Picture a Scientist: A Women’s History Month Panel
Silhouette of woman in background. Test reads Picture a Scientist event held on March 18
The College of Natural and Social Sciences invites all to a panel commemorating Women’s History Month with featured panelists Krishna Foster (chemistry and biochemistry), Melisa Hendrata (mathematics), Silvia Heubach (mathematics), Daphne Liu (mathematics), Pamela Regan (psychology), Elizabeth Torres (biological sciences), Linda Tunstad (chemistry and biochemistry), and Xin Wen (chemistry and biochemistry). The panelists will share their experiences in their respective fields and obstacles they have overcome. The virtual event will be held on Thursday, March 18, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Meeting ID: 890 8781 8129
4th Annual NSS Faculty Retreat (March 19)
Picture of building with windows in the background. text reads save the date for faculty retreat on March 19
The NSS Steering Committee invites you to join us for this year’s NSS Faculty Retreat on March 19, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This workshop aims to develop a common framework for conversations about sensitive issues including race, gender, ethnicity and equity, and new ideas for collaboration among our faculty. Featured facilitators include Dr. Tracey Durant and Dr. Lisa Williams, Education in Equity Partners, with keynote speaker, Dr. Francesca Gino (Harvard Business School).

There will be a 45-minute block of Lightning Talks around the topic of Difficult Conversations; we welcome faculty to submit their talks.

Please RSVP at this link. We look forward to seeing you on March 19th!
NSS Spring 2021 Faculty Research Seminars
Background picture of notepad and coffee
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to the college’s Spring 2021 Faculty Seminars presented by Ji Yun Son (psychology), Michael Krebs (mathematics), Timothy Doran (history), and Gabriela Fried Amilivia (sociology). The first of the series will be held on March 4, 2021, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. by Ji Yun Son (psychology) and Michael Krebs (mathematics).

Visit the NSS webpage for more details on the series.

Meeting ID: 881 5507 3255
Opening Reception - Mervyn Dymally: The Bridge-Builder of Los Angeles
Join faculty and students across the University for the opening of “Mervyn Dymally: The Bridge-Builder of Los Angeles,” a virtual exhibit that highlights Dymally’s deep commitment to human rights and advocacy for marginalized people. This project was made possible with the support of California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with special guest speaker, Representative Judy Chu. 

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program Application
Apply today for the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program. Deadline is March 12. Graphic of book and pencil included.
The Cal State LA Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) program is actively seeking applications from students who are interested in research opportunities or obtaining a Ph.D. Interested students should be enrolled in a humanities or social science major. The program offers a paid research experience, mentorship and professional development, and partial repayment of undergraduate or graduate student loans once enrolled in a Ph.D. program. Faculty are encouraged to share this opportunity with students. The application deadline for the new cohort is March 12, 2021.

WiDS (Women in Data Science Conference) - March 8
Faculty are invited to register for the WiDS (Women in Data Science) conference which will be held on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2021, and run for 24 hours. Join thousands of participants from more than 65 countries around the world to celebrate women in data science, and for a chance to connect with students and fellow colleagues around the world.

Registration closes on March 5, 2021. 
Event Wrap-Up: The Inaugural Pérez-Silverman Endowed Symposium
The inaugural Pérez-Silverman Endowed Symposium on “Understanding Health Determinants and Promoting Equitable Healthcare Access” was held on February 19, 2021, featuring a panel of diverse experts and distinguished health care industry professionals who discussed these critical issues.

For more on the event, view the adjacent event recording. 
Event Wrap-Up: Southern California in Environmental Perspective: Ecology, Health, and Transportation
Last October, the college hosted a panel focused on environmental policy in Southern California aptly titled “Southern California in Environmental Perspective: Ecology, Health, and Transportation.” The discussion featured NSS alumni Jessica Meaney, Ugbad Farah, and Luis Gutierrez, who shared their expert knowledge on policy solutions intended to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis in the local region.

To watch the discussion in its entirety, view the adjacent video. 
Faculty Focus
Ashley Heers’ (biological sciences) article, “Multiple Functional Solutions During Flightless to Flight-Capable Transitions,” was published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. The article was co-authored by three Cal State LA undergraduate students: Stephanie Varghese, Leila Hatier, and Jeremiah Cabrera. Heers also authored “Waxing and Waning of Wings”. 

The West Big Data Innovation Hub featured Khadija Monk (criminal justice and criminalistics) and Theodoric Manley (sociology) in their History in the Making series for Black History Month. Monk and Manley, who participate in Cal State LA’s Big Data Project, reflected on their life’s work and the role of big data in equity.

Dean Pamela Scott-Johnson will be a featured panelist on “Breaking Glass Ceilings and Overcoming Barriers,” a Women in Science and Technology event hosted by North Carolina A&T State University – College of Science and Technology. 

Seeking opportunities to get involved in the college? Please contact Dean Scott-Johnson, Associate Dean Ye, or Associate Dean Subrahmanyam for more information. 
Student Accomplishments
Nine Cal State LA students were selected to receive the 2020-21 Sally Casanova pre-doctoral scholar awards, granted each year to support doctoral aspirations of students across the 23 California State University system. Eight of the nine selected students (Sarra Ben Ghorbal, Jorge Cruz, Shelby Medina, Angela Patricia Navata, Daniel Olivares-Zambrano, Adiel Perez, Enrique Segura Carillo, and Kanique Thomas) are enrolled in NSS in the departments of anthropology, biology, chemistry and biochemistry, Latin American Studies, physics, and psychology. Read more on their accomplishments.

Listen to graduate student Ana Leandro-Ramos (psychology), discuss the importance of a sense of belonging to first-generation students on the CSU’s Higher Ed Rewired podcast.

Graduate student, Nene Ogbechie (public administration), was awarded the prestigious 2021 American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) Founders’ Fellowship. The award supports the next generation of public service leaders and aims to accelerate the careers of “rising stars in the discipline” by providing professional development opportunities. 
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