News & Announcements
SF State not only provides stages for performers to discover their artistic identity and develop their skills, but also public showcases that lead to opportunities in the Bay Area’s dance scene. The long-running University Dance Theatre concert, taking place this year from March 30 to April 2 in the Little Theatre, is a case study. Taught by Associate Professor Ray Tadio and Lecturer ArVejon Jones, the course pairs 19 student dancers with renowned choreographers to perform new, rigorous and expressive works.
Jones attended SF State alongside his twin brother Dar Vejon Jones, and the faculty noticed their talents right away. They participated in University Dance Theatre together and have gone on to successful careers in dance. Dar Vejon Jones (B.A., ’12) is a sought-after choreographer and a Master of Fine Arts candidate at City University of New York, Hunter College.
ArVejon Jones (B.A., ’13) performs with Janice Garrett + Dancers, coaches for the African-American Shakespeare Co. and performs every holiday season in “The Velveteen Rabbit” for ODC/Dance. It was University Dance Theatre that introduced ODC/Dance and ArVejon Jones. With choreographers from ODC/Dance serving as guest artists for the event, he landed an apprenticeship at the company.
“Through that networking opportunity and being in rehearsals with them at their institution and at school, it propelled me to go into the professional world. It was a catalyst,” he said. “It made everything happen a lot quicker.”
Johan Casal, double majoring in Dance and Cinema, is one of the latest successes. He is performing in two pieces at University Dance Theatre: Tadio’s Keith Haring tribute “Roxy” and guest choreographer Marlayna Locklear’s new contemporary/jazz work. Casal is also directing a short film based on the “Roxy” performance.
He says this year’s event marks a true comeback from the COVID-19 pandemic, full of fresh ways to present dance as an in-person and on-screen experience.
“There’s been such a great sense of collaboration and a new feeling,” Casal said, “and a new energy that comes out of iust being so stationary for the past two to three years."
SF State observed a heavy uptick in compromised accounts across campus between 2022 and 2023. The total number reported rose from 68 to 431. Information Technology Services (ITS) aims to help our campus stay aware, vigilant and one step ahead of cybercriminals. Scammers gain access to accounts by using tactics known as “phishing.” Successful phishing attempts enable hackers to access personally identifiable information, including sensitive level-one data, passwords, bank account information and even Social Security numbers. The good news is that familiarizing yourself with best practices and knowledge can help fight the spread of compromised accounts and ensure a positive security posture at SF State.
Visit ITS’ Email Scams and Attacks website for helpful details on identifying phishing attacks and the approaches scammers use to access your private data.
Want to learn more about our University finances? The University Budget Committee (UBC) seeks three staff and one faculty to serve on the committee, beginning August 2023. No experience is needed for this professional development opportunity. The time commitment is typically one meeting per month during the academic year. Attend the next meeting Thursday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to noon to see the UBC in action.
Nomination deadline is Friday, April 14. Email ubc@sfsu.edu for a nomination form or to attend a meeting.
See a list of current members and learn what the committee does on the UBC webpage.
Staff who have given dedicated service to SF State were celebrated at a luncheon Thursday, March 23, at Jack Adams Hall. SF State President Lynn Mahoney, Associate Vice President of Human Resources Ingrid Williams and University vice presidents thanked staff who have served five through 40 years at the University (in five-year benchmarks through December 2022). On behalf of SF State, we thank all employees for their commitment to our campus and students.
Learn more about the Staff Years of Service Recognition program. For any questions about this event, please contact ganner@sfsu.edu.
The Raza Faculty and Staff Association (RFSA) at SF State is happy to announce the new board members who will serve a two-year term. RFSA is an organization that aims to secure equal participation for all Latinx and other BIPOC faculty, staff and students through advocacy and inclusive work. Its goals for this year are to revitalize membership involvement through socials and fundraisers that support Latinx students’ academic success and sense of belonging. At the same time, RFSA hopes to foster a community for Latinx faculty, staff and students who represent a large majority in the SF State community.
Board of Directors for the ’23-’25 Term
- Bibiana Arriola, staff co-chair, department interim director at Advisor Development and College Advisors
- Mina Hernandez, recorder, communications specialist at Health Promotion & Wellness
- Alex Sanchez, membership director, executive director for development
- Luis De Paz, events director, residential assistant for strategic initiatives & executive assistant at the President’s Office
- Adriana Gallardo, archivist, senior director of education and equity at Associated Students
- Veronica Castillo, treasurer, assistant executive director of business & finance
- Elizabeth Gandra, communications director, health educator at Health Promotion & Wellness
Any SF State faculty or staff can become a member of RFSA regardless of race, ethnicity or ability. Please visit the RFSA website or contact Alex Sanchez at alexsan@sfsu.edu to find out how. Forward to anyone who might be interested!
SF State staff and faculty are invited to Cafecito with the RFSA on Thursday, April 13, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the University Club on the second floor of the Cesar Chavez Student Center. Coffee and pastries will be provided, along with great vibes to help you get your work day started! RSVP is appreciated but optional to attend.
RFSA looks forward to creating opportunities for faculty, staff and students to continue creating more inclusive and supportive spaces for our campus community.
San Francisco State Kids Camp is an exceptional summer camp full of enjoyment, excitement, inclusivity and learning. Starting June 12 this year, the summer camp runs Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with early and after caring available. The camp is offered for seven weeks, so whether you want to sign up for one week, two weeks or all seven weeks you will be welcomed with open arms! Learn more on the Campus Rec website.
Campus Rec encourages members to indulge in the ultimate relaxation experience with its massage therapy sessions. Escape the stresses of daily life and rejuvenate your mind and body. Book your massage session today and experience the healing power of touch. You must be a registered Mashouf Wellness Center member to purchase and book a massage through Campus Rec. Visit the Campus Rec website for pricing and booking information.
The Academic Senate will meet Tuesday, April 4, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. virtually via Zoom and in person at the Seven Hills Conference Center for its twelfth meeting of the academic year. Visitors who wish to attend please contact the senate office at senate@sfsu.edu for a Zoom link. The agenda includes:
- Recommendation from the Student Affairs Committee Revision to S21-275 Academic Probation and Disqualification Policy, in first reading.
- Recommendations from the Campus Curriculum Committee in first reading:
- B.A. in Labor and Employment Studies, Distance Education Authorization
- M.A. in Creative Writing, Distance Education Authorization
- MFA in Creative Writing, Distance Education Authorization
- Minor in Creative Writing, Distance Education Authorization
- M.A. in Humanities, Distance Education Authorization
- Certificate in Music/Recording Industry, BECA, CPaGE to State Support
- Minor in Prison Re-entry Studies, Criminal Justice Studies
- Minor in Entrepreneurship, Business
- Minor in Humanities, reduction in units requirement.
- Recommendation from the Campus Curriculum Committee, Distance Education Authorization, in second reading
- B.A. in Apparel Design
- B.A. in Apparel Merchandising
- B.A. in Italian
- B.A. in Political Science
- B.A. in Cinema
- B.A. in Humanities
- Minor in Humanities
- Minor in Persian Studies
- Formal presentations from:
- Noah Price, Graduate Division dean, “State of the Graduate Program”
- Senator Robert Keith Collins, Senator Nancy C. Gerber and Senator Darlene Yee-Melichar, ASCSU Report
The full agenda, meeting materials and minutes can be found on the senate website.
The SF State Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) will be presenting on its ongoing partnership with faculty and instructors to support student access to teaching, learning, coursework and classroom activities from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, via Zoom. The DPRC team will provide an overview of post-COVID accommodation trends, best practices and resources available to support students and instructors. Registration is required to attend. Register via Zoom. This webinar will be hosted by the Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC).
Want to learn first-hand about student activism at SF State in the 1960s and the early beginnings of the Black Student Union and Third World Liberation Front — from the organizers themselves? Join a panel discussion with James Garrett, Tomasita Medál and Jim Willems, all SF State alumni who were activists, teachers and leaders of the original Experimental College in the time leading up to the 1968-69 strike. To be held from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, the panel discussion will focus on the intersections of student activism and community-based, critical education models that brought us the College of Ethnic Studies from 1965-1969.
Watch via Zoom (meeting ID: 970 4706 4935; passcode: exco rocks) or in person in LIB 286.
SF State Campus Rec will be hosting the 10th annual 5K Walk, Run and Roll on Saturday, April 15. The first 100 participants who register will receive a free T-shirt and will also be entered for a chance to win four San Francisco Giants baseball ticket vouchers. On the day of the event Campus Rec will have giveaways, swag items and tabling activations. Information on how to sign up as an individual participant for the SF State 5K Walk, Run & Roll can be found on the Campus Rec Member Portal.
Join Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) in LIB 242 once a month on Wednesdays to discuss teaching through an equity lens. Grounded in the exchange of perspectives and ideas, JEDI Wednesdays is a series of in-person discussions that focus on inclusivity and belonging in our teaching practices. A $50 stipend will be awarded to faculty attendees for each session. GTAs will receive $20. Learn more on the CEETL website.
The next JEDI Wednesday session will be Wednesday, April 12, from 10 to 11 a.m. The topic will be “Student-Teacher Communication: Turning Fear into Collaboration” with Kasturi Ray. Students are often reluctant to participate in class, much less communicate when they need help. In turn, instructors’ own motivation in the classroom can flag in the face of spotty attention. How do you help students feel more comfortable reaching out to instructors? How can instructors make help available when students do not ask for aid? What feedback/reflection exercises might help with this? Register online to attend and learn more.
Associate Professor of Race and Resistance Studies Falu Bakrania will speak on the topic ‘Casteing White Supremacy: Thind, Cisco, and the Politics of Belonging’ on Thursday, April 13, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in HUM 121.
The University Budget Committee (UBC) invites all campus members to attend its next meeting on Thursday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to noon via Zoom. Additionally, UBC members who are staff and faculty offer peer-hosted “Office Hours” on Fridays after the meetings, and the next is on Friday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to noon via Zoom. Attend to share your thoughts about University finance topics or clarify anything heard at the budget meetings. All UBC meetings and Office Hours welcome persons with disabilities and may provide reasonable accommodations upon request. RSVP to ubc@sfsu.edu.
The Institute for Holistic Health Studies invites students, faculty and community “thought leaders” for a collective “Think Tank” (new type of conference) to explore some of the core issues of our time on Friday, April 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in LIB 121. This conference will focus on answering a key question: Which thoughts, beliefs and conditions bring out the worst in us and which bring out our best? What supports the human mind tilting toward dualistic (polarized) thinking (i.e. narrowed perception, fixated thinking and reactive behavior) vs. integrative thinking, which is associated with the capacity for discovery, creativity, collaboration and well-being?
The conference will emphasize five reflective topics and practices to foster integrative thinking:
- New Mind, New World—The Life-Changing Shift: Dualistic to Holistic Thinking
- Media Awareness: Finding Trustworthy News in an Era of Censorship and Misinformation
- Art, Artists and Awakening Possibility
- Seeking Social Justice: Culture Wars and Cultural Healing
- Cross-Cultural (Community) Dialogue
Join and explore alternatives in how we think and relate to each other — to create the world we want.
Events leading up to the conference are part of the National Week of Conversation April 17-23.
This conference will be hosted by Lecturer for Recreation, Parks & Tourism Kenn Burrows. It is free. Speakers, a Zoom link and conference details will follow.
SF State Spotlight
Asian American Studies Professor Russell Jeung participated in a March 24 hearing of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights covering the federal response to anti-Asian racism.
“We really need non-punitive efforts to build racial unity, to educate our community and to create empathy,” Jeung said during his testimony. “Education really is the key across the board.”
At the Department of Economics Friday Coffee Hour on March 17, Associate Professor Venoo Kakar provided insights about bank runs in the context of the recent Silicon Valley Bank collapse. She discussed subsequent policy interventions that aimed to prevent a financial contagion and engaged in a Q&A.
A March 22 profile on KQED focuses on Spie One, the artist who co-created the Malcolm X mural at the Cesar Chavez Student Center while attending SF State. The mural was his first piece created with acrylic paint and brushes.
“It was always just this back-and-forth around, ‘Are you staying true to this art form? Are you trying to do that other established thing that other people already consider art?’” he recalls. “That was something that I struggled with a lot of those years. But I think the Malcolm X piece really helped me to open up my own personal arts avenues much wider.”
Vice President Jamillah Moore and Associate Vice President Frederick Smith delivered a presentation on March 26 at the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education annual conference in San Diego. Their presentation covered the Men of Color support work at SF State.
“Time for Change: Kathy Bruyere,” directed by Cinema Professor Daniel Bernardi, won Best Documentary Short at the Hollywood Verge Film Awards. The film follows a remarkable woman who challenges two centuries of Navy tradition and discrimination, becoming a champion for equal opportunities to serve on-board ship and in combat — all while rising to the rank of captain and becoming a source of strength to her family.
On March 28, Journalism Professor Cristina Azocar presented “Pocahontas Chic: Damaging Media Representations of Indigenous Women” at Westfield State University. It was the inaugural event in the Beverly Wettenstein Women’s History Lecture Series, presented by the Women’s Media Center.
KALW-FM’s “Crosscurrents” interviewed Assistant Professor of Cultural Studies Artel Great on March 29 for his thoughts on Black film, “performative wokeness” and more.
Great says he coined the term “performative wokeness” to identify a corporate marketing strategy.
“Corporations exploit and co-opt the optics or the aesthetics of resistance, the aesthetics of political Blackness, as a way to drive up financial profits and as a way to drive up and satisfy their economic incentives,” he said.
Great serves as the George and Judy Marcus Endowed Chair in African American Cinema Studies at SF State and the cultural critic in residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora. His new book is “Black Cinema and Visual Culture: Art and Politics in the 21st Century” (Routledge), edited with Ed Guerrero.
American Indian Studies Lecturer Eddie Madril is the founder and artistic director of Sewam American Indian Dance, which combines the music, arts and culture of Native American dance with a focus on the dances of United States Plains Indians.
He recently performed with his group at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.
“The story comes from the indigenous and changes according to the environment and times, not just of the past but also of today,” he told the Poway News Chieftan on March 22. “The performance is an opportunity for people who have an interest to ask for more information,” Madril added.
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Kathryn (Casey) Nesbit, Kim Nixon-Cave and Senobia Crawford authored a chapter, “Social Determinants of Health and Pediatric Healthcare,” in the sixth edition of “Campbell’s Physical Therapy for Pediatrics.”
Associate Professor of Counseling Tiffany O’Shaughnessy concluded her three-year term of service as the collective coordinator/president of the Association for Women in Psychology on March 5 at the organization’s annual conference, held in Atlanta. She also served on the planning collective for the conference that was led by Counseling alumna shola shodiya-zeumault.
The revised edition of the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s book, “Spotlight on Young Children: Social and Emotional Development,” includes an article by Linda M. Platas, associate professor and chair of Child and Adolescent Development. The article is titled “Three for One: Supporting Social, Emotional and Mathematical Development in Preschool and Kindergarten.”
Platas and Yasmin Sitabkhan of RTI International delivered a presentation, “Preschool Teachers’ Math Knowledge from Kenya,” at the 67th annual meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society in Washington, D.C., on March 22. The presentation shares the results of a study in Kenya in which two groups of preschool teachers were provided with differing supports for early mathematics teaching in their classroom. The overarching goal, in collaboration with national and county governments, was to improve instruction for 4- to 6-year-old children. Findings show that teachers who felt that classroom support for early mathematics development was age-appropriate also had stronger confidence in their mathematics teaching and gained marginally more knowledge about early math development.
Axios called upon Psychology Professor Gaurav Suri for his expertise on how artificial intelligence may change human influence in the workplace and beyond.
“What are the social influences that are likely to happen working with ChatGPT?” said Suri, an experimental psychologist and computational neuroscientist. “Most people are not using it that way now, but I think that issue is coming.”