PSFA E-CONNECT - April 2008

Welcome to PSFA E-Connect, an electronic newsletter for alumni and friends of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA). We hope you enjoy this summary of SDSU and PSFA news.

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

The College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts is proud to unveil the new and improved E-Connect. This new e-newsletter is the first project by our new webmaster, Stacey Raval, who will be redesigning the PSFA website in the months to come. Watch for our exciting new look online, and as ever, please keep in touch with email address changes, exciting news, and updates!

Joyce M. Gattas, Dean
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts

IN THE NEWS

Dean Joyce Gattas Honored with Women of Dedication Award

The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary 43rd Annual “Women of Dedication” award honors the ongoing commitment of women who volunteer to improve the San Diego community. For more than 40 years, each Spring, the Women’s Auxiliary has honored up to fifteen of the city’s most dedicated volunteers to thank the women who, through different programs, improve the lives of others. Joyce Gattas was honored this April at the Women of Dedication Luncheon.

Randy Reinholz named Director of the School of Theatre, Television and Film

Randy Reinholz has been named Director of the School of Theatre, Television and Film at SDSU. Randy has been with SDSU since 1997, most recently as Interim Director of the School of Theatre, Television and Film and is the Producing Artistic Director for Native Voices at the Autry in Los Angeles. He has also been active in the CSU Summer Arts program and has directed numerous campus productions, the most recent being The Glass Menagerie in Fall 2007. Randy received his BA in Communication from William Jewell College and his M.F.A. in Acting from Cornell University. Before coming to SDSU he has taught at Illinois State University, Duke University, Santa Monica College and Cal State, Los Angeles.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

Cupcake Brown honored as the PSFA Distinguished Alumna at the Monty's Celebration

On Saturday, March 29, Cupcake Brown (’98, criminal justice) was honored at the 2008 Monty Celebration as the PSFA Distinguished Alumna. Cupcake Brown is an attorney, author, and motivational speaker whose personal success story has received worldwide attention. Her extraordinary journey from life on the streets to the New York Times best-seller list has included graduating SDSU magna cum laude as well as a job at one of the most prestigious law firms in California. Through her writing and public appearances she inspires audiences around the globe.

Marion Ross and Joyce Gattas to be honored by Mortar Board

Marion Ross (’50, theatre arts and English), best known for her work as ‘Mrs. C.’ on “Happy Days” as well as her work on “The Drew Carey Show” and her Golden Globe winning performance in “The Evening Star,” and Dean Joyce M. Gattas will receive the Mortar Board Distinguished Alumna Award at a luncheon on Saturday, April 12, 2008, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina. For reservations, contact Leslie Herrmann at lherrman@mail.sdsu.edu, 619-594-6337. The award was established in 1991 by the SDSU Chapter of Mortar Board to recognize outstanding members of Mortar Board who have contributed significantly to their community or profession in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and service.

Mortar Board looks forward to honoring these two women who represent the ideals upon which Mortar Board is based scholarship, leadership, and service.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

SDSU Wins at Spring Championships Speech and Debate Tournament

The SDSU Forensics Team attended the Spring 2008 Championships Speech and Debate Tournament at Los Angeles Valley College, along with forty-six other schools from around the nation. With over one thousand students present and some of the toughest competition in the country, San Diego State performed very well. The team took 2nd Place Overall in the Novice Sweepstakes Award and 4th Place Overall in the 4-Year Team Sweepstakes Award. Next up for the Aztecs will be the national debate tournament in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where the top two debate teams will compete: Kevin Cruz and Alex Jashinsky and Brian Hubbard and Reed Reynolds.

Quest for the Best – Vice Presidential Service Award

Two PSFA students will receive the prestigious "Quest for the Best Award" at the 22nd Vice Presidential Student Service Award this month. The "Quest for the Best Award" honors outstanding student leaders who have typified and promoted the broader mission of the university through development of leadership skills and community service.

Our "Quest for the Best" honorees are:
Jameson DeSantis, Television, Film and New Media major
David Matthews, Hospitality and Tourism Management Major

FACULTY TO WATCH

We are continuing our series, in conjunction with the current issue of 360 Magazine, highlighting SDSU faculty members to watch as leaders in their field. The following young researchers in the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts have bright futures ahead of them. We hope you enjoy this spotlight on our rising stars.

Dana Nurge

Dana Nurge is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice in the School of Public Administration and Urban Studies. Dr. Nurge’s research focuses on gangs, youth violence, and juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention programming. She is currently serving as a Technical Advisor to the San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention, and continues to conduct research locally on gangs. Prior to coming to San Diego, Dr. Nurge received her PhD from Rutgers School of Criminal Justice and taught at Northeastern University College of Criminal Justice in Boston, where she also completed her dissertation research on girls’ involvement in gangs and cliques.

Vinod Sasidharan

Vinod Sasidharan is an Associate Professor and the Program Coordinator of the Recreation and Tourism Management Program in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Dr. Sasidharan’s research addresses the concept of sustainable development in relation to the use of tourism and recreation resources from a multidisciplinary perspective, with emphasis on examining these issues within the context of future trends. Dr. Sasidharan's research has been funded by federal agencies including the U.S.D.A Forest Service, U.S.D.I. National Park Service, U.S. Peace Corps., nationally-renowned philanthropic agencies such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and local agencies such as the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. Dr. Sasidharan graduated with his Ph.D. in Leisure Studies from Pennsylvania State University