The work of CSUN faculty and staff members is recognized in a variety of ways, including:
- Funding from outside organizations to support unique programs and cutting-edge research facilitated on campus.
- Publications of books or articles.
- Professional awards.
- Presentations at conferences.
- Appointments and elections to governing boards.
Please use this link to announce your achievements for publication in CSUN Newsroom.
Awards
Luis G. DeVera (Geography), a lecturer in CSUN’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and an environmental scientist for the California State Parks Great Basin District, received the state parks’ 2026 Climate Adaptation Award for the project “Fuels Reduction Team at Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park, Great Basin District.”
Publications
Anne Choi (Assistant Vice President, Office of Faculty Programs and Initiatives, Division of Academic Affairs) appeared on a true crime panel at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas, speaking about her book, “L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood” (2025), published by Third State Books.
Leemon McHenry (Philosophy), professor emeritus, published an article, “Panpsychism and Speculative Biology: A.N. Whitehead and C.H. Waddington,” in December 2025 in the Revue Roumaine de Philosophie.
Research and Sponsored Projects
Alyssa Arentoft (Psychology) received $27,119 from the University of North Texas, Health Science Center in support of a project entitled “The Health and Aging Brain Study – Health Disparities (HABS-HD).”
Chhandak Basu (Biology) received $124,558 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in support of a project entitled “The HALOQUEST (Halobacterium Astrobiological Laboratory for Observing and Questioning Extraterrestrial Signatures and Traits) Project.”
Annette Besnilian (Marilyn Magaram Center) received $210,000 from Northeast Valley Health Corporation in support of a project entitled “WIC-based Dietetic Internship Program.”
Mechelle Best (Dean, Health and Human Development) received $220,000 from Los Angeles Mission College in support of a project entitled “HHD SFV K-16 Collaborative.”
Jamie Booth (Autonomy Research Center) and Nhut Ho (Autonomy Research Center) received $157,511 from Medtronic MiniMed in support of a project entitled “Comprehensive Evaluation Method for Skin Patch Adhesives.”
Danielle Bram (Center for Geospatial Science and Technology) received $29,323 from California State University, Fresno, in support of a project entitled “Aquifer Pumped Hydro Project – APH.”
Danielle Bram (Center for Geospatial Science and Technology) received $135,000 from the CSU Office of the Chancellor in support of a project entitled “CSU Statewide Online Mapping Resource.”
Moshoula Capous-Desyllas (Sociology) received $17,001 from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in support of a project entitled “Using Digital Photovoice to Explore the Relationships Between Social Media Content and Suicidality Among Transgender Adolescents.”
Zhen Chai (Special Education) received $249,943 from the U.S. Department of Education in support of a project entitled “Project CREATE: Preparing Culturally Responsive Early Educators in Teacher Education.”
Yi Ding (University Library Administration, Office of the Dean) received $5,000 from California State University, Dominguez Hills in support of a project entitled “CSU Open Education Advocacy Fellowship: Kickstarting a Regional Student Partnership (OpenEd Advocacy Fellowship / CSU OEAF).”
Rafi Efrat (Bookstein Institute) received $41,679 from the U.S. Department of Treasury in support of a project entitled “The Bookstein Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic.”
Rafi Efrat (Bookstein Institute), Sara Berzenski (Psychology) and Merav Efrat (Health Sciences) received $585,000 from the U.S. Department of Treasury in support of a project entitled “The CSUN VITA Program.”
Rafi Efrat (Bookstein Institute), Sara Berzenski (Psychology) and Merav Efrat (Health Sciences) received $675,109 from the California Department of Community Services and Development in support of a project entitled “The CSU5+ VITA Clinic Collaborative.”
Rafi Efrat (Bookstein Institute) received $158,321 from the U.S. Department of Treasury in support of a project entitled “The Bookstein Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic.”
Maria Elizondo (Student Affairs, Office of the Vice President) received $92,688 from California State University, Chico in support of a project entitled “CalFresh Outreach.”
Eileen Evans (Geological Sciences) received $179,152 from the National Science Foundation in support of a project entitled “CAREER: Shallow Geophysics of Fault Creep: Linking Slip and Surface Deformation on the San Andreas Fault.”
Eileen Evans (Geological Sciences) received $63,658 from the National Science Foundation in support of a project entitled “CAREER: Shallow Geophysics of Fault Creep: Linking Slip and Surface Deformation on The San Andreas Fault.”
Gilberto Flores (Biology) received $173,514 from the Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S in support of a project entitled “Characterizing Growth and Persistence of Diverse Human-Associated Akkermansia On Milk Derived Glycoconjugates.”
Cedric Hackett (DuBois-Hamer Institute for Academic Achievement) received $5,000 from the Los Angeles Unified School District in support of a project entitled “Brotherhood of Scholarship and Excellence (BroSE)/ Social Justice Humanitas Academy Partnership.”
Cedric Hackett (Dubois-Hamer Institute) received $15,000 from the Los Angeles Unified School District in support of a project entitled “2025-26 Enrichment Workshops with Northridge Academy High School.”
Cedric Hackett (Dubois-Hamer Institute) received $6,575 from the Los Angeles Unified School District in support of a project entitled “Nobel Enrichment 2025-26.”
Amy Hanreddy (Special Education) and Ellen Stohl (Educational Psychology and Counseling) received $75,000 from the Los Angeles County Office of Education in support of a project entitled “Inclusive College Program Development and Expansion Grant.”
Seunghoon Hwang (Autonomy Research Center), Heramb Nemlekar (Mechanical Engineering), and Nhut Ho (Autonomy Research Center) received $112,466 from Medtronic MiniMed in support of a project entitled “Automated Peel Coat Tape Application System for Sensor Fabrication.”
Kah Chun Lau (Physics and Astronomy) received $58,000 from Sandia National Laboratories in support of a project entitled “Creating Quantum Spin Liquids by Disrupting the Magnetic Order in Conjugated Metal-Organic Nanosheets.”
Jun Li (Mathematics) received $126,819 from the National Science Foundation in support of a project entitled “LEAPS: MPS Four Dimensions From Two in Symplectic Topology and Dynamics.”
Thomas Minehan (Chemistry and Biochemistry) received $70,000 from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund in support of a project entitled “Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions of Ynol Ethers Under Oxidative Conditions.”
Heramb Nemlekar (Autonomy Research Center), Seunghoon Hwang (Mechanical Engineering), and Nhut Ho (Autonomy Research Center) received $177,199 from Medtronic MiniMed in support of a project entitled “Humanoid and Robot Arm Integration for Packaging Automation.”
Virginia Oberholzer-Vandergon (Biology), Matthew d’Alessio (Geological Sciences), Brian Foley (Secondary Education), Li Ye (Chemistry and Biochemistry), and Norman Herr (Secondary Education) received $18,000 from the University of California Board of Regents in support of a project entitled “San Fernando Valley Science Project.”
Freddie Sanchez (Student Affairs, Office of the Vice President) received $200,000 from the California Volunteers in support of a project entitled “CSUN College Corps.”
Vinicius Maron Sauer (Autonomy Research Center) and Nhut Ho (Autonomy Research Center) received $157,342 from Medtronic MiniMed in support of a project entitled “Preventing Air Introduction During Insulin Pump Refilling: A Proposal for Bubble-Free Transfer Technologies.”
Mirna Sawyer (Institute of Community Health and Wellbeing) received $19,798 from Dignity Health (Northridge Hospital) in support of a project entitled “Bringing in the Bystander (BITB).”
Joshua Schwartz (Geological Sciences) received $13,600 from the California Department of Conservation in support of a project entitled “Geochronology of Southern California Plutonic Rocks.”
Merilla Scott (Strength United) received $194,000 from the California Office of Emergency Services in support of a project entitled “Underserved Child and Youth Advocacy Program (XY).”
Merilla Scott (Strength United) received $196,906 from the California Office of Emergency Services in support of a project entitled “Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program.”
Merilla Scott (Strength United) received $5,000 from Rising Communities in support of a project entitled “Community Public Health Teams.”
Merilla Scott (Strength United) received $90,000 from the California Office of Emergency Services in support of a project entitled “Sexual Assault Response Team (XS) Program.”
Merilla Scott (Strength United) received $250,000 from the California Office of Emergency Services in support of a project entitled “Child Advocacy Center (KC) Program.”
Yohannes Shiferaw (Physics and Astronomy) received $147,500 from the National Institutes of Health in support of a project entitled “Multi-Scale Computational Modeling of Calmodulin Mutations Associated With CPVT.”
Danielle Spratt (Community Engagement) received $5,000 from LEAD California in support of a project entitled “CSUN MLK Community Justice Days of Service.”
Chuanbing Sun (Civil Engineering and Construction Management), Anwar Alroomi (Civil Engineering and Construction Management), Houssam Toutanji (Engineering and Computer Science, Office of the Dean), Sami Maalouf (Civil Engineering and Construction Management), and Jora Amirkhanian (Civil Engineering and Construction Management) received $33,000 from the Growth Sector in support of a project entitled “Building Transfer Pathways: A Summer Program for Community College Students at CSUN.”
Maryam Tabibzadeh (Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Management) received $19,318 from the Regents of the University of California in support of a project entitled “Extending PRA and HRA Legacy Methods and Tools With a Cause-Based Model for Comprehensive Treatment of Human Error Dependency.”
Joseph Teprovich (Chemistry and Biochemistry) received $31,683 from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in support of a project entitled “Synthesizing and Characterizing Phase Change Electrolyte Materials for Improving Thermal Battery Performance.”
Houssam Toutanji (Engineering and Computer Science, Office of the Dean) received $220,000 from the Los Angeles Mission College, in support of a project entitled “CECS SFV K-16 Collaborative.”
Juana Maria Valdivia (Student Outreach and Recruitment) and Monica Jimenez (Educational Opportunity Program) received $317,460 from the United States Department of Education in support of a project entitled “Talent Search San Fernando Valley North Central.”
Juana Maria Valdivia (Student Outreach and Recruitment) and Monica Jimenez (Educational Opportunity Program) received $225,030 from the United States Department of Education in support of a project entitled “Talent Search San Fernando Valley Northeast.”
Juana Maria Valdivia (Student Outreach and Recruitment) and Monica Jimenez (Student Success) received $324,979 from the United States Department of Education in support of a project entitled “Upward Bound – San Fernando Valley North Central.”
John Valdovinos (Electrical and Computer Engineering) received $213,018 from Medtronic MiniMed in support of a project entitled “Developing a Machine Learning Supported Numerical Model of a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Sensor and Investigating Methods to Improve CGM Sensor Warm-Up Time.”
Cheryl Van Buskirk (Biology) received $147,500 from the National Institutes of Health in support of a project entitled “Exploring the function and shedding of a potential C. elegans Neuregulin.”
Jenn Wolfe (Secondary Education) received $39,089 from the University Corporation Regents in support of a project entitled “CSUN Writing Project ESSA.”
