Fall '23 Washington Square is live!

I’m delighted to share the latest issue of Washington Square: The Magazine, which showcases the stories of San José State students, alumni, faculty and partners who are invested in community-engaged learning and workforce development.

Washington Square: The Magazine

In this issue, you can:

  • Read about the newly opened Interdisciplinary Science Building (ISB), which has eight floors of fume hoods, lab space and classrooms to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, research and learning.

  • Learn about San José State University’s well-established tradition of community engagement through programs like the Center for Community Learning and Leadership and CommUniverCity, which encourage Spartans to seek service learning opportunities that not only contribute to their academic and professional development, but also enrich their lives and offer needs-based support to fellow San Joseans.

  • Discover “best kept secret in aviation”: SJSU Aviation offers students a great range of experiences and career opportunities.

  • Learn about the Timpany Center’s heated pool and therapeutic services, which make fitness accessible to all abilities, has fulfilled its mission “to create an inclusive space for people to thrive.”

  • Delve into the 50-year history of San José Taiko co-founders Roy and Patti Jo “PJ” Hirabayashi, ’77 MUP, community organizers who fell in love while collaborating with fellow activists to establish an Asian American Studies Department at San José State in 1970.

  • Discover what ChatGPT failed to recognize about PR guru Jon Iwata, ’84 Public Relations, who believes the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), business and corporate social responsibility presents an opportunity to serve the public good.

  • Read how the COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for qualified special educators dramatically, expanding pre-existing inequities for teachers and students alike. San José State’s Special Education Department is creating opportunities for future teachers to shape more inclusive classrooms.

  • Get to know an accomplished scientist with a passion for public service, Robin López, ’18 MS Civil Engineering, who is shifting the narrative about civic engagement by expanding what it means to have a seat at the community table.

Read these and more online at sjsu.edu/wsq.

Spring 2023 issue of Washington Square

I’m thrilled to share the spring 2023 issue of Washington Square: The Magazine from San José State University.

Animation by Pourya Nadimi of SJSU.

In this issue, we take a deep dive into climate science and the ways current and former Spartans are making their mark on the world in a big way. From the depths of the ocean to the sky above, answers to some of the world’s biggest questions are emerging here at SJSU.

A few stories of which I am especially proud:

Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics.

Beyond the Shakeout: The transition from sports to careers outside athletics often represents a sudden shift in identity for student-athletes. SJSU’s Beyond Sparta program offers personal and professional development opportunities for student-athletes to help them make the leap.

Illustration by Jennifer Guo.

 Climate Science: On Thin Ice: Nationally recognized climate scientist and alumna Jennifer Francis’ research demonstrates how global warming is fueling extreme weather worldwide.

Kate Forrest. Photo by Anwyn Hurxthal.

 Forrest Fire: Fire weather researcher Kate Forrest contributed to groundbreaking research analyzing factors that contribute to California’s extreme fires — demonstrating how climate change knows no borders.

Justise Wattree

Justise Wattree. Photo by Robert C. Bain.

A Picture of (Public) Health: Award-winning undergraduate researcher Justise Wattree, ’23 Humanities, believes public health research is critical to healing the world.

Alexander Payumo (left) at his lab at SJSU. Photo by Robert C. Bain.

The Heart of the Matter: The Alexander Payumo Lab at San José State investigates the regenerative potential of the mammalian heart.

Nidhi Mahendra (left) at the Spartan Aphasia Research Clinic. Photo by Katelyn Ennis.

Speaking of Equity: San José State University Professor and Chair of Communicative Disorders and Sciences Nidhi Mahendra is empowering people with language loss.

Dancer and choreographer Gabriel Mata. Photo by Keay Edwards.

Dancing Out of the Shadows: Choreographer and dancer Gabriel Mata creates opportunities for artists to share their stories, regardless of immigration status, sexuality, ethnicity or any other identity.

Photo by Robert C. Bain.

Once a Spartan, Always a Spartan: Proud Spartan alumna Valerie Gonzalez now leads the Alumni Association.

I am forever grateful for the opportunity to learn from Spartans.

Cutleaf anthology, SJSU news

on beginnings and endings

The year of great change doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

This month, our country made history by electing the first woman vice president, Kamala Harris, who is Black and southeast Asian. Two weeks have passed and I am still absorbing this news, exciting and hopeful as it is. The 2016 presidential election left an indelible impact and the past four years have left a lingering, chronic state of anxiety and fatigue. Still. On Saturday, November 7, when president-elect Joe Biden was deemed the winner by AP, Fox News and CNN, I ran into my daughter’s bedroom and started sobbing on her chest, murmuring, finally, we won. She was only six months old when Trump was elected. (I was in such denial.) When, at last, I had the words to tell her what had happened, that we had made history, that maybe our postcards had made a difference, that we had a woman vice president, and a woman of color at that, she responded by saying, “Why haven’t they always been women?”

Seems like my feminist reading list is working.

Our work is far from done, of course. There are more books to read and bills to lobby and Senate races to win in Georgia. And we must wear our masks and stay, every day, in the comfort and safety of our bubble until a safe vaccine is distributed. The pandemic is still rearing its ugly head. Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, ableism all still exist, are all deeply entrenched in our institutions. There is no rest for the righteous. We knew that already.

This election, this pandemic, and the birth of my son earlier this year have forced me to evaluate the impact I can have on the world. What stories can I tell? What impact can they have? How can strengthening my voice affect positive change?

As part of this exploration, I have redesigned my site to better showcase my 10+ years writing professionally. My publications page links to several places where I have published works of short fiction, nonfiction, interviews and poetry. The featured work page shares a few of my favorite features and profiles that I have written for Washington Square, San José State University’s alumni magazine. More can be found on the WSQ and SJSU newsroom sites, as well as my personal LinkedIn page.

While Play On Words remains in suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic, we do hope to return to regular programming once it is deemed safe to do so in person. No matter where I go or what I do, I will always be committed to promoting the work of artists and writers whose voices inspire me.

Our work is just beginning.