Beach Excellence

president's awards for outstanding faculty

Jesse Dillon

Dr. Jesse Dillon is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Biological Sciences. He was trained as a microbial ecologist, received his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Oregon in 2000 and completed a postdoctoral Astrobiology fellowship at the University of Washington in 2003. Since being hired at MD��ý�� in 2004, he has spent over two decades educating students about the essential, yet often invisible, roles played by the vast diversity of microorganisms living on Earth.

Gwen Shaffer

Dr. Gwen Shaffer is a professor in the Department of Journalism and Public Relations and director of research for the College of Liberal Arts. Her research on social exclusion in the information age is driven by a conviction that scholars are obligated to not only identify and critique inequities that exist for low-income Americans and people of color, but also to work toward eradicating these injustices

Tanya Cummings

As a motion designer and experimental creator, Tanya Cummings has dedicated her career to innovation. After earning her BFA in 1995 from the very program she now leads, she joined the faculty in 1996. For more than two decades, Cummings has remained deeply committed to teaching and guiding students as they develop their creative voice and confidence.

Early Academic Excellence Award

Dr. Seung-hoon Jeong joined the Department of Cinematic Arts (then Film & Electronic Arts) in 2021 and is the co-area head in Critical Studies: International Cinema. He has worked on film theory and critical issues through diverse films, focusing on global cinema related to multiculturalism, abjection, catastrophe, and networking with biopolitical, ethical, and psychoanalytic philosophies.

Outstanding Professor Award

Dr. Li developed five new courses in inorganic chemistry, significantly enhancing the chemistry curriculum. For 15 years, she volunteered as a mentor for the University Partners for Success Program, supporting hundreds of first-generation students through one-on-one mentoring. Dr. Li has also mentored numerous students' research projects through programs such as President Scholars, Beckman Scholars, NIH-BRIDGES, NIH-RISE, and NIH-BUILD.

Distinguished RSCA Mentoring Award

Dr. Brusslan’s research focuses on leaf senescence, the process in which older leaves slowly die, allowing recycling of their nutrients to nourish younger portions of the plant. Dr. Brusslan routinely mentors a large cohort of Molecular and Cell Biology students, providing high impact experiences for hundreds of students over the years. .

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��Ի徱��’s career path within Enrollment Services began in 2014 as a student assistant within the financial aid department. Upon graduating, she transitioned into a staff position within the same department. Ayendili received praise for her assistance to a student, but she has also been recognized by a co-worker for her collegial support.

As a Faculty Affairs staff member for twenty-five years, Liz Harris has earned a reputation as a subject matter expert not only within the department, but also across campus and throughout the system. Colleagues have praised her character and her contributions.

In her short tenure of seven months on campus, Emily has made “remarkable contributions to enhancing and streamlining one of our key processes for signing prospective student-athletes.”

Dr. Rashida Crutchfield, a professor in the School of Social Work at Cal State Long Beach, is credited with significantly changing universities’ understanding of how housing and food insecurity create barriers to students’ success.

Hired in 2003 in the Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. Young committed early on to make her classroom and research laboratory student-centered. While she was recognized for her effective and innovative teaching and mentoring, Young strove for student success beyond students she worked with directly by creating learning communities for colleagues.

Throughout her 42-year tenure at California State University, Long Beach, Dr. Loucine Huckabay has been a strong supporter and advocate for all students, especially those from historically underserved backgrounds. She is well known for mentoring students struggling academically, or those whose home or work situations interfere with their academic success.

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Maeve Allen | 2024 Student Recipient

Maeve Allen is a student in the Psychology Department.

Sonia Santos is a Senior Academic Advisor and Engagement Coordinator for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Elaine Villanueva Bernal | 2024 Faculty Recipient

Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal is a lecturer in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at California State University, Long Beach.

Shannyn Sayula is the inaugural Assistant Director for the Asian, Pacific Islander, & Desi Resource Center.

Kim Truesdelle is the Assistant to the Associate Deans in the College of Engineering.

Debora Aguilera is the lead custodian for Housing and Residential Life (HRL).

Dr. Elyzza Aparicio is the director of the Office of Undergraduate Research Services (OURS).

The Shark Beach Safety team is leading the way in the field of shark research while also seeking to prepare the next generation of marine biologists, to change public perceptions of white sharks, and to introduce new audiences to the wonders of the ocean.

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