News and Announcements
Carolyn McArdle (B.A., ’94) has worked in Bay Area radio for more than 30 years, mostly as an on-air personality. As the industry changed, she wore more and more hats. She’s a morning show co-host, assistant program director and music director at iHeartMedia’s 98.1 The Breeze. Last summer, she added one more hat to the mix — and this one’s orange and black. McArdle was named the public address announcer for Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.
This year will be her first full season with the Giants. She’ll work 81 home games, mostly at night. With a full-time job as morning show host, McArdle will have a packed calendar. “This is my dream come true. I don’t care if I’ve got four hours of sleep or five hours of sleep. I get to call the ballgame at Oracle Park for the Giants,” she said. “I’m so fortunate. This is the pinnacle team that I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d be working for.”
She credits SF State for her career in radio and Major League Baseball. An athlete herself, McArdle came to SFSU to swim on the Gators’ NCAA Division II team (which was disbanded at SFSU in 2001). After a challenging run studying real estate at SFSU, she switched to a program that didn’t require math or accounting: Radio and Television.
Once in the program, she was blown away that this was something she could do professionally. SFSU taught her the basics of radio: editing, copy writing, audio production and sound mixing. “We were editing reel to reel, cutting tape and slicing tape and playing records off vinyl,” she said. “The teachers were so down to earth and so real and so helpful that that you just constantly felt supported.”
One of her class requirements was to intern at a radio station, which gave her actual broadcasting experience. She shot for the moon and wound up at her favorite radio station, K101 (101.3 FM), working with a staff that included the legendary Bay Area DJ Don Bleu. Every day she worked, she’d bring him his daily prize sheet. Hearing him on the air the next day, she says she felt proud knowing she was the one to walk that piece of paper to his recording studio.
SFSU helped make the jump to the professional world of radio seamless. “There was still a learning curve, but I was so well prepared based on what I had learned at State,” she said. Eventually, she found herself working alongside some of her former instructors. Then in 2012 her life came full circle when she became the co-host for “The Don Bleu Show” on 103.7 KOSF.
After three decades in radio, she says she wanted a new challenge. “I love radio, but I do it every day and I could do it with my eyes closed,” she said. “I wanted to try something new ... and so, I thought, ‘What about announcing sports?’”
Baseball was her first choice, so in 2019 she looked online for public address announcer positions. One popped up at the University of the Pacific (UOP) in Stockton for the softball team. From there she found other gigs. It was swimming and gymnastics at Stanford University, water polo at UOP, softball, volleyball, gymnastics and football at the University of California, Berkeley.
She enjoyed what she was doing and people thought she had a talent for announcing, she says. “Now, of course, your brain naturally goes to, ‘How high can I go?’” she said. “And for me, the goal would be Major League Baseball. That would be the pinnacle, the gold star.”
Her goal was quickly becoming a reality. She auditioned for the San Francisco Giants’ minor league farm team, the Sacramento River Cats, and was hired as a fill-in announcer in 2020. Eventually she became the team’s full-time announcer.
Fast forward to 2024 when the San Francisco Giants were looking for a public address announcer. She auditioned against other people who were equally talented, she says. “It could have gone to anybody in that booth,” she said. “I’m extra humbled and grateful that the Giants selected me to be their new [public address announcer] going forward. … This is definitely something I worked for.”
SF State Night with the Giants is Tuesday, April 8. Tickets can be purchased online.
The CSU CourseMatch program has released its call for proposals for the fall. Campus submissions can be made at the SF State CourseMatch page and must be submitted by Friday, April 4.
Qualifying courses must be fully online and asynchronous undergraduate general education (upper or lower division) and have less than 15% repeatable grades (D, F, W, NC) from previous semesters (additional qualifications are included on the web page).
The Department of Elementary Education in the Graduate College of Education sponsors a panel presentation featuring local educators to discuss recent federal efforts to undermine public education. It will be held Thursday, April 10, 5:30 – 7 p.m., in Burk Hall 28 and as a webinar.
Following a national search, Tammie Ridgell will serve as the new associate vice president and executive director of the University Corporation effective Tuesday, April 1.
“After stepping into the role of interim executive director in March 2024, Tammie has demonstrated outstanding leadership, successfully guiding the University Corporation through its transition to Administration & Finance. Tammie is a proven leader in guiding administrative and financial teams to successfully meet and exceed departmental goals with over 20 years of nonprofit and auxiliary management experience at SF State,” said Jeff Wilson, vice president and chief financial officer. “Tammie’s knowledge of investment oversight, vendor negotiations and revenue generation is complemented by a leadership style rooted in collaboration, innovation and team empowerment for long-term success. She excels at building strong, meaningful relationships across diverse communities with a strategic mindset and expertise in navigating complex university environments, and we are looking forward to her continued success in this new role.”
Wilson extends his gratitude to the search committee and all who participated in the interview process for their time and contributions.
All faculty and staff now have access to ChatGPT Education (ChatGPT Edu), launched by Academic Technology and Information Technology Services at SFSU. ChatGPT Edu is a secure, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered assistant designed for higher education, providing access to all current faculty and staff.
This CSU-wide initiative brings GPT-4o AI technology — typically available only to paid subscribers — into a protected educational environment, ensuring enhanced privacy and security for academic and research use. With the same advanced AI capabilities as paid ChatGPT subscriptions, ChatGPT Edu offers a safe, enterprise-grade platform tailored to support faculty and staff in their academic endeavors.
Users must comply with CSU data protection policies, including Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guidelines.
To learn more about ChatGPT Edu for SFSU, please visit the ChatGPT Edu Resource page and participate in SFSU’s AI Literacy Education Program.
For questions and support, please email campus information technology support teams at service@sfsu.edu.
Khan Academy, in collaboration with Instructure, has released a series of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools in Canvas for teachers called Khanmigo. These tools help instructors with specific class-related tasks like creating rubrics, writing letters of recommendation and grouping elements of long lessons into more digestible modules.
Please view the support guide for more information on using these tools.
The voting period for the spring Staff Council elections concludes on Friday, April 4.
Please cast your ballot via Qualtrics.
For questions, please email the Staff Council at askstaffcouncil@sfsu.edu.
Through SF State’s Experimental College (EXCO), undergraduate students can earn up to four units for teaching a class on a topic they choose — it can be anything. EXCO also offers a pilot community service learning opportunity to lead students in 20 hours of service with a campus-registered organization on a Bay Area issue.
EXCO courses create a space for SF State students to develop leadership skills as they share their voices, backgrounds and passions in a mutually supportive community of peers.
Students may propose a class by completing a teacher application form via the EXCO web page. The deadline has been extended to Monday, April 7. For more information, please email EXCO Director Dan Curtis-Cummins at dcc123@sfsu.edu.
On Wednesday, April 2, SFSU will kick off its inaugural Giving Day, a daylong celebration of the University’s vibrant campus community. Over 70 groups across campus are gearing up to share stories of student success, faculty accomplishments and campus programs and celebrate SFSU.
Join the fun: Show your Gator pride on social media by posting throwback photos, sharing personal experiences or sporting your SF State gear. Make your profile public for the day and use the #GatorsGiveDay hashtag to connect with others and for real-time updates.
Elevate your skills with a diverse range of trainings offered by experts from across the CSU system.
Trainings:
- Wednesday, April 2, noon – 1 p.m.: “Lunch and Learn: Life-Saving Bleeding Control Skills”
- Thursday, April 3, 10 a.m. - noon: “Empowerment Through Improvement: A Workshop for Ongoing Success”
- Tuesday, April 8: 9 – 10:30 a.m.: “Exposing Hidden Bias”
- Wednesday, April 9, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Inclusive Customer Service”
- Friday, April 11, 11 a.m. – noon: “How to Shake a Bad Mood”
- Friday, April 11, 11 a.m. – noon: “ChatGPT Training” (presented by OpenAI)
- Tuesday, April 15, 9 – 11:30 a.m.: “Developing Your Team and Performance Planning”
- Tuesday, April 15, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Empower Your Mind: Transform Negative Thought Patterns”
- Tuesday, April 15, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Business Writing in the Age of AI” (CSU’s Got Talent session)
- Monday, April 21, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Getting Started with MS OneNote”
- Thursday, April 24, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: “Practicing Leadership in Hectic Times Part 1: Understanding and Using Authority”
- Monday, April 28, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: “Recognizing the Impact of World Events on the Workplace”
The Offices of Human Resources highly encourages employees to attend “Empowerment Through Improvement” on April 3, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Presented by the CSU Chancellor’s Office, this workshop offers actionable strategies to streamline workflows, identify inefficiencies and apply proven methods like Lean and Six Sigma. For an artificial-intelligence boost, check out the ChatGPT training to learn cutting-edge productivity tools.
The “AI Literacy Essentials: Prompting for Practical Applications” course offers a focused exploration of prompting and iteration strategies for generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots like Microsoft Copilot. It will be held Wednesday, April 2, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., via Zoom.
Through collaborative, hands-on activities and interactive exercises, participants will learn to write clear and effective prompts, apply refinement techniques such as prompt chaining, and assess AI-generated outputs for accuracy and relevance to achieve more reliable and useful results in a variety of academic and non-academic contexts.
This course is required to receive a digital badge for the AI Literacy Education Program.
Please visit the AI website to register for the “Prompting for Practical Applications” course.
The “AI Literacy Essentials: Critical Analysis of Generative AI” course explores the critical analysis of generative (artificial intelligence (AI) to support responsible use of this technology. It will be held Thursday, April 3, 2 – 3:30 p.m., via Zoom.
Learn how AI models are trained and why misinformation and biases may occur in AI-generated content. Develop strategies to analyze AI outputs and assess AI tools for quality and ethical considerations. Participants will be expected to engage in the evaluation process through collaborative, hands-on activities and reflective discussions.
This course is an elective that counts toward receiving a digital badge for the AI Literacy Education Program.
Please visit the AI website to register for the “Critical Analysis of Generative AI” course.
The Lam-Larsen Initiative for Emerging Technologies presents “The Future of Work: AI, Robotics and Responsible AI Practice” on Friday, April 4, at noon via Zoom. This event is open to the entire SFSU community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni. Whether you’re interested in the future of work, artificial intelligence (AI) ethics or the intersection of technology and society, this webinar will provide insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The webinar features Chris McClean, the global lead of digital ethics at Avanade, a technology consulting and innovation company with over 60,000 employees worldwide. McClean drives Avanade’s internal responsible technology and responsible AI efforts while also leading the company’s digital ethics advisory practice. With a background in risk management, compliance and corporate ethics, McClean brings a wealth of expertise to the discussion on the ethical implications of emerging technologies.
McClean will explore how AI technologies and robotics are poised to transform the way people work. From AI tools that automate backend processes to the rise of agentic AI, these technologies promise significant benefits but also introduce new risks. Key topics will include technologies that are reshaping the workplace, the importance of responsible AI practices in ensuring ethical and trustworthy AI adoption, and ways that organizations can balance innovation with ethical considerations in the age of AI and robotics.
Please register for “The Future of Work: AI, Robotics and Responsible AI Practice” via Zoom.
Muslim Student Life and Interfaith Programs invites faculty and staff to its “Countering Islamophobia” allyship training for the spring semester. It takes place Friday, April 4, noon – 2 p.m., in Library 286.
This training is exclusive to SFSU staff and faculty. This interactive allyship training will provide insights into the Muslim student experience, address common misconceptions about Islam, and create space for questions and open dialogue. Lunch will be served.
Faculty and staff are invited to a gathering to learn about the “Science of Cookies.” Bake, taste and learn with Professor Sybil Yang in the Vista Room (Burk Hall 401) on Friday, April 4, 1 – 3 p.m.
Availability is limited. Please register via Qualtrics.
Professor of Theatre and Dance Todd Roehrman invites the campus community to his conversation with special guest, the distinguished professor Deborah Nadoolman Landis, on Friday, April 4, 6 – 8 p.m., in the Coppola Theatre (Fine Arts 101). This event is part of Cinema 650: “Filmmaking Master Class – Costume Design.” This event is free and open to the campus community and the general public.
Nadoolman Landis, a costume designer and historian, is chair and founding director of the David C. Copley Center for Costume Design at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Her design career in film includes “The Blues Brothers,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Trading Places,” “¡Three Amigos!,” “Coming to America” (for which she received an Academy Award nomination) and the music video for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” She curated “Hollywood Costume” at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. She is the author of six books that explore the history and practice of Hollywood costume design and is editor-in-chief of the upcoming three-volume “Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Film and Television Costume Design.”
The Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) invites the campus community to “Recognizing and Supporting Neurodivergence in the Classroom” on Tuesday, April 8, 10:30 a.m. – noon, in Library 242. Sacha Joseph-Matthews, vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at CSU Stanislaus, will lead this workshop.
Please RSVP for this “JEDI Circles” workshop via Qualtrics. To attend by Zoom, please email CEETL at ceetl@sfsu.edu.
The Reproduction and Health Equity Hub at the Health Equity Institute welcomes Fulbright visiting scholar Caroline Chautums to campus. Chautums will share research in progress on “Doula Care and Queer Reproduction in Switzerland and California” on Tuesday, April 8, 2:30 – 4 p.m., in HSS 345. All are welcome.
The Science, Technology and Society Hub and the Health Equity Institute present a panel and film discussion, “Medicine, Science, Justice and Care,” on Friday, April 11, 2 – 3:30 p.m., in HSS 345. All are welcome.
Laia Ventura Garcia will present “The Moral Value of Our Cells,” a short film and conversation examining the role of toxicity and the harmful impacts of the Anthropocene — the era of human-made environmental damage — in HPV-driven cancers, particularly cervical cancer. Caroline Chautems, Fulbright visiting scholar, will present a research conversation, “Birthing Decisions and Reproductive Justice: An Argument for Radical Compassion.”
Join the Campus Recreation Department on Saturday, April 12, for its 12th annual “5K Walk, Run & Roll.” Every participant will receive an exclusive event shirt and merchandise. This inclusive celebration invites participants of all abilities to enjoy a scenic course on campus while promoting fitness and community spirit.
Former SFSU President Chia-Wei Woo, passed away on March 2 in San Francisco. He was 87. He served as SFSU president from 1983 to 1988.
When appointed to lead SFSU, Woo became the first Chinese American to be president of a major university. San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein awarded him the key to the city. In 1984 he was president of the National Association of Chinese-Americans and a liaison to the Chinese Olympic Committee. He left SFSU to become the founding president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
Born in Shanghai on Nov. 13, 1937, and raised in Hong Kong, Woo was offered a Georgetown College scholarship at age 17 and earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Washington University in St. Louis. After a postdoctoral fellowship at University of California, San Diego, he began his academic career in 1966 at Northwestern University where he rose to chair of Physics and Astronomy, before returning to UC San Diego in 1979 to serve as provost of its Revelle College.
Woo’s awards include the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award, commander of the British Empire, Gold Bauhinia Star and Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. He continued to mentor students as HKUST president emeritus after retiring in 2001. Woo authored hundreds of articles and memoirs about his cross-cultural Chinese American experiences.
Woo is survived by his wife of 65 years Yvonne, four children and nine grandchildren.
SF State Spotlight
The Jay P. Young Excellence Award is annually given by the Anthropology Department to fund extracurricular research, internships, field studies or conference opportunities. This year’s winner is Anthropology major Isabella (Bee) Uribe, who will receive the award to support the completion of her ethnographic film “Oldies But Goodies.”
Uribe’s in-progress documentary explores “iconic aesthetic elements of Chicanx culture — including lowrider cars, La Virgen de Guadalupe, Oldies music and Pachuco fashion.” It includes ethnographic interviews and footage from Bay Area car-show events. With two collaborators, Anthropology students Amani Shabazz and Nakai Brock, Uribe will complete the film and submit it to film festivals.
Mihaela Mihailova, assistant professor of Cinema, has published a chapter on Sámi representation in the Disney feature “Frozen II” (2019) in “The Oxford Handbook of the Disney Musical.”
Her research demonstrates that, despite gesturing toward a culturally informed, methodical approach to Indigenous representation in mainstream animation, the feature largely obscures the specificity of Sámi life and customs, frequently sacrificing accuracy and avoiding cultural nuance in favor of the well-established rules of traditional Disney filmmaking.
Bárbara Abadía-Rexach, associate professor of Latina/o Studies, gave the opening talk at the fourth Summit of People of African Descent: Remembering is Resisting, dedicated to Arturo Alfonso Schomburg. It took place from March 17 – 20 at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus.
In her presentation, “Production of Black Knowledge in the Face of the Second Decade of People of African Descent,” she drew on her genealogy to discuss racialization within the framework of the new Decade for People of African Descent, 2025 – 2034, declared by the United Nations. Global anti-racist leaders attended the event.
Anoshua Chaudhuri, senior director of the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning, participated in an American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) panel discussion on March 25. The panel explored campus strategies and approaches around artificial intelligence (AI) as part of AAC&U’s AI week.
Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Holistic Health Professor Erik Peper gave the invited lecture, “Cultivating Mind-Body Balance through Biofeedback,” at Sigmund Freud University Sede di Milano in Milan, Italy, on March 20.
Peper and Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Holistic Health Professor Richard Harvey taught the invited lecture, “Optimize health with the mind-body connection,” at the Istituto di Terapia Cognitiva e Comportamentale in Padua, Italy, on March 21.
Peper, Harvey and Frank DeGregoria led the invited workshop, “Overview of biofeedback applications and skills,” at the 23rd meeting of the Biofeedback Federation of Europe in Brescia, Italy, on March 24.
Professor Emeritus of Biology Dennis Desjardin presented a lecture, “Wonder of Mushrooms,” at the San Francisco Public Library main branch on March 30 as part of the Wonderfest.