Seda Aybay
Ileana Hernandez
Prof. Terry Green & Manuela Concha at AGS State Convention 2024
Megumi Smith in the orchestra pit, for "Madama Butterfly"
Alejandro Lee receiving the AATSP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Brandon Sanchez, doing us proud!
Counselor Jessica Trachtenberg
Jessica Trachtenberg's Faculty Equity Award
Angelina Misaghi and her trick horse Johnny
Cihtli Ocampo
Mark Tomasic in rehearsal with Dancing Wheels
Greg Schreiner in "Liberace"
Greg Schreiner in "Hollywood Revisited"
Delphine Broccard at NCORE
Tre'Shawn Hall-Baker
- Web Services Coordinator Ileana Hernandez was awarded a $2,500 grant to attend the 4th Annual Symposium on Arthrogryposis in Montreal, Canada this September. The symposium brings together a multinational group of experts in
the field of arthrogryposis, patients, and their families to discuss various aspects
of care for individuals with arthrogryposis.
- At their recent convention, the Alpha Gamma Sigma state organization honored Math professor Terry Green with a scholarship in his name for Terry's 36 years of service. Terry has been an
advisor to SMC AGS chapter since 1988, and a state leader for decades. The Terry Green Scholarship for Academic Excellence was announced at the convention and the first recipient was Manuela Concha, the internal vice-president of SMC’s AGS chapter!
- Music instructor and percussionist Megumi Smith performed in the Pacific Opera Project presentation of the opera “Madama Butterfly” at the Aaratani Theater in Downtown Los Angeles from June 1–9. Kimono designer Sueko Oshimoto of SK Kimono and the South Bay Singers led by Naoko Suga also returned for this production, which first premiered in 2019 in LA’s Little Tokyo and was described as “on a visual scale beyond anything it has taken on before –
a sumptuously costumed, fully staged, bilingual co-production” by San Francisco Classical Voice. Megumi studied under Sueko Oshimoto, a kimono dresser, and earned a certificate. Megumi
reported that she was thrilled to work with her love of Japanese culture and music.
- Nursing professor Poy Yamada reports that The Academic Senate’s New Faculty Committee (NFC) was invited to present a poster at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE). The presentation, “Navigating the New: A Model for an Equity-Focused Faculty Learning Community to Support
New Faculty”, highlighted the committee’s New Faculty Institute (NFI) designed to help new SMC faculty acclimate to the campus and transition into their
new role. The presentation was led by Psychology professor and chair of the NFC, Dr. Erin Cue, Early Childhood Development Professor Dr. Marybeth Murray, and Nursing professor Dr. Poy Yamada. They identified key program elements (such as equity-centered professional development,
community building, and mentoring) and invited attendees to brainstorm how to create
a new faculty institute at their colleges. A few new SMC faculty and NFC committee
members joined the presenters at the NCORE conference. Proud to be SMC!
- Spanish professor Alejandro Lee is proud to present several brags: At the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) annual conference in Portland, Oregon, 29 June - 2 July 2024:
-
- He presented “‘No es nula su huella: La diáspora asiática en Hispanoamérica: inclusión, relevancia
y recursos’’, a collaborative work in progress with Sybil Alexandrov (Yale University)
- Along with Cristina Moon (Chabot College), Alejandro delivered “Tarea Libre: A First-Year Spanish OER Homework Ancillary”; and “Getting Spanish to Zero-Textbook-Cost (ZTC) Through Open Educational Resources (OER)”
- With Rachel Knighten (Lane College, Oregon) and Ariel Zatarain Tumbaga (Antelope Valley College), Alejandro participated in the roundtable “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility: What Are We Doing in Our Community College Spanish Classes?,” sponsored by Julián Barroso-Merino (College of Southern Nevada)
- Last but not the least, Alejandro was named the 2024 recipient of the AATSP Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. Major congratulations!
- He presented “‘No es nula su huella: La diáspora asiática en Hispanoamérica: inclusión, relevancia
y recursos’’, a collaborative work in progress with Sybil Alexandrov (Yale University)
- Professor Lee is also delighted to share achievements by his former students:
- Cristina Arsene’s essay “El extraño exotismo de la Navidad” was selected for publication in the inaugural Revista Luso-Hispánica (summer 2024) by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). Cristina’s submission, the only one from a community college, was written for Professor
Lee’s Spanish 4 course in fall 2021.
- Aldo Barrera has been accepted to the Cultural Ambassadors Program in Valencia, Spain. Congratulations, Aldo!
- Alex Brandon Sánchez graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Practice. He will spend a semester at the Sotheby's Institute of Art in London, thanks to being awarded a Gilman Scholarship! His journey and achievements include his art exhibition, "A Masculine Vulnerability,” which was featured in Berkeley News (February 2024) and on the University of California's website (June 2024). Brandon writes, “These publications have highlighted my experiences
as a first-generation college student and an immigrant, showcasing my work and dedication
to the arts.” Congratulations, Brandon, we are cheering you on!
- Cristina Arsene’s essay “El extraño exotismo de la Navidad” was selected for publication in the inaugural Revista Luso-Hispánica (summer 2024) by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). Cristina’s submission, the only one from a community college, was written for Professor
Lee’s Spanish 4 course in fall 2021.
- Adjunct Career Counselor Jessica Trachtenberg has been awarded the 2024 Faculty Equity Award for her impactful work empowering racially minoritized students and fostering an
inclusive campus community at SMC. This recognition highlights her advancements in
digital equity, notably her development of electronic course materials for Counseling 12. Jessica's innovative teaching practices, including equitable grading and tailored
strategies for diverse learners, have inspired underrepresented students to explore
diverse career paths.
- Psychology professor Dorothy Chin is very proud to share some news about two of her former students from the first
years of her teaching career at SMC: Avital Okrent Smolar, a former Psych 1 student, trained as an ophthalmologist and just completed a fellowship
in neuro-ophthalmology research and a clinical fellowship at Emory University, focusing on quality-of-life issues. Marie Vafors Fritz, a former Psych 3 student, went on to get her Master’s Degree at Cal State Northridge and her Ph.D. at the University of Stockholm, and is now a Professor at the Center for Health Equity Studies, Malmo University. Dorothy notes that this is the best part of the job, having such fine students and
hearing updates even after so many years!
- Brian Rodas, Assistant Chair of the Math Department shared several brags on behalf
of the department:
- Under the guidance of Interim Dean Wendi DeMorst, Dean of Institutional Advancement Dr. Lizzy Moore, and Math Lab Coordinator Judith Mosher, the SMC Math Lab has expanded its support initiatives, including the provision of food and personal
hygiene products through Bodega Bites. Additionally, generous contributions from Math faculty have bolstered these efforts.
Plus, an anonymous SMC alumnus, whose academic journey was shaped by the Math Lab,
generously donated $10,000 for an academic scholarship and an additional $10,000 to
support students in need of access codes. “This support underscores our commitment
to student success and access to essential resources,” Brian wrote. What an inspiring
way to serve our students!
- This spring alone, the Math Lab has accommodated 6,500 in-person appointments, marking
a 60% increase from the previous year, and over 1,300 remote appointments. Reflecting
on the impact, one student expressed, “I love that the Math Lab has created a community.”
In honor of the late Professor Ali Zakeri, a beloved math instructor, the second annual Ali Zakeri scholarship was awarded this academic year. Fully funded by the math faculty, this scholarship
pays tribute to Professor Zakeri’s legacy, and the department aims to continue this
tradition annually.
- Under the leadership of Professor Diem Nguyen, with support from the STEM program, we are proud to announce the Second Annual Math Bootcamp scheduled for this summer. Open to all students enrolled in fall 2024 math classes,
the bootcamp aims to prepare students by focusing on key topics and introducing them
to important campus resources before the start of the fall semester.
- Professor Hafedh Herichi and co-author Michel Lapidus have recently published their seminal work titled "Quantized Number Theory, Fractal Strings and the Riemann Hypothesis: From Spectral
Operators to Phase Transitions and Universality". Published by World Scientific Publishing, this achievement underscores their scholarly contributions to the field.
- Under the guidance of Interim Dean Wendi DeMorst, Dean of Institutional Advancement Dr. Lizzy Moore, and Math Lab Coordinator Judith Mosher, the SMC Math Lab has expanded its support initiatives, including the provision of food and personal
hygiene products through Bodega Bites. Additionally, generous contributions from Math faculty have bolstered these efforts.
Plus, an anonymous SMC alumnus, whose academic journey was shaped by the Math Lab,
generously donated $10,000 for an academic scholarship and an additional $10,000 to
support students in need of access codes. “This support underscores our commitment
to student success and access to essential resources,” Brian wrote. What an inspiring
way to serve our students!
- English Professor Angie Misaghi and her trick horse Johnny appeared on episode 4 of the new TBS television show “Stupid Pet Tricks.” It aired this spring semester while Angie was busy writing a memoir during her sabbatical,
but it is free to watch on the TBS website.
- Interaction (IxD) Design professor Luke Johnson reported that the IxD program created the 2023-24 Annual Report a student-led initiative created by IxD students. The 2024 Design and Development
Team included: Design: Celia Choi; Highlight Reel: Antonio Reno; Development: Alison Parrales; and Creative Direction / Project Management: Hunter Moranville.
- Dance department chair Mark Tomasic shared several recent faculty accomplishments:
- Dance Department faculty member Cihtli Ocampo was a featured artist at UC Santa Barbara’s Exiles & Border Crossings Symposium. Cihtli presented “Pasos,” an original work in three movements dedicated to those who have crossed infinite
borders and paved the way for future generations. “Pasos” was selected as repertoire
for the UCSB Dance Company’s 2024 season and went on to tour Europe for three weeks
alongside legacy works by José Limón.
- Dance Department faculty member Seda Aybay was invited to perform an excerpt of her choreography “1881-193∞” for the gala fundraising event “Dance For Life,” as well as for the Inland Empire Dance Festival. This piece was also selected by the New Century Dance Project Choreography Competition as one of only four works to be performed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in August 2024.
- Department Chair Mark Tomasic presented a world premiere choreography for the Dancing Wheels Company in June 2024. The piece which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community was performed at the
prestigious Playhouse Square Center in Cleveland, OH. In July 2024, Mark also co-led a week-long teacher training in physically integrated
dance at the Dancing Wheels Company studios.
- Dance Department faculty member Cihtli Ocampo was a featured artist at UC Santa Barbara’s Exiles & Border Crossings Symposium. Cihtli presented “Pasos,” an original work in three movements dedicated to those who have crossed infinite
borders and paved the way for future generations. “Pasos” was selected as repertoire
for the UCSB Dance Company’s 2024 season and went on to tour Europe for three weeks
alongside legacy works by José Limón.
- Greg Schreiner, piano faculty, has had several performances recently. He staged his Liberace show May 7th at the Glendora Women’s Club. He wore an actual costume worn by Liberace and also played many of Liberace’s actual
piano arrangements. He also performed his Hollywood Revisited show (website: www.hollywoodrevisited.com) on June 1 at the Northridge United Methodist Church and on June 11th at San Antonio Gardens Community in Claremont. He will be at the Pico Playhouse on August 11 playing for the premiere of the musical drama, “In the Blink of an Eye”.
- Communication and media studies professor Delphine Broccard had the opportunity to present her dissertation research at the Annual National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE) in June. Her work focuses on the identification of young women with public female
role models.
- Dean of Human Resources Tre’Shawn Hall-Baker, Ph.D. is currently serving in a new role as the Vice President/President Elect of the
Association of Chief Human Resources Officers/Equal Employment Officers (ACHRO/EEO) for the California Community College system. Dr. Hall-Baker will become the organization’s
president starting in July of 2025.
- Denise Kinsella, Associate Dean of International Education, shared that Clasena Beason, a current student at Santa Monica College, has been selected to participate in the
Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship this summer! The organizations website says, “The Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship
for Emerging Leaders is a fully-paid enrichment and training program seeking to expand
awareness and access to Foreign Service careers to students from underrepresented
communities across the United States.” Congratulations, Clasena!
- Professional Development Coordinator Abigail Orosz is proud to share two brags, on behalf of her colleagues and department: One, the
first cohort of SMC classified staff completed the inaugural Classified Professional Equity Certification (CPEC) with Allied Path Consulting and Dr. Tony Santa Ana. Over the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters, classified colleagues participated
in 10 training sessions, developed an Equity-in-Action plan, and engaged regularly
with equity partners. This two-part equity certification program included 10 learning
courses designed to provide classified professionals with foundational concepts of
equity and practical strategies to apply in their daily roles. Key topics covered
included self-awareness, communication skills, implicit bias, cultural humility, racial
equity, and organizational change. The inaugural cohort included: Carla Alvarado, Daisha Bates, Sean Blocklin, Edwin Cruz, Amanda De La Torre, Anisha
DiGregorio, Sara Eazell, Hadass Elnathan, Paige Glaves, Agnius Griskevicius, Matt
Larcin, Janette Luevanos, Christine Miller, Hannah Mock, Peter Murray, Erin O’Neill,
Abigail Orosz, Delia Padilla, Lindsay Poland, Jo Popadynetz, Georganne Shibata, Janet
Tercero, Olga Vasquez, Jaime Villalobos-Delgado, Jocelyn Winn, Yongjian (Jane) Yan,
and Rebecca Yilma. Congratulations and kudos to all of them!
- Two, in June, some of the Classified Professional’s Equity Certification graduates
completed the next step in becoming an equity practitioner and completed the 'Train the Trainers' sessions. They undertook a two-day intensive training course with Allied Path consultants
Dr. Tony Santa Ana and Dr. Arnita Porter. The training sessions focused on facilitation skills, adult learning pedagogy, culturally-responsive
training, and connecting as a trainer cohort. This group will now focus on organizing
Equity Certification sessions for the second cohort of SMC classified staff to support
their professional development and advance the college’s equity mission. The inaugural
trainer cohort includes Daisha Bates, Sara Eazell, Paige Glaves, Peter Murray, Erin O’Neill, Abigail Orosz,
Jaime Villalobos, Jocelyn Winn, and Rebecca Yilma. Abigail writes: “If you are a classified staff member or an administrator with classified
staff and are interested in participating in the 2nd Classified Professional Equity
Certification (CPEC) cohort, please contact the EpiCenter at EpiCenter@smc.edu. Keep an eye out for future bulletins announcing registration deadlines and training
session dates!”
* * *
SMC in Focus Volume X, Issue 4
Never Too Late
Ana Mora survived an abusive relationship and substance use and gained a fresh start in life at Santa Monica College. Read Article
Post-Game Strategy
From hoops to standard deviations, Kant and stellate ganglia, this outstanding Corsair has a proven gameplan for personal success. Read Article
Fostering Futures
As former foster youth, Sabrina Conner and Shirel Omidi have faced numerous hardships, which they are overcoming through their own resilience and support at Santa Monica College. Read Article
No Looking Back for Ma’isha Reid
This dedicated student services specialist & SMC alum deferred her dreams for decades. But she has zero regrets, and stands on the cusp of a brand-new chapter of her life. Read Article
Bragging Rights
An opera, advocacy for arthrogryposis, taking a trick horse onto national TV, awards, helping & feeding students, boundary-breaking dance. Read Article
Soaring in the Unknown
This Asian-Latina from Ecuador came to SMC with trepidations about the unfamiliar. Through grit and determination, she found courage to flourish in the unknown. Read Article