College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts : E-Connect December 2002

Picture of SDSU Campus Electronic Newsletter
Volume 1 Issue 7
December 2002

Welcome to PSFA E-Connect, an electronic newsletter for alumni and friends of the College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts (PSFA). We hope you enjoy this summary of SDSU and PSFA news. For detailed information, click on the links provided or copy and paste into your web browser.

EVENTS CALENDAR

Theatre www.theatre.sdsu.edu

“Theatre of the World Festival”	Jan. 31 & Feb. 1
The Laramie Project	Feb.21,22,23,26,27,28, Mar.1,2
Cocks Have Claws and Wings to Fly	Mar. 14,15,16,19,20,21,22,23

SDSU Month March 2002 www.sdsumonth.com (check frequently for events)

Arts (un)Plugged: An Outlet for Arts and Technology www.musicdance.sdsu.edu
Ghosts of the Gods: A Techne-Odyssey	Mar. 6,7,8,9
Billy Kluver Lecture and Film Premiere	Mar. 10
Photographic Exhibition: The Story of E.A.T.: Experiments in Art and Technology	Mar. 3-28
Computer Animation Show	Mar. 13
Machine Shop Art Exhibit	Opening Mar. 14
Matt Heckert Residency Site Specific Installation Studio C	Opening Mar. 15
Public Forum in City Heights	March TBA
Jazz Concert with Lanny Morgan www.jazz.sdsu.edu	March 27

University Art Gallery www.sdsu.edu/artgallery.com

Re-Inventing Pleasure: Ornamentation in Contemporary Ceramic Art	Feb. 3 Mar. 15
Reception for Artists	Feb. 7

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Clearly the last year or so has been a defining time for Americans and their institutions, private and public, including our universities. Since September 11, 2001, we’ve awakened to a new and uncertain global economy and society that is having a dramatic impact on each of us, our families, our communities and certainly our College. Fortunately, what has made America a special place is our belief in diversity, freedom and free enterprise, as well as our respect for community. Important, too, is our understanding of the role our universities play in nurturing the next generation of leaders; those men and women who will continue the traditions that keep us civically engaged and involved, ensuring that we capitalize on the strengths of our country and our communities, and who recognize and enhance the role of the University as a bridge to the 21st century.

At PSFA we have been critically examining the roles each of our schools and departments plays in the community, with special emphasis on how PSFA in particular enhances the quality of life in the greater San Diego region. Our responsibilities to teaching and research are clear; our responsibility to helping build community is becoming increasingly important. To paraphrase SDSU President Weber at our fall convocation: “Our purpose is human growth and development. In classrooms, laboratories, studios, and offices; in student clubs and organizations; in lectures and one-on-one talks; in athletics and in community-based service, we support, challenge, and nurture the growth of our students. Businesses want capable employees; we want whole people able to ask perceptive questions; people capable of continuing to learn; people who care about their community. Ours is the essential struggle to become more aware, to broaden the human family, to overcome ignorance and prejudice. We are pioneering a new model of the engaged university, becoming more international, more entrepreneurial, more diverse, more involved in our community.” As we do so, we look to you, our alumni and friends, to help us in this effort, and in the New Year and months ahead, hope we can count on each of you.

Best wishes for a joyous holiday season,

Joyce Gattas, Dean

SDSU “Second to None”

As 2002 draws to a close, we have much to be proud of. Did you know:

SDSU was ranked the “Best of the Best” Local Colleges and Universities by BestOf.com
SDSU was one of 31 universities on Kaplan’s 2002 list of dream schools universities with the best reputation, location, social scene, as determined by a national survey of high school guidance counselors. Other institutions on the list include Harvard, Duke, NYU, Stanford and MIT.
SDSU was ranked the “Best Local College/University” in the 2002 San Diego Union Tribune Reader’s Poll
SDSU’s International Business program was named the best study abroad program in the country in any area of study by the Institute of International Education’s 2002 Andrew Heiskell Awards.
SDSU’s international business undergraduate program ranked 12th in U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Top Colleges 2003”, competing with Cal, Georgetown, NYU, USC and Penn, among others.

And not to mention…

SDSU is the largest university in San Diego, with more than 33,000 students.
In 2002, SDSU received $140.4 million in grants and contracts for research and administering programs during fiscal 2001/2002, the biggest one-year total in SDSU history.
SDSU is one of the most popular schools in the California system, receiving 45,635 applications for fall 2002, with 30,000 from first-time freshman, resulting in a class with the highest average GPA (3.43) in the University’s history
SDSU’s graduating class of 9,165 students in 2002 was the largest in university history.
SDSU leads the nation in transnational dual-degree programs, now in six countries: Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Italy and Mexico.

Picture of Music students with instruments

Photograph: Courtesy of School of Music & Dance

SDSU DECLARES MARCH 2003 “SDSU MONTH” IN SAN DIEGO

In November, SDSU announced plans for an unprecedented month-long celebration highlighting the accomplishments of its alumni, students and faculty, as well as its huge impact on the San Diego region. SDSU Month will feature a series of special events on campus and around San Diego, as well as major promotions at entertainment, cultural and business venues around the county. Cornerstone events include the 31^st annual Montys Award Gala to honor alumni, an Athletics Day, and “Arts (un)Plugged”, a series of performances and showcases integrating SDSU’s arts, science and technology disciplines, plus lectures, other cultural events and more. Check out the SDSU Month website for details: www.sdsumonth.com, e-mail info@sdsumonth.com or call (619) 594-7085.

Picture of art by Victor Hernandez

"Self" by
Victor Hernandez

SDSU/PSFA STUDENTS SHINE AT CSU MEDIA ARTS FESTIVAL

Last month at the 12^th annual Media Arts Festival hosted by CSU Channel Islands, SDSU had seven finalists and won three first-place awards: Best Music Video Larger Than Life “Last Summer” by graduate students Ron Najor and Ming Jin Woo; Best New Media “Self” by Victor Hernandez and Best Documentary “Crosses/Cruces” by graduate student Laura Irene Arvizu.

AD CLUBS SPONSOR BRANDING SEMINAR ON CAMPUS

In October, the San Diego Ad Club and the School of Communications’ student Ad Club co-sponsored a seminar in Montezuma Hall on “The Anatomy of Branding”. Over 300 students and advertising professionals heard Jim Scott, Account Director at Carmichael Lynch analyze several cases of international branding success including Harley Davidson, Porsche, Ikea, Northwest Airlines, and Coca Cola.

PIcture of kid holding snapple bottles

Photograph: Matthew FitzGerald, The Daily Aztec

TFM STUDENT WINS TOP PRIZE IN NATIONWIDE SNAPPLE CONTEST

Senior Troy Thomas (Television, Film and New Media) won the grand prize in a nationwide Snapple contest “What’s Your Story?” by submitting an original story in 100 words or less that could be made into a Snapple iced tea commercial. His story was one of 23,000 entries. Thomas is most excited about being part of a professional production team, working with a professional director and crew in December. Thomas’s spot will premiere in January on national TV.

ENS HOLDS FALL SEMINAR ON EXERCISE AND BONE HEALTH

At the October meeting, Exercise and Nutritional Sciences professor, Dr. Jeanne Nichols presented “Exercise and Bone Health throughout the Lifespan”, emphasizing the importance of weight-bearing and resistance exercise to the maintenance of bone health in people of all ages. Lack of regular exercise leads to a decrease in bone mineral density and an increased risk of skeletal injuries and osteoporosis. Dr. Nichols discussed the relationship between exercise and bone physiology, and stressed the importance of physical activity and proper diet to maximize bone mineral density in youth to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in later life. For more information, contact Professor Fred Kolkhorst at fred.kolkhorst@sdsu.edu.

Picture of Carl Winston and Lori Sipe

Photograph: Lori Sipe, Courtesy of the HTM Department

HTM PROGRAM ENTERS SECOND YEAR

The Hospitality and Tourism Management Program entered its second year with explodingenrollment and energy. This exciting new Program offers students a unique learning approach to the world’s fastest growing industry. Students can specialize in Hotel, Global Tourism. The program has received major support from national and local companies, organizations and individuals including the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Norman Brinker of Brinker Restaurants, and Sea World, and was recently the recipient of a $10,000 contribution from the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners which recently held its annual meeting in San Diego. The money will provide scholarships to HTM students.

“PLATES OF GOLD” RAISES $50,000 FOR HTM

More than twenty local award-winning chefs donated their time and expertise to the 2nd annual Plates of Gold fundraiser for HTM at the Prado Restaurant ballroom in Balboa Park. Sponsored by the San Diego County chapter of the California Restaurant Association (CRA), the November 19th event treated 250 guests to an epicurean extravaganza. Carl Winston, Director of the HTM Program commented: “Support and donations from industry organizations like CRA have helped SDSU bring this Hospitality and Tourism Management program to San Diego. We currently have more than 100 students in our program, and with generous donations like CRA’s, we anticipate we’ll grow to over 400 students in the next five years.”

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS NOMINEE AT SDSU

Dana Gioia, President Bush’s nominee to lead the NEA, was honored at a private reception at SDSU hosted by Susan Weber and Provost Nancy Marlin. Over 70 university and community leaders gathered on December 10^that the invitation of Deans Joyce Gattas (PSFA) and Paul Strand (Arts and Letters) as well as Jack Webb, Founder and Director of the Border Voices Poetry Project, to meet Gioia and hear his views on the arts in America. Gioia is an internationally acclaimed poet, critic, educator and former business executive. A native Californian of Italian and Mexican descent, he was the first member of his family to attend college. He received a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Stanford and an M.A. in comparative literature from Harvard.

Picture of women organizing pots

Photograph: Richard Burkett, Art Department

PSFA PROFESSOR CURATES EXHIBIT AT SAN DIEGO’S MUSEUM OF MAN

School of Art, Design and Art History Professor and ceramic artist Richard Burkett is guest curator of an exciting exhibit Ecuadorian Pottery Traditions in the renowned Balboa Park museum. Professor Burkett has been doing research among the potters and collecting their work in Ecuador for several years, along with colleague Joe Molinaro of Eastern Kentucky University. The two scholars have photographed and videotaped potters in the Southern Andes and the Amazonian Basin. For information on the exhibit, which opened in September, go to www.museumofman.org or call (619)239-2001.

NOTED SCENIC DESIGNER GIVES STUDENTS REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE

Renowned scenic designer, and our own Don Powell Chair in Scene Design, Ralph Funicello works with MFA scenic design students not only in the classroom, but outside as well. His own design activities have taken him from San Diego’s Old Globe to Seattle’s Rep, with stops in between at the South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa, The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland not to mention Lincoln Center in NYC. Through an extensive professional network, Funicello is able to arrange professional internships for students in theatre, television and film and employs many PSFA Theatre students as design assistants, offering them the invaluable opportunity to connect with the production/technical staff of the country’s major regional theatres.

SDSU PARTNERSHIP IMPLEMENTS BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM

PSFA’s Child and Family Development Assistant Professor Audrey Hokoda announced the implementation at several San Diego South Bay middle schools of a new “Peer Abuse Prevention Program”. Developed in partnership with San Diego County’s Office of Violence Prevention, the program will be implemented over the next 18 months. According to Hokoda, the program “helps students, teachers, parents and administrators recognize bullying in all its forms, whether it’s physical assault or psychological violence such as teasing or exclusion. It also helps them understand the effects of this abuse and know what actions they can take to help solve the problem.”

GREG SMITH AND RONNE FROMAN JOIN PSFA DEAN’S ADVISORY BOARD

San Diego County Assessor Gregory J. Smith and Rear Admiral Ronne Froman USN (Ret.) recently joined the PSFA Dean’s Advisory Board. Greg Smith has been the County Assessor since 1983 and has been with the County since 1977. Prior to that he worked for the cities of Chula Vista and Sausalito. Smith received his Masters in Public Administration from SDSU where he is currently a part-time evening faculty member. In June of 1994, he was elected the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk for the County of San Diego and assumed the duties of Recorder/County Clerk in addition to his duties as County Assessor.

Last year, Ronne Froman joined San Diego City Schools as the Chief of Business Services, leading the transformation of business support systems and processes in information technology, transportation, food services, and procurement. Froman was Director of Ashore Readiness in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington D.C. She has also served as the Personnel Director for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 1997-2000, Froman served as Commander of Navy Region-Southwest based in San Diego and responsible for restructuring support systems and services in all 10 Navy bases in the Southwest. The Dean’s Advisory Board helps secure philanthropic support for PSFA and counsels the Dean on issues of importance to the College.

THEATRE PROFESSOR NAMED ARTISTIC ADVISOR TO GLOBE THEATRE

Peter Cirino, Assistant Professor of Minority Theatre, Acting and Play Development, was recently named Artistic Advisor to The Globe Theatres’ Teatro Meta program. The program is designed for bilingual middle school students who create their own plays based on mythology from different cultures. In existence for over 17 years, it is one of the oldest education programs at the Globe and received a grant this year from the National Endowment for the Arts to expand the program.

6^th ANNUAL THEATRE OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL 1/31/03 2/1/03

The Theatre of the World Festival was created in 1998 to present to students and the general public an international, multi-cultural, festival of world-class theatre for young people. The two-day Festival, performed by adult theatre companies on the SDSU campus celebrates the best in innovative international and regional theatre for youth. Scheduled for Friday January 31 and Saturday February 1, 2003, the Festival will offer over 17 performances of ten different, highly innovative theatrical works in four separate performance spaces on the SDSU campus. For more information and tickets go to: http://theatre.sdsu.edu or call: (619) 584-6884.

CLASS NOTES

Did you get a promotion? Recently relocated? Personal news to share? Send us your news and/or updated contact information to Class Notes at econnect@mail.sdsu.edu.

GIVING BACK

Thank you to our donors who are giving back to SDSU. Your gifts to PSFA and its Fund for Excellence greatly benefit our College and its programs. For those who prefer the convenience of on-line giving, the University’s Web page is www.sdsu.edu/giving. Each gift will be recognized by on-line confirmation, plus a follow-up e-mail message that can be retained for tax purposes. The site is secured to protect personal information, including credit card numbers.