October 24, 2022

Parenting is hard, and COVID-19 added many new layers of difficulty to an already herculean job. A new study highlights how maternal mental health — and a mother’s own adverse childhood experiences — impacted children’s mental health during the pandemic. The findings were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

“As COVID was unfolding, I was interested in thinking about the pandemic, including lockdown and COVID-19 transmission, as a traumatic stressor rather than just a difficult event. [I wanted to think] about our reactions to it in a more psychologically and trauma-informed way,” said first author Melissa Hagan, SF State associate professor of Psychology. For this project, she worked with long-term collaborators Nicole Bush and Danielle Roubinov at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where Hagan is also an adjunct assistant professor.

Hagan and colleagues surveyed 111 mothers of young children (approximately 7 years old) who were already enrolled in an ongoing, multi-year UCSF study. Along with data collected in the pre-pandemic years, researchers gave mothers a questionnaire asking about their own and their children’s mental health and about the quality and nature of their interactions early in the pandemic (May – November 2020).

“When we talk about trauma reactions, we’re not just talking about sadness or frustration. We’re talking about high levels of anxiety or fear and hypervigilance,” Hagan said. “There are all of these things that were part of the pandemic experience that were very relevant to thinking about it through a trauma lens.”

The study revealed that although the pandemic took a toll on mothers’ mental health, the mother-child relationship seemed to deepen early in the pandemic, even if COVID-related negative events increased. Hagan explained that children in this study were more impacted by their mothers’ response to pandemic events than the events themselves. In addition, researchers found that childhood adversity experienced by mothers was directly associated with their children’s mental health during the pandemic.

Learn more about the study at SF State News.

If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, as the old song goes, who you gonna call? Well, if your neighborhood’s in San Francisco, forget the Ghostbusters. Call Christian Cagigal (B.A., ’02) — so he can add your block to the San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour.

Cagigal helped launch the ghost tour — San Francisco’s first — in 1998 while still a Theatre Arts student at SF State. Cagigal was brought in as co-director and creative consultant by his friend Jim Fassbinder, who created the tour and ran it for 17 years. When Fassbinder retired in 2015, he sold the tour to Cagigal.

Now Cagigal’s in the middle of the tour’s busiest time of the year, taking dozens of amateur ghosthunters onto the streets of San Francisco six nights a week throughout October. (The tour is available other months, as well, but the schedule isn’t as regular, with Cagigal — a theatre consultant and magician — splitting his time between San Francisco and New York.)

Though he’s more of a skeptic than a true believer when it comes to the spirit realm, Cagigal says he’s always been fascinated by the supernatural.

“It’s funny, because I hated horror films as a kid, but I loved stories of haunted places,” he said. “I even wanted to be a paranormal scientist as a kid. I love experiencing the feeling of mystery and the unknown whether in life or art.”

Cagigal says the highlight of the tour for him is a chance to visit to the Hotel Majestic on Sutter Street. The longest continuously running hotel in the city, the Majestic was built in 1902 and survived the earthquake of 1906. Now it’s the guests who have to survive the occasional terrifying shake.

“For well over 100 years guests and staff of the hotel have claimed that ‘Lady Lisa’ haunts the floor, especially room 407,” he said. “She likes to shake people awake at night, appear as reflections in glass cabinets, or make lights swing.”

The process to change the name of the College of Extended Learning to the College of Professional & Global Education has concluded. Welcome, CPaGE! For further information, please contact CPaGE Dean Alex Hwu (alexhwu@sfsu.edu) or Julie Briden (jbriden@sfsu.edu).

SF State’s George and Judy Marcus Hall for the Liberal and Creative Arts and design firm Mark Cavagnero Associates have won another honor. The building was named one of these year’s Architecture MasterPrize winners in the Educational Buildings category. Winners are selected by a jury of architects and architecture leaders from around the world.

Marcus Hall was honored with a 2022 International Architecture Award earlier this year.

Have a visiting scholar, interview candidate or special guest who needs a place to stay? Conference & Event Services has space on campus! Their guest suites will provide your guest with a comfortable and conveniently located junior one-bedroom apartment at the University Park North housing community. Each guest suite is fully furnished, has a variety of amenities and is within walking distance to campus, public transportation, Stonestown Galleria and dining options. For more information, visit the Conference & Event Services website, or contact Jim Tomkins Raney at hdcsces@sfsu.edu or (415) 338-3972 to schedule a tour.

Applications are being accepted for the faculty coordinator position of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) support program, to complement the University contract with NCFDD. The faculty coordinator would be expected to organize activities to support NCFDD participants, such as faculty learning communities around various webinars/workshops. The coordinator will also head promotional activities to increase awareness of and engagement with the NCFDD. The coordinator will report regularly to the associate dean or associate VP for Faculty Affairs. Tenured, tenure track and three-year contracted lecturer faculty are welcome to apply.

This position will commence Dec. 1 in preparation for Spring semester programming. A 0.2 course release is awarded for this position.

To apply, submit a cover letter and CV via Qualtrics by Nov. 4. In your cover letter, please explain the impact this course release will have on your department curriculum.

Applications will be reviewed by the Office of Faculty Affairs. For questions, please contact Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs Todd Roehrman at roehrman@sfsu.edu.

The fourth week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is all about awareness around and identifying phishing scams. Phishing is when criminals use fake email accounts to lure you into clicking on links that allow them access to your personal information. Clicking these links can also enable phishers to install malware on your device. Once you understand what signs of phishing scams look like, you can better avoid getting scammed.

Looking for more cybersecurity learning opportunities? Check out the following CSU-hosted webinars being offered this week.

• “Certification 101”
  Tuesday, Oct. 25, 10 – 11 a.m.
• “See Yourself in Cyber”
  Thursday, Oct. 27, 10 – 11 a.m.
• “InfoSec Careers: Degrees or Certification”
  Friday, Oct. 28, 10 – 11 a.m.

Lobby Corps at SF State is recruiting motivated students to research policy and lobby lawmakers. An effort of the Associated Students director of government and community relations, Lobby Corps is a group of motivated students who want to engage in advocacy, learning, education and discourse about legislation and governance at the university, local, state and federal governments. Found on many campuses nationwide, Lobby Corps empowers students in civic engagement through education, deliberation and advocacy in policymaking and legislation.

SF State has long been committed to preparing its students to become productive, ethical, active citizens. Here is an opportunity to truly complement their education! Students will not only identify their values but connect them with specific policy proposals applicable to different levels of government. Students in Lobby Corps will identify bills and policies introduced by legislative and policymaking bodies, track their progress, present to the Corps and advocate in support or opposition.

Know a student who’d be right for Lobby Corps? Tell them to apply online. Send an email to slee@asi.sfsu.edu to schedule an in-class pitch to your students.

The Academic Senate met Tuesday, Oct. 18, via Zoom. The senate:

• Passed the Resolution on Campus Response to Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates (ICAS) Cal-GETC Proposal.
• Passed Proposed College of Extended Learning (CEL) name change, to the “College of Professional and Global Education (CPAGE).”
• Passed Senate Resolution, in Solidarity with Women and University Communities in Iran.
• Passed Proposed: Change the Minor in Management from 21 to 15 units.

The full agenda, meeting materials and minutes can be found on the senate website.

The Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) Fall 2022 Discussion Circles series continues with “Reckoning Through Reading: Strategies for Engagement and Equity” on Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 10 to 11 a.m. in CEETL’s classroom, LIB 242. This discussion will be hosted by Faculty Director for Writing & Reading Across the Curriculum (WRAC) Kasturi Ray and Professor of Design Hsiao-Yun Chu.

Reading together in the classroom can be a wonderful opportunity for exchange and dialogue. Yet reading can also provoke confusion, alienation and even resentment among students. How have you built accessible, exciting and culturally responsive reading lists, assignments and assessments? Come share your concerns, tips and ideas and learn about CEETL’s successes with pre-reading and Universal Design for Learning strategies. Register to join this in-person discussion.

There’s also still time to register for this week’s Discussion Circle, “Bend Without Breaking: Flexible, Sustainable Course Design for Faculty and Student Success,” from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, in LIB 242.

Visit the CEETL website to learn more about the CEETL Discussion Circle series.

Academic Affairs will be honoring faculty members who were granted tenure and/or received a promotion this academic year. The celebration will be held Wednesday, Oct. 26, in the Vista Room. Please see the Tenure and Promotion Awardee flier for a full list of 2022-2023 honorees. Congratulations to all our tenured and/or promoted faculty!

The Institute for Holistic Health Studies at SF State is sponsoring a four-week Mindfulness Meditation series to be held via Zoom from 2 to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays starting Oct. 26. Learn how to develop a regular mindfulness meditation practice to help manage stress, promote relaxation, increase focus and connect with others. Each workshop will have a guided meditation, short talk and chance for discussion. Attend the entire series, or drop in as you like. Additional dates: Nov. 2, Nov. 9 and Nov. 16. 

This series is free and open to the entire campus community — students, staff and faculty. It will be led by Mindfulness Teacher-in-Training Mary Costello and hosted by Associate Professor of Holistic Health Studies Jennifer Daubenmier. 

Are your eyes tired, irritated and sometimes dry? Do you have neck and shoulder discomfort at the end of the day? If you answered either question yes, come join the Institute of Holistic Health at SF State for a two-session workshop and learn skills to reduce symptoms and increase health. Learn pragmatic techniques that you can integrate immediately at work and at home. The workshop will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 2, in HSS 306. It is open to staff, faculty, students and members of the University community. It will be led by Professor of Recreation, Parks & Tourism Erik Peper.

The University Budget Committee (UBC) will meet virtually via Zoom from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Oct. 27. These meetings welcome members of the campus community to attend and learn about the University budgeting process and provide an open forum at the end of each meeting for public comment. The UBC is comprised of SF State faculty, staff, students and administrators and is charged with serving as a deliberative body that provides the SF State president with ongoing advice and recommendations related to budget policy, planning and assessment. Information about the UBC can be found on the Administration & Finance website.

UBC meetings welcome persons with disabilities and may provide reasonable accommodations upon request. If you would like to RSVP to the Zoom meeting as a guest or have other questions, please email ubc@sfsu.edu.

Join el Departamento de Física y Astronomía (the Department of Physics and Astronomy) for a fun and engaging bilingual night of science from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, in Thornton Hall 411. The evening will feature student physics presentations in Spanish and English, a star show in the SF State planetarium and (Karl the Fog willing) stargazing through a variety of telescopes at the University observatory. More monthly Noche de Estrellas (Night of Stars) events will follow throughout the remainder of the academic year. Stay tuned for details!

Human Resources is offering virtual wellness sessions via LifeMatters that may help employees and their families get through the upcoming holiday season. Sessions include:

• “Key Conversations”
  Friday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m.
• “Expressing Anger: Do’s and Don’ts”
  Thursday, Nov. 10, 11 a.m.
• “Difficult and Sensitive Conversations: The CARE Model”
  Friday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.
• “Elder Care: Practical Tips & Resources for Caregivers”
  Thursday, Dec. 15, 2 p.m.

Get more information and RSVP via Qualtrics.

Please join the Office of International Programs in celebrating International Education Week(s)/Month 2022! SF State’s IEW festivities will take place Nov. 1 – 30 and will include virtual and in-person sessions, such as virtual international career workshops and study abroad sessions and a two-day in-person study abroad fair. Watch a YouTube video to learn how international education has benefited SF State students, and please let our students know about these events!

Scholars’ Writing Meet-ups are planned for fall 2022. Join a structured Writing Check-in, quiet time and report back with faculty peers. Meet-ups will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. the first Tuesday and third Friday of each month in the Library’s second floor Faculty Commons. Sessions will be hybrid: in person and on Zoom. For more information, contact Professor Anoshua Chaudhuri at anoshua@sfsu.edu. For a Zoom link send a message to transforms@sfsu.edu. The meetings will be held:

• Tuesday, Nov. 1
• Friday, Nov. 18
• Tuesday, Dec. 6
• Friday, Dec. 16

For a Zoom link, send a message to transforms@sfsu.edu.

If you are attending via Zoom, please RSVP via Qualtrics. If you are attending in person, you do not have to RSVP.

The All-University Committee on International Programs would like to invite the campus community to its Faculty and Staff Open House in recognition of International Education Month. The event will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, on the fifth floor of the Administration building. Come join your peers for refreshments as a month of events kicks off! RSVP via Qualtrics. 

The next virtual Staff Forum will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, and will include important Title IX, DHR and mandatory reporter information from Equity Programs and Compliance. All campus staff, both represented and non-represented (who are not MPP or faculty), should attend this training that benefits all of the campus community. RSVP for the Zoom link via Qualtrics.

Andrew E. Dubin, former professor of Educational Administration in the Department of Equity, Leadership Studies, and Instructional Technologies (ELSIT) in the Graduate College of Education, passed away Oct. 4. Dubin was originally hired in 1986, having previously served as adjunct faculty at CSU Fullerton and UC Irvine. A native of the Bronx, Dubin worked as a teacher, dean and advisor in New York City, and as a teacher and administrator internationally in Colombia, Pakistan and Italy. He received his Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate School and was published internationally. In addition to being a respected teacher, he was a skilled program developer and administrator at SF State, directing a teacher training program for returning Peace Corps volunteers as well as Educational Leadership Institutes for aspiring school leaders in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties. Dubin entered the Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP) in 2012 and remained active in the classroom throughout his five-year FERP term.

Professor Emeritus of Psychology Gerald West passed away Sept. 30. West came to SF State in 1967 and was made an emeritus faculty member in 2005. He was a highly visible and active leader in the Bay Area, directing or consulting with many community-based programs. A memorial service was held at San Francisco Columbarium and Funeral Home Oct. 22. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the United Negro College Fund.

SF State received $6,038,004 in grants and contracts in September 2022.

• Daniel Bernardi, Cinema/Veteran Documentary Corps, United States Department of Veteran Affairs, New Mexico Veterans Legacy Grants Program, $487,674
• Victor De La Rosa, School of Art, San Francisco Foundation, 2022 Cadogan Awards, $19,500
• Megumi Fuse, Blake Riggs, Biology, National Institutes of Health, SFSU/UCSF M.S. Bridges to the Doctorate Program, $47,084
• George T. Gassner, Chemistry & Biochemistry, National Institutes of Health, Repurposing Styrene Catabolic Enzymes for the Synthesis of Penicillins, $620,000
• Shandy Hauk, Mathematics, Foundation for California Community Colleges, Expanding Equity and Access in Discrete Mathematics, $647,551
• Maryssa Mitsch, Jocelyn Hermoso, Special Education, United States Department of Education, Project ARISE: Adversity and Resiliency Interventions for Social Emotional Development in Early Childhood, $1,100,000
• Akm Newaz, Physics & Astronomy, National Science Foundation, RUI: Atomically flat 3D metal-2D layered semiconductor devices for electronic and optoelectronic applications, $329,075
• Andrea Swei, Biology, the Regents of the University of California Davis, Pacific Southwest Regional Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, $498,827
• Ilmi Yoon, Anagha Kulkarni, Aakash Gautam, Computer Science, National Science Foundation, Collaborative Research: BPC-A: Socially Responsible Computing: Promoting Latinx student retention via community engagement in early CS courses, $293,376
• Hao Yue, Ilmi Yoon, Larry Horvath, Jingyi Wang, Yue-Ting Siu, Computer Science, National Science Foundation, CS4NorthCal: Scaling an Evidence-based Model for Teacher Preparation and Support to Provide Equitable and Inclusive CS Education in California High Schools, $1,994,917