The Psychology Club's Brown Bag Lecture Series

This Spring the Psychology club will be hosting the following lecture series:

Brown Bag #1 on Hypnotherapy—Friday, March 25, from 12-1p in IRN 120.
Is hypnosis just for magicians? Enjolie Lafaurie, Ph.D., is a mental health counselor and certified
hypnotherapist trained at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. Enjolie has an M.S.Ed. in Counseling. Psychology from the University of Southern California and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University. She will be introducing the concept of hypnotherapy and its clinical benefits.

Brown Bag #2 on Human Trafficking—Friday, April 15, from 12-1p in IRN 120.

Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, M.S.W., Ph.D., is an internationally recognized expert on human trafficking and associate professor in Social Work at Arizona State University. In addition to her research, Dr. Sepowitz is a mental health clinician and currently work with Esuba, a residential treatment program for adolescent girls who have been sexually exploited. She will discuss her research work spanning the prevention, detection, identification, and treatment of sex trafficking victims.

Additional Club Events for Extra Credit

Club meetings: Weekly on Wednesdays, from 2:30-3:30p in IRN 231. (No extra credit provided.)

Monday, April 4 from 2:30-3:30p, IRN 120: Dream Interpretation with Dr. Steven Fox.
Dr. Fox has over 20 years of experience in private practice and is trained in cognitive and
dynamic therapies. Dream interpretation often leads to deeper insights which are then
collaboratively integrated into your life. The wealth of internal personal information is tapped
from your unconscious by working out the meaning of dream themes in your life.

Monday, May 2 from 2:30-3:30p, IRN 120: Stress Release Workshop.
Club advisor, Dr. Z, will present psychology-based study tips and relaxation techniques for
students. Refreshments and goodie bags may be provided courtesy of the Office of Student Life
and Leadership. Come to relax and get prepared for Final Exam week!

Verification of Attendance forms will be provided for the lectures/workshops above to those
interested in earning extra credit (if applicable).

All events are open to students, faculty, and staff. We hope you can join us this semester!

CGCC Faculty Members Selected to International Program

Chandler-Gilbert Community College faculty members David Muñoz (Philosophy/Religious Studies) and Sue Steele (Math) are traveling to Mexico next month as part of the 2015 Global Engagement Faculty Development Program.  Both members were selected to represent CGCC, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and the state of Arizona for a two week long (July 13-August 2) cultural and educational experience offered by the Office of International and Intercultural Education through the Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction. This unique opportunity will provide professional growth and development, as well as a rich cultural experience to facilitate the internationalization of the MCCCD curriculum and colleges.

The University of Guanajuato, a long-time partner of MCCCD, will serve as the host institution for this program.  Both Muñoz and Steele will engage with the university in areas such as faculty/student exchanges, academic research, curriculum development and other means to establish beneficial relationships between the Maricopa Community Colleges and the University of Guanajuato.

While in Mexico, Muñoz and Steele will also be fully immersed in the study of our neighboring country and gain a first-hand understanding of its people and culture. They will have the opportunity to initiate or enhance Spanish language skills as part of this experience through a homestay with local families and a Spanish language component.  Muñoz and Steele will also visit key cultural, archaeological, religious, and historical sites,  and will engage in discussions about their observations related to the sites visited with academic experts in these areas.

¡Felicidades! (congratulations) on this once in a lifetime opportunity and we can't wait to hear all of the wonderful ideas you will  bring back to the CGCC community!

Male minority chapter wins diversity award

CGCC MEN chapter student officers and advisors
Gabriel Lopez (left), Jill Wendt (center), Alex Kneip
(second from right) and Tony Little (right).

The Maricopa County Community College District Diversity Advisory Council recognized the Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) chapter of the Male Empowerment Network (MEN) with its 2015 award.

MEN, a district initiative, was formed to increase retention of the minority male student population. The CGCC MEN chapter has become a model for many of the sister college chapters and won Chapter of the Year in 2014. Additionally, three students from the CGCC chapter were selected to participate in the national 2014 President’s Roundtable on Minority Male Initiatives in San Francisco, Calif. 

The CGCC chapter consistently connects students to support systems necessary for student success, including assistance with registration, advising, mentoring and the collaboration of philanthropic efforts with student clubs. The chapter is different than a club in that it emphasizes academic success, increased engagement and retention. Course progress and performance are monitored each semester.

Chapter advisors are currently working with the Office of Student Success to create a summer science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) Bootcamp for incoming students.

The award will be presented at a district-wide reception on April 7 to chapter officers Alex Kneip (president), Alex Ho (vice president), Gabriel Lopez (secretary) and chapter advisors Tony Little and Jill Wendt. 

Si Se Puede Scholars enjoy chemistry fun day

Chandler-Gilbert Community College chemistry faculty Lorelei Wood and Mike McFavilen partnered with Si Se Puede Foundation Scholars Program to provide a one-day chemistry camp to 20 Si Se Puede Scholars on March 21. The mission of Si Se Puede Foundation is to provide opportunities for STEM exploration to at-risk youth in our community.

Wood, McFavilen, and CGCC chemistry students Diego Alvarado and Jerry Crum provided a day full of learning and experimentation for Si Se Puede students as they led lessons and several activities focusing on natural chemistry principles. Students participated in a number of chemistry activities including magic color milk science projects and chromatography experiments where they were separated and tested colors in washable markers.

Wood and McFavilen taught the students the scientific methods of observation and taught them how to form sound hypotheses. Students were then able to test their hypotheses through their experiments. Students also learned about independent, dependent and control variables in scientific experiments and their importance.

“Our students were excited that they had the opportunity to test their hypotheses, and see what happens when they change various elements. They are looking forward to the next chemistry camp to see what other fun projects they can participate in,” said a representative from Si Se Puede.

Submitted by Alexandra Cannell, Service-Learning

MEN volunteer at Chandler Men of Action banquet

Male Empowerment Network members with CGCC
Vice President of Student Affairs Bill Crawford (second from
left) and chapter advisor Tony Little (far right).

The Male Empowerment Network (MEN) chapter at Chandler-Gilbert Community College volunteered at the Chandler Men of Action’s African American Banquet in February. The event celebrated the accomplishments made during the year by African Americans as well as served to strengthen pride, spirit and character. Two scholarships were awarded and a Man of the Year selected.

Chapter members arrived early to help set up the event, assisted with the silent auction during the evening and stayed late to help break down and clean up. The group is part of the Minority Male Initiative at Maricopa County Community Colleges which is designed to improve the retention and degree-completion rates of minority male students.

The CGCC MEN chapter has nearly 30 members, according to Tony Little, chapter advisor. The group is open to everyone and has a strong support base of women who support three primary goals:

• Increase the access, persistence, and graduation rate of minority male students
• Connect minority male students with academic and professional support resources/services
• Create a culture of success and empowerment among minority male students. 

Learn more about the CGCC MEN chapter on Facebook.

CGC Bookstore rewards generosity and kind spirit

The Chandler-Gilbert Community College Bookstore, run by Follett, presented Imke Standbridge with a $50 gift card in December for taking notes for a fellow student in Patti Johnson’s Media in Society class. Standbridge is an international student attending CGCC on an F-1 student visa from Holland.

Standbridge volunteered without thought of compensation to provide notes for a classmate who was physically unable. Typically, a $75 stipend is provided for this service, but Standbridge was not eligible because of her international student status and part-time employment with the college. Johnson wanted to reward Standbridge’s generosity and kind spirit and contacted the CGC Bookstore to ask if there was something they could do.

“Imke’s generous offering of her time and willingness to go above and beyond to assist a fellow student was heartwarming,” said Kristen Anson, assistant manager of the bookstore.  We wanted to show appreciation for her desire to work toward another student’s success.”

Johnson presented Standbridge the gift in class at the end of the semester.

“I was happy to take notes for another student and was surprised when Professor Johnson gave me the giftcard in a holiday card. It was completely unexpected,” said Standbridge “Professor Johnson is the real hero here; she went out of her way to show me appreciation.”

Standbridge is working toward her associate degree in broadcast journalism and plans to transfer to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University in 2015

Student heading to Harvard following graduation

ABC15 news and the East Valley Tribune covered the story of Chandler-Gilbert Community College sophomore Maria Romero-Morfin who was accepted into Harvard for the second time in two years. She'll be headed to the ivy league university to study kinesiology following her graduation in May. Read more.

CGCC helps train 24 Taiwanese students as pilots

UND Aerospace Foundation announced an agreement with TransAsia Airways, based out of Taiwan, to provide an 11-month aviation education program to train pilots with no flight experience to be FAA-certified commercial pilots with instrument and multi-engine ratings.

The 24 Taiwanese students are enrolled as Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) students and taking the required academic class work while conducting flight training with CGCC’s flight training provider, UND Aerospace Foundation (UNDAF).

UND Aerospace and CGCC have had a partnership since 1995 offering a two-year degree program at CGCC with the option to continue flight training and receive a four-year aviation degree at the University of North Dakota.

“Along with our partners at Chandler Gilbert Community College, we are excited to be selected by TransAsia to deliver this aviation education,” said Don Dubuque, UNDAF director of extension programs. “Upon completion of their academic and flight requirements at CGCC and the UND Aerospace Flight Training Center, students will continue their training in Taiwan with TransAsia Airways, transitioning into large commercial passenger aircraft such as the Airbus and ATR.”

The students began in May and will complete their studies in April 2014. They are being housed in the CGCC student housing available at the Williams Campus

“It is a pleasure to have these exceptional students here at CCGC,” said William Crawford III, CGCC vice president of student affairs. “This is a further validation of the benefits of having strategic partnerships with other educational institutions and industry as we fulfill our mission at CGCC.”

Hermanas draws U.S. Department of State keynote speaker

More than 200 Latinas from East Valley high schools attended Chandler-Gilbert Community College's fourth annual Hermanas: Diseña Tu Futuro (Design Your Future) conference. The partnership with Intel Corporation is designed to increase the number of under-represented females in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The one-day conference provides a supportive environment in which young women interact with successful Latinas in STEM careers, explore technological careers, and receive encouragement to finish school, attend college, and pursue their goals.

Drs. Frances Colon and Maria Harper-
Marinick addressed the attendees.

This year's conference featured keynote speaker Deputy Science and Technology Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Frances Colón. She shared her personal journey from her interest in science and how that transitioned to policy. Colón encouraged attendees to be open to help from people of all backgrounds and to recognize opportunity and be prepared to seize it, noting that her volunteer role to collect monthly contributions for the water cooler allowed her to network with many individuals she might not have met otherwise. She also noted that failure is part of the journey, and to try again.

Univision Arizona and ABC5 covered the event. View the Univision news segment.

Graduation from academy fulfills law enforcement dream

Fetuao Fetuao (top left) stands with fellow June 5
graduates from CGCC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy.

In his mid-teens, Fetuao Fetuao was, in his own words, a troublemaker. Although he hadn’t joined any of the gangs in Riverside, Calif. where he grew up, an interaction with a police officer set his course for the future.

Fetuao was a defensive player on the local high school football team. After winning the night’s game, he peeled out of the parking lot in his car and was immediately pulled over by a local officer who berated and swore at Fetuao. During the incident, he remembers thinking that he could probably do a better job of representing law enforcement than this officer.

“I try to treat others with respect and always do the right thing, regardless of the situation,” said Fetuao. “I knew I could make a difference in the community doing something in law enforcement.”

After following a circuitous path that took more than a decade, Fetuao received his certificate of completion from Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s Law Enforcement Training Academy on June 5.

Fetuao came to the U.S. from Samoa at age 13 with his parents and six siblings.  With a strict mother and a father focused on excellence, Fetuao learned self-discipline and developed a competitive nature with himself to do his best. His size and skill landed him a spot on the football team.

After graduation, he was expected to go on a mission, but attended Riverside Community College for two years instead. He played football and was finishing up the last of his eligibility requirements to play at Cal Poly when he decided a mission was something he wanted to do. He was sent to Arizona for two years and fell in love with the land, the heat and, after completing his mission, a woman who would eventually become his wife.

His interest in serving the community led him to become a correctional officer for a private company working with the U.S. Marshalls. Three years in, he realized he wanted to try and influence individuals before they landed in the correctional system.  He learned about the program at CGCC and he enrolled.

“The program is not like other academies,” said Fetuao. “At first, I couldn’t believe that we were being taught by commanders, lieutenants and officers as the faculty. They take the time to teach us the information and apply it to real-life scenarios so we know how to use it when we need to. We learn a lot of things visually and experientially, not just in a class. I haven’t even started my career and I’ve had such great experiences.”

The 10-month, 800+ hour program meets two evenings a week for four hours and all day Saturday, allowing students to attend classes while remaining employed. The training meets Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (Az POST) standards. Upon successful completion of the program and the Az POST comprehensive exam, students are eligible to be certified police officers. Students also earn 30 college credits from CGCC.

Although he hasn’t yet been employed with any of the local police departments, Fetuao has plans for the future, including returning to Samoa periodically to share what he’s learned.
“I want to tell everyone to act on their dreams. When you feel it, find the courage and go for it. You never know until you try,” said Fetuao.

To learn more about CGCC’s law enforcement training academy, visit cgc.edu/leta or contact Jon Terpay, academy director, at 480.988.8756 or jonathan.terpay@cgc.edu.

Williams Campus mural dedicated and named Dreams Take Flight

Artist Barbara Gomez cuts the ribbon in dedication of the
new Williams Campus mural, Dreams Take Flight. The
ribbon is held by many who helped paint the mural.

A new mural designed by local artist and Williams Field High School art teacher Barbara Gomez was dedicated and named today at the Williams Campus.

Led by Cesar Becerra, student services specialist at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, the mural brought together students, faculty and staff as they designed and painted the mural during the spring 2013 semester.

The mural represents the past to the present and is rich with imagery of the former Williams Air Force Base where the campus is now housed as well as the native people and animals of the region and transforms them into icons of CGCC's current programs and student success. Students selected the name Dreams Take Flight for the mural to reflect the power of education as well as a nod to the campus history and location near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. View a time-lapse video of the project.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College President Linda Lujan
thanks the Williams Campus community for their vision,
support and participation.

Cesar Becerra provides a time-lapse video of the project
to Barbara Gomez as a token of appreciation for the hours
spent on the project.

Diane Travers receives MLK Diversity Award

Diane Travers (second from the right) receives the MLK
Diversity Award. Pictured from left are Ed Yeager, CGCC
President Linda Lujan and Coach Cassandra Yancy.  

Diane Travers, division chair of communication and fine arts at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Diversity Award during halftime at the Martin Luther King Basketball Classic on January 19.

Diane was nominated by Athletic Director Ed Yeager for her efforts in promoting diversity and embracing the many cultures at CGCC.

"Diane has served the Maricopa Community Colleges for 28 years, embracing and educating thousands of diverse members of our communities," said Yeager.

As a faculty member, Diane requires her Interpersonal Communication and Public Speaking students to participate in service learning at the Chandler-Gilbert Arc, a private nonprofit organization dedicated to providing training and support to adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities. She feels it is important for students to both serve and learn how to communicate with a diverse group of individuals.

She is the founding advisor for the Hands Enriching Lives Projects (HELP) service club started five years ago with students from all over the world. She also has more than three years of service with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit homebuilder for low-income families.

In March of last year, Diane was awarded the Maricopa Community Colleges' Diversity Advisory Council Award of Excellence in recognition of outstanding efforts on behalf of diversity and inclusion at the Maricopa Community Colleges.

Diversity Day gives elementary students exposure to world culture

Michael Swett stands before a table of sixth-grade students from Chandler Traditional Academy’s Humphrey campus overseeing their painting as he tells them about Italy’s famous artists. It’s Diversity Day: Passport to the World, a service-learning project for Chandler-Gilbert Community College students taking the Cultural Diversity in Education class.