"The College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts prides itself on the creativity, involvement, leadership, and scholarship of its students. We hope you will enjoy reading about the talented individuals who make PSFA their home at San Diego State."
- Joyce M. Gattas, Dean
PSFA Selects Outstanding Students
Two students were named “Outstanding Graduates” in college commencement ceremonies held on May 23rd, 2009. Iris Caffin from the School of Theatre, Television and Film and David Richards from the School of Public Affairs were selected to receive this special recognition.
Iris Caffin is a Television, Film and New Media graduate who came to SDSU in 2007 as a transfer student. Ms. Caffin, who graduated Summa Cum Laude (3.84 out of 4.0 gpa), has already been recognized for her work in the film industry. Iris produced and directed the half hour sitcom Three of a Kind that won a prestigious Emmy award for the school and she also won the award for Best Television Director at the TFM Film Festival in 2007. Iris produced the short narrative, The Perfect Frame that was awarded Best Film at the TFM Film Festival, received an honorary mention at the Director’s Guild of America, and was an official entry at the San Diego Film Festival and Temecula Film Festival (both internationally recognized film festivals) in 2008. Iris was the Supervising Producer and a director for a 1-hour narrative drama Hollywood Heights, a project supported by the entire school of Theatre, Television, and Film. Hollywood Heights took home the Emmy as the Best Student Production in the Southwest in June, 2009. Iris has applied to graduate school and hopes to work for National Geographic or the Discovery Channel and eventually become a professor.
David Richards is a Public Administration major who graduated Summa Cum Laude (3.87 out of 4.0 gpa). David was home schooled and at the age of 10 was handed a school curriculum and instructed to teach himself. David’s family life was filled with challenges; the struggle with a divorce and the uncertainty of not knowing whether he would have a roof over his head or would be spending the night sleeping in their car.
When David entered formal education at eighteen, his academic work left him well behind others, but he managed to receive his GED in one year. He continued his education at Palomar Community College and could initially only take two classes at a time. As his academic skills grew, he began to take a full load of classes and continued to be promoted at the City of Poway where he ran camps and a program for youth, was nominated twice for the Pride of Poway award, and rose to the rank of Lake Supervisor at Lake Poway.
Currently David is the Secretary for the California Parks and Recreation Society in the San Diego region and was the President of the Student Public Administration Association at San Diego State University.
David plans to continue his education and obtain his masters degree. “From the first day I began volunteering for the City of Poway at the age of 14 I knew that I wanted to make the world around me a better place. My ambition is to become a City Manager, and my passion is to create a better quality of life for the community”.
Special Recognition
Each year PSFA gives special recognition to a select group of accomplished graduates. Each of the degree programs in the College has chosen its’ Outstanding Graduate and each of these graduates has named a faculty member who was most influential in the academic career of the graduate. View the list of students and faculty selected.
PSFA Dean’s List Spring 2009
The Dean’s List recognizes students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in any given semester. PSFA had over 1,000 students who distinguished themselves in their academic efforts. Congratulations on your solid academic work.
Contact Information
If you have recently received university or community recognition for an accomplishment, please let us know. Perhaps you will be in the next “Spotlight on Success”. Submit your contact information and newsworthy event to the Dean’s Office in PSFA 212.
College of Professional Studies
and Fine Arts
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4512
Phone: (619) 594-5124
Fax: (619) 594-6974
Web address: http://psfa.sdsu.edu
Department News
School of Art, Design and Art History
Kizzi Eziro, MFA Graphic Design major, received a 1st place award in the CSU Student Research Competition for her project, “Virtual Water Revealed”. We congratulate Kizzi in becoming the second graduate student in a row from the School of Art, Design and Art History to take home the top prize in this prestigious, CSU - wide competition.
Kelly Schnorr, MFA graduate student in ceramics, has won a 2009 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Fellowship (NCECA). This is one of only three graduate fellowships awarded by NCECA this year. The fellowships involve a highly competitive nationwide process with students submitting proposals for research and study. Kelly's winning proposal involves study and research in Ecuador for the summer of 2009.
School of Communication
The SDSU Forensics season closed its’ season with the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association (PSCFA) Cool Off at Palomar College on April 25th and 26th. This tournament brought together 25 schools from across California and over 100 debate teams. The SDSU Debate Team dominated this tournament, taking first, second, and third in every division as well as top tournament speaker and top rookie speaker. For more information about SDSU Speech and Debate contact Eric Robertson at: sdsuforensics@gmail.com. Click here for the individual tournament results.
Journalism and Media Studies
The School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) held their annual awards ceremony at Scripps Cottage on May 5th. Students were recognized, scholarships were awarded and members were initiated into Kappa Tau Alpha. Outstanding students in the four academic majors were announced and included: Alexandra Bath, Advertising, Alejandro Muela, Journalism, Marc Wallis, Media Studies and Courtney Nejedly in Public Relations. The JMS Top Scholar was Doreen Schulz. Finally the outstanding graduate teaching assistants were: Natasha Ali and Melissa Whaley. Congratulations on a job well done.
Kinesiology Student is Honored in EOP
The Office of Educational Opportunity Programs and Ethnic Affairs hosted its' Twelfth Annual Graduation Reception on Friday, May 15th. Nicole Tamu Fowler, ENS student majoring in Fitness, Nutrition and Health was awarded their Most Outstanding Academic Excellence Award. Nicole completed her degree in May and graduated summa cum laude earning a 3.85 out of a 4.0 grade point average.
Air Force ROTC Commissions PSFA Officers
Air Force ROTC Detachment 075 held its’ commissioning ceremony on June 13, 2009. Thirteen men and women received the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in a memorable experience at Mt. Soledad. Two of our newest officers were PSFA majors: Kenneth Ryan Cherry and Francisco Ramirez. Lt. Cherry earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. Lt. Cherry’s first base assignment is at Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Florida as a pilot. Lt. Ramirez earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in fitness, nutrition, and health. Lt. Ramirez’s first assignment is as a Space and Missiles Officer. Congratulations and thank you for your service to our nation.
PSFA Students Emerge Winners at the 2009 Aztec Achievement Awards
The Associated Students hosted the 2009 Aztec Achievement Awards on Thursday, April 30 in Montezuma Hall in the Aztec Center. The following students were recognized:
Dean Margery Warmer Award - Corrine Pogamiller
Outstanding Student Organization - Student Veteran’s Organization
Daniel P Goodrich Award - Traci Ugamoto
Shuford C. Swift Award - Joyce Byun
Lamps of Leadership: - Joyce Byun, Albert Gonzalas
Aztec Pride Award: - Vincent Silva
SDSU Participates in the AIGA, professional association for design exhibition
AIGA was founded as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, but it is now known as AIGA, the professional association for design. SDSU brought home many awards from this years' AIGA Portfolio Exhibition. SDSU winners included the following students:
1st prize: Petra Ives
3rd prize: Paige Johnson
Category winners:
Branding: Petra Ives
Packaging: Genelle Antonio
Typography: Melissa Wall
SDSU Student Wins Culinary Scholarship
Martin Sheehan-Stross was one of seven recipients of the prestigious 2009 Giacomo Bologna Scholarship. Sheehan-Stross was selected from hundreds of applicants and will embark on a culinary study adventure through Tuscany, which includes seven days of touring vineyards and estates, cooking with famous chefs, and spending time with cheesemakers and artisanal food producers. Sheehan-Stross is enrolled in the Restaurant Operations Program within the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
And the Emmy goes to…..
(lt. to rt. Simona, Kyle and Iris)
Hollywood Heights, a production from the School of Theatre, Television and Film, won an Emmy Award at the 35th Annual Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in regional television in the Pacific Southwest including San Diego, Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Bakersfield and Palm Springs in the category Student Production - Program. Congratulations to the school and the following students: Iris Caffin, Supervising Producer/Director and Producers Kyle Shapiro and Simona Vackova.