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PolyTrendsSpring | Summer 2008

Discovering the M o d e r n L i b r a r y

The Next Chapter

Feature Stories10

The Next Chapter

16Taking Flight

19A Lettuce Love Affair

Departments2

University News

8Campus PerspectiveMan Against Violence

14Events Calendar

22Advancing the University

Silver Scholars

24Alumni News

A Pleasure for WineStaying in Gear

Citizen “Kaizen”Power Broker

TAbLE oF CoNTENTSVol. 18, No. 2

PolyTrends M A G A Z I N E

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Dr. J. Michael ortizPresident, Cal Poly Pomona

Scott C. WarringtonVice President for University Advancement

Dr. Ronald H. FremontAssociate Vice President for University Relations oFFICE oF PUbLIC AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENTEditor Aida MoradGraphic Designer Ani MarkarianPhotographer Tom ZasadzinskiContributing Editor Uyen MaiCopy Editor The Word WizardContributing Writers Julie bos, Laurie McLaughlin, Lisa McPheron, Marisa NavarroWeb Site Michelle MagcalasDistribution and Support Tambra Williams

PUbLIC AFFAIRS (909) [email protected] AFFAIRS (909) [email protected] DEVELoPMENT (909) [email protected]

PolyTrends is published by California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and is distributed to friends of the university. Opinions expressed in PolyTrends do not necessarily represent the views of the university. Letters should be sent to: PolyTrends Editor, Office of Public Affairs, Cal Poly Pomona, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768.

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Spring | Summer 2008

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2 PolyTrends | Spring | Summer | 2008

UNIVERSITYNewS

STorieS by Lisa McPheron, Uyen Mai PhoToS by Tom Zasadzinski

Promoting Professional Prospects

StudentS from the CollinS SChool of Hospitality Management will have more professional development opportunities than ever thanks to a new $50,000 grant from the Darden Restaurants Foundation.

This generous grant will be added to the Darden Experience the Industry Award endowment, which has provided students with financial assistance to attend renowned industry conferences and trade shows since 2003.

“Few of our students can afford to travel to industry conferences on their own,” says Andy Feinstein, dean of The Collins School. “Darden’s ongoing support allows our students to complement their education through enriching professional development outside the classroom.”

This grant marks the second contribution to this endowment from Darden Restaurants, which owns several successful chains such as Red Lobster and Olive Garden. In 2003, the foundation gave The Collins School $50,000, which was matched by Carol and Jim Collins and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to create a $150,000 endowment for student scholarships.

Historic Kellogg Garden Blooms Anew

Contrary to popular belief, the roses in the garden did not stem from Kellogg’s original garden. Though the footprint remains as designed in 1926 by Charles Adams of Hearst Castle fame, the roses have been replaced a handful of times in the past 80 years.

This spring, the W.K. Kellogg Commemorative Rose Garden expanded with new life thanks to a complete renovation using top varieties donated by Weeks Roses. The rose bushes that were viable were replanted at other locations on campus when the renovation began.

“This garden is going to be beautiful,” says Richard Farmer, manager of Cal Poly Pomona’s landscape services. “Weeks Roses produces top-notch flowers, and we have all their prize-winning flowers in this garden.”

In 2006, Weeks Roses moved its research operations to Cal Poly Pomona, where eight new state-of-the-art greenhouses have been constructed. Since moving to campus, Tom Carruth, head of Weeks’ research department, has looked for additional ways to partner with the university.

This past winter, about 650 bushes and 50 trees of top-producing varieties by Weeks Roses replaced the aging garden of about 400 plants. Another 200 to 300 roses will be planted next winter to fill in the rest of the garden, Farmer says.

“You could see that the plants were old and pretty tired and everything needed a punch up,” says Carruth, who has produced ten All-American Rose Selection winners. “This garden will have a lot of color and fragrance. It’ll look great.”

Weeks Roses donated nearly 650 bushes and 50 trees in the landmark university rose garden.

Hospitality students pick up a few lessons from Professor Jerry Chesser.

It Takes a Village to build a VillageA home can be insulated with recycled plastic

bottles, PVC pipe and a green roof. It may not be conventional, but a group of professors and an assemblage of students have found that the inexpensive design could be a way to establish a higher-quality of life in impoverished communities in Tijuana, Mexico.

For more than two years, College of Environmental Design professors Pablo La Roche, Irma Ramirez and Kyle Brown along with numerous students have been developing a prototype home on the grounds of the John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies. Known as the TJ House, the structure employs a low-cost sustainable design that can be built using materials that are readily available in the poorest neighborhoods of Tijuana.

This collaborative project recently garnered the notable “Prize for the Creative Integration of Practice and Education in the Academy” from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. With this honor came a $25,000 prize to Cal Poly Pomona’s architecture department.

“By designing and building this prototype, our students have learned that sustainable design strategies don’t have to cost a lot of money. Minimizing the use of non-renewable resources actually saves money much of the time,” says Brown, director of the Lyle Center, which along with the National Collegiate Innovators and Inventors Alliance has provided much of the project’s funding.

It is hoped that through an existing partnership with Corazon, a non-profit organization that addresses housing needs in Mexico, Cal Poly Pomona students will help build homes like this in ongoing revitalization projects in Tijuana.

building a Foundation

thiS paSt marCh, univerSity preSident Michael Ortiz and his wife, Betty, hosted the second annual Founders’ Society Gala & Induction Ceremony at Kellogg West Conference Center to honor those who have made significant contributions to the university.

Inductees of the Founders’ Society are pinnacle-level donors who have supported the university through lifetime cumulative gifts of $250,000 or more.

Dorothy Roberts, a two-time graduate and staff emeriti, and the late Stuart Sperber, an alumnus of the Voorhis Campus and longtime supporter of the College of Agriculture, were inducted this year into the society. Their inductions rounded off membership in the elite group to 100, including 46 corporations, companies or foundations.

Dorothy and Kent Roberts (top left) as well as Shina and Hae Park (inset) join President Ortiz as members of the Founders’ Society.

Students Cynthy Harris, Yazmin Lozano, Garrett Van Leeuwen, Matty West, Serge Mayer and Brad Fowers

inside their sustainably designed TJ House.

PolyTrends | Spring | Summer | 2008 3

The “IT” Thing

Some of the moSt talented StudentS in Southern California competed in May for $1,000 prizes in the 12th Annual Information Technology Competition at Cal Poly Pomona.

The event is a challenging test of students’ skills. While they must have the technical knowledge to solve

an IT problem, they must also possess the business savvy to determine how technology affects a company’s bottom line and the communication skills to present the problem in a clear and concise manner.

“This student-organized competition, which is in its 12th year, is a true testament to the learn-by-doing approach to education,” says Dan Manson, professor of computer information systems. “Student teams present solutions to business problems that are created and judged by top industry participants.”

Teams competed in one of four IT specialties: computer forensics, Web application development, telecommunications and business systems analysis. Experts, including those who work for Guidance Software, DreamBox Creations and Hitachi Consulting, put forth an IT problem. Students then worked in groups to solve the problem and presented it to the industry professionals.

Students and faculty members from the computer information systems (CIS) department are well-suited to host this event. Cal Poly Pomona is the only institution in Southern California to be named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Educa-tion by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Also, companies such as KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers heavily recruit CIS students to meet their IT needs. In fact, some CIS seniors who will graduate in June secured a job before the end of winter quarter.

For more information, visit www.itcompetition.org.

Groundbreaking Business A groundbreaking ceremony slated for the fall

is the first step toward providing a new home and beginning a new era for the College of Business Administration.

Situated near the rose garden and the CLA Building, the new facility will be close to some of the most important landmarks at Cal Poly Pomona. The new, and as yet unnamed, complex will include three buildings and a courtyard totaling more than 83,000 square feet. Planned amenities include lecture halls with tiered seating, wireless Internet access and classrooms that incorporate the latest in teaching technology. When the complex opens in late 2010, it also will offer an Einstein Bros. Bagels café.

The CBA is internationally accredited and one of the largest colleges on campus, educating approximately 4,500 students a year. Due to its popularity, the CBA has outgrown its space and classrooms are dispersed across campus. The new facility will enhance collaboration among the different disciplines and cement the CBA’s reputation of producing well-prepared business graduates who become leaders in Southern California.

“The College of Business Administration building will offer a very inviting venue for our students to come together and to spend more time on campus,” says Interim Dean Lynn Turner. “Space for study and workspace for our student clubs will be welcome features. We will also have some wonderful lecture halls where we will be proud to invite distinguished guest speakers.”

Alumni and friends of the university are welcome to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. Contact Jeff Cox at [email protected] for more information, or to donate toward this project, visit www.bus.csupomona.edu/buildingcampaign.asp.


The top IT students in the region tested their business savvy with technical know-how at the annual Information Technology Competition.


Sprinting to VictoryCal poly pomona aSSiStant traCk and field CoaCh Joel Stallworth began running competitively two years ago. Despite that relatively short window of time, he has had a meteoric climb of success that may take him all the way to Beijing.

The 25-year-old Stockton native began his track and field career in 2006 after making a name for himself as an all-CCAA basketball player for Cal State Stanislaus. It did not take long before Stallworth’s innate talent for running was recognized, and he was acknowledged as athlete of the year numerous times through the CCAA due to his outstanding performances.

Practice and hard work earned Stallworth a personal-best time of 45.40 seconds on the 400-meter race, which qualified him for the Olympic Trials to be held in Eugene, Ore., this June. Should he place in the top three, he will make the U.S. Olympic team compet-ing this year in Beijing, China.

“It still hasn’t hit me yet. Some people who have been running their whole lives won’t get to this point. I want to represent my country in Beijing, so I have to stay focused and keep working hard because this can be taken away at any given moment,” the Cal Poly Pomona assistant coach says.

The Olympic Trials come on the heels of his first international competition. In March, Stallworth competed in the 12th annual IAAF World Indoor Championships held in Valen-cia, Spain. He was selected to be part of Team USA in this international event after finishing fourth in a 400-meter race with an impressive time of 46.98 seconds. When he arrived for the Spain competition, he ran in the preliminary rounds for the 4 x 400 relay where he finished first in the qualifying heat. The U.S. team then moved forward to win the event and, although Stallworth did not run in the finals, he was awarded a gold medal with the rest of his teammates.

“It felt great being able to put on red, white and blue. The gold medal just topped it off. It’s a tremendous honor,” he says. “I don’t look at it (the gold medal) too much because I still have a lot of work in front of me. It’s something to be humble about, and it’s a matter of me being in the right position at the right time.”

Joel Stallworth, assistant track coach, qualified for the Olympic Trials in June with a personal-best time of 45.40 seconds on the 400-meter race.

Former business dean David Klock left a parting gift for Cal Poly Pomona using

the CSU charitable gift annuity program.

Home Is Where the Donation Is

David Klock’s tenure at Cal Poly Pomona may have been only three-years long, but the university made a strong and positive impression on him. So much so that before embarking on the next chapter of his career, the former dean of the College of Business Administration and his wife, Phyllis, donated their La Verne house to the university.

“Phyllis and I place a lot of value on education, and we like to support education in any way we can,” David Klock says. “We believe if you have the means to give, you should.”

Using the California State University charitable gift annuity program, the Klocks have donated their home (valued at approximately $885,000) and by doing so, set up

a steady retirement fund for themselves. With a charitable gift annuity, a donor can provide significant support to a university and receive generous fixed payments, partly tax-free income, and a charitable tax deduction. When donors of charitable gift annuities pass away, anything left over from that fund is given to the university.

“David and Phyllis showed a lot of generosity by donating their home,” says Michelle Moyer, director of Planned Giving at Cal Poly Pomona. “It’s a mutually beneficial situation for them and the university. If you have real estate that is mortgage-free, you can release it to the CSU for a steady stream of income in retirement.”

For more information on how to start a charitable gift annuity, contact Michelle Moyer at (909) 869-3419 or [email protected].

2 PolyTrends | Spring 2008

CSU Campuses Face Grim budget Cuts

Governor SChwarzeneGGer’S may reviSion of the State budGet reduCed the Gap in State funding initially anticipated for the 2008-09 academic year. In response to these serious cuts, amounting to $288 million, the California State University’s Board of Trustees voted to approve a 10 percent fee increase. After providing for additional financial aid for the neediest students, approximately $73 million will be generated. This leaves the current

funding gap at $215 million, which does not include mandatory cost increases.

“The scope of this action would be felt all across the campus,” university President Michael Ortiz said at a campus-wide budget forum. “That means fewer classes and services, as well as a longer time to graduate and higher costs for our students.”

All 23 campuses held budget forums and rallies urging legislators and the governor to invest in higher education in support of California’s economy. Research has found that the CSU returns $4.41 to the California economy for every $1 invested.

There is still time to advocate a change for next year’s budget, according to the Alliance for the CSU, a team of students, employees and friends who stress the CSU’s impact on the state’s economy. The State Legislature will make additional recommendations before the final budget is approved.To learn more, visit www.allianceforthecsu.org.

Getting ConnectedCal Poly Pomona has launched

a comprehensive emergency communications system that will alert all members of the university community in the event of an urgent situation.

This system contracted by Blackboard Connect will be able to simultaneously send messages 24/7. This includes all home, office and cell phones, e-mail addresses, text/SMS, TTY/TTD devices and PDAs in a matter of minutes. Messages can be delivered even if the region is hit with a catastrophic event.

“With the proliferation of mobile communications, there is a new widespread expectation that messages of public safety should be relayed instantaneously,” says Debbi McFall, the university’s emergency services coordinator. “While there will always be some gap of time between when an incident occurs and when messages are delivered to the public, this technology assures that process is as quick as possible.”

The university first tested the new system in the spring and will do so three times a year.


Gala Yields Tasty Proceeds for Universitynearly 550 univerSity friendS and alumni attended an unforGettable SprinGtime Gala on may 4 in support of education, netting approximately $300,000. Promoted as an adventure of tastes, sights and sounds, Cal Poly Pomona’s inaugural Southern California Tasting & Auction did not disappoint any of the senses.

The savory aroma, picturesque setting and lively music set the stage for the univer-sity’s fundraising event, which was held in the newly renovated W.K. Kellogg Commemo-rative Rose Garden and the Aratani Japanese Garden. As guests mingled, they enjoyed the tasting of fine wines and flavorful cuisine from some of the Southland’s most popular wineries and restaurants. More than 60 food and wine partners participated by bringing some of their favorite and unique menu items.

“Mr. Cal Poly” Ron Simons served as auctioneer for the live auction, which featured packages such as an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana show, as well as elaborate dinners and travel get-aways. Hundreds of items were up for bid at the silent auction, including the original painting for the event (by university graphic artist Ani Markarian), autographed sports memorabilia, as well as unique spa and travel packages.

The Collins School of Hospitality Management played a lead role in the tasting segment of the gala by arranging for the involvement of the restaurants and wineries. Earlier in the day, The Collins School held a special reception honoring the legacy of Carl Karcher with the prestigious Robert Mondavi Wine and Food Award for 2008. This annual award honors those with a passionate, lifelong commitment to excellence in the hospitality industry.

Event sponsors included the Childrens Fund of San Bernardino County, Carol and Jim Collins, Eugene Park & Bel-Air Swap-Meet, as well as the Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Asso-ciation, DreamBox Creations, Fairplex, Kellogg Citizenship Fund and Mickey and Lee Segal. More than two dozen additional sponsors generously supported the event.

The large-scale event was staffed by a small army of 400 volunteers, including many students. Proceeds will directly benefit Cal Poly Pomona students with scholarships, as well as universitywide academic enrichment.

Video streaming is available on the event Web site http://video.csupomona.edu/streaming/events/WineTasting.html.

CAMPUSPerSPecTiVe

By Devyn Huynh

doeS anyone reCall the ChiCaGo bullS’ dynaSty durinG the 1990S with miChael Jordan and Scottie Pippen when the Bulls had a strong all-around defense and six NBA championship titles to show for it? One of the reasons the imprint of the Bulls’ legacy is embossed in my mind is that it reminds me of a big part of my childhood and how I grew up watching every single game with dedication and

passion. Michael Jordan became one of my top role models and a hero who represented motivation and perseverance — an example of how I wanted to live my life.

I am currently president of the Men Against Violence group at Cal Poly Pomona. As a student club working within the Stop Violence Office, our group is concerned with peer education and assistance in dealing with issues of stalking, sexual assault, and dating and domestic violence. One of the areas where our group differs from the T.E.A.A.R. (The Education Against Abusive Relationships) theatre group on campus is that we focus on the men’s side of the partner violence problem. The Men Against Violence group at Cal Poly Pomona concentrates on the research that explains why males commit 98 percent of all reported sexual assaults in this country (according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics) and the fact that most rapes are perpetrated by someone the victim knows. With these problems in our society continuing to occur all around us, sometimes I find myself getting overwhelmed from all of it and, at times, am hard-pressed to strive for change.

So how did I get into this field, and why do I continue to invest my time? I actually get that question more times than I can count and whether the specific answer I

Passion for Positive

Male Role Models and

Preventing Assaults

Man Against Violence


With posters for a dating and domestic violence campaign in the background, Devyn Huynh

takes a stand representing men against violence.

give makes perfect sense, it is by looking at a few levels of my background that the response becomes clear.

Growing up with two sisters in a Southern California suburb, I felt that often the strongest bonds of growth were directed back to the family. Also, even though it may be a touchy subject, I feel that for a complete understanding of my motivations as a student for change and hope, I would have to acknowledge that religion played a role in my life. Because of my upbringing, I began to seek definitions of morality and ethics and the different tribulations we face as human beings living in a diverse society. It was then that I started to take heed of some fundamental social problems that we are inundated with in this country, such as violence against women.

As I began my transition into high school and college, I noticed the media’s portrayal of male behavior start to change, first gradually, then suddenly. Positive role models of honest motivation and determination were diminishing in the limelight of television and movies, while characters such as Steve Stifler from “American Pie” and Billy Loomis, from the movie “Scream,” were the ones

Man Against Violence

Stop Violence Office

Cal Poly Pomona’s Stop Violence Office (SVO) is dedicated to ending partnership violence and takes a proactive approach in addressing domestic/dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The Stop Violence Office provides educational programming, training, survivor advocacy and support services to the campus community. All services are free and confidential and are available to Cal Poly Pomona students, staff, faculty members and alumni.

In 2001, the Stop Violence Office became the first program of its kind on a California State University campus and was opened through a grant from the Department of Justice, Violence Against Women Office. This year the SVO has joined together with Tanya Brown and Permit Place Inc. to establish “Partners Ending Violence,” an endowment campaign working to institutionalize the Stop Violence Office program. The university’s division of student affairs funds the coordinator’s position and provides office space for the Stop Violence Office; the assistant coordinator’s position and the prevention education programs are funded by the Department of Justice and the Verizon Foundation.

In the last academic year, the SVO provided 12,819 students, faculty and staff with prevention education programs. Additionally, certified sexual assault/domestic violence counselors provided 89 survivors with advocacy and emergency support services. For more information about the Stop Violence Office, call (909) 869-3102 or visit www.dsa.csupomona.edu/police/stopviolence.

being chatted about. These characters moved from subtle to obvious and depicted images of violence and forced sexual aggression, all the while perpetuating negative stereotypes of hyper-masculinity. Although we have entered the new millennium and are marking the growth of the children categorized as the “Internet generation,” we have yet to find proficient ways of solving the problems of crime, teenage pregnancy, drug addiction and rape.

I strive for change because to be the type of positive role model that I grew up admiring is a necessity and is what motivates me to stay involved with the Men Against Violence group. We certainly have the intelligence to work practically for the change we want to see happen. Change may require strengthening the emphasis on education about violence, and some may learn from the process of going through the experiences personally, but awareness of the problem is the first step to creating change. Consciousness is the difference between activism and apathy.

Devyn Huynh is a third-year sociology major who has been working with Men Against Violence for the past year. He is planning on a career in law.


Photos by Tom Zasadzinski

10 PolyTrends | Spring 2008

CoVER STory

PolyTrends | Spring 2008 11

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 buried two archeologically famous cities, Pompeii and Herculaneum. It wasn’t until the mid-18th century that workers at Herculaneum discovered 1,000 signed papyrus scrolls beneath the volcanic ashes. The author was Philodemus, a philosopher and poet from the classical world who was vital in the transmission of Greek philosophical ideas to Rome. For centuries, these and many other historically significant texts lay buried--hidden from those who thirst for knowledge.

As access to information erupted in the digital age, the popular 20th Century catch phrase “information is power” became as ancient as Philodemus’ scrolls. Information was readily available and accessible through the Web. The issue of quality, however, is the ironic discovery. In fact, as more information became widely accessible to the masses, the need for verification increased exponentially. Sifting out biased junk from legitimate sources is not unlike sorting through the volcanic mud and debris from the Herculaneum Papyri.

Discovering theM o d e r n L i b r a r y

By Lisa McPheron



variety of patrons’ needs. The Grand Reading room will perhaps be the most stunning place in the new addition. Huge, two-story windows allow for natural lighting and panoramic views of campus and the San Gabriel Mountains. Dozens of comfy chairs with tables and lamps throughout the expansive room will give ample space for people to get lost in a good book or find a nice quiet place to master their discipline. The architectural design allows for abundant space for artwork, which Schleifer hopes will fill the walls someday.

“It was important for us to design a library that creates an inviting and enjoyable space for people,” Schleifer says.

“it was important for us to design a

library that creates an inviting and

enjoyable space for people.” Harold Schleifer, dean, University Library

“Information was once a scarcity,” says Harold Schleifer, dean of the University Library. “But now it is so widespread that the challenge has shifted from finding to filtering.”

University libraries all over the world are addressing the rapid evolution of digital information and communication, and the best ones become the hang-outs of Web-savvy students who use library resources to excel in their work. At Cal Poly Pomona, this trend has not only been observed, it has influenced the key priorities of the library.

This fall, Cal Poly Pomona’s University Library will open the doors to its new addition/renovation and profoundly impact the academic landscape of the space and tools necessary for today’s modern student.

“This project is transforming our library into a state-of-the-art learning center for the 21st-century student,” says Schleifer. “It will be a hub of intellectual growth and development for the university and community at large.”

Funded principally by Propositions 47 and 55, the $58.5 million addition/renovation project, designed by Carrier Johnson Architects and constructed by Rudolph and Sletten Inc. is the second expansion of the University Library. The original four-floor library building was constructed in 1968. By the 1980s, enrollment at the university had increased significantly and that growth started pulling at the seams of the library. In 1989, two more floors were added increasing the total space to 205,000 square feet. This helped the library keep up with demand but only for so long.

“We outgrew our space long ago,” Schleifer says. “There simply haven’t been enough places on this campus for our 21,000 students to study and work together in groups. This addition fulfills that need and much more.”

The current project will increase the library’s square footage to 340,000. It is a significant expansion in terms of scope and philosophical change.

“We’re defining what a polytechnic university library should be. It is about providing the most relevant and useful propriety information and then providing the space and technical environment for people to access that information quickly and efficiently,” says Malik Sooch, the University Library’s development associate.

Indeed, the days of researching at a library by borrowing books, reading journal articles or employing the help of a knowledgeable and skillful librarian are still with us today. However, many of those books and journals may be digital. Those helpful librarians may not only be across the room but also an instant message away — 24 hours a day.

The architectural design and floor plan reflect this growing change while still holding on to some traditional library concepts. Within the library there will be a number of “neighborhoods,” each with distinct characteristics to appeal to the

The addition/renovation will provide the space and tools vital for today’s students, including listening stations, a 120-seat lecture hall, a 24-hour computer lab, wired study rooms, as well as a full-service Starbucks.

Naranjo and Schleifer have been involved with the library project every step of the way. It was important to both men that the original building’s floor plan flows into the new wing seamlessly. The addition expands the four lower floors of the original library.

“We did not want the older side of the building to be underutilized, so there is a complete ‘free flow’ between the existing building and the new addition,” Naranjo says. “While you’re walking across the second and third floors of the library, you may not even realize one side of the room was built more than 40 years ago.”

Concepts for the library renovation were drawn from a variety of sources. In addition to

Because students’ needs are continually evolving, the idea of study space was re-examined. Simply providing space to read and research is not enough, says Andrew Naranjo, library addition project manager.

“Students are often required to collaborate in groups, and they need space and equipment to do that,” Naranjo says. “We’ve surveyed students and with their feedback have designed many group study rooms equipped with smart boards and audio and visual equipment.”

In fact, one of the study rooms will be equipped with the latest equipment courtesy of the Class of 2008.

A design that accommodates group work has been incorporated throughout much of the addition. Computer stations that provide access to the library’s expansive catalog and online databases have been designed to accommodate small groups of people working together. Library patrons will also find tables that resemble restaurant booths for group work. While this will not be a place to share a slice of pie, it can be a place to discuss Pi. For those who want to relax and get away from it all, there will be Adirondack-style recliner chairs with ottomans and spectacular views of our beautiful campus.

(Continued on page 29)


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A e r o s p A c e p r o g r A m Keeps Up with propelling Industry

By Lisa McPheron

Normally when Professor Hany Farran teaches one of his engineering classes, he gathers up his class materials and walks down a hallway — sometimes a flight of stairs is involved. One night a week however, this professor’s commute to a classroom is a 170-mile-roundtrip drive to Lancaster, Calif., where Cal Poly Pomona recently launched a master’s program in aerospace engineering.

The terrain Farran traverses on his way to teach is much like the history of the aerospace industry: full of peaks and valleys. Robust growth characterizes the industry now. In fact, during the past four years, the U.S. aerospace industry has steadily increased, ending 2007 with sales nearing $200 billion, according to the Aerospace Industries Association. This prosperity, coupled with an aging workforce, has created a drastic need to prepare the next generation of aerospace leaders. It’s critical that someone helps fill those shoes.

Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Engineering is addressing this need by taking rigorous courses to one of California’s bustling aerospace communities. Nestled in the Antelope Valley 70 miles north of Los Angeles, Lancaster and Palmdale comprise a desert community that relies heavily on Edwards Air Force Base and loads of military and private aerospace development facilities. Major companies such as Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, all have facilities in this arid valley. In short, this is a community where rocket scientists reside. And it’s a community with limited higher education options.

“I’m in this program because there is an actual professor, and it wasn’t online or telecommuting,” says Michael Gorrilla, an active duty Air Force Research

FEATURE STory


Laboratory engineer who lives in Lancaster. “The location is perfect.”

All of the graduate students currently enrolled live within a few miles of the Lancaster University Center, a city-funded complex that offers critical classroom space for universities to offer courses. Other universities offer satellite programs at the center; however, this master’s program is the only opportunity for students to take aerospace classes from a professor, in person.

“We believe face-to-face teaching provides a much higher quality education,” says Ali R. Ahmadi, chair of the aerospace engineering department at Cal Poly Pomona, who also teaches some of the classes in Lancaster.

Crystal Klemmer, an associate aerospace engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory, goes straight to class from work.

“We all live close by,” she says. “This is very convenient for us.”

Classes began in the fall, and currently, there are about a dozen

students. Though low in headcount, the caliber of students is high, and each graduate student is already employed as an engineer. Most of them work at Edwards Air Force Base either as civil servants, like Klemmer, or active duty personnel.

Farran enjoys teaching students who have already gained considerable accomplishments in their careers. He enjoys it so much that he isn’t bothered by the drive.

“These students are bright engineers,” he says. “They ask insightful and challenging questions. It’s engaging.”

Ahmadi adds, “The real world has a maturing influence on our students. This is a focused, good bunch of students.”

This program will provide the graduate students with credentials often needed in their fields to qualify for more advanced work and management positions. Student David Ho, who is deputy branch chief of airborne instrumentation, which is a test lab for jet engines, says the degree will make him eligible to be an Air Force test pilot.

“Since the Air Force offers tuition assistance, and I need this to be a test pilot, I thought ‘I might as well go through the program,’ ” Ho says.

“some of the students we are serving now are working with rockets and spacecraft, so we needed to offer astronautics in addition to aeronautics,” says Ahmadi, adding that it is the combination of astronautics and aeronautics that build the discipline of aerospace.

Professor Hany Farran makes the weekly 200-mile-roundtrip drive to Lancaster, Calif., where Cal Poly Pomona recently launched an aerospace engineering master’s program.


Aerodynamics classes will get a whole lot more exciting this fall when students start using a $2 million, 50,000-pound subsonic wind tunnel. The blue oval-shaped structure arrived on campus this winter thanks to a generous donation from the U.S. Air Force.

The wind tunnel will allow students to test scale models of aircraft and rockets, as well as other vehicles. The subsonic wind tunnel is part of the Education Partnership Agreement between Cal Poly Pomona and the Air Force signed in 2004. Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano, D-38, has also been instrumental in acquiring funds for the project.

The equipment is on long-term loan to the university for educational and research purposes by students and faculty, as well as, in collaboration with the Air Force, aerospace industry and other universities of their choosing. In addition, the wind tunnel will be available for tours to K-12 students to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

W I n d T U n n e l m A K e s s e r I o U s s p e e d


“We believe face-to-face teaching provides a much higher quality education,” says Ali r. Ahmadi, chair of aerospace engineering.

Ho may sound modest, but this program cannot be completed on whimsy. Professors such as Farran offer rigorous course work. The study plan offers one to two courses a quarter, four quarters a year. For the working students, two classes a quarter are plenty, they say.

This is the second generation of an off-campus master’s program of this nature. From 1984 until 2002, the College of Engineering offered a comprehensive program in aeronautics in El Segundo, Hawthorne and Pico Rivera, another robust aerospace community in Southern California. That program was also offered in the Antelope Valley from 1997 until 2002.

“At one point, we had 60 plus graduate students. However due to marketplace changes, that program did come to an end,” Ahmadi says.

Transformations in the industry and demands of its workforce can be seen in the evolution of the two master’s programs.

“Some of the students we are serving now are working with rockets and spacecraft, so we needed to offer astronautics in addition to aeronautics,” says Ahmadi, adding that it is the combination of astronautics and aeronautics that builds the discipline of aerospace.

“This program is a service to the aerospace industry and the graduate students who live far from our campus.” Ahmadi says. “We hope to offer this program indefinitely.”

By Lisa McPheron

ameriCanS love their lettuCe. SeCond only to potatoes, lettuce is consumed more than any other fresh vegetable in the country. The leafy green also produces a lot of green – nearly $1.7 billion a year in California alone, according to California Department

of Food and Agriculture data.Iceberg lettuce, which has little nutritional

value, unfortunately remains the most consumed variety. The crispy lettuce goes well with hamburgers, another American favorite, but it

basically does not do the body good. It is a well-known fact that darker-

leafed lettuce packs in more nutrition. Though the healthier varieties are being tossed in salads more often than in years past, they just don’t deliver the crunch of iceberg and remain less desirable to the

masses. A Cal Poly Pomona professor and a cadre of research assistants are developing

a solution by blending the crispy qualities of iceberg with butter lettuce — a nutritional powerhouse in comparison.

“Even though consumption is increasing for healthier types of lettuce, it’s plain to see people still like their iceberg lettuce,” says Professor David Still, who specializes in biotechnology. “Our laboratory is working on improving traits in lettuce so that it is easier to grow, lasts longer once


FEATURE STory

T h e r e ’ s S t i l l H o p e f o r H e a l t h y I c e b e r g

A Lettuce Love Affair


harvested and will have better nutritional value for the consumer.”

A College of Agriculture plant science professor, Still has worked with lettuce in many ways for about seven years. His research has ranged from developing improved seed germination under environmental stress, such as heat and salinity, to massive data gathering involved with genetic mapping and phenotypic characterization. Not to mention he actually grows his lettuce in a greenhouse on campus.

Still’s Seed Lab, as some people refer to it, is a nondescript building that was once called the Honey House, where the old apiculture (beekeeping) unit was kept. It’s likely most people who drive by the modest building in Cal Poly Pomona’s Ag Valley have little idea that advanced DNA research is taking place inside.

“Some of what we do is fairly routine and labor-intensive, but a lot of it uses absolutely cutting-edge technology, like genomics and gene expression,” he says.

Still wants to discover what traits in iceberg lettuce create the crunch and long shelf life and what qualities of butter lettuce produce vitamins A, C, E and K as well as folate and antioxidants. Using sophisticated equipment obtained through grants and partnerships spearheaded by Still, work is ongoing to this end.

In a greenhouse, there are rows and rows of lettuce that each come from hand-pollinated seed selections made from crosses of the lettuce types, which are germinated in the lab. Hundreds of genetic varieties have been grown to develop the ideal lettuce.

Still’s research is largely made possible by matching funds from the Agricultural Research Initiative, which is the California State University’s consortium of applied agricultural and environmental sciences research. The consortium includes other CSU campuses with agriculture colleges, including Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Chico State and Fresno State.



In order to qualify for the ARI’s matching funds, Still has received grants from public agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. He has collaborative research projects with colleagues at UCLA, UC Davis and UC Berkeley among others. Industry partners have included ReadyPac, which sells prepackaged lettuce at grocery stores, and alumnus Don Huntley of Huntley-Moore Farms. Still has also partnered with seed companies such as Seminis Vegetable Seeds.

Through these partnerships and grants, Still has raised a substantial amount to fund his research over the years. This funding pays for all of his equipment and salaries for research assistants, some of whom have gone on to careers with biotechnology or biomedical firms.

“Doing research at a CSU is challenging because it is not a research-driven institution and does not receive state support for research. So we have to put a lot of time into acquiring these

resources. Without partnerships like these, it would be impossible for me to conduct this level of research.”

Still is doing all he can to master seed germination and pack in more nutrition to crispy lettuce.

However, one question remains: Can he get Americans to stop using ranch dressing?

“Our laboratory is working on improving traits in lettuce so that it is easier to grow, lasts longer once harvested and will have better

nutritional value for the consumer.”

Advanced DNA research on iceberg lettuce is supported by the Agricultural Research Initiative as well as various funding partnerships. Hand-pollinated seed selections made from crosses of the lettuce type are germinated in the lab.


silver ScholarsBy Candice Keichline

in 1983, former preSident huGh la bounty Created the President’s Council Scholars program to recognize the best and the brightest students from each college and school at Cal Poly Pomona.

Looking back these past 25 years, program administrators now see a trail of success from former students who have gone on to become the best and brightest alumni.

Attorney Brian Hoffstadt is a case in point. As a President’s Council Scholar in 1991, Hoffstadt continued his trail of success at UCLA’s law school where he graduated first in his class. He also completed a prestigious clerkship for Sandra Day O’Connor at the U.S. Supreme Court. He is currently a partner at Jones Day, one of the world’s largest law firms.

“As a student who worked through college, I appreciated the opportunity to be a scholar and be able to fully concentrate on school,” he says. “It was a great way to get to know the other scholars and interact with President Suzuki, who was president of the university at the time, and to become more familiar with the campus as a whole.”

Hofstadt will be among the 280 past President’s Council Scholars who are invited to a reunion in September in honor of the 25th anniversary of the university’s most prestigious scholarship program. The conferral ceremony will announce 26 new scholars for 2008-2009.

Every year, upper-class and graduate-level students have the opportunity to apply for this scholarship, and only the most outstanding and well-qualified candidates are chosen as President’s Council Scholars. Recipients must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and demonstrate significant contributions to the community during their university years.

At the ceremony, each recipient receives a medallion and a scholarship for $2,500. The scholarships are named after

ADVANCING THEUNiVerSiTy

“As a student who worked through college, I appreciated the opportunity to be a scholar and be able to fully

concentrate on school.”

Brian Hoffstadt, Alumnus and former scholar



silver Scholars

President’s Council

Scholarship Marks

25th AnniversAry

members of the President’s Council, all of whom are business and community leaders excelling in their professional fields and demonstrating a record of public service. For the past 25 years, the council has played an active role in improving educational, cultural and social life at the university. These scholarships come from an endowment fund established by generous contributions from members of the President’s Council. To create a President’s Council scholarship, university supporters contribute a minimum of $50,000 to the endowment fund.

“The recognition of being a scholar makes you feel really special, like you are at the top of your game,” says Alexa Lowry, a 2007-2008 President’s Council Scholar and soon-to-be graduate from the College of Business Administration. “The extra financial help decreased the strain of college fees, and I have time to devote to other things that further my personal success.”

Instead of working full time during this year’s spring break, Lowry was able to travel to Mississippi through a United Way program to help rebuild homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. She attributes the ability to embark on this unique experience to the financial help from her President’s Council award.

The award is meant to encourage selected students to continue their academic excellence, co-curricular activities and involvement in the community. Where most scholarships may concentrate on financial aid, the President’s Council Scholarship focuses on merit.

If you are interested in establishing a President’s Council Scholarship, please contact Scott Warrington, vice president for university advancement, at [email protected] or call (909) 869-6989.

“The recognition of being a scholar makes you feel really special, like you

are at the top of your game.”

Alexa Lowry, 2007-2008 scholar


Alum

ni Spotlight

ALUMNI NewS

IAN bLACkbURN ‘91 Enriches Wine Culture

A PleAsure for Wine

By Jessica Wyland

Certified wine profeSSional and induStry SpokeSperSon ian Blackburn drinks wine for a living.

Since 1995, Blackburn has worked to develop Learn-AboutWine.com, a Web site devoted to the education, service and enjoyment of wine. The site has become a recognized source of wine information and affairs in Southern California. Blackburn and his crew host more than 200 events each year and keep up with 18,000 Web site subscribers.

The Los Angeles resident has earned a reputation as an expert in his field. In 2004, Wiley Publications released Blackburn’s first book, “The Pleasure of Wine,” and a follow-up book is in the works.

“My passion is helping people experience and enjoy wine,” Blackburn says. “We have come a long way as a culture during the last 10 to 15 years. Still, it is easy to become overwhelmed by how much there is to know about wine.”

Blackburn keeps his focus on demystifying wine for everyone, from the casual drinker to the potential collec-tor. He considers wine an essential, almost medicinal, component of everyday life. His California vision includes a winery in every zip code — a move he is sure would benefit the community and the earth.

“It stimulates me to work with wine and understand how it relates to food, history, geography, and how it all ties together,” he says. “My goal is to improve the wine culture of California. We have more than 5,000 wineries in the state, and as wineries become more competitive and specialized, we see more progress in the industry.”

Leading up to his career in wine education, Blackburn worked at all levels of the restaurant business. He spent 11 years within the distribution chain for Young’s Markets, Kobrand Corporation and Kenwood Vineyards and found his niche when he started train-ing distribution representatives, restaurant managers and bar staff. He developed the curriculum he called “Wine Camp” that evolved into what is now his successful business.

As a student in The Collins School of Hospitality Management, Blackburn says he honed the skills he now uses in business.

“The difficult schedule and the high expectations served us very well and made us better citizens, better employees and strong individuals,” Blackburn says. “It was amazing what we accomplished and how it shaped me and my abilities.”

While finishing his education, Blackburn helped open Checkers Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. There he was introduced to what he calls “the great world of wine.” Although he was only 20 years old at the time, Blackburn worked alongside famous chefs and developed a curiosity about food and wine pairings. He was also one of 17 students from the United States who



Alum

ni Spotlight

was accepted into the Master of Wine Programme of London.

Because he wants to give back to Cal Poly Pomona, Blackburn is active in the mentor program and offers current students volunteer learning opportunities with his company events in Los Angeles. He recently worked with a member of the Collins School faculty to create the American Institute of Wine and Food.

Named a “significant wine educa-tor” by Los Angeles Magazine in 2007, Blackburn is a regular judge for the annual Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition at Fairplex and has taught classes at Cordon Bleu, Cal Poly Pomona, UCLA, as well as with corporate clients.

“I have a lifestyle, not a job,” Black-burn says. “A job is something you do to pay your bills. I have the privilege of doing what I would do if I didn’t need any money.”

t

By Laurie McLaughlin

His most recent race was the hardest he had ever done. “It was 55 miles through fire roads and trails in the Cleveland National Forest with approximately 11,000 feet of vertical elevation gain,” says Rod Leveque of the excruciating seven-hour trek. “To give that some context, it’s more than twice the distance of a marathon, through the wilderness, with an elevation gain equivalent to climbing the stairs of the Empire State Building 10 times over.”

Leveque competes in as many as 30 mountain-bike races a year, and last season, he won the state championship for an intermediate rider in his age group. He’s 5-foot-7 and currently weighs 145 pounds, but fewer than four years ago, he was pushing the scale at 200 pounds and hadn’t ridden his bike much since high school.

“I just decided I didn’t want to keep gaining weight, so I dusted off my 10-year-old bicycle and started riding again,” he says. “I took to it really well, and I lost more than 50 pounds.”

He also spent a lot of time at a local shop getting parts for his old bike, and the employees encouraged him to start racing. So he joined the beginner circuit two years ago and came out No. 1 in the nation for all age groups at that level, and he moved up to the intermediate level last year.

Staying in GeAr RoD LEVEqUE ’00

Loves Riding and Writing

“It stimulates me to work with wine and how it relates to food, history, geography, and how it all ties together,” he says. “My goal is to improve the wine culture of California.


24 PolyTrends | fAll 2007

Alum

ni Spotlight SANFoRD SMITH

’79 Plans Zero-Waste

Corporate Facilities

When Leveque isn’t riding, he’s writing. He’s a reporter for the Daily Bulletin newspaper in Ontario and covers the courts and legal affairs. Most notably, he’s been writing about the appeals case of Kevin Cooper, an inmate who escaped from a Chino prison in the 1980s and was convicted of killing four people. “I’ve been at the paper for seven years, and I’ve covered this case for as long as I’ve been here,” he says.

Leveque got his first taste of journalism as a staffer and editor of the Poly Post. “I wrote about a lot of controversial subjects back then,” he adds. “I had a really great advisor, Tim Lynch, an editor at the Los Angeles Times, and it was through him that I got into the business.

“It’s an exciting job because you have a lot of freedom, and no day is the same. You are out talking to people and coming across things you would never come across if you had a more conventional job behind a desk.”

He earned a degree in journalism at Cal Poly Pomona in 2000 where he met his wife, Maryann Tolano. She was also a journalism major who graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree and in 2006 with an M.A. in Education.

“She was ASI president when I was the editor of the Poly Post. You know how the relationship between the press and the government is — they sometimes have to battle each other a bit. And, initially what attracted me to her is the way she handled that. She was so honest and direct in her dealings in student government.”

There was no conflict of interest between government and the fourth estate back then, he adds with a laugh. They began dating when her term ended, and she joined the campus newspaper’s staff. They were married in 2005, and she’s now a student government advisor at Mt. San Antonio College, and Leveque is again racing in a new category.

“This year, I’m entering the elite levels, and so far, I’m staying competitive,” he adds. “The races are longer, more technical. There are a lot of steep climbs and tricky descents. Some courses are brutal and rugged.” The circuit he participates in is predominantly in Southern California, and his sponsor, Upland’s Jenson USA bike

shop, helps him travel and get the gear he needs.

“I don’t know why I’m good at this. A lot of it is mental,” he says. “But, I think some of the riding I did when I was heavy got my legs really strong. When the weight came off, I had a body built to haul a bunch of weight that wasn’t there anymore.”

In the meantime, Leveque is staying in gear with his professional and riding careers.

“I just decided I didn’t want to keep gaining weight, so I dusted off my 10-year-old bicycle and started riding again,” he says. “I took to it really well, and I lost more than 50 pounds.”

By Laurie McLaughlin

when he waS in the fourth Grade, Sanford Smith came home from school one day and proclaimed he wanted to be an architect. “Even my mom recalls that,” says Smith. “I remember drawing a very futuristic building and coming across the word ‘architect,’ and from that point on, I was focused on the pursuit of architecture.”

Today, Smith is the corporate manager of real estate and facilities for Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., and his daily routine incorporates futur-istic ideas to be applied today. He’s at the top of the team that manages the auto manufacturer’s physical facilities in the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The company’s emphasis is on environmentally sound buildings, manufacturing processes and, of course, products.

“Toyota established a Global Earth Charter in 1992, which challenges us to look at every aspect of our business and to take action volun-tarily to do whatever we can within our area of influence to minimize the impact on the earth,” says Smith, who also paraphrases a statement by a former Toyota president: “Automakers won’t survive the 21st century if they don’t actively recognize the impact of the automobile on the planet and work diligently to minimize that.”

When Toyota enacted the charter 16 years ago, says Smith, “on the vehicle-development side they said, ‘Okay, let’s rethink the auto-mobile,’ and they developed the hybrid power train, which came out as the Prius.” His depart-ment committed to minimizing the impact of the company’s buildings by utilizing recycled materials, being more energy efficient and by using alternative sources to power them, and they’ve won a number of top-tier awards over the last decade for doing so. “We have achieved zero waste-to-landfill with many of our facilities, including our headquarters campus here in Torrance,” he adds. “Toyota’s emphasis on improvement is called ‘kaizen.’ It’s


Citizen “Kaizen”

a Japanese word that means ‘continuous improvement.’”

Smith graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a bachelor’s in architecture in 1979 and had embraced “kaizen” before he knew the word. When he entered the work force, he realized that his passion wasn’t so much in the actual execution of architectural work as it was the management of projects. “I discovered that having the architectural education allowed me as a developer to foster good design and community development skills,” he says, and he spent several years working with both The Irvine Company and the University of California, Irvine in commercial development.

His career is about the synergy of architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning, which is, not surprisingly, one of the hallmarks of the College of Environmental Design that enticed him as a student in the mid-70s.

“One-sixth of my staff is Cal Poly graduates in the real estate facilities department,” says Smith, and he emphasizes that the lessons learned at the college are in force every day in his office. “Our training allows us to look more strategically at the role of the build-ing as it relates to the corporation versus a stand-alone thing.”

Smith also debunks the common presumption that building and refitting structures for sustainability must cost more than conventional construction. “We set the cost target based on whatever the market conditions are and make value decisions about the tradeoffs between different systems within the building,” he states. “The idea isn’t to spend more money. The issue is spending the same amount of money whether it’s a green building or a non-green building and to spend it more wisely.”

He admits that because Toyota is a profitable company, it’s in an enviable position. In 2003, when the headquarters went “green,” there were folks saying it would be a difficult payback.

“Well, you fast-forward five years, and it’s a completely different paradigm we’re operating in. This correlates to the urban planning aspect of the College of Environmental Design: If you are conceptualizing what society will look like in 2020 and the challenges that we will have, it allows you to make a different decision today. The building life cycle

is different from the quarterly business cycle — buildings are designed to be in place for hundreds of years.”

If Toyota has successfully transi-tioned to cost-effective, eco-friendly physical plant models, then why aren’t all companies doing it? “People are afraid,” says Smith. “The natural reaction is that it’s going to cost a lot of money, and it’s going to be weird. We are demonstrating that, no, it can support the brand, it can be very mainstream, and it has these very powerful, positive business benefits on a long-term basis.

“It goes back to ‘kaizen.’ You look at the things you’ve done and ask yourself if there is anything that you could’ve done better. That drives you to make continuous improvement,” he says. “When gas was $1.65 a gallon, and we produced the Prius, we sold 6,000; everybody laughed at us, and said, nobody will want those. With gas at $4 a gallon, it’s a very popular car these days.”

“I discovered that having the architectural education allowed me as a developer to foster good design and community development skills.”


By Marisa Navarro

Whenever Mahvash Yazdi ‘74 tackles a project, she will undoubtedly transform it into something remarkably different and better, not unlike the way electricity is made.

Before she became senior vice president and chief information officer (CIO) for energy giant Southern California Edison, Yazdi started out as a Cal Poly Pomona student struggling to finance her education. And, before she became one of four female CIOs in the state, the Tehran native had to acclimate to a new language and culture in the United States.

She now works in a spacious office in Edison’s Rosemead headquarters, but Yazdi’s humble college years have not faded from memory. In fact, Yazdi is proud that she, like so many other immigrants in California, chose Cal Poly Pomona to help her realize her American Dream.

“I feel Cal Poly gave me the foundation in education,” says Yazdi who studied industrial management in the College of Business Administration. “It has always been a special place for me.”

Yazdi’s journey to this country began when she was 18 years old, and her parents decided to leave Iran, nearly a decade before the Islamic Revolution would change the government, culture and society for Iranians.

“My parents were visionary people who decided they could provide a better life for their children in the United States,” Yazdi says. “But we came with very limited means, and I come from a large family. All of us had to work to pay our way through college.”

Yazdi, a petite woman who goes to the gym every morning, was not afraid of hard work. She juggled several jobs, one of which required her to go to work sites and be a drill operator. Still, her salary could not fully fund her college education, and one time, she came dangerously close to dropping out of school. Yazdi, still new to the country, did not know there were people who could help her.

“Growing up in a different country, I didn’t know how to ask for help, and I was discovering everything on my own,” Yazdi says.

One day she walked into the university’s financial aid office and found that she was eligible for some scholarships.

“When I won a $600 scholarship, it was like winning a million-dollar lottery,” Yazdi recalls. “I remember my knees felt weak because that scholarship meant I could continue the year and pay my room and board.”

With the scholarship money, Yazdi continued pursing a degree in business, an area of study where she naturally flourished. Over time, she realized that she had a unique gift for envisioning how change can better an organization and how to implement that change.

For instance, when Yazdi joined Edison in 1997, information technology (IT) departments were being outsourced at most major corporations. It would have been easy for Yazdi to follow the status quo, but she did not. Instead, she created a powerhouse IT team that regularly works with other departments. Together, they think of ways that technology can improve the business.

Since she began her tenure at Edison, her IT department has ranked as one of the “100 Best Places to Work in IT” by Computerworld. The magazine recognized Yazdi’s

initiatives that include rewarding talent and nurturing top staff to become managers.

Outside of the office, the grandmother is also devoted to change. She sits on advisory boards, offers scholarships and is passionate about making healthcare accessible to everyone. For her commitment to work, society and her heritage, she was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island

Medal of Honor, sharing it with six U.S. Presidents, various Nobel Prize winners and notable activists such as Muhammad Ali and Cesar Chavez.

Yazdi will be the first to admit that her laurels did not come easily and advises Cal Poly Pomona students to work hard for their accomplishments.

“Don’t think that somebody will open the door and ask you to be an executive,” Yazdi says. “Make your mark on an organization by working hard.”

Alum

ni Spotlight Power Broker With Energy to Spare, MAHVASH YAZDI ’74

Is an Agent for Change

“Don’t think that somebody will open the door and ask you to be an executive. Make your mark on an organization by working hard.”

Phot

o cou

rtesy

of M

. Yaz

di

“We’ve surveyed students and with their

feedback have designed many group study

rooms equipped with smart boards and

audio and visual equipment.”

andrew naranjo, Library addition project manager

Library (continued from page 13)

transformative concepts well-documented by groups such as the Association of College & Research Libraries, ideas were borrowed from the marketplace. Many music stores, for instance, allow customers to listen to an album at a listening station before making a purchase. The University Library is employing the same concept for its audio collection. Naranjo and Schleifer also paid close attention to why the mega bookstores seem to be study destinations for some students.

“We want our library to attract people like Barnes & Noble does so that students can feel comfortable and enjoy themselves,” Schleifer says. “That’s part of the reasoning behind welcoming Starbucks.”

Yes, a full service indoor/outdoor Starbucks is part of the expansion. The coffee house is prominently located at the new entrance of the library and is slated to open later this year, so the scent of freshly brewed espresso will probably waft into corridors of the new wing. However, the food and drink policy of the library is still under consideration — so it could just be the smell of coffee entering those halls.

A big benefit the expanded library will have, in addition to more caffeine and increased group study space, will be the availability of several new classrooms including a 120-seat lecture hall. These rooms will be available to all academic programs on campus. A 78-station computer lab will also be available to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students

will have access to this laboratory via a card swipe of their Bronco identification cards. The self-operating lab is indicative of a trend to make more library services automated. The room has three blue phones that connect directly to the Cal Poly Pomona University Police Department in case of an emergency.

“We have to go more automated because we’ve increased our square-footage by more than 50 percent, yet we don’t have a lot of resources to hire more staff,” Schleifer explains.

Book returns, for instance, will also be automated. Patrons will drop off their books near the new entrance of the library, and they will be sorted automatically and organized for reshelving. Some of the book stacks (book shelves) are also more advanced. Some stacks will be on tracks, so the shelves can be condensed and moved to access certain books. Patrons will be able to safely move the stacks themselves.

All in all, Starbucks, listening stations, automated book return and a 24-hour computer lab – will never change the fact that people can still come to this

library and simply borrow a book for free.The new university library can be discovered this fall, when it opens to the campus community and the public.

For more information, call (909) 869-3074 or visit www.csupomona.edu/~library.


ADDRESS SERVICE REqUESTED

ATTeNTioN AlUmNi

PAreNTS: Please share

new addresses of sons and daughters

who are cal Poly Pomona

graduates.

call (800) 722-5765

office of Public Affairs3801 W. Temple Ave.Pomona, CA 91768www.csupomona.edu

Nonprofit org.

U.S. Postage

PAIDCal Poly Pomona

“ L E A D S I N G E R ” by T O M P O S T is an oil-on-canvas painting in the “ S P A C E ” exhibit to be held

S E P T . 1 4 t o O C T . 1 8 at the

W . K E I T H A N D J A N E T K E L L O G G U N I V E R S I T Y A R T G A L L E R Y .

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