CSUSB CAL Talks

This episode will bring you a smile! Dr. Perez Torres brings her happiness to this interview which features her infectious laugh. Her educational path has a terrific travel element to it and that is fun to hear. 

Empirical evidence is her stronghold as she talks about her research and expertise in media effects. I asked her if she could devise a course to teach what would it be and what would the students learn. It's fascinating!

Bio

Dr. Debora Pérez Torres (She/Her/Ella) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the California State University, San Bernardino. She holds a BA in Journalism and Media Studies from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) in México, an M.A. in Communication from the University of Utah, and a PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Her research focuses on emotion, social identity, and media effects, particularly in the context of minority populations, namely Latinos. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Applied Communication Research, Health Communication, and Media Psychology. She teaches courses on strategic communication, media effects, global communication, organizational communication, and research methods. She lives in California with her marvelous husband Dr. Benjamin K. Smith and delightful daughter Olivia.

Education

• Ph.D. in Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Focus: Media Effects, Latino/a/x Stress and Well-Being
  • Dissertation: Media-Based Coping for Latino Populations
• M.A. in Communication, University of Utah
  • Focus: Health Communication, Media Effects, Latino/a/x Disparities
  • Thesis: The Influence of Ethnic Newspaper Consumption on Cancer Prevention Behaviors: A Test of The Cognitive Mediation Model
• B.A. (Licenciatura) in Journalism and Media Studies, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey
  • International Honors Program:
    • Georgetown University, Washington DC
    • University of Ulster, Northern Ireland
    • Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Research and Teaching Interests

Media and emotion; Stress and coping; Media and well-being; Stress and media effects; Latinos and media effects; Discrimination-related stress; Persuasion and narratives; Ethnic health disparities; Health promotion and education.

It's fascinating that Dr. Hyon achieved her PhD at just age 27. And with that she also got her first professor job at Cal State San Bernardino. Lucky for us she has retained her position in the English Department since then. But wait, there's more! In addition to her Professor of Linguistics office, Sunny is the coordinator at the Professional & Career Readiness Center for Students within the College of Arts and Letters. 

Dr. Hyon is about as So Cal as it gets, too. Join us for a listen of her life from L.A. to San Diego and then here in the Inland Empire. It's a unique journey!

As an 80s kid you'll hear about the entertainment she grew up on and still loves today. What about her bucket list? You'll hear about it as she wraps up the podcast with me.

Dr. Sunny Hyon Biography

Education
PhD in Linguistics, University of Michigan

BA in Linguistics, UC San Diego

Courses/Teaching
Language Acquisition, English Grammar, TESL Methods, Composition for Multilingual Students, Professional Pathways for English Majors

Specialization
Applied Linguistics

Research and Teaching Interests
Genre theory and pedagogy, discourse analysis, grammar and style

So, how many languages does a chair speak when they are the leader of the World Languages and Literatures department? Please listen and find out! It's a very fun interview from start to finish.

His life story (so far) has many travels included in it. I found myself quite envious! Starting in Brooklyn and landing in San Bernardino and everything in between is quite entertaining. 

George takes advantage of our Southern California prime location here in the Inland Empire. You know how they say you can go to the beach, mountains and deserts all in one day? That might just be him!

Here is Dr. George Thomas's biography:

Professor and Chair, California State University, San Bernardino          2020-present

Professor and Chair, University of Northern Colorado                                2017-2020

Associate Professor of Spanish, University of Nevada, Reno                       2012-2017

Assistant Professor of Spanish, University of Nevada, Reno                         2006-2012

 Dr. George Antony Thomas is a specialist in colonial Latin American literature and culture. His research interests include the history of the book, gender/women's studies, and indigenous studies.  His first book, The Politics and Poetics of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, examines the political aesthetics of the colonial Mexican nun who is considered to be the "First Feminist of the Americas."  He contributed the concluding chapter to The Routledge Research Companion to the Works of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.  More recently, he has published on the indigenous artist and writer Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala (in Latin American Textualities), the Peruvian mestizo writer Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, and representations of the Americas in early modern manuscript and print illustrations (in Teaching the History of the Book).

Education

Ph.D. Spanish                  Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, August 2006  

M.A. Spanish                   The University of Wisconsin, Madison, May 2000                

M.A.T. Spanish/English       Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, May 1996                  

B.A. Spanish/English         The University of Texas, Austin, May 1994 (Honors)     

I know you'll enjoy this pleasant half-hour with Kelly. Who knew daydreaming could be so rewarding in one's life? She delivers her succinct profile with humor and insight as a relationship expert might do! Dr. Campbell is also a Professor of Psychology at CSUSB. In fact, she used to host a talk show on Coyote Radio called "Let's Talk Relationships" which I co-engineered at the campus radio station. I liked hearing about her grocery shopping trips and that was an unexpected random road we went down. It is a fun listen!

Here is her bio as listed on our university website:

Bio
Kelly Campbell is CSUSB’s Vice Provost, Accreditation Liaison Officer, and a Co-Chief Diversity Officer, representing Academic Affairs. She oversees academic programs, curriculum development, strategic planning, the academic master plan, annual assessment, program review, WSCUC institutional accreditation, specialized program accreditation, academic success and undergraduate advising, Graduate Studies, the Office of Academic Research, University Libraries (Pfau Library and Palm Desert campus), academic scheduling, the Office of Community Engagement, the General Education Program, University Honors Programs, Writing Intensive Program, and the university calendar. She first joined CSUSB as an assistant professor of psychology in 2008, progressed through the tenure and promotion process, and was serving as a full professor prior to assuming her current positions. During her time at CSUSB, she has served as the Associate Director of the Institute for Child Development and Family Relations, co-founder and co-director of the South Africa study abroad program, Director of the Psychology Honors Program, and radio host and podcaster for the show “Let’s Talk Relationships.”

Education
Dr. Campbell earned her Ph.D. in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia and her Master’s degree in Family Studies from The University of British Columbia.

Courses/Teaching
Dr. Campbell has taught courses on activism and advocacy, interpersonal relationships, positive psychology, gender, families, parenting, personality, and race and racism. 

Specialization
Interpersonal relationships, positive psychology, diversity, and leadership.

Research and Teaching Interests
Dr. Campbell's research examines interpersonal relationships, and she has conducted studies in the U.S., Canada, England, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and South Africa. Her research has been featured on NBC television, CBS radio, NPR, Sirius XM Radio, and in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Men's Health, Women's Health, SELF, and The Huffington Post. Dr. Campbell has secured awards for her work including the CSUSB's Golden Apple Award, the Outstanding Teaching Award from the International Association for Relationship Research, and the Outstanding Junior Faculty Award from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Professor Carlson has a charming way of delivering his background and his stories. His tales read like a captivating short story! And he knows a little bit about reading and writing. Most people from central Massachusetts wouldn't care to find themselves plopped down in the Inland Empire but David found it to be the perfect fit for him and his family. And we here at CSUSB are the better for it.

We touched on his life's bits and pieces and they all were a joy to hear. It's quite the variety too - from Swedish food, wine and painting to his published works and research on indigenous American writers.

While adding his expertise to the Liberal Studies Program, Dr. Carlson continues to teach courses in the English Department.

Here's a look at his bio:

Education
Ph.D. English Literature, Indiana University, 2000 M.A. English Literature, Indiana University, 1994 B.A. (Summa cum laude), Colgate University, 1992

Courses/Teaching
I commonly teach the following courses: ENG 3010 Analysis of Poetry and Drama, ENG 3030 Analysis of Fiction and Nonfiction, ENG 3140 American Indian and Indigenous Literatures, and ENG 3250 American Literature in Historical Contexts. I also offer topics classes at the graduate and undergraduate level on Science Fiction, The Literature of the the American Revolution, Autobiography, Aesthetics, and Marxist Literary Theory, among other things.

Specialization
American Indian and Early American Literatures

Research and Teaching Interests
American Indian Literatures, Colonial and Early National American Literature, Science Fiction, Critical Theory.

I had the great pleasure to have a chat with our Provost during this fetching sit down meeting at our Coyote Radio studios. What started out to be a journey down accountant lane for him became a successful career studying and practicing sociology in his every day life and with his students. What happened to initiate this change? Give us a listen and find out!

During your listen you'll hear more too about his philosophies, pizza, burgers and living your best life. 

A quick look at his official CSUSB bio:

Rafik Mohamed was named provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University, effective January 1, 2023. Mohamed joined the university in 2015 when he was appointed to serve as dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, home to 10 academic departments and schools.

His previous positions include chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of San Diego and chair of the Department of Social Sciences at Clayton State University in Georgia. He received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminal justice from George Washington University and a master’s degree in social ecology and a Ph.D. in criminology, law and society from UC Irvine.

There is so much I can say about spending time with Professor Ervin but succinctly I'll say one word: enthralling!

Growing up in Detroit the theater bug hit her very early. Not many kids know what they want to do with their lives but she did. and you'll hear how she did it and how good she is at it! Her life reads like a bestseller. She dove in big time during her high school career and that momentum keep moving forward.

She can do it all in theater but directing is her favorite and it's an artform that she has perfected and strives to keep improving upon.

I hope you'll enjoy this interview as much as I did. And thank you for spending time on stage with Dr. Kathy Ervin, a true gem in the College of Arts and Letters at CSUSB.

Speech Language Pathology: it's got legs here at CSUSB and in the forefront of it all is Dr. Jonathan Robinson Anthony. The certificate program looks to expand in the Department of English. We've got all the details as we spend time with the congenial Jonathan. His love of language started at an early age and his expertise is quite impressive in the general and focused courses he teaches.

Dr. Anthony is a So Cal native growing up in West Covina just west of us in the San Gabriel Valley. While his academic career saw him in Nor Cal and Utah he has made his way back home and resides in San Bernardino. That's just a short drive from the SGV. 

I made the layman comment that what he does seems important to all humans. And then I got educated - it certainly is!

You'll hear about his favorite hobby, musical interests and favorite food in this very pleasant chat.

Philosophy is about the art of living which is what I learned! Something I will always remember from my interview with Dr. Van Tu. She is an expert in and passionate about the ancients. With her gleeful smiling laughter she speaks of her start in studying philosophy which was in high school. You'll hear about her travels from her native Vietnam to Florida and on to Colorado, Michigan and Maine. But what's important here is her landing spot at Cal State San Bernardino. 

She'll make you want to read Plato and Aristotle! I promise you'll enjoy this most pleasant conversation with Dr. Tu discussing her specialization in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy.

It was my pleasure to interview Professor Oregel. I loved hearing about his youth in Boyle Heights, the history, the theaters and the ghost stories. We are lucky to have him as part of our campus community!

In this podcast Roberto discusses his recent documentary "Foxtrot: Operation Reunification." I'd like to share his GoFundMe page which helps to support the making of this important film. Here is the link:

https://gofund.me/9deda642

His biography:

Roberto S. Oregel is an independent filmmaker who has been writing, directing and producing documentary films for 18 years. His works represent a variety of film genres, including experimental, narrative, and documentary and deal with a range of subjects, from the creative process to the issues that impact underrepresented communities. The themes of social justice and human relations run through his films. Oregel’s first films were in the Experimental genre. Downtown L.A. (2002) premiered at the Disney’s Redcat Theater as part of a curated show titled Independent Los Angeles and Racing Thoughts (2003) premiered at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. His interest in art led him to his next film, Gronk’s Tormenta: A Method (2002), which screened at the Carnegie Art Museum, Boston Latino International Film festival and in Italy at the ASOLO film festival.

In 2004, Oregel was one of five filmmakers chosen by Showtime Network to produce and direct films related to war. His film, Dominance and Terror: A discussion with Noam Chomsky, was nationally televised on Showtime and shown at festivals across the country. Oregel’s first feature documentary, Casa Libre/Freedom House, was produced in collaboration with the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. Oregel’s latest film, Eloy Take Two (2010), has been screened at several festivals across the country. In this film, Oregel collaborates with muralist, Eloy Torrez and actor/art collector, Cheech Marin. He is currently working on his next documentary, Noam Chomsky: Seeds of Revolution. Besides directing and producing, Oregel is an Assistant Professor at CSUSB in the Communication Studies Department where he teaches film classes. 

Education

UC Berkeley, UCLA