Connections

University unveils plaque honoring Rongxiang Xu for his humanitarian efforts

Carnegie Foundation designates Cal State LA as a research institution with high spending and doctorate production

University receives $345,000 grant to develop a portable mobile fuel cell generator with RockeTruck, Inc.

Cal State LA has partnered with RockeTruck, Inc. to develop a portable fuel cell generator that can be easily transported to deliver clean electric power when grid power is not available. The project is funded through a $345,000 grant, which is part of a $1.15 million Phase II grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Read more about the joint project.

Cal State LA selected to join the inaugural global ‘Partners in Peace’ initiative

Cal State LA has been selected as a member of the inaugural Partners in Peace cohort, an initiative launched by the National Collegiate Honors Council in partnership with the Nobel Peace Center. This program recognizes institutions for their efforts in creating, implementing, and assessing honors-level academic and co-curricular projects that highlight the work of Alfred Nobel and Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Read more about Partners in Peace.

Best Value Schools gives University’s accounting, MBA programs top rankings for fifth straight year

Cal State LA’s College of Business and Economics has once again received top honors for two of its distinguished programs. Best Value Schools ranked the University’s accounting program as the best in California and its Master of Business Administration as the top in Southern California. The programs have now been ranked No. 1 under their respective categories for five consecutive years. Read more about the rankings.

Mesoamerican Symposium to honor archaeologist John M.D. Pohl, art historian Manuel Aguilar-Moreno

Cal State LA’s Art History Society presents the 2025 Mesoamerican Symposium on Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the University-Student Union Theatre. The full-day event is organized as a homage to acclaimed archaeologist John M.D. Pohl and art historian Manuel Aguilar-Moreno. Pohl, an adjunct professor in the Department of Anthropology, is a specialist in ancient Mesoamerican art and writing systems. Professor Aguilar-Moreno from the Department of Art is an expert in the art and culture of Latin America. Read more about the event.

Civil engineering student presents research paper at the Transportation Research Board’s Annual Meeting

Yahaira Nava Gonzalez, a civil engineering major at Cal State LA, presented her work at the 2025 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 7. Gonzalez’s research paper focused on “Using Artificial Intelligence for Road Construction Site Monitoring.” Her research advisor was Mehran Mazari. Last fall, Gonzalez was selected as one of 24 students nationwide for the TRB’s 2025 Minority Student Fellows Program. To ensure that solutions to the nation’s transportation problems address people from a variety of backgrounds, TRB established the Minority Student Fellows Program in 2010 to explore research, ideas, and solutions from diverse perspectives. The program funds students from minority-serving institutions to attend and present their research at the TRB Annual Meeting and help them engage in TRB’s network of transportation professionals. Find out more about the annual meeting.

Cal State LA to create a hub focused on transgender studies, art, and engagement

Cal State LA has been awarded a $412,000 grant to create a hub for transgender studies scholarship with community-based art and engagement. Through the grant, the Trans Studies Consortium of Los Angeles will implement a three-year program to create cutting-edge, trans-affirming knowledge that is intersectionality centered and grounded in trans experiences. The consortium will provide graduate student fellowships, feature notable speakers, develop an informative online media presence, and launch partnerships with regional nonprofits that support artists who face discriminatory barriers. Working collaboratively, the consortium will also build a regional network with other CSU campuses and nonprofits organizations in Southern California.

President Eanes encourages young church parishioners to pursue college degrees

President Eanes was a guest speaker at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ on Super Sunday on Feb. 16, taking the pulpit to inspire school-aged parishioners to pursue higher education and to consider attending Cal State LA. For the past 20 years, Super Sunday has served as the signature event of the CSU’s systemwide African American Initiative, which provides information about entry into college and the upward mobility available through a CSU degree. Read more about Super Sunday.

Cal State LA celebrates MLK’s legacy at Kingdom Day Parade

President Eanes participated in her first Kingdom Day Parade, joining about 30 members of the Cal State LA community at the “world’s largest and longest running life celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King” on Feb. 17. President Eanes described it as an “inspiring day” and looked forward to having Cal State LA participate in future parades. Read more about the Kingdom Day Parade.

Wildfire Recovery Drive benefits 150 Cal State LA community members

The Wildfire Recovery Drive held from Feb. 3 to 28 collected donations of essential supplies that benefited about 150 Cal State LA community members, including 120 students. The Office of the Dean of Students spearheaded the drive and set up six drop-off locations around the campus. The donations—which included personal hygiene items, school supplies, new and gently used clothing, and non-perishable food items—were distributed on March 5. The organizations In Celebration, Student LunchBox, and Recycle2Riches helped with the distribution event and provided additional donations. Also on-hand to share resource information were community organizations Alma Family Services and LA Care Community Resource Center, and on-campus resources CalFresh Outreach Center, CARE Services, and Counseling and Psychological Services.

Sal Castro Academy trains educators to be student-centered advocates

In its third year of existence, the Sal Castro Academy for Urban Teacher Leaders has expanded to include 128 participants from five Los Angeles area school districts. The College of Education program trains teachers and other educators to be student-centered advocates in a year-long program that encourages them to collaborate and learn from each other. The growing interest in the academy can be partly attributed to the California mandate that requires all high school students complete one semester of Ethnic Studies, starting in the 2029-30 school year. Read more about the academy.

VITA program provides free tax preparation for students, community members through April 12

Cal State LA’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) will again prepare tax returns at no cost to students and community members. Student volunteers will provide the service Saturdays through April 12, both on campus and various off-site locations. Read more about VITA.

Lily Buggs earns fourth first-team All-CCAA basketball honors

Senior Lily Buggs became only the second Golden Eagle to earn four women’s basketball first-team All-CCAA honors, and the first to do so over four straight seasons. Juniors Amaya Fuentes and Olivia Hodges were named to the second team, and junior Nevaeh Asiasi and sophomore Sofia Fidelus received honorable mentions. Buggs joins Monica Tokoro as the only players in the program’s history to receive first-team honors four times. The Golden Eagles finished the season 18-10, losing to Chico State in the first round of the CCAA Tournament. Read more about the All-CCAA honors.

Jonon Young places fifth in triple jump at indoor championship

Jonon Young, the defending triple jump national champion, placed fifth in the event at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis. She notched a season’s best mark of 41-3.75 on her sixth and final attempt at Fall Creek. Prior to the event, Young (triple jump) along with men’s team members Jesus Chavez (200 meter), Drew Hill (200), and Leon Tafirenykia (60) earned All-West Region honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association. Read more about Jonon Young.

Joseph Wambaugh, acclaimed crime author, dies at 88

Best-selling author Joseph Wambaugh died of esophageal cancer at his home in Rancho Mirage on Feb. 28. The Cal State LA alumnus served on the Los Angeles Police Department before turning into a prolific writer of fictional and non-fictional crime novels. He authored 21 books, including the critically acclaimed The Onion Field (1973), and much of his work was adapted into feature films and TV movies. Wambaugh, pictured with former Cal State President James Rosser (center) and former LA District Attorney Steve Cooley (right), earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees at Cal State LA in the 1960s. Read more about Joseph Wambaugh.

Golden Eagles at LA Kings’ Cal State LA Night

Alumni, students, and other members of the Golden Eagle community gathered for the LA Kings’ Cal State LA Night on March 11 to celebrate school spirit and support a meaningful cause. Attendees cheered on the Kings as they secured a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders. As part of the experience, Golden Eagles were taken to the ice level to cheer on the Kings as they returned for the third period. Students also had the opportunity to take a rinkside postgame bench photo after the game. A portion of each ticket purchased was donated to the Golden Eagles LA Fires Recovery Fund, providing support for those affected by the recent wildfires. The event brought together the Cal State LA community for an exciting night of hockey, school pride, and philanthropy. View the event’s photo gallery.