Daily Archives: February 19, 2021

Science In Action Speaker Series off to Strong Start for Spring Semester

This week marked the beginning of Science In Action speaker series, hosted on a weekly Zoom call every Tuesday 4:30 – 5:30pm. Our first event hosted Melisa Carpio, talking about her work/research experience in the intersection between engineering, biotechnology, and vaccine production to 60+ students attending the Zoom call.

The weekly series is presented in partnership with the STEM Center, the Skyline College STEM Division, the MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) Program, and the San Francisco University Bridges to Baccalaureate Program. During these events, guests share first-hand insight into their current work and, more importantly, their educational journey. Where they came from, what support systems did they find during their college experience? With an emphasis on personal connection, students gain opportunities to further explore their curiosity, and how the material they learn in their class fit into their future. These high-value, low-key talks have continued for over 6 years, and provided an opportunity and a platform to maintain a community during these socially-distanced times.

As the semester continues, please check out our Science In Action page to see our list of presenters and a brief abstract of their talks. For anyone who is unable to attend the live talks, you may check out our YouTube playlist(s) of Science in Action series for each semester.

Article by Bryan Swartout

The STEM Learning Community Model: Keeping Students Connected During the Pandemic

This year our Skyline College STEM learning communities have had a chance to connect with professionals in the field remotely! Our STEM Learning Communities consist of Engineering and Tech Scholars (ETS) and Biology and Chemistry Scholars (BCS). Last semester, ETS lead a software engineering panel with speakers ranging from front-end web developers and iOS engineers to cybersecurity engineers. Students have also been exploring their career options by participating in zoom coffee chats with various STEM professionals such as civil engineers, nurses, vet techs, and cancer researchers. Though internship and research opportunities may look different this year, we’ve been gearing up for internship applications by offering a resume workshop and 1:1 resume help. We are also looking forward to leading a “How to Be Competitive for Medical School” panel for our Biology and Chemistry Scholars interested in pursuing medicine. The panel will take place on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021 from 4:30 pm-5:30 pm as part of our “Science in Action Series.” These events are made possible through the efforts of STEM Retention Specialist, Amber Gougis. She focuses on building community, connecting students with professional development opportunities, and serves as a mentor for Skyline College STEM students. She’ll also help lead a new “Data Scholars” program in the Fall in collaboration with Professor of Math, Denise Hum, who recently secured an NSF grant to support the project. The goal of the program will be to encourage students to pursue STEM majors through data science.

The STEM Learning Communities are supported by the college’s STEM Center Student Success team, the core of which includes our STEM Retention Specialist, STEM Counselor, STEM Instructional Aide, and STEM Center Program Services Coordinator. Seed funded by the college’s STEM Pathways grant (U.S. Department of Education award no P031S180169), the STEM Center team provides services and opportunities that focus on the specific academic and social needs of the STEM student community here at Skyline College. Through the integration of peer, staff, and faculty support, the STEM Center team helps students not only stick with an intensive academic pathway but have fun while doing it!

If you or a student you know are interested to learn more or join a STEM Learning Community, please visit the following sites:

Engineering and Tech Scholars (ETS)

Biology and Chemistry Scholars (BCS)

You can also reach out directly to STEM Retention Specialist, Amber Gougis at gougisa@smccd.edu

Recordings of the workshops are linked below:

Software Engineering Panel 2020

STEM Center Resume Workshop 2020

“Science in Action” Meeting Link: https://smccd.zoom.us/j/86031329996

Article by Amber Gougis and the STEM Center Team

First International Student to Virtually Intern Abroad

The International Student Program Office is proud to announce that Habiba Sultana is the first international student accepted to a global virtual internship program. Habiba is an international student from Pakistan majoring in Business Management. To enhance her major, Habiba will be interning as an events team leader with AGE UK. Habiba’s major is Business Management. She is participating in the COOP 671- General Cooperative Education for virtual International Internships course which began on February 1, 2021 and ends in May 2021.

Habiba’s opportunity came through the Virtual Internships through the Study Abroad office. The Global Virtual Internship program provides internship opportunities through AIFS for students to intern in countries like Costa Rica, Florence, London. Students have the opportunity to collaborate with other professionals globally to enhance their professional skills. The Virtual Internship is a great way for students to enhance their resume and build their professional network.

Habiba decided to apply to the internship program because “it provides a practical experience in [an] international setting in my major field [of] study. It helps in learning cross-cultural communication, time management, digital literacy, and understanding of the sector” and “it is a great way to earn academic credits and for practical training”.

To learn more about the Virtual Internship opportunity visit smccd.edu/studyabroad.

Article by Kimiko Petsche

 

Professor John Ulloa brings Lowrider Culture to the World

Though Professor John Ulloa’s days are spent teaching History and Cultural Anthropology at Skyline College in the world of academia, he is also an integral member and advocate of the international Lowrider community. As a native of Modesto, California and eventual owner of six different lowriders, Ulloa began “cruising” at age 16 when he bought his first Lowrider, a ‘65 Impala Station Wagon. From that moment forward, Ulloa’s passion for the sociocultural history of Lowrider, personal experiences, and research positioned him as a thoughtful and informative Conference Co-Chair of the 1st Annual International Lowrider Studies Conference held on January 29, 2021.

As an event centered around storytelling and lived experiences, the 1st Annual International Lowrider Studies Conference organized by lowrider clubs, members, youth, and formerly incarcerated people throughout the world, presented an encouraging place of appreciation for Lowrider culture.

Throughout the conference, Ulloa and other speakers shared information and anecdotes about Lowrider history. Spanning from cultural to political issues; discussions of justice, community, style, geography, art, music, and fashion were only some of the many topics presented while exploring this cultural phenomenon in a global context. Professor Ulloa presented Bouncing Across Borders: The Globalization of Lowriding in addition to acting as co-chair; while in the spirit of unpacking the politics of gender, award-winning Lowrider scholar, filmmaker, and media creative Gloria Moran’s presentation, provided feminist commentary through critical analysis on the erasure of women’s labor in lowrider and lowriding spaces.

Through his research, Ulloa is able to examine the global diffusion of lowriding culture from the Mexican-American barrios to various countries outside of the United States including Japan, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Saudi Arabia, and several other countries. The Lowrider scene in Nagoya, Japan serves as one example of this global cultural exchange. Beginning in the 1980’s, a man named Junichi Shimodaira traveled from Nagoya to Los Angeles to better immerse himself and understand Chicano culture, practices, and aesthetics; and bring what he learned back to Japan.

“In [Nagoya], Japan, they are heavily influenced by 70’s style Lowriding… And the reference there are old Cheech and Chong movies: Up in Smoke, Nice Dreams, and Next Movie. You’ll see the true Spokes, the Cragar wheels, the Appliance wheels. They came over here and they were buying all of those 70s style wheels which are now worth their weight in gold, but at that time nobody wanted them. That is why you see, in Nagoya in particular, that 70s style influence,” Ulloa said.

Prior to acting as conference co-chair of the 1st Annual International Lowrider Studies Conference, Professor Ulloa presented the Opening Ceremony Seminar at The Lowrider Experience at CSU San Marcos in 2018 and was a curator for the Skyline College Art Gallery’s Lowride Worldwide Exhibit in 2017. Additionally, Ulloa led a Study Abroad course in Cuba from 2015 to 2017 organized by the district Study Abroad Program.  He remains active in the Bay Area lowriding community.

For more information about the 1st Annual International Lowrider Studies Conference and links to conference presentations go to:  https://savethekidsgroup.org/jan-29-2021-1st-annual-international-lowrider-studies-conference/

Article by Anna Harberger

 

SPARC MEETING UPDATE FOR SKYLINE SHINES

The Skyline College Strategic Planning and Allocation of Resources Committee (SPARC) met on Thursday, February 11, 2021.

Tri-chair Ingrid Vargas, Dean of Planning, Research, Innovation and Effectiveness led the discussion on review of the new Skyline Planning and Allocation Process. (See CPR Task Force Recommendations, p. 5)

The Committee heard presentations from Vice President of Administrative Services Eloisa Briones and Manager of Finance and Operations Paul Cassidy on outstanding resource requests and allocation scenarios of fund 1 for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. Due to the better than planned projections for the State Budget and the college budget, SPARC will have an opportunity to provide a recommendation on funding options for fund 1.  Committee members broke out into small groups to confer and provide their initial feedback.  The next steps include members soliciting input from their constituent groups and bringing them back to the next SPARC meeting for committee discussion.

More details on these topics can be found here

Vote to recommend to CGC that the recommendations of the CPR Redesign Task Force be accepted and implemented.

SPARC meets on the second and the last Thursday of the month from 2:10 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for February 25, 2021.  For additional information, please see https://skylinecollege.edu/sparc/.

Article by Judy Hutchinson

Job Opportunities

We understand that many students and our community members may have lost their job due to the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is our commitment to continue to offer information regarding paid internships and quality job opportunities that are available along with support in design or update of a resume, preparing for an interview and expanding one’s network to secure employment during these uncertain times. The Career Readiness & Job Placement Team looks forward to doing all we can to ensure students and our community members have what they need to get a job and continue to offer remote services and resources during this time. If one of the jobs shared does not meet your needs or interests please complete this form and we will reach out to you directly to assist!  Please stay safe. 

How may we assist you in landing your dream job? The Career Readiness & Job Placement team is excited to share the following job opportunities with you. Check them out—

Internship Opportunities

We understand that many students and our community members may have lost their job due to the  unprecedented times of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is our commitment to continue to offer information regarding paid internships and quality job opportunities that are available along with support in design or update of a resume, preparing for an interview and expanding one’s network to secure employment during these uncertain times.  The Career Readiness & Job Placement Team looks forward to doing all we can to ensure students and our community members have what they need to get a job and continue to offer remote services and resources while the shelter-in-place order is in effect.  If one of the jobs shared does not meet your needs or interests please complete this form and we will reach out to you directly to assist!  Please stay safe. 

Expand your network in ways that will lead to your dream job. The Career Readiness & Job Placement team is excited to share the following paid internship opportunities with you. Check them out—

Join us for Activist Poetry and More @ Skyline College Library

The Poetry Corner series of virtual readings is pleased to present “Words Changing Worlds: Activist Poetry” next Friday, February 26 from 2:00-4:00pm. All members of our community are welcome to share their own works – or poems by others – on the theme of activism. Poetry Club president Hilary Mejia Cruz and Skyline College faculty will lead the afternoon’s discussion. Invite a friend for what promises to be an inspiring, insightful Friday afternoon! Register here: tinyurl.com/WordsChangingWorlds

In collaboration with our campus and community partners, the Library is also excited to announce a host of other virtual programs this month and next. Mark your calendars for film screenings, additional poetry readings, discussions, and more. You’ll receive details by email in advance of each event.

February

March

  • Real News vs. Fake News Tuesday, March 23: More information coming soon.

Questions? Interested in bringing your class to an event or offering credit to your students? Please contact Pia Walawalkar, Equity and Outreach Librarian <walawalkars@smccd.edu>.

Article by Jessica Silver-Sharp

 

BAEC Hosts Mock Interviews for Students!

Mock Interviews Last week the Bay Area Entrepreneur Center (BAEC) hosted a series of mock interviews for students interested in joining the Virtual Internship Job Shadow Program (IJSP) for the spring semester.  Mock interviews are a great way for students to practice the important art of interviewing for their next job or opportunity and can help them boost their confidence and reduce anxiety about the idea of interviewing.  During the mock interviews students are given constructive feedback and valuable insights from members of the interview panel, usually comprised of Skyline College faculty, staff and other community partners.

The Job Shadow Program provides students with opportunities and resources to build their knowledge, skill sets, and resumes. Students job shadow with the BAEC Team, campus partners, and the San Bruno Community, to experience real-world learning in a professional, supportive, and safe environment.  We look forward to welcoming our spring cohort of student interns!

For more information, connect with us at baec@smccd.edu.

Article by Ling Chien

Image by Pcyeta Stroud

BAEC Awards $65k in Micro Grants to Small and Local Businesses

Micro Grant Ceremony On Thursday, January 28, 2021, the Bay Area Entrepreneur Center held an awards ceremony for sixteen local businesses, awarded grants through the Micro Grant Program.  Businesses were awarded over $4000 each and received group and one-on-one business coaching, as part of a technical assistance program called the Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program.  This unique program was funded by a San Bruno Community Foundation grant, awarded to the BAEC to support small and local businesses in San Bruno, in their recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Through the efforts of this program and with the work of BAEC team and community partners, micro grants totaling $65,000 have been awarded and over 100 San Bruno businesses have been served and supported.  This program officially launched in the summer of 2020, and continues to assist businesses.

For more information on the SBRAP connect with us here: baec@smccd.edu

Article by Pcyeta Stroud

Image by Olivia Vialau