Iris Baxter, assistant professor of public administration, was recently elected as a member of the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee. This branch of the Academic Senate examines student progress at every stage of the college experience, including pre-assessment, graduation follow-up and employer feedback on graduate hires.

Robin Bittick, assistant professor of public administration, presented a paper, titled “Institutional Credibility: Public Administrators and Costs of Transacting Business,” at the International Academy of Business and Economics annual conference on Oct. 20 in Las Vegas. The paper has been accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal, Review of Business Research.

Graduate student Deidre Knighten, public administration, was awarded one of 10 Millennium Momentum Foundation, Inc. Best & Brightest Scholarships on Nov. 4 at the 1st Annual Opening Doors Scholarships Awards Ceremony at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. In the company of 5 UC and 4 USC winners, Deidre was the only student selected from the California State University system. In addition to receiving a scholarship, Knighten will receive a mentor, an internship placement, job placement services, participation in professional development workshops and forums, and various other forms of career guidance in hopes of allowing her to effectively transition from the classroom to the workplace.

Graduate student Kevin P. Lembo, public administration, was recently appointed the managed care ombudsman for the State of Connecticut by Governor M. Jodi Rell. Lembo, who is completing his degree from Connecticut through the MPA Online program, has worked in Connecticut’s Office of the Comptroller since 1998. He was chief of staff to the Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1996 to 1998, and program director at the Whitney M. Young Health Center in Albany, N.Y., from 1994 to 1996. Lembo worked as director of administration at Child’s Home Health Care in Albany from 1990 to 1994, and a spokesman for Unity Healthcare Holding Co. from 1986 to 1990.

Larry Press, professor of computer information systems, gave an invited talk at the Conference of the 35th Anniversary of the Internet at UCLA on Oct. 29. Press surveyed the history and applications of the Internet in developing nations, and proposed a plan for moving forward. He also recently published a report on the proceedings of the International Telecommunication Union Digital Bridges Symposium, which he chaired in Korea in September.

Bill Ramsey (M.B.A., 1976) retired in October from his post as finance director of the city of Palmdale for 16 years. A former Marine, he served in the Vietnam War and left the service with the rank of first lieutenant. Before taking the position with Palmdale, the CPA and certified financial planner spent five years as the assistant finance director of Santa Monica.

Freshman Jazmin San Juan, business administration, spearheaded CSUDH’s first-ever involvement in the “Great American Smokeout” Nov. 18 as an Associated Students Incorporated program assistant. The program urges people to quit smoking for that one day in hopes of compelling people to quit forever. The Smokeout also provides strategies and support for quitting as well as health facts and figures.

Franklin Strier, professor of accounting & law, presented a paper, "Public Policy Alternatives to Gene Patenting," at the International Association of Business & Economics Conference in Las Vegas on Oct. 18. The paper explored the alternatives and exceptions to the patent holder’s monopoly.

If you are interested in becoming active in the Business Alumni Association, please contact Leslie Patterson, CBAPP director of development, at lpatterson@csudh.edu.