |
Sheryl Nomelli |
Joy Picus |
Jeff Rosen |
Varaz and Karina Shahmirian |
Kelly Shirk Slide |
Daniel Anderson Dan and his wife Kathy recently committed $350,000 through their estate plan to establish an endowed professorship in Finance. This gift was the first endowed Finance professorship established by an individual alumnus. |
Marni Hager In 2003, Marni participated in the Southern California Conference on Undergraduate Research, a conference that spotlighted faculty-mentored undergraduate research or creative achievements at 90 institutions in Southern California. With the help of her faculty mentor, Behzad Bavarian, she presented a well received report, “Optimizing the use of Exploration and Search & Rescue Robots by using newer technologies including computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and rapid prototyping (RP),” at a conference. |
Mark Lainer |
John Perez Since John was a student at Valley State, he has remained a strong supporter of Matador Athletics. He is a basketball season ticket holder and he was a member of the Matador Athletic Association. He is president of the History Alumni Chapter and serves as a member of the Association Board of Directors. |
Kenn Phillips For the past 8 years, Kenn has continued creating partnerships and has been actively involved in several projects with the Michael D. Eisner College of Education, including Teachers for a New Era, Integrated Teacher Education, ARCHES, Small Learning Communities and Project GRAD-Los Angeles. |
Carson Schreiber After retiring from the music industry in 2002, Carson returned to Los Angeles from Nashville and has devoted his time to community service. He has donated hundreds of hours to KCSN FM, offering his help with marketing and programming strategies. In addition, he is the new Chairman of the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication Dean’s Circle Executive Board. He has been a guest speaker in Music Industry Studies classes, and uses his knowledge of the music industry to inform and inspire students. |
Ronald Sorensen Ron is the Director of the Providence Center for Community Health Improvement. |
Bryce Yokomizo Bryce has been instrumental in helping launch and support the Tseng College’s MPA program by encouraging employees at Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services to enhance their knowledge in the public administration field. His efforts have resulted in a paradigm shift that has encouraged other county agencies to do the same. |
Roberta Colmer |
Jan and Bill Gaines Jan and Bill are among the faithful Arts Council volunteers who usher for all the student performances and act as hosts for art gallery events. |
Werner Horn Over the years, Werner has earned many public and private grants, including a $550,000 grant with James Castro and Helena Noronha that places graduate students in teacher’s assistant positions. He has worked with his colleague Bruce Shapiro to teach a course in orbital mechanics, which helps students interpret the common format of satellite tracking data and to predict satellite orbital positions. |
Ed Larson |
Thomas Oliver Over the past few years, Tom has volunteered his leadership skills to several committees at CSUN. He serves as a volunteer to the Teachers for a New Era Initiative, where his expertise and his connections in the community have been extremely valuable. He has been instrumental in the College of Education's efforts to develop a model teacher education partnership between universities and community colleges. In addition, Tom is serving as a member of the advisory committee for the development of the university’s new doctoral degree in educational leadership, to be implemented in 2008. |
Herb Petzhold |
Dean Skovin For many years, he held the position of chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and continues to serve the college and help students as an emeritus professor. He created the supplemental instruction guidelines for the department and continues to voluntarily come to campus to advise and mentor students. |
Christine Hamilton Smith She has authored several articles, and since 1978, Chris has been a coco-editor of a popular book, titled “Food-Medication Interactions,” considered to be the foremost of all drug-nutrient interaction resources. |
Mike Brown and Ronnie Thompson Mike envisioned and created the Employee University concept, seeking and welcoming the university’s affiliation and expertise. Ronnie has had 'a major impact on the EU by designing courses-such as “Dollars and Sense of Preventing Workplace Injuries”-that have proven to be of individual and collective value to county departments and their employees. The perseverance, dedication and collaborative spirit of these two Tseng College volunteers is evident in the success of the students who participate in the programs. The intra-service model has been invaluable to Santa Barbara County employees who cross-train their colleagues according to individual expertise. |
Frank Wein |
Ann Bisno |
Honorable Bert Glennon |
Pastor Herrera |
Dena Hall Ivanci |
Anthony "Tony" Rubino |
Richard Schweitzer |
Haroldeane "Deanie" Snell & Kiho Sohn |
Michael Bessolo Currently, Michael Bessolo serves as senior vice president for marketing, promotion and publicity for 20th Century Fox Television. |
Julie Fabrocini |
Matthew and Kathy Fein |
Gene Fritsche He was the recipient of a leadership award by the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, a special teaching award from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the CSUN Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award, Pacific Section, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), 2001. |
Edward Gilbert |
Theresa Jester |
Larry Layne |
Joy Picus |
Brigid Baty |
Deborah Feldman |
Jeffrey Holt |
Deborah Leidner |
Hermine Mahseredjian |
Wendy Machlovitz |
Sam Sokolow |
Susan Tartakoff In March, she was presented with the Stephen Aroff Memorial Award in recognition of her overcoming her disability, becoming a role model to those who are hoping to rebuild their lives after spinal cord injury. |
Milt Valera |
Morris Cutler |
Jolie DeVorin |
Daisy Kuhn |
Alan Meyer Alan is an altruistic donor for a number of scholarships, specifically as an early supporter of the Minority Business Program, currently operating through the Office of Student Services and Advisement (OSSA/EOP). Program coordinators credit much of the success of OSSA/EOP to Alan’s investment of time, energy and talent over the years. |
Jackie Schroggin |
Don Sepulveda |
Patrick Smith |