Doing Good in and for the Community

Coming from a large agricultural community and having family members who worked in the fields, I was curious about the chemicals being sprayed on fields and their effect on the workers. Because of this, I have been studying the effects of pesticides on genetic expression in a type of worm called C. elegans that shares key characteristics with humans. This work will contribute to gaining insights on how pesticides affect public health.

Vanessa Avalos
Major: Biological Sciences
McNair Scholar Studying the Effects of Pesticides
Engagement
Exploration
Innovation
Relevance

News from the College of Arts & Sciences

Students

ELEANOR “ELLIE” BARKER ’20

History and Political Science

Awarded a U.S. Student Fulbright to teach English in Kazakhstan. Criteria for selection includes academic accomplishments, record of service and potential for leadership in their fields. Barker is the sixth Cal Lutheran applicant to receive an English Teaching Assistantship grant in the last decade.

CLAIRE THOMPSON ’20

Marketing Communication

Presented her research in Denver, CO, at the Western States Communication Association’s annual conference for undergraduate research scholars. Thompson’s presentation was titled Slaying a Friend or Slaying an Enemy: Differences in the Application of Morality to Single Player Video Games Versus Multi-Player Video Games.

ACTING SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION

Nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition at the annual Region VIII Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF).

  • Maya De La Torre ’21 Theatre Arts
  • Pernille Klemetsen ’21 Theatre Arts
  • Katarina Lopez ’21 Criminology & Criminal Justice
  • Victoria Karr ’21 Communication

Out of over 300 nominees from five states, De La Torre and her partner Will Péna, and Lopez and her partner Megan Rackley, advanced to the semi-final round of 62.

Dean’s Advisory Council

Announced

Dr. Jessica Lavariega Monforti announced the formation of the first Dean’s Advisory Council of the College of Arts & Sciences. Welcome to our inaugural members!

CRISTINA ABAROA

Founder and CEO, Moon Moosic, a production service platform

LOIS CAPPS, MA, LL.D. ’08 honoris causa

Former U.S. Representative, California’s 24th District

MARY ELLEN COSENZA, PhD

Former Executive Director, U.S. Regulatory Affairs, Amgen, Inc.

DON HOSSLER ’71, PhD

Senior Scholar, Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California

OSCAR MADRIGAL ’06, MPPA ’10

High school educator, Oxnard City Council member

KATHERINE MILLER, SPHR, SCP

Former Director of Campus Development, Facilities and Workplace Services, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

ARTIS TWYMAN, MS

Senior Director, Communications, Los Angeles Rams

Professors

Awarded & Appointed

GREGORY FREELAND, PhD

Political Science

Named a “California Top 100 Black Leader” by the Schools and Communities First initiative. The 100+ Black Leaders for Schools & Communities First is comprised of some of the state’s most prominent and important Black educators, clergy, activists, entrepreneurs, non-profit directors, workplace leaders, philanthropists and elected officials.

DAVID MARCEY, PhD

Biology

Appointed by the national Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring (PALM) Network to be a PALM mentor. PALM was established to increase the use of active learning in undergraduate biology and allied STEM lecture courses, and PALM mentors are chosen based on their reputation as leaders in the use of effective methods for improving student learning. PALM is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Published

JULIA FOGG, PhD

Religion

Her book, Finding Jesus at the Border: Opening Our Hearts to the Stories of Our Immigrant Neighbors, was published by Brazos Press in April 2020.

PROFESSOR TIM HENGST, MA

Visual Arts

Completed medical illustrations in the VOL. 102-B, No. 2, February 2020 edition of The Bone & Joint Journal, Functional outcomes of tendon transfer for brachial plexus birth palsy using the Hoffer technique.

PROFESSOR EMERITUS LARKIN HIGGINS, MFA

Visual Arts

Published several graphite pencil logographic drawings and her artist statement in Notre Dame Review, Number 48, Summer/Fall 2019. The edition is titled &Now & Whenever It’s Needed, pp. 34-37, edited by Kathleen J. Canavan & Steve Tomasula. A companion online publication includes the same works by Higgins, plus a Prismacolor & graphite logographic drawing/visual poem titled “left turn, right turn, impact.”

JESSICA LAVARIEGA MONFORTI, PhD

Political Science

Contributor to the published book Presumed Incompetent II: Race, Class, Power, and Resistance of Women in Academia, that uncovers the obstacles and systemic biases that women faculty encounter in higher education careers.

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