Gayle Ball-Parker (Class of ’78, B.A., psychology) recently joined the Division of University Advancement as the director of alumni and family programs for California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Ball-Parker has served on the Alumni Advisory Council and worked for many years in the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. Most recently, Ball-Parker served as the director of university outreach and information services where she developed strategic communications and programs to engage prospective students, and managed the daily outreach and recruitment operations. Key programs included the annual Day at Dominguez event that brings over 2,500 visitors to the campus; the Super Sunday event, part of the CSU’s African American Initiative, where each year university leaders speak at churches across the state; and the CSU Super Saturday College Fair that is produced in partnership with other CSU campuses and held on the CSUDH campus each year.

In her new role, Ball-Parker will be responsible for producing programs that build greater alumni connections with the university and coordinating alumni fund solicitations. She will also develop a family and parent program to reach out to this important constituent base. “I am looking forward to reaching out to our alums and reconnecting with many of the former students that I helped bring to campus in my previous position,” said Ball-Parker. “I am also very excited about our new program for family engagement, which will create more opportunities for parents and families to connect with the campus and support the university.” Ball-Parker earned a doctorate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University, a Master’s in Community-Clinical Psychology from CSULB, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from CSU Dominguez Hills.  She credits her great education and the amazing faculty at CSUDH with giving her the strong foundation to eventually earn her doctorate.

The Alumni and Family Programs office coordinates special alumni events and programs to strengthen connections with over 80,000 CSUDH alumni in order to build greater alumni participation and advocacy for the university. Join us in extending a warm welcome to Gayle!

Alumni Connect and Experience Graduation

About 70 California State University, Dominguez Hills alumni returned to the university to participate in the 2012 Commencement exercises Friday, May 18. After reminiscing and celebrating with cake during a private pre-reception held in their honor, the attending alumni, in full regalia, led the procession of soon-to-be graduates of the College of Business Administration and Public Policy into The Home Depot Center Tennis Stadium.

For Frankie Stewart (Class of ’83, B.A., sociology; ’86, M.S., behavioral science), the alumni processional is a not-to-miss event that helps her recapture the feeling of being in college.

“Academia is near and dear to my heart. Every September I agonize that I’m not in school,” said Stewart, a retired Kaiser Permanente administrator, who was participating in her fifth alumni processional. “This is a chance for me to get some of that feeling back.”

Full article.

Alumna Lois Lee Participates at CSU Dominguez Hills 2012 Commencement

of human sex trafficking as founder and president of Children of the Night, which she created in 1979. The first comprehensive program in America that provides services to and advocates for individuals forced into prostitution, it is now a model for similar programs throughout the world. Her research and work in this area is used by legislators to craft  tougher sentencing laws for pimps, and by law enforcement and social workers in their response to child sex trafficking victims. Lee aslo has a Ph.D. in sociology and a law degree.

Her speech to students can be viewed on the CSUDHTV Youtube channel by clicking here.

Meet the 2012 Scholarship Recipients

2012-2013 Jamina O. Barnes Scholarship Recipients

“This support that I am receiving from Alumni will go toward my textbooks so that I can complete my last year in the MSN, Clinical Nurse Leader Program." -Tuyet Lam, Graduate Student

“I am blessed to have received the scholarship. It will ease the burden upon my shoulders and make my way to success a less bumpy route.” -Shoaib Madar, Undgraduate Student

2012-2013 Alumni Scholarship Recipients

“Thanks to your generous support of Alumni I will be able to continue with my dream of becoming the first in my family to attend college. Without this scholarship I would be struggling to complete my last twelve units required to obtain a B.A. in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peace-building.“-Martha Sanchez, Undergraduate Student

Alumni Notes

In Memoriam

John Auld, one of California State University, Dominguez Hills Department of History’s earliest professors and San Pedro resident, passed away on April 8 from complications of dementia. He was 71. Auld joined then-named California State College, Dominguez Hills in 1968, when classes still being conducted on the Watt Campus across Victoria Street from its current location, and enrollment had just exceeded 1,000 students. He retired in 2000. To read his full obituary, click here.

Janice Carol Ball (B.A. ’85) passed away on January 31, 2012, at her home in Redondo Beach with family by her side after a courageous 12-year battle against cancer. Her passion included coordinating and fundraising for the Mammograms & Manicures program at El Camino College, which provided mammograms to low-income women. In addition, she was instrumental in expanding the tutoring program at El Camino, which helped countless students, and previously developed the Alternative Curriculum Education Program (ACE) at Redondo Union High.

Peter Rodney, California State University, Dominguez Hills Department of Theatre and Dance professor, died on Saturday, April 14, after a long illness. He was 63. Rodney came to CSU Dominguez Hills in 1982 to lead its theatre arts program. He served as chair until 1988 and again from 1992 to 2004. It was under his leadership in the 1980s that the program received its first accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. To read his full obituary, click here.