News and Announcements
SFSU’s annual hackathon returned to campus Feb. 13 – 15, bringing 48 hours of new opportunities to our students to create solutions, network with industry professionals and more. The theme for this year’s SF Hacks event, “Tech for a Greener Tomorrow,” encouraged projects focused on sustainability and taking care of our future.
The student-run event attracted 300 people to the Student Life Events Center. Participants included hackers from across the country, as well as judges, panelists and mentors. Corporate sponsors included Major League Hacking, the venture-capital fund JFFVentures, Meta, IBM, Backboard, Medsender, Broxi AI, Actian, CRS, Upstreman and Shipyard, with beverages provided by Celsius, Red Bull, Poppi, Monster, Bloom and GST Living Foods. SFSU sponsors included the Computer Science Department, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programs and the campus chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery.
The event featured 77 student projects. About 30 SFSU students volunteered their time to put on the hackathon.
“All of the attendees were able to build relationships and network with sponsors who are hiring,” said Ria Thakker, president of SF Hacks and a fourth-year Computer Science student.
Thakker adds that numerous student volunteers have landed internships at leading companies after volunteering for SF Hacks. She interned at Uber in software development.
“The tech companies and startups were excited to be part of the event. Companies like Meta and IBM want to come to schools like San Francisco State,” she said. “I want to give students hope and opportunities in their job search.”
Jim Chen volunteered at SF Hacks for the third consecutive year. He recently completed his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He attended SFSU as an international student from Taiwan.
“This event has the magic to pull alumni like me back,” Chen said. “You’re gaining connections from all around the world.”
SF Hacks served as the official launch for a new partnership between Major League Hacking and JFFVentures to champion the next generation of builders in the southwestern U.S. To compete for the JFFVentures Prize, participants were challenged to create a tool or platform that bridges the gap between innovation and opportunity. The winners, students Maria Palacios, Guadalupe Carrillo Vega, Raina Zab and Matilda Verdejo Aitken, were honored for bottlr, a platform that connects donors of recyclable products directly with local bottle collectors. They received Lego sets and an exclusive meeting with the JFFVentures investment team.
Overall, 30 student projects won prizes. The awards vary, including career coaching sessions with industry professionals, electronics, appliances and cash.
The SF Hacks team seeks volunteers for next year’s hackathon. For details, e-mail Thakker at rthakker@sfsu.edu.
Learn more about the SFSU Computer Science Department.
Photo by Jim Chen
On March 4, SFSU celebrated the official naming of the San Francisco Federal Credit Union Gymnasium, marking a milestone in the partnership between SFSU and San Francisco Federal Credit Union.
The ceremony, held at Don Nasser Family Plaza in front of the gymnasium, featured remarks from University leaders and credit union officials including SFSU President Lynn Mahoney, San Francisco Federal Credit Union President and CEO Ray Shams, District Supervisor and SFSU alumnus Shamann Walton, SFSU Director of Athletics Brandon Davis and SFSU All-American volleyball player Aidan Goodrich.
“This partnership represents an investment in our students and in the future of San Francisco State University,” said SFSU President Lynn Mahoney. “San Francisco Federal Credit Union’s support strengthens scholarships, enhances athletics and expands opportunities that help our students thrive both on and off the court.”
The collaboration between SFSU and San Francisco Federal Credit Union supports programs and services that enrich the student experience, including Gator Athletics programming, scholarships and other University fundraising priorities.
“The partnership with the university is reflective of our dedication to our members and our communities, as well as our commitment to supporting their needs,” said Ray Shams, president and CEO of San Francisco Federal Credit Union. “For more than 70 years, San Francisco Federal Credit Union has been part of the fabric of this city, and we are proud to further cement that legacy by standing alongside SFSU and supporting the students who are San Francisco’s future.”
University leaders said the partnership underscores a shared dedication to educational equity, student achievement and community impact.
Photo by Juan Montes
SFSU hosted the “Research in the Age of AI: SFSU Faculty Symposium,” a dynamic half-day gathering on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, that convened faculty from across disciplines to explore how AI is transforming the research landscape.
Designed as both a showcase and a conversation, the symposium featured a keynote address by Gaurav Suri, an engaging panel on AI ethics and digital responsibility and 15 lightning talks highlighting innovative AI-driven research and methodologies underway at SFSU. The event created space not only to share emerging tools and practices, but also to critically examine the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany AI’s growing influence in scholarly work. Concluding with a faculty mixer to encourage continued dialogue, the symposium fostered interdisciplinary connection and positioned the University community to thoughtfully navigate research in the age of AI.
SFSU will host its second annual Gator Giving Day on Wednesday, March 18, in celebration of the University’s founding in March of 1899. The 24-hour online event begins at midnight and runs through 11:59 p.m. More than 100 campus groups — including colleges, schools, departments, student organizations and clubs — will participate and launch their own online fundraising pages in addition to the main University giving page. Every donation made on March 18 will count toward Giving Day totals and will have a measurable impact on student success.
“Last year, our community of students, alumni, friends, staff and faculty came together in support of students and programs. We exceeded our goal of $100,000,” said Jeff Jackanicz, vice president for University Advancement. “This year we hope to raise more than $100,000, a total that will boost our clubs, academic programs, scholarships and much more. So think about what you love about SFSU and find a way to support it March 18.”
Last year, SFSU’s 3-D printing club was one of several student clubs to benefit from fundraising on Gator Giving Day. The club raised more than $2,000 and was able to purchase new 3-D printers and donate old ones to the Library’s Maker Space, making 3-D printing more accessible to students regardless of their major, said the club’s former president Keith Curry.
Amplifying our reach
Gator Giving Day is a chance for the University to make its case to its community of alumni, supporters and friends. Faculty and staff are encouraged to amplify our reach by sharing Giving Day updates on social media and helping to spread the word using posts and our crowdfunding platform that will be shared leading up to and during the day on March 18.
Want to help spread the word? Sign up as a Gator Giving Day advocate to receive a personalized sharing link and helpful tips.
Schedule of matches and challenges on March 18
Gator Giving Day will include several matches and challenges to encourage broad participation. At different points during the day, updates and leaderboards on our crowdfunding platform will track the following matches and challenges. All times are Pacific.
Hourly challenges
- 6 – 8 a.m.: Early Bird Challenge. Share a photo of yourself in SFSU gear celebrating Gator Giving Day using #GatorGivingDay to unlock $1,000 for the fund of your choice.
- 8 – 10 a.m.: Student Org Power Hour. The top three student organizations receiving the most gifts during this time period will unlock $1,000.
- 10 a.m. – noon: Gator Hatchlings and Paws Challenge. Post a photo of your pet or child in SFSU gear with #GatorGivingDay. One winner will be selected to unlock $1,000 for the cause they care most about.
- Noon – 2 p.m.: Faculty and Staff Challenge. The fund receiving the most gifts from SFSU faculty and staff will get an extra $1,000.
- 2 – 5 p.m.: Gator Pride Challenge. The school, college or other campus fund with the most unique donors during this time period wins $1,000.
- 5 – 7 p.m.: Rush Hour Donor Challenge. The two funds with the most donors during this time will each get an extra $1,000.
- 7 – 9 p.m.: Ready, Set, Give! The first fund to reach 25 donors in this time period wins an additional $1,000.
- 9 – 11 p.m.: Late Night Gator Challenge. The two funds with the most donors during this time period win $1,000 each.
- 11 p.m. – midnight: Thank You Challenge. Post a thank you video to donors, sharing what you love about SFSU, and include the hashtag #GatorGivingDay. One winner will be selected to unlock $1,000 for their cause.
Campus community members are encouraged to help promote the event and participate in matching and challenge opportunities. Learn more at the Giving Day website.
As we get ready for the seasonal spike in vibrant and engaging special events across campus, Risk and Safety Services would like to remind all event organizers of the requirements related to serving alcohol at University-sponsored events.
Any event wishing to serve alcohol must receive prior approval from the appropriate University offices. Requests to host events where alcohol will be served must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event date.
These requirements are in place for several reasons:
- Compliance with laws and CSU policy: Serving alcohol on campus is governed by state law, CSU systemwide policy and University regulations. Advance review ensures events comply with licensing requirements, age verification standards, insurance coverage and responsible service protocols.
- Risk management and safety planning: Alcohol service introduces additional safety and risk considerations. The advance review process allows time to assess risk, coordinate security or staffing if needed, confirm trained servers are in place and ensure appropriate safeguards are established to protect attendees and the campus community.
- Coordination with campus partners: Events serving alcohol often require coordination with multiple departments, such as Risk Management, University Police, Conference and Events Services and approved caterers. The two-week notice ensures all necessary approvals, documentation and logistics can be completed without last-minute complications.
Please note that failure to obtain prior approval may result in cancellation of alcohol service or the event itself.
The approval process has been transitioned AdobeSign. Please search in “workflows” for the Alcohol Clearance Form and initiate the approval process.
The nomination period for the spring 2026 Staff Council elections is now open. As a member of the SFSU community, the Staff Council wants your voice to be heard and hopes that you will vote for your colleagues for Staff Council positions. The voting period runs Monday, March 2 – Friday, March 20.
Vacancies:
- Unit 1: one seat
- Unit 2: one seat
- Unit 4: two seats
- Unit 5: one seat
- Unit 6: one seat
- Unit 8: one seat
- Unit 9 Tech Service: one seat
- Unit 9 Information Technology: two seats
Please submit Staff Council nominations via Qualtrics.
For questions, please email Staff Council at askstaffcouncil@sfsu.edu.
“Explore SFSU: Admitted Student Day” is the University’s signature spring event for admitted students and their families — a day for them to visit campus, make connections and learn about life as a Gator. It will take place April 11, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Please consider serving as a general ambassador for wayfinding, greeting, setup, etc., to assist in making this a great experience for our guests and a great success for our University.
Ambassador shifts are 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided for all who help for the day.
Please sign up via Qualtrics by Friday, March 27, to be an “Explore SFSU” ambassador.
College Corps applications for the 2026 – 2027 academic year are now open. Students are encouraged to apply by Friday, March 20, as most placements are made during this priority window, and space is limited. Applications will remain open on a rolling basis after March 20, while positions are still available.
College Corps is a paid, statewide fellowship funded by the California Governor’s Office. SFSU undergraduate students serve with local nonprofit and public-sector partners across San Francisco while earning up to $10,000 in living allowance and an education award. The program is open to students, including those eligible for the AB 540 California Nonresident Tuition Exemption.
Students gain hands-on experience in K – 12 education, climate action, food insecurity and economic opportunity.
Instructors: If you’ve taken steps to reduce the costs of instructional materials for students in your courses, there’s still time to submit your grant application to the Affordable Instructional Materials (AIM) program. Proposals are due Wednesday, April 15, for consideration during the current funding period.
AIM awards grants to individual faculty members and full departments to support the adoption of free or low-cost instructional materials to make quality education accessible for all students. Funding ranges from $250 to $750 for individual faculty and increases for departmental initiatives, depending on the projected impact and savings for students.
Please visit the AIM website to learn more about the program and apply for a grant.
To discuss potential cost-reduction projects, please email Academic Technology at at@sfsu.edu.
The SFSU Innovation Pitch Competition is scheduled for Friday, April 17. This event is a great opportunity for students to present their innovative ideas and compete alongside their peers. Whether the idea is in the ideation phase or ready for funding, submissions from all backgrounds and industries are welcome.
Students will present their innovative concepts to a panel of esteemed judges, gain valuable feedback, and connect with fellow innovators. The application deadline is Thursday, April 4.
The SFSU Innovation Pitch Competition is hosted by the Lam-Larsen Innovation ad Entrepreneurship Programs Initiative at the Lam Family College of Business.
The SFSU Academic Senate will meet Tuesday, March 10, 2 – 5 p.m., via Zoom for its 10th meeting of the academic year.
- Recommendation from the Educational Policies Council in second reading:
- Discontinuation of B.A. in Italian
- Discontinuation of B.A. in German
- Recommendation from the Academic Policies Committee in second reading:
- Academic Calendar
- Summer 2027
- Academic year 2027 – 2028
- Academic Calendar
- Recommendation from the Campus Curriculum Committee in second reading:
- Certificate in AI for Business Technologies
- M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
- Certificate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs Committee in second reading:
- Temporary Faculty (Lecturers), No. F15-160
- Recommendation from Strategic Issues Committee in second reading:
- Mandatory Review of Academic Senate Policies, No. S08-247
- Recommendation from the Student Affairs Committee in second reading:
- Policy on Undergraduate Academic Advising, No. S06-191
- Recommendation from the Academic Policies Committee in first reading:
- Policy on restructuring academic units, No. S25-290
- Recommendation from the Executive Committee in first reading:
- Annual University Retreat
- Consistency in Policy Language and Policy Implementations, No. S17-276
- Recommendation from the Educational Policies Committee in first reading:
- Graduation Requirements for Baccalaureate Students, No. S25-309
- Recommendation from the Campus Curriculum Committee in first reading:
- Minor in Persian Studies
- Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs Committee in first reading:
- Resolution in Support of Strengthening Employment Pathways and Security for Lecturer Faculty and Other Contingent Academic Professionals
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 Monday, Mar. 9, 11 a.m. – noon, 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.
Join the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) on Monday, March 9, 2 – 3 p.m., in Library 242 for “Gamify Your Classroom.”
At this workshop, explore evidence-based, low-preparation and discipline-flexible gamification strategies that boost motivation, participation and engagement without turning courses into video games. CEETL will consider both in-person and online teaching strategies that boost cognitive engagement and celebrates student success as they journey through the quests of coursework.
The Morrison Chamber Music Center invites faculty and staff to a special performance by BlackBox Ensemble, a New York City-based contemporary music ensemble known for immersive and thoughtfully curated concert experiences. This admission-free performance will take place Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m. in Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building.
BlackBox Ensemble brings a dynamic program of contemporary works that engage deeply with classical traditions while reimagining them through modern perspectives. Their performances have been featured at major institutions nationwide, and the center is pleased to welcome them to campus for this presentation.
Please visit University tickets to reserve your seats to the BlackBox Ensemble.
The campus community is invited to a book talk, “Queer Arab Poetics: Creative Expression in Impossible Times, on Tuesday, March 10, at 2 p.m. in Humanities 587.
Join poets and editors George Abraham and Noor K. Hindi in conversation with SFSU faculty members Omar Zahzah and Will Clark for a discussion on Palestinian creative resistance and queer contemporary Arab American poetry as part of their series on “Creative Expression in Impossible Times.”
Abraham and Hindi are accomplished poets who recently edited a collection of global Anglophone Palestinian poetry in “a time of genocide.” They also co-edited the collection “Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry” (Haymarket Books, 2024), exploring the meaning of literary and cultural resistance in embattled times.
The discussion will also encompass each poet’s individual writings as well as their individual and collective understandings of queerness as a signifier for literary and community-based framework.
This event is hosted by the English Language and Literature Department and Race and Resistance Studies Department.
Join the Office of Veterans Services for the Veterans and Military-Affiliated Student Resource Fair on Tuesday, March 10, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., in Burk Hall 153 and 155. This event is open to all students.
Learn about paid San Francisco City Hall internships through the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement Willie L. Brown Fellowship, full-tuition medical scholarships with U.S. Army Medical Recruiting and career pathways in public service and health care. The San Francisco County Veterans Service Office will also provide CalVet Fee Waiver assistance and guidance on Veteran Affairs disability claims, with presentations followed by one-on-one consultations and a hands-on CalVet Apply Lab.
Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP via Qualtrics for the Veterans and Military-Affiliated Student Resource Fair.
All staff and faculty are invited to join Educational Opportunity and Pathway Programs (EOPP) annual “Adopt-A-Plant” event on Tuesday, March 10, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., in Student Services 202 and 203.
EOPP is focusing on water propagation, where to grow new plants in water using plant cuttings, which are pieces of a plant cut from a mother plant. EOPP will have a plant cuttings bar organized by type and difficulty of care, and you can choose what you want to like at a buffet. If you have any plants, plant cuttings or clean jars you would like to donate, please drop them off at the EOPP office front desk in Student Services 201.
Join the All-University Committee on International Programs (AUCIP) for light refreshments and a conversation about all things international with fellow faculty, administrators and staff. It will take place Thursday, March 12, noon – 1 p.m., in SEIC 519.
The event will include a guest speaker. The College of Professional and Global Education will provide refreshments. More details will be shared as the event approaches. This event occurs twice each semester and is organized by AUCIP, which is an Academic Senate committee.
The Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace will host a virtual reality (VR) and retro gaming event on Thursday, March 12, noon – 3 p.m., in Library 260. It is open to all SFSU students, faculty and staff.
Explore VR and spatial computing with hands-on VR/extended reality and Vision Pro demos. Create your own experiences and test your skills on a retro gaming console.
Faculty members are invited to join the “Your Syllabus, Supercharged: Build Your Own Classroom AI in 15 Minutes” workshop on Friday, March 13, at 11 a.m. via Zoom.
In this hands-on session, Assistant Professor of Marketing Yiwen Chen will demonstrate how faculty can transform course materials into an interactive artificial-intelligence (AI) assistant. Using a simple syllabus as a blueprint, you’ll see how a custom GPT can answer student questions, explain project requirements and provide 24/7 course support — all without programming.
Chen specializes in AI curriculum integration and has designed several popular ChatGPT-hosted classroom chatbots at SFSU to enhance student engagement and administrative efficiency.
Key questions to be addressed:
- How can faculty quickly build a custom classroom AI without technical expertise?
- What course materials work best for creating an AI assistant?
- How can AI reduce repetitive student emails and administrative workload?
The Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace will host a “3D Printing 101” event on Friday, March 13, 1 – 2 p.m., in Library 260. It is open to all SFSU students, faculty and staff. Learn the basics of 3D printing and 3D modeling, from design in TinkerCAD to operating the Ultimaker 3 and Ultimaker S5 printers.
An RSVP is required. Please RSVP for “3D Printing 101” via the Academic Technology website.
Join the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) on Friday, March 13, 1 – 2 p.m., for a discussion of student writers and artificial intelligence (AI).
CEETL AI fellows will address questions such as:
- Does AI have a role to play in a writing class, or does AI undermine students’ learning and voices?
- What does responsible AI use look like for student writers?
- How do students view AI-generated writing assistance at different stages of their writing process?
Supported by the CSU Innovation Grant, faculty have been engaging these and other questions in their writing classes this spring. They will share what we’ve learned so far and will have plenty of time for discussion and Q&A.
As part of the Risk and Safety Services Division’s “Ready, Set, Safety! series,” it will host a Pet Emergency Preparedness seminar on Tuesday, March 17, noon – 1 p.m., in Library 121. Bring your lunch and learn how to prepare your pet’s go bag for emergency evacuations.
The event will also include a pet meet and greet with opportunities to adopt from Pets in Need, between 10 a.m. and noon at J. Paul Leonard Library. All events are free, and no registration is required.
As part of our campus Financial Literacy Initiative, the Economics Department is excited to host a special screening of the award-winning documentary “This Is Not Financial Advice” on Wednesday, March 18, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., in Library 121.
The film explores today’s modern gold rush, where everyday investors risk their savings on speculative cryptocurrencies, fueled by online hype, influencers and FOMO. It’s a timely and thought-provoking look at economic and financial decision making in the digital age.
Please RSVP to “This Is Not Financial Advice” via Microsoft Forms.
Please join a campus-wide Enrollment Forum on Wednesday, March 18, at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Faculty, staff and administrators are welcome. It will be an opportunity to learn more about our new Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, including our recruitment, marketing and communication and retention efforts.
The Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development invites tenure-track faculty, and associate professors preparing for promotion, to participate in one of its online workshops to prepare for retention, tenure and promotion. Faculty who will be reviewed in the next few years are encouraged to attend.
The workshops will be facilitated by Sheldon Gen, associate dean of Faculty Affairs, and Melissa Camacho, chair of the University Tenure and Promotion and Committee.
The workshops are organized according to the phases of faculty professional development, but topics covered in each of the workshops will be similar, so feel free to attend the workshop that best fits your schedule.
Schedule:
- Tuesday, April 7, 1 – 2 p.m.: focus on probationary years 1 – 5
- Wednesday, April 8, 11 a.m. – noon: focus on probationary years 1 – 5
- Thursday, April 9, 11 a.m. – noon: focus on tenure and promotion
- Friday, April 10, noon – 1 p.m.: focus on tenure and promotion
Please RSVP via Qualtrics to receive a link for the workshop of your choice. The link will be sent to your SFSU e-mail address the day before the workshop.
For questions, please email Sheldon Gen at sgen@sfsu.edu.
Faculty members are invited to the “The Research Committee You Didn’t Know You Had: Rethinking Research With AI” workshop on Friday, April 10, at noon via Zoom. It will feature Nasrin Mohabbati, assistant professor of Information Systems and founding director of the SMARTS Lab. Mohabbati’s work in human-centered artificial intelligence (AI), large-scale optimization and digital transformation bridges rigorous research with real-world impact.
This session explores how faculty can move beyond using AI as a simple tool and begin working with it as a structured research committee. Instead of shortcuts or text generation, you’ll learn how generative AI can simulate roles such as journal editor, reviewer, methodologist and domain expert to strengthen research design, clarify contributions and respond strategically to reviewer feedback.
Key questions she’ll explore:
- How can AI simulate an effective research committee?
- What structured prompting techniques improve rigor and output quality?
- How can faculty reduce wasted effort across the research lifecycle?
Please register via Zoom for the “Rethinking Research with GenAI’ workshop (meeting ID: 830 5418 1383; Passcode: 886269).
Associate professors: Are you looking for some structure and peer support for your continuing professional development? The Office of Faculty Affairs, with the guidance of the University Chairs’ Council and the Academic Senate’s Professional Development Council, is excited to offer Individual Development Plan workshops tailored for that purpose.
Discuss possible futures with peers, and create your Individual Development Plan, a tool to set goals, identify areas for improvement and track progress. Create your own plan and chart your career path to full professor and beyond.
Workshops for associate professors with less than 6 years in rank will take place Thursday, April 16, 10 a.m. – noon, in Humanities 587 and Friday, April 17, 10 a.m. – noon in Library 286.
A workshop for associate professors with six or more years in rank will take place Friday, April 17, 1 – 3 p.m., in Library 286.
A follow-up workshop for associate professors who created their plans in 2025 will take place Thursday, April 16, 1 – 3 p.m., in Humanities 587.
If these dates don’t work for you, groups of four or more associate professors can schedule their own workshop by emailing Associate Dean Sheldon Gen at sgen@sfsu.edu.
Roger W. Bland, professor emeritus in the Physics and Astronomy Department, passed away on Feb. 23 at the age of 85.
Bland received a B.S. in Physics from the California Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley. He held post-doctoral appointments in Paris and Glasgow and at CERN, working in elementary particle physics and on the early development of gravity wave detectors. He was appointed to the SFSU faculty in 1979 and became emeritus in 2009. He was chair of the department from 2003 to 2004.
He was the perfect combination of a first-rate researcher, a truly excellent teacher and a warm, enthusiastic, outgoing and perpetually positive colleague. He was a research mentor for a vast number of graduate and undergraduate students, many whom became accomplished scientists and teachers. In 1987, he received the American Physical Society Prize for Research in an Undergraduate Institution.
His research at SFSU, always including students, started with pioneering work in the search for free quarks. Bland later developed superconducting detectors for dark matter searches and finally did important work in underwater acoustics focused on calls of whales and other marine life. He helped set up a collaboration with University of California, San Francisco, to improve the analysis of medical imaging data. Bland had an amazing ability to quickly learn and master new fields of research.
He was a much-loved teacher at all levels from introductory to graduate. He enthusiastically developed new courses, new lab experiments, and new programs.
Bland was exceedingly supportive of new faculty, helping them set up new labs and computer systems.
He was a treasured friend to all his colleagues at SFSU, throughout the USA, in Europe and the U.K. He will be very greatly missed.
Dan Vencill, professor emeritus of Economics and long-time affiliated faculty member in Criminal Justice Studies, passed away on Oct. 30.
He earned his Ph.D. at Stanford University and began working at SFSU as a faculty member in 1977, serving as a professor in Economics. Upon retirement in 2010, Vencill was named professor emeritus in Economics.
After retirement, he continued to teach in the Criminal Justice Studies Department, bringing his deep understanding of the intersections between macroeconomics and crime to our students. Vencill last taught for SFSU in fall 2024. He was a remarkable force, researching, publishing, providing expert testimony to a range of organizations and making a substantial impact on the profession, right up until death.
The departments of Criminal Justice Studies and Economics will host a celebration of his life on Tuesday, April 7, at 5 p.m. in Library 286. Please RSVP for the event by emailing the Criminal Justices Studies Department cj@sfsu.edu.
SFSU Spotlight
Numerous faculty, students and alumni from the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts (BECA) played roles in bringing Super Bowl LX to the Bay Area and to your television.
Assistant Professor Graham Carpenter worked with NBC and Telemundo during the weeklong Super Bowl coverage from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Julian Riga (B.A., ’24) was part of the NBC production team for several weeks leading up to, during and after the Super Bowl. Matt Ng (B.A., ’23) worked with NBC game crew. Class of 2025 graduates Alejandro Espinoza and Thad Ramsay worked the Streamer Bowl event for Twitch alongside Carpenter at the Midway in San Francisco. Joaquin Fajardo c/o 2007 was on the game broadcast with NBC. Ron Castro (B.A., ’12), worked with NBC and Telemundo throughout the week before the game. Daniel Contreras (B.A., ’08), worked the Telemundo Broadcast Booth during the week’s festivities. Gary Quirarte (B.A., ’06) tech managed Electronic Arts’ weeklong festivities and promotions including NFL Honors and the Madden Bowl. Student Marlon Butler worked directly with Levi’s Stadium for the Super Bowl. Student Pyper Dado, an intern with the Bay Area Host Committee, facilitated several adjacent events including a press conference. Student Zachary Olsson was employed directly by the NFL for NBC’s broadcast. Others working the game include MFA students Lyle Nagatomo and Alan Gomez and alum Alex Quiñones (B.A., ’20).
Following the game, Professor Melissa Camacho gave an interview with KSTS-TV, the Bay Area’s Telemundo affiliate, discussing Bad Bunny’s halftime show.
“BECA has such a strong live sports and esports curriculum and holds a tradition of being experts in culture-related interviews for various media programs,” BECA Professor and Chair Lena Zhang said.
Photo by Graham Carpenter (pictured, at left, with alumnus Julian Riga)
Associate Professor Aritree Samanta and M.S. candidate Cevacien Adee, recently wrote a blog post for the Initiative for Gender Equity in the Public Sector (IGEPS). It is titled “Land, Power, and Representation: Closing the Gender Gap in Agriculture.”
This public scholarship piece focuses on gender equity in agriculture, exploring how structural biases, land access and representation affect women farmers and offers evidence-based analysis to inform more equitable programs and policies.
Samanta teaches in the School of the Environment and serves as co-director of SFSU Climate HQ. Adee studies Geographic Information Science in the School of the Environment.
IGEPS is a nonprofit research initiative focused on advancing equity in public institutions and policy.