Kathryn Leonard, Ph.D
Kathryn Leonard, Ph.D

Camarillo, CA - The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) has awarded CSU Channel Islands (CI) Associate Professor of Mathematics Kathryn Leonard, Ph.D. their Service Award for the support she has given other women in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Established by the AWM Executive Committee in November of 2012, the award recognizes individuals for helping to promote and support women in mathematics through exceptional voluntary service to the AWM. The award is given to volunteers like Leonard based on the time and effort they devoted to the AWM over the past seven years.

"I owe a lot to the previous generation of women mathematicians who were willing to be the only woman in every mathematical activity they did," Leonard said. She also credits her female "math friends" for their support during graduate school.

Helping other women in mathematics is a passion for Leonard, because she has heard too many horror stories from women in math, she said—if the women even make it to higher level math courses.

"The phenomenon is know as the 'leaky pipeline' where non-white, non-male people drop out of math at various levels starting around middle school," Leonard said. "And those who stay in math are often sidelined at the higher levels. This is becoming a problem for the U.S. Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) workforce as foreigners who are educated here are more likely to return to their own countries."

U.S.-born men with mathematical interests are more likely to go for higher-paying jobs in business or banking, she said.

Despite the need for women in STEM, there are hurdles for those who do last into the higher education courses with many encountering subtle and not-so-subtle sexism, she said. Women are still an extreme minority in most US mathematics departments.

CI is unusual in that the mathematics department chair is a woman, and more than half of the department's permanent faculty are female. Leonard said this is one of the qualities that attracted Leonard to the department.

Leonard served as a mentor for mathematics grad student Dana Cochran, who earned a spot at "Posters on the Hill" in Washington D.C., which means she will present her research to members of Congress on April 22-23.

Leonard has been tireless in her involvement with AWM, chairing committees, organizing workshops and setting up a system for pairing mentors with workshop participants, among other efforts.

The AWM is a non-profit organization founded in 1971 with the goal of encouraging women and girls to study and have active careers in the mathematical sciences, and to promote equal opportunity and the equal treatment of women and girls in the mathematical sciences. AWM currently has more than 3,000 members (women and men) representing a broad spectrum of the mathematical community — from the United States and around the world.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

 


 

 


 

Camarillo, CA - The Division of Student Affairs at CSU Channel Islands (CI) has been named one of the "15+ Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs 2015" by a national research and policy center based in Ohio.

The Center for Higher Education Enterprise (CHEE) at Ohio State University published the list in the Feb. 26 edition of "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education."

CI Vice President for Student Affairs Wm. Gregory Sawyer, Ph.D. said he is "extremely proud and honored" to have the division chosen because "the vision has always been to place our students at the center of everything we do and every decision we make."

The commissioned study examined the extent to which diversity and inclusion is practiced in all aspects of Student Affairs, including administrative structures, work environments and staffing practices, among other areas.

CHEE is directed by Ohio State University Professor of Higher Education Terrell Strayhorn.

"I'm really humbled because I know how competitive this is," Sawyer said. "When you see campuses like the University of Alabama and Florida State University on the list and then us? We haven't been around that long, and Florida State's been around since 1870, so I look at that and think wow, we got it right in a short period of time."

Sawyer added that this distinction is a tribute to the dedicated and committed staff in the Division of Student Affairs at CI.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

 

 

Camarillo, CA - Expanding CSU Channel Islands (CI)'s co-teaching program is one item on the list of initiatives now possible, thanks to CI's portion of a $3 million grant awarded to eight campuses in the CSU system.

The grant from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation went to eight CSU teacher education programs at Channel Islands, Fresno, Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus and CSU's CalStateTEACH program.

The grant funds the CSU initiative, "Preparing a New Generation of Educators for California."

The initiative is aimed at preparing future teachers and enhancing the skills of working teachers for the state's new K-12 curriculum based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

CI is laying out its plan for its $230,000 share of the grant, which will involve other primary, secondary and special education classrooms in Ventura County.

CI is already working with two schools in the area that they have identified as "professional development schools," according to CI Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of the School of Education Gary Kinsey, Ed.D.

"These professional development schools are schools that have exemplary practices, and we know we have some great mentor teachers we can put our students with," Kinsey explained.

The University Prep School and Phoenix Academy in Camarillo and Laguna Vista Elementary School in the Oceanview School District are the schools that have had co-teaching since CI launched its pilot program in 2011.

The co-teaching model pairs a CI teaching student with a so-called "master teacher" when that school starts, rather than having the student teacher come later, as in the traditional student teaching model.

"They'll do planning together. They'll meet the students together," Kinsey said. "The bright shiny faces coming through the door on the first day of school, they'll meet them simultaneously."

The grant will allow CI to include other schools in the program. Some of the schools under consideration right now in Oxnard are Pacifica High School and the new Rancho Campana High School and University Charter Middle School in Camarillo.

Kinsey said the CI team is also looking at Buena High School and Cabrillo Middle School in the Ventura Unified School District.

Co-teaching is just one aspect of a multi-pronged strategy, Kinsey said, that will also address the need for recruiting and enhancing the skills of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) teachers; supporting teachers who want to get national board certification and other initiatives.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

 

 

La Reina High School is the winner of the 2015 Ventura County Mock Trial. This is the fifth year in a row the school, which is located in Thousand Oaks, has won the competition. The Mock Trial results were announced this evening at an awards ceremony at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

1st Place: La Reina High School
2nd Place: Trinity Pacific Omega
3rd Place: Santa Susana Troubadours
4th Place: Westlake High School
5th Place: Grace Brethren Lancers
6th Place: Newbury Park Gold
7th Place: Trinity Pacific Kappa
8th Place: Agoura High School

Thirty-three Ventura County teams participated in this year's competition. La Reina will advance to the California Mock Trial, which will be held March 20-22 in Riverside. La Reina has won the state championships four times since 2008.

About Ventura County Mock Trial
Ventura County Mock Trial gives local students a firsthand look at the criminal justice system by having them portray the principals in a cast of courtroom characters. The roles played by the students include attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs, court clerks and sketch artists. Student teams study a hypothetical case, conduct legal research, receive guidance from volunteer attorneys in courtroom procedure and trial preparation, and present their case before volunteer judges. Close to 500 Ventura County students in grades nine through 12 participate. More than 150 local attorneys volunteer their time to score the competition.

The Ventura County Office of Education and the Ventura County Superior Court host the event with support from the Constitutional Rights Foundation.

Additional information about Ventura County Mock Trial is available at: http://www.vcoe.org/Default.aspx?tabid=685

About the Ventura County Office of Education
The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org

 

Join the Project Unify Club at FHS by helping to eliminate the demeaning use of the R-Word (retard or retarded) and replace it with RESPECT. “Spread the Word to End the Word” is a pledge signing campaign that raises awareness of the harmful effects of the R-Word on people with Intellectual Disabilities, as well as, changes the attitudes of segregation and fear, to attitudes of acceptance and respect. Join us on March 4 in a pledge signing campaign at www.r-word.org.

 

Camarillo, CA - A trailer headed for the junk pile was transformed into a community health center that will open to the public on Saturday, March 7, thanks to muscle, imagination, and a little seed money from a CSU Channel Islands (CI) allocation.

The project was a collaboration between about 50 CI nursing students and Assistant Professor of Nursing LaSonya Davis, DNP, and the B.A. Huggins Outreach and Worship Center in Oxnard.

Davis had always wanted to create a health center for the working poor and homeless, and so did the minister of the church she attends, St. Paul Baptist Church in Oxnard.

St. Paul minister Broderick Huggins had grown up on the south side of Stockton to a single mother.

"We weren't poor, we were po'!" Huggins said.

Although she had little for herself and her children, Huggins' mother, Frances, worked as a nurse's aide for those less fortunate.

In 2014, Huggins purchased a building at 840 South G Street in Oxnard so he could set up an annex to minister to the working poor and homeless in the area. The property came with a weary-looking trailer riddled with dry rot.

"I said 'This is an eyesore, I'm going to have it hauled away,'" Huggins said. "And LaSonya said 'mobile health clinic!'"

Davis was the advisor to a group of students seeking a "capstone" project, which is a multi-faceted project that culminates the academic experience for undergraduates.

She suggested the Nursing students transform the trailer into a health center as their capstone project.

CI senior Nursing student Andrea Ives was enthusiastic to hear Davis' idea, but it was going to be a challenge.

"We had no budget at all, so I applied for one of the student seed grants," Ives said. "A lot of our work was getting down and dirty, then getting donations of paint, supplies and so forth."

Ives applied for $500 of seed money available from $45,000 allocation from California State University Office of the Chancellor.

The money goes to each CSU campus with the goal of funding service learning programs, which are programs that combine learning with providing a service to the community.

CI's Center for Community Engagement granted the Nursing students the $500 and they got to work, tearing out rotted wood, hammering, sawing, painting and even getting help from CI's Art students, who painted a mural on the outside of the trailer.

The project was completed in December of 2014 with a dedication of the new Frances Huggins Community Health Clinic.

March 7 marks the first time CI Nursing students have ever held a health fair for the community.

Health organizations such as the Ventura County Health Department; the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Association will be there with the Nursing students offering information and presentations.

Nursing students will provide free health screenings for blood pressure, hemoglobin and blood sugar.

Guest speakers will address health concerns like Alzheimer's disease; strokes; cardiovascular disease; and mental illness.

The First Annual Free Health Fair will be Saturday, March 7 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Frances Huggins Community Health Clinic at 840 South G Street in Oxnard.

Spanish translators will be available.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

 

 

Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) junior Patricia Ferrer was among the biology majors who stepped out of their comfort zone to take "Science of Art and Art of Science" this semester.

"I was really, really nervous," Ferrer said. "I had a lot of anxiety going into the class. The only art class I took before this one was a ceramics class in high school."

Taught by Professor of Art Liz King, and Assistant Professor of Biology Erich Fleming, the interdisciplinary class was designed to instruct students simultaneously in both art and science.

Biology students like Ferrer surprised themselves by finding out they had more art talent than they realized. Art students also pushed their boundaries by learning biology as they sketched and painted.

Illustrations and watercolors created by students in this year and last year's class are on display March 2 through March 26 at the Palm Gallery at 92 Palm Drive in Old Town Camarillo.

Gallery hours for "The Art of Science Exhibition" are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday with the closing reception on March 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Palm Gallery.

King and Fleming taught the first course last year to about 15 students. This year, 24 signed up—the majority of them biology students.

King and Fleming took the students to the outermost reaches of campus to collect various insects, which the students studied and drew while learning about each part of each insect.

"The students observed bugs in front of magnifiers and measured them to understand the traits and characteristics of the bugs and then they drew them," King said.

The process was designed to teach students that art and science have a lot in common.

"The great thing about art and science is they both revolve around one thing: observation," Fleming said. "You can't be a good scientist without good observational skills and you can't be a good artist without good observational skills."

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

 
Gift to be used to construct new studios and offices

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - William Rolland of Malibu has pledged up to $4 million to California Lutheran University to help build a new home for the Art Department.

Cal Lutheran will cover the remaining cost of up to $4 million for the design and construction of what will be the 25,000- to 30,000-square-foot William Rolland Art Center on the Thousand Oaks campus. It will house art studios, offices and possibly classrooms, computer labs and a student gallery.

The university’s Board of Regents voted Saturday to approve spending $300,000 for the initial planning and design. Once that work is completed, the board will approve the building project.

Art Department studios, offices and classrooms are currently spread out among two ranch buildings that pre-date the university’s 1959 founding and an old metal-roofed building. The new facility will bring the department under one roof and provide it with about twice as much space. The university provides education in studio arts, digital art, design and commercial art, and art history.

The visual arts CONTINUED »

 

Fillmore High School PTO will be meeting at the High School Library Wednesday March 4th at 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome.

 
Public Invited as Competition Continues

The eight high school teams that will advance to the semifinals of the Ventura County Mock Trial were announced today by the Ventura County Office of Education. The semifinalists received the eight highest scores of the 33 teams participating in this year’s Mock Trial. Listed in order of their scores, the final eight teams are:

1. Santa Susana
2. Newbury Park - Gold
3. Westlake
4. La Reina
5. Grace Brethren
6. Trinity Pacific - Kappa
7. Trinity Pacific - Omega
8. Agoura

The public is invited to watch the semifinals tonight, February 25, at 5:30 pm at the Hall of Justice at 800 South Victoria Ave. in Ventura. The final four teams will face off Thursday evening at 5:30 pm at the Hall of Justice. The winning team will be announced at an awards ceremony on Monday, March 2 at 6:00 pm at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center at 800 Hobson Way. All events are open to the public.

About Ventura County Mock Trial
Ventura County Mock Trial gives local students a firsthand look at the criminal justice system by having them portray the principals in a cast of courtroom characters. The roles played by the students include attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs, court clerks and sketch artists. Student teams study the hypothetical case, conduct legal research, receive guidance from volunteer attorneys in courtroom procedure and trial preparation, and present their case before volunteer judges. Close to 500 Ventura County students in grades nine through 12 participate. More than 150 local attorneys volunteer their time to score the competition. The winning Ventura County team will advance to the state mock trial to compete against their peers from across California.

The Ventura County Office of Education and the Ventura County Superior Court host the event with support from the Constitutional Rights Foundation.

Additional information about Ventura County Mock Trial is available at: http://www.vcoe.org/Default.aspx?tabid=685

About the Ventura County Office of Education
The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org

 

Discovery Day is our annual fund raiser for the Moorpark College Child Development Center. This fundraiser is presented to increase public awareness of developmentally appropriate programs.

Discovery Day is a day filled with many fun and educational activities for parents and their children between the ages of 2 to 10 years. Come spend the day exploring the developmental, process-oriented environment provided by the staff and students of the Child Development Center. You can “mine for gold” in the sandbox; make the “BLOB” come to life; make “ice-sculptures” experiment with a variety of “doughs”; create and race your very own ship; “buy your groceries” in our store; or many other activities.

Extra added attractions include a SILENT AUCTION, the Interactive music experiences and face painting.

WHEN: Saturday, March 14, 2015

TIME: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: The patios and grounds of the Child Development Center at Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark
(Exit 118 at Collins Road, turn right at Campus Road to signs for parking)

COST: Presale Tickets available from the Child Development Center:
$7.00 per Child -- $4.00 per Adult
At the Door:
$8.00 per Child -- $5.00 per Adult

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL (805) 378-1401.

 

 
The Mobile Dental Clinic has screened Kinder, 2nd and 5th grade students whose parents consented to the check. This is the third time the clinic has visited campus. 2nd and 5th grade students are receiving treatments this visit.
The Mobile Dental Clinic has screened Kinder, 2nd and 5th grade students whose parents consented to the check. This is the third time the clinic has visited campus. 2nd and 5th grade students are receiving treatments this visit.
Enlarge Photo
 

 

 

Camarillo, CA - Research on Santa Rosa Island; reliable health care information on the Internet; genetically modified food; and the importance of bees to our everyday lives are included in topics scheduled for the California State University Channel Islands free Library Lecture Series, which continues through May 14.

The lecture series offers the public a chance to hear from some of CI's most dynamic experts in the comfort of their local library. CI's scholars will discuss and field questions about timely, compelling and entertaining topics that will range from 19th Century Mexico City to California's native flora to healthcare Internet resources.
The series will be offered at libraries in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura and Santa Paula.

City of Thousand Oaks Grant R. Brimhall Library, 1401 E. Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks (lectures will be held inside the Marvin E. Smith Community Room)

"Natural Habitats and Native Flora of California State University Channel Islands," Thursday, March 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Springs Fire of 2013 blackened the rolling hills around the CSU Channel Islands campus, but the area is beginning to recover. Biology Lecturer Steven M. Norris, Ph.D., will discuss the regrowth of the over 120 native species of CI flora that have been identified to date, and talk about the natural history survey CI has been conducting since the University opened in 2002.

"Hidden Gems of Latin America," Thursday, April 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Professor and Chair of Spanish Stephen Clark, Ph.D., will give guests an armchair tour of some of Latin America's most intriguing cities with a taste of their culture, history and architecture.

"China: The Socialist Market Economy," Thursday, May 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m. China is a trading giant with the world's second largest economy and the longest sustained economic growth in the history of mankind. Associate Professor of Finance Priscilla Liang, Ph.D., will discuss whether China can continue as a socialist market economy without political reform.

Blanchard Community Library, 119 N. 8th St., Santa Paula

"A New Era of Research on Santa Rosa Island," Thursday, March 12, 6 to 8 p.m. CSU Channel Islands Santa Rosa Island Research Station Manager Cause Hanna, Ph.D., will talk about several studies going on about the human and natural history and ecology on the island. Hanna will also share ways in which students of all ages are learning about real world resource management.

"Bees, Food and You," Monday, May 4, 6 to 8 p.m. Most people don't realize how important bees are to their everyday lives, according to Assistant Professor of Biology, Ruben Alarcón, Ph.D. More than 130 fruit and vegetable crops in the U.S. are pollinated from bees and other insects. Recent declines in the honeybee population have underscored the need to study bees, and learn ways to help them survive better.

Simi Valley Public Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley

"The Great GMO Label Debate—Science, Politics, and the Court of Public Opinion," Monday, March 2, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Attorney and Lecturer in Business Panda Kroll, ESQ., will take a closer look at the national debate over the use of genetically modified organisms or GMOs in the food we eat and legislation over whether to label GMOs. Kroll will examine consumer-led lawsuits against manufacturers as well as the science and political climate surrounding this multi-faceted debate.

"Good, Bad or Otherwise: Reliable Healthcare Internet Resources," Monday, April 6, 6 to 7:30 p.m. The Internet can be a jungle when it comes to finding good information about healthcare. Assistant Professor of Nursing Colleen Nevins, Ph.D., will guide us through which web sites are valid, up-to-date and reliable.

Ventura County Library, 651 East Main St., Ventura (lectures will be held in the Topping Room at E.P. Foster Library)

"Through the Looking Glass: a Chemist's Perspective on Lewis Carroll"—Wednesday, March 4, 5 to 7 p.m. Less well known than Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" was "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There." Professor of Chemistry Phil Hampton, Ph.D., will discuss what he found there, using gumdrops and hands-on demonstrations to illustrate the scientific significance of Carroll's sequel.

"Gender Differences in the Social Behaviors of Girls and Boys with Autism," Wednesday, April 22, 5 to 7 p.m. Boys and girls on the autism spectrum have different behaviors, according to Assistant Professor of Special Education Michelle Dean, Ph.D., Dean will present research on how gender relates to the social behavior and relationships of school children with high-functioning autism.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/