CSUN Conversations

California State University, Norhridge biology professor MariaElena Zavala was the first Mexican-American woman in the United States to earn a Ph. D. in botany. Since coming to CSUN, she has played an integral part in building the national reputation of CSUN’s  Department of Biology  as a place where students, particularly those from underserved communities, thrive and successfully pursue advanced...

California State University, Norhridge biology professor MariaElena Zavala was the first Mexican-American woman in the United States to earn a Ph. D. in botany. Since coming to CSUN, she has played an integral part in building the national reputation of CSUN’s  Department of Biology  as a place where students, particularly those from underserved communities, thrive and successfully pursue advanced...

As some states take measures to inhibit discussions about racism and its impact on society, educators across the country are struggling to find ways to create safe spaces where their increasingly diverse students can reach their fullest potential. Host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks with California State University, Northridge  psychologists  Jose H. Vargas and Carrie L. Saetermoe, who have developed...

As some states take measures to inhibit discussions about racism and its impact on society, educators across the country are struggling to find ways to create safe spaces where their increasingly diverse students can reach their fullest potential. Host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks with California State University, Northridge  psychologists  Jose H. Vargas and Carrie L. Saetermoe, who have developed...

The conclusion of the conversation between host Carmen Ramos Chandler and California State University, Northridge leader, role model and mentor Debra Hammond, who. after spending 31 years as director of CSUN's University Student Union, is retiring. They talk about her time at the university, its evolution and the evolution of its students.

A continuation of the conversation between host Carmen Ramos Chandler and California State University, Northridge leader, role model and mentor Debra Hammond, who. after spending 31 years as director of CSUN's University Student Union, is retiring. They talk about her time at the university, its evolution and the evolution of its students.

Host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks with California State University, Northridge leader, role model and mentor Debra Hammond, who. after spending 31 years as director of CSUN's University Student Union, is retiring. They talk about her time at the university, its evolution and the evolution of its students.

A continuation of a conversation with CSUN legend William Watkins, who stepped on the campus of then San Fernando Valley State College as one of just a handful of Black students. By the time he graduated, he was the university's first Black student body president. This year marks his 50th year as an employee of California State University, Northridge. He started in HR and is now Vice President for...

Host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks to CSUN Marine Biology Professor Pete Edmunds about his life work studying Coral Reefs, discussing how Climate Change and severe weather phenomenon are effecting their health.

A continuation of a conversation with CSUN legend William Watkins, who stepped on the campus of then San Fernando Valley State College as one of just a handful of Black students. By the time he graduated, he was the university's first Black student body president. This year marks his 50th year as an employee of California State University, Northridge. He started in HR and is now Vice President for...

Host Javier Rojas talks with CSUN political science professor Tom Hogen-Esch about the Supreme Court's recent ruling on homeless encampments and what it means to Southern California cities that have grappled with the issue for many years. Click  here  to learn more about the topic. 

When CSUN legend William Watkins first stepped on the campus of what was then San Fernando Valley State College, he was one of just a handful of Black students. By the time he graduated, he was the university's first Black student body president. This year marks his 50th year as an employee of California State University, Northridge. He started in HR and is now Vice President for Student Affai...

Host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks with CSUN mechanical engineering professor Jamie Booth about his work to further the understanding of the performance of synthetic adhesives which harness mechanisms used by the gecko. Click  here  to learn more about his research.

Hosts Analisa Venolia and Carmen Ramos Chandler talk with Annie Cox, Dir. of the Early Childhood Programs for California State University, Northridge’s  CHIME Institute , about the founding of the institute, which is a national leader in the development and implementation of a unique model of inclusive education. It started with an early childhood program based at CSUN and grew to include LAUSD-af...

Host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks with California State University, Northridge journalism professor José Luis Benavides the important role news media play during elections, and the responsibility they have to the public, rather than ratings and clicks. Click the following link for more about Benavides’ opinion,  https://newsroom.csun.edu/2024/07/09/media-needs-to-focus-on-responsibility-to-public-n...

Host Carmen Ramos Chandler continues her conversation with Jeffrey Reeder, dean of CSUN’s College of Humanities, about the value of a humanities- or liberal arts-based college education, and the impact of a national effort to eliminate liberal arts requirements in colleges across the country. Click below to learn more about Reeder and the value of a humanities-based education. https://newsroom.csu...

Hosts Analisa Venolia and Carmen Ramos Chandler talk with CSUN alum Candy Sherwin, a former student, dance instructor and choreographer with California State University, Northridge’s award-winning Teenage Drama Workshop. As one of the nation’s oldest programs, TADW immerses the teenagers in the day-to-day reality of a professional theatrical troupe, from designing lighting, costumes and sets to le...

"Host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks with Jeffrey Reeder, dean of CSUN’s College of Humanities, about the value of a humanities- or liberal arts-based college education, and the impact of a national effort to eliminate liberal arts requirements in colleges across the country. Visit The CSUN Newsroom to learn more about Reeder and the value of a humanities-based education.” https://newsroom.csun....

Host Carmen Ramos Chandler continues her conversation with film professor Nate Thomas as he shares his memories of what happened on Jan. 17, 1994 during the Northridge Earthquake and the days that followed, and how that shaped the campus and its community.

Host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks to film professor about his memories of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Thomas was a lecturer at the university when a 6.7-magniture earthquake struck, destroying classrooms, laboratories and offices. Thomas still marvels that, despite all the damage, the campus opened four weeks after the earthquake hit, with the 1994 spring semester starting only two weeks late....

Hosts Sydnee Roddy and Carmen Ramos Chandler continue their conversation with California State University, Northridge history professor Patricia Juarez-Dappe about the lessons chocolate can teach us about Mesoamerican civilizations, colonialism, the trans-Atlantic slave trade and 20th century human trafficking, and the Industrial Revolution. Click here to learn more about Juarez-Dappe’s chocolate...

Host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks to computer science alum with George Salas about his memories of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Salas was a senior looking forward to his last semester at the university when a 6.7-magniture earthquake struck, destroying the university as he knew it. Click here to learn more about the earthquake’s impact on the CSUN campus.

Hosts Sydnee Roddy and Carmen Ramos Chandler talk with California State University, Northridge history professor Patricia Juarez-Dappe about the lessons chocolate can teach us about Mesoamerican civilizations, colonialism, the trans-Atlantic slave trade and 20th century human trafficking, and the Industrial Revolution. Click here to learn more about Juarez-Dappe’s chocolate research. Episode 3 wil...

In the inaugural episode of Matador Memories, host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks with Cynthia Rawitch, former CSUN Vice Provost, journalism professor, publisher of the Daily Sundial and interim dean for the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication. Rawitch shares her memories of what happened on Jan. 17, 1994 during the Northridge Earthquake and its impact on the university. Visit the lin...

In the inaugural episode of Diving Into the Discourse, host Carmen Ramos Chandler talks to California State University, Northridge film professor Nate Thomas about the state of the movie business, and the roles people of color and their stories can play in its future.