News & Announcements
SF State Athletics is pleased to announce the induction of six individual Gator standouts and one team into the San Francisco State Athletics Hall of Fame. The members of the class of 2022 are Naveed Bagheri (wrestling), Garry Bradford (basketball), Joe Garrity (football), Emily Manwaring (women's basketball coach), Michael J. Simpson (baseball coach/director of Athletics), Iris Tolenada (volleyball, pictured) and the 2005 softball team.
“We are excited to re-ignite this tradition of honoring our prominent athletic alumni and inducting them to our Gator Athletic Hall of Fame,” said SF State Athletic Director Stephanie Shrieve-Hawkins. “This amazing class of inductees have waited through the pandemic to be announced, and we are grateful for their patience and trust in our vision of celebrating them in-person. I am thrilled to be a part of their history through celebrating their accolades as student-athletes and their successes beyond graduation. A huge congratulations to our 2022 Gator Hall of Famers!"
This distinguished group will be formally inducted on Sunday, Sept. 18, with a ceremony on campus at the Student Events Center. For more on this year’s honorees as well as past SF State Athletics Hall of Fame members, go to the SF State Athletics website.
The Vista Room, SF State’s fine-dining training restaurant, will be open for regular lunch seating from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each Tuesday and Wednesday and for special events. Please come and support our student-led restaurant, which will begin service on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The Vista Room staff looks forward to seeing old guests again and welcoming new ones. Please contact Colin Johnson or Beverly Colindres for further details.
Future students from high schools and community colleges across the state will be on campus from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 29, to get an up-close look at SF State’s campus life, support services, admission requirements, financial aid, housing and more. It will be a great opportunity for the campus community to show up, show off and encourage students to apply for fall 2023 admission. Keep an eye on CampusMemo for updates and opportunities to be an SF State ambassador and for your unit to participate in the University Showcase.
SF State’s George and Judy Marcus Hall for the Liberal and Creative Arts has been recognized by the Chicago Athenaeum as a 2022 International Architecture Award recipient. Since 2004, the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design has organized the International Architecture Awards to honor the best, significant new buildings, landscape architecture and planning projects designed and/or built around the world’s leading architects, landscape architects and urban planners practicing nationally and internationally. This year’s list of honorees includes new buildings in Moscow, Shanghai and other locations around the world.
Designed by the renowned architecture firm Mark Cavagnero Associates (MCA), Marcus Hall is the home of the Liberal & Creative Arts College’s Broadcast and Electronic Communications Arts (BECA) department. Completed in early 2021, it was the first new academic building to be built on the SF State campus in 25 years, and the first academic building named after University graduates in its history.
The College of Extended Learning is in the process of changing its name to the College of Professional and Global Education (CPGE). This new name represents SF State’s commitment to providing accessible education to both working adults in California and international students. This will also align the college with the Professional and Continuing Education unit in the Chancellor’s Office, which rebranded several years ago to reflect current practice in this area and (in the case of CPGE) substantial international programming. Most of the other CSU campuses have already moved away from the older concept of “extension” to this new nomenclature.
The timing is right for this: The college has significantly changed over the past several years, and this new name will help it communicate its success and goals and distance it from previous conceptions of the college. Please contact Dean Alex Hwu if you have any questions at alexhwu@sfsu.edu.
All represented and non-represented University Staff are invited to participate in the election of the inaugural Staff Council. The 2022 Staff Council election ballot is live and will remain open until 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. Staff may vote in every election category even if they are not a representative of that unit. Staff are not required to vote in every election and may only submit one ballot.
Congratulations to all the candidates and thank you for your participation. Electors will be notified and announced in CampusMemo.
Access your ballot on Qualtrics. Questions or concerns? Email the Staff Council Elections Committee via Albiniak@sfsu.edu.
SF State’s Academic Senate is hosting a fall 2022 special election for two important committees: University Sabbatical new charge and the Academic Integrity charge. The nomination period is now open and will run through Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. Please use Qualtrics (University Sabbatical Committee nomination or Academic Integrity Committee nomination) to self-nominate or nominate a colleague given the parameters below. Voting will take place from Sept. 26 to 5 p.m. Sept. 30.
University Sabbatical Committee
Members of the committee must be tenured faculty unit employees. A faculty unit employee applying for a sabbatical shall not be eligible for election to the USC.
- Two members from each college
- One representative from the Library
- Three at-large representatives elected by faculty
Academic Integrity Committee
Representatives will serve two-year terms and may be elected for additional terms. Representatives are sought from:
- College of Ethnic Studies
- College of Health & Social Sciences
- College of Liberal & Creative Arts
- College of Science & Engineering
- Division of Graduate Studies
- Graduate College of Education
- Lam Family College of Business
- Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
- University Library
Additional committee information can be found on the Academic Senate website. Any questions can be directed to the Office of the Academic Senate at senate@sfsu.edu.
Professor of Public Health Emma Sanchez-Vaznaugh was awarded a National Institute of Health grant to study the impact of public health nutrition policies on academic performance among California’s children. Sanchez-Vaznaugh is co-principal investigator with Brisa Sanchez, the Dornsife Endowed Professor of Biostatistics at Drexel University. This longitudinal study will examine the separate and combined population-level influences of nutrition policies and characteristics of food environments around schools on academic performance and related racial/ethnic disparities. The study will generate new evidence on the extent to which population-level nutrition policy interventions targeted at public schools reduce racial/ethnic gaps in academic performance, a strong predictor of educational attainment, which, in turn is a salient determinant of health. The $3.2 million award is funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
The STS Hub, led by Associate Professor of Women and Gender Studies Martha Kenney and Professor of Public Health Laura Mamo, is pleased to announce the award of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Community Development Grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant, “Research Ethics in STEM: Network Building and Graduate Student Training,” is funded jointly by the NSF Science, Technology and Society program and the Ethics and Responsible Research program. On the Principal Investigation Team are Kenney, Mamo, Assistant Professor of Anthropology Martha Lincoln and Professor/Chair of Women and Gender Studies Juliette Hua.
During the three-year grant period, the STS Hub Faculty Fellows program will establish a research community and M.A.-level student training program organized around annual themes. This year’s theme is Viral Politics: From HIV to COVID-19. A call for Faculty Fellows will be available Monday, Sept. 12, and will be announced in CampusMemo and on the STS Hub website. For more information contact at mkenney@sfsu.edu.
The SF State Research and Scholarly Activity Fund aims to support the creation of new or ongoing research projects and scholarly activities (including creative works and community-engaged activities) that encourage application to externally funded opportunities and/or bring external recognition to the PI and the University. Two separate grant opportunities are available within this single announcement.
- Faculty who are creating new projects, new scholarship activities or new creativity directions are encouraged to apply for a Development of Research and Creativity (DRC) Grant, funded by the CSU Chancellor’s Office.
- Faculty who are engaged in continuing work (e.g., preparing a scholarly manuscript for publication, completing creative work or conducting data analysis) or other scholarly work (e.g., pilot data) leading to external funding proposals are encouraged to apply for an ORSP Small Grant.
Please note: You may only apply to one of the opportunities, not both.
Grant Size
Individual projects involving one faculty member may request up to $14,000. Collaborative projects involving two-plus faculty members may request up to $20,000
Key Dates
The submission deadline is 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10 (no exceptions). It is anticipated that funded proposals will be announced in December. The earliest anticipated start date for awards is January 2023.
More information is available on the ORSP website.
Orientation Leaders (OLs) assist with the implementation of SF State’s New Student & Family Orientation Program (NSFP). OLs are current students who are well-respected, academically balanced leaders on campus. OLs are chosen based on their current and potential academic, interpersonal and leadership qualities. The Orientation Leader team is selected in the Fall semester, enroll in the Spring semester-long Peer Mentor/Leadership course and participates in the following summer orientation sessions. Applications are now open and will close Friday, Sept. 30.
The Autism Social Group is intended for SF State students who identify as autistic or having autism. Topics to be covered include personal and academic skill-building, disability identity, campus and community resources, guest speakers/facilitators, and opportunities to play games, socialize and share experiences with peers. Attendance is encouraged the whole semester to get to know peers and build community, but participants are welcome any time.
The fall 2022 Autism Social Group will meet in-person from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays starting Sept. 6. The group will meet in Student Services Building (SSB) room 404 (4th floor). An RSVP is encouraged but not necessary. To RSVP or for more information, please email Daniel Lebrija, disability specialist and group facilitator, at dlebrija@sfsu.edu.
The SF State Academic Senate will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, virtually via Zoom for its first 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:
- Recommendations from the Executive Committee: Resolution in Support of University Mission Statement (2022), in first reading.
- Recommendation from the Executive Committee: LCA Reorganization, information item.
- Recommendations from the Executive Committee: Resolution in Memoriam and in Honor of Emerita Professor Ruth B. Love, consent item.
- Presentation by Andrew Roderick, Assistant Vice President of Academic Technology, “Transition to Canvas Update” (approximate time: 2:45-3 p.m.)
- Presentation by Guisselle Nuñez, AVP Strategic Marketing and Communications, “Faculty Experts for the Media” (approximate time: 3-3:15 p.m.)
The full agenda, meeting materials and minutes can be found on the senate website.
The SF State Safe Zone Ally program is looking for staff, faculty and administrators to become safe zone allies for the campus LGBTQ+ community. The Safe Zone Ally program’s mission is to foster a welcoming, inclusive and equitable campus environment by building a support network for people of all gender and sexual identities. Safe Zone allies are active and visible volunteers who are open to talking to members of the LGBTQ+ community in a confidential and supportive environment.
To become a Safe Zone ally, volunteers must complete a Safe Zone Ally training. Several Safe Zone Ally trainings are offered throughout the year. The next training will be held virtually in two parts (and participants must be able to attend both): Friday, Oct. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. For further details about the training and in order to register, please RVSP to Rick Nizzardini at rnizzard@sfsu.edu. (You must pre-register in order to participate). You can also get more information by checking out the Safe Zone Ally website.
Are you an alum who works on campus? Then register by 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, for the 2022 Campus Alumni Luncheon.
Enjoy mixing and mingling with fellow Gators and hear what’s new on campus. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, on the5th floor patio of the Administration Building.
Questions can be sent to Ken Maeshiro at kmaeshir@sfsu.edu.
Vice President of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management (SAEM) Jamillah Moore invites students to join her and SAEM leadership for one of six open houses to be held this semester. All Open Houses will be in the lobby of the Student Services Building. Students will get the opportunity to meet SAEM leadership from Enrollment Management, Health Services, Equity & Inclusion, Student Life, Athletics, International Education, Campus Safety and Title IX and Equity Programs. Snacks will be provided, and students will be able to get their picture taken with SF State mascot Ali Gator. Those who show up in University spirit apparel will also be entered into a raffle for more SF State swag.
The open houses will be held:
- Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to noon
- Wednesday, Oct. 12, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to noon
- Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to noon
U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, the representative for California’s 14th district, will be on campus for a Town Hall meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3. (A previously announced visit set for Monday, Sept. 12, had to be rescheduled.) The entire campus community is invited to attend the discussion, which will be held in HUM 133.
The University Budget Committee (UBC) will meet virtually via Zoom from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Sept. 20. 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.
The campus community is invited to a retirement reception honoring Gene Chelberg from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, in the Seven Hills Conference Center. Help celebrate Chelberg’s 30 years of service to higher education and his unparalleled commitment to SF State — first as the inaugural director for the Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) in 2001, then as the AVP of Student Affairs since 2007. RSVP by Wednesday, Sept. 14, via Google Docs.
Spotlight
The New York Times called on Associate Professor of Biology Robyn Crook to discuss issues surrounding humane treatment of invertebrates such as squid and octopuses in research. The federal government does not regulate treatment of invertebrates like it does other animals.
Crook and her colleagues now wait up to 20 minutes to begin working with an octopus after it undergoes anesthesia.
“Whether or not pain experience exists in animals outside vertebrates is quite a controversial proposition,” Crook said in the Aug. 27 story. “... We suggest that octopuses feel, and are capable of feeling, the same thing.”
An Aug. 28 article in Psychology Today explores the concept of empathetic listening and how it can lead to improved communication, affiliation and productivity.
Psychology Professor David Matsumoto discusses his studies of micro-expressions, the tiny involuntary facial tics that can reveal one’s true emotions.
“Silence is one non-verbal cue. Shifting posture is a non-verbal cue. A social smile could be another cue,” he said. “All of these are part of the non-verbal package that contributes to that contextual meaning.”
William Cochlan, adjunct professor of Biology at the Estuary and Science Center, discussed with SF Gate this season’s algal blooms in San Francisco Bay that have caused thousands of fish to die.
Cochlan was the first scientist to observe the species blooming in the Bay Area, in 2002. He said it thrives in shallow, calm waters, warmer temperatures and bright sunlight.
“What I hope will happen is we’ll get a wind event and it will mix up San Francisco Bay and the algae species will mix to the deeper depths of the bay, and with not a lot of sunlight, the species will die,” Cochlan said in the Aug. 29 story. “It will also mix more oxygen into the water.”
Associate Professor of Health Education Emma Sanchez-Vaznaugh is the guest for the August episode of “All Things STEM,” a podcast produced by the CSU’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network (STEM-NET). She discusses her research on racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in health and the impact of policies and environments on health and disparities.
She has found that residents of low-income areas tend to have less resources for healthy living.
“These neighborhoods often lack the nutritious foods and resources for physical activity, like safe parks and recreational facilities,” said Sanchez (MPH, ’01). “… There is plenty of room to improve they ways in which we organize our society, to ensure that our schools, homes and neighborhoods are places that support our health and longevity.”
The Pacifica Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission named Emerita Professor of Creative Writing Toni Mirosevich the city’s fourth poet laureate. She has written five books of poetry in addition to creative nonfiction, essays and short story.
Mirosevich (M.A., ’92; MFA, ’94) tells the Pacifica Tribune that coastal living and literature go hand in hand. “Walk down the berm and you’ll trip over poems!” she said in the Aug. 24 story. “They come in, line by line, like the lines of poetry. Waves and poems, they both have a rhythm.”
Yeah, a California accent is a real thing, says Teresa Pratt, assistant professor of English Language and Literature. She discussed the way Californians talk in an Aug. 26 story on KCRW-FM, the National Public Radio flagship station in Southern California.
Although Californians do not speak in a single, uniform accent, Pratt explains “the California vowel shift” is what distinguishes our linguistic style,
“[It] involves a shift in almost all kinds of areas of what we call the vowel space. So the vowels that you produce with your tongue more in the front of your mouth,” she said. “That would be a vowel like ‘bit,’ or ‘bet,’ or ‘bat.’ All of those, your jaw is a little more open. So ‘bit’ sounds more like ‘bet.’ ‘Bet’ sounds more like ‘bat.’ And ‘bat’ sounds more like ‘bot.’”
Gretchen L. George, associate professor of Nutrition Dietetics, presented “Resilience Includes Increasing Awareness and Access to Individual Basic Needs” at the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference and Expo in April. George’s presentation shared data and outcomes from a recent SF State classroom-based intervention where comparisons were made between classrooms receiving the basic needs tool kit versus those who did not.
George also led 15 students to Italy this summer as part of the 2022 Health & Wellness Italy Abroad Program. They experienced new flavors and food practices by touring tomato farms and visiting water buffalo dairies to observe healthy farming practices and production of mozzarella; engaged with a local production and packaging company to discover the art of Italian pasta; and observed ancient food and culture at Pompeii.