Umpire State of Mind
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UMPIRE STATE OF MIND 5 MILLION FUNGI THE CUT FEATURES DEPARTMENTS is published by the Office of Creative Director Contributing Copyeditor University Communications, a Jesse Cantley Melanie Blake department of the University 04 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Advancement division, and by Editor Inquiries the CSUEB Alumni Association. Krista Dossetti Send your letter to the editor, 14 Umpire State of Mind submit a class note, or update President Graphic Designers your address/subscription For alumnus Ted Barrett, playing the game right 05 UNIVERSITY NEWS Leroy M. Morishita Kent Kavasch preferences by contacting: Gus Yoo — on and off the field — is what matters most. University Advancement [email protected] 10 STUDENTS Tanya Hauck, Contributing Writers 510.885.4089 Vice President Jeff Bliss Steve Connolly Or mail to: Jeff Bliss, Simon Constable Cal State East Bay Magazine 22 The Cut 36 FACULTY Associate Vice President, Nancy Davis-Kho SA 4800 Communications Dan Fost 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., How defying the Maasai tradition of female genital Stephanie Hammon Hayward, CA 94542 40 GIVING Kathleen Brady, Rosa Leither mutilation changed everything for CSUEB student Associate Vice President, Fred Sandsmark * Please note: Letters will be Development Kimberly Tere-Hawkins printed at the discretion of Juliet Naishorua. Cal State East Bay and may 43 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS Richard Watters, Cover Photography be edited for publication. Executive Director, Garvin Tso Alumni & Constituent 49 CLASS NOTES Relations Photography 28 Marty Bicek 5 Million Fungi Kelley L. Cox Garvin Tso Every living thing is crawling with microorganisms 55 PARTING SHOT Scott Wachter — and you need them to survive. The View From Cal State East Bay: Sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay from the university’s main campus — where any Oakland Unified Student who meets CSU requirements has been guaranteed admission through the Oakland Promise. Read more about Cal State East Bay’s commitment to the region and other university news on p. 5. GARVIN TSO 2 SPRING 2016 CAL STATE EAST BAY MAGAZINE CAL STATE EAST BAY MAGAZINE SPRING 2016 3 CAL STATE EAST BAY PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The 2015-16 CSUEB women’s basketball team earned the university’s first CCAA championship title in March. ight now, students at Cal State East Bay are preparing for their final classes MARTY BICEK and exams, and perhaps graduation. Mixed in with all of the excitement (and maybe even a bit of “What’s next?” anxiety), is a fair amount of well- earned pride. Whether a student is just finishing the quarter or beginning Ra new life chapter, this time of year is an opportunity to recognize accomplishments. The 2015-16 academic year was particularly gratifying at Cal State East Bay, bringing a host of achievements that further elevated the university. Some of these included: • CSUEB freshmen contributed thousands of hours of community service; • two of our students were the only students from the CSU system selected for an internship program run by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; • graduate student Mario Silva played trumpet on the album that received the 2015 Grammy for Best Reggae Album; • Cal State East Bay’s inaugural Hack Day challenged students to figure out a way to use drones to combat mosquito-borne illnesses, such as the Zika virus; • and in Athletics, we celebrated not one but two conference championships (women’s basketball and men’s golf ), as well as an individual conference PIONEER ATHLETICS MARKS championship (Adam Stone in men’s golf ). HISTORIC 2015-16 SEASON It was a memorable year at Cal State East Bay, but the commencement season signals its close, and the chance to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of our Stephanie Hammon and Steve Connolly A strong group of seniors led by Tori in Pioneer Athletics history. “Adam made students. During this time, the on-campus energy is palpable, serving as an affirmation of Breshers, Shannon Bland, and Laci Effen- a small change back to his old swing to- what we do as an institution, who we are as a community, and how much our graduates — Two Cal State East Bay athletic teams berger set the tone for the Pioneers. All ward the end of the year," head coach Alan many of whom took unique and unusual routes to obtaining their degrees — have learned. made history this year by winning CCAA three were honored as All-CCAA first- Sue said. “He was determined to win and championships. team selections. “I’m so thrilled the con- carry the team to the Those learning experiences take on special significance when we consider that many Cal ference recognized these players,” Barcomb match play round, State East Bay students — nearly 60 percent — are the first in their family to attend and Women’s Basketball said. “Each has played such a vital role in and that's what he graduate from college. They understand the connection between education and success, Led by six standout seniors and the No. 2 our historic year, and they lead by example.” did.” and they make the necessary sacrifices. Notably, many students toil long hours at jobs in ad- ranked scoring defense in the nation, this In early May, dition to their studies; raise children (sometimes as a single parent); and help support and year’s women’s basketball team established Men’s Golf the Pioneers con- care for their families — all in an effort to change their lives and the lives of their families new school records for victories and win- Cal State East Bay’s men’s golf team tinued on to the for the better. ning percentage, finishing the year with an entered the CCAA championship not NCAA Division overall record of 27–5. having won a tournament all season and II regionals, where Our graduates often face extraordinary challenges, but they also thrive in extraordinary The biggest highlight came in early ranked outside the top 10 in the region. the team tied for 14th ways. Their stories — their accomplishments — serve to highlight Cal State East Bay’s mot- March when CSUEB topped Cal State However, they rose to the occasion to de- place and finished out the to, Per Aspera Ad Astra: Through adversity to the stars. Dominguez Hills 58–53 in the CCAA feat the Sonoma State Seawolves in three 54-hole tournament with a championship game. The Pioneers’ season out of five matches when it mattered most, total score of 891 (+39). Go Pioneers! came to an end, however, with a 74–59 playing their best golf of the year to capture loss to UC San Diego in the first round the CCAA title and earn a bid to the 2016 Junior Adam Stone of the NCAA tournament. “In our lock- NCAA Division II West/South-Central made Pioneer men's golf history in being named er room after the game there was disap- Regionals. the CCAA's individual Dr. Leroy M. Morishita pointment, but not sadness, Coach Suzy The day also included a special achieve- champion. The men's President Barcomb said. “We have accomplished so ment by junior Adam Stone, who was golf team also won the CCAA championship much this season and have many reasons named the CCAA’s individual champion tournament. to hold our heads high.” — an honor that has only occurred twice KELLEY L. COX 4 SPRING 2016 CAL STATE EAST BAY MAGAZINE CAL STATE EAST BAY MAGAZINE SPRING 2016 5 UNIVERSITY NEWS UNIVERSITY NEWS college scholarships, and serve 200,000 students and families. College of Science “For too many, economic growth has be- THE come a spectator sport, and we know that income inequality is synonymous with bar- Announces New Dean riers to educational opportunity,” Califor- OAKLAND nia Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom Kimberly Tere Hawkins said. “The Oakland Promise offers a model for the rest of the state, weaving together Judy Sakaki Cal State East Bay has a familiar face as the new dean of the College of Science — the best practices to tackle generational (BA ’75; MS ’77) former Department of Physics Professor Jason Singley. GARVIN TSO PROMISE poverty in a way never done before.” “Dr. Singley has been an exceptional asset to Cal State East Bay as a faculty Cal State East Bay Joins California Leaders The Oakland Promise has been en- member, administrator, and member of the campus community,” President Leroy in Creating College Pathways dorsed by the Oakland City Council and M. Morishita said. “I am very pleased to welcome Jason into his new role. As the Oakland School Board, 100 community CSU Leader new dean of the College of Science, he brings a strong history of collaboration, organizations, two dozen university offi- research, and commitment to supporting student success.” Kimberly Tere Hawkins The Oakland Promise is a pledge for all cials, and 200 civic and educational lead- East Bay Alumna Judy K. “I’m very excited,” Singley said. “I’ve been here for 13 years. I’m very familiar OUSD students to graduate high school ers, including the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sakaki Appointed President with the college, the faculty, and the students, and am really looking forward to California State University, East Bay is with the expectation, resources, and skills U.S. Under Secretary of Education Ted working with the group and building on the successes the college has already had.” working with Oakland Unified School to complete college and enter the careers Mitchell, and University of California of Sonoma State Singley was codirector for the semester conversion initiative, and he is also a District (OUSD), Oakland Mayor Libby of their choice. President Janet Napolitano. founding member of the Board of Schaaf ’s office, and the East Bay College “This is the single most transformative For more information visit, Kimberly Tere Hawkins Directors of the CSUEB Institute Fund to triple the number of OUSD stu- thing we can do for Oakland and its young theoaklandpromise.org.