In his weekly video message, President Ortiz announces the largest gift to the College of Science. Professor Emeritus Peter Castro, biological sciences, recently signed a $1.5 million bequest to endow two scholarships and establish an environmental science scholar-in-residence.

"Castro's bequest sets a historic precedent for the biological sciences department, enabling the department to attract internationally known experts who would enrich the educational experience of students interested in the environmental sciences, as well as further enhance the intellectual life of the department," Ortiz says.

Tony-nominated actress and singer Susan Egan embodies energy.

One moment, she drapes herself on a chaise, singing about being a demure princess. Next, two actors lift her up by the arms and carry her to center stage. In another scene she plays an overbearing queen, determined to distract her son from marriage.

As guest director of the music department's "Once Upon a Mattress," Egan teaches by example, demonstrating every role, dancing every step and singing from every song. The cast of 19 students watch closely and interpret her actions for their characters.

From conducting research in France to serving as the associate editor of a scientific journal to updating his successful marine biology textbook, Peter Castro, professor emeritus of biological sciences, has had a very busy retirement. Since he stepped down from full-time teaching in 2003, Castro has been as active -- perhaps more so -- in research and writing.

He frequently travels internationally to present his findings, further his research or serve as a visiting scholar. In March, he spoke at a conference in Brazil on the symbiotic relationship between crabs and reef corals. This spring, he is in Paris working on deep-water crabs recently collected in Madagascar, New Guinea and French Polynesia.

Professor Emeritus Fred Shafia, who taught microbiology for more than three decades at Cal Poly Pomona before retiring in 2000, died April 20 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 78.

Shafia, a stalwart in the College of Science for 36 years, started his career at Cal Poly Pomona in 1964 after earning his doctorate at the University of Nebraska. In addition to encouraging, prodding and mentoring generations of students, he sat on several committees, served as faculty advisor and helped guide the development of the microbiology-medical technology section from a single course to a major. He was also the biology department's scheduling coordinator for many years, a responsibility that sometimes required tough calls and deft diplomacy.

"It's easier said than done."

President Emeritus Bob Suzuki concluded his keynote speech at the Unity Luncheon with a reminder that the university has made notable strides to achieve cultural diversity and unity, but the effort remains a work in progress.

Suzuki, in his first formal appearance on campus since his retirement in 2003, received a warm welcome at the luncheon on April 12. He lauded Cal Poly Pomona for instituting programs and policies to promote diversity in ways that are inclusive, and he cited the university as a national leader in such efforts.

The spring quarter Pizza with the Presidents event covered a potpourri of topics, from the state budget to traffic lights and the presidential elections to plastic foam plates.

At the U-Hour event on April 24, President Ortiz discussed Governor Jerry Brown's tax initiative on the November ballot. If it does not pass, the CSU will face $200 million in trigger cuts.

"Make sure that you decide which way you want to vote on that and know that if it doesn't pass, it's going to result in some severe cuts to the university," Ortiz said. "I hate to say that because again I don't want to be a pawn in this political situation saying that you need to vote for this. But the fact of the matter is -- if it doesn't pass, then we have a $200 million cut to the CSU and that amounts to $9.4 million for us."

Christine Featherstone arrived at Cal Poly Pomona two years ago to complete a goal she had put off for more than 30 years. After high school, Featherstone enlisted in the Navy, moving from Orlando to San Diego and Guantanamo Bay to Hawaii. Then, with family, work and everyday life responsibilities, she again postponed her undergraduate education until her youngest child left the house.

Featherstone's story, while atypical, is not altogether unfamiliar. Cal Poly Pomona has nearly 300 veterans whose backgrounds and experiences vary widely. However, they do share two important ties: their military service and the university's commitment to serve them.

Jerome Lowenthal, concert pianist and professor at the Juilliard School of Music, will give a free master class at noon and perform in an evening concert on Monday, April 30.

The concert, with Cal Poly Pomona Professor Nadia Shpachenko, will feature solo and duet works by Fauré, Debussy and Liszt and is part of the music department's Shpachenko & Friends Chamber Music Festival series. The pair will also perform this program at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's "Sundays Live" on April 29.

CSU and California Faculty Association Will Go Back to Table
The California State University and the California Faculty Association (CFA) have agreed to return to bargaining on a successor contract in early May to resolve a limited number of issues that remain in dispute.

Both parties have expressed a desire to reach a negotiated settlement. "The CSU remains committed to the negotiation process as the best way to resolve the issues that remain on the table to reach an agreement," said CSU Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Gail Brooks.

In his weekly video message, President Ortiz shares good news about a $1.5 million grant renewal to continue supporting stem cell education and research. The grant is under the lead of Professor Jill Adler-Moore, who directs the Bridges to Stem Cell Research Training Program.

Pizza with the Presidents will be held Tuesday, April 24 at noon in the University Quad. President Ortiz invites all students to attend the lunch event and ask questions of him and ASI President Johnathan Jianu. Students will be asked to fill out a question card to jump-start the Q&A. Questions can also be sent in advance via Twitter using #askOrtiz or #askASI and the @calpolypomona Twitter account will be sending live updates.

MediaVision, the on-campus video production team, debuts a new spotlight series on faculty, beginning with a profile on music Professor Nadia Shpachenko.

Shpachenko, who has studied in the Ukraine, at the Longy School in Boston and at USC, is classical pianist and a teacher. In the six-minute video, Shpachenko shares her approach to teaching and discusses the artistry of music. Interspersed throughout the interview with her, department chair Iris Levine and piano major Charles Parsons, Shpachenko performs excerpts from Robert Schumann's Kreisleriana Op. 16 and Story Time by Peter Yates.

Edward Bobich, associate professor of biological sciences, has received a $120,000 grant to study water availability for trees near Desert Center, Calif.

The study will look at multiple factors to determine the effects of the construction of a nearby well on desert trees, which depend on underground water tables for survival. The trees are an important part of a fragile desert ecosystem that supports endangered animals such as the desert tortoise.

Flying penguins -- at least penguins attempting to fly -- will be the concept of the Cal Poly Universities' float in the 2013 Rose Parade.

"We wanted a main focal image that was cute, fun and creative," says Jackie Sorensen, design chair for the Rose Float Committee. "Penguins come across as cute and adorable. This will be the third float in our history with penguins."

The winning concept sketch features a long runway with a penguin wearing aviator goggles, strapped to a set of aircraft wings and preparing for takeoff. At one side, a few penguins are getting a lesson on the principles of flight. Submitted by a San Luis Obispo student, the idea was chosen from 128 entries in the campus' annual concept contest.

Enjoy free pizza, and ask or tweet a question to university President Michael Ortiz and ASI President Johnathan Jianu at "Pizza with the Presidents." The lunch Q&A, the final one of this academic year, will be held Tuesday, April 24 at noon in the University Quad.

The hourlong event is an opportunity for all students to share what's on their minds, raise concerns, comment on topics or pose questions. Students who wish to participate will be asked to fill out a question card to jump-start the discussion.

University police officers searched for a bike theft suspect today who pushed a bike over the wall at the University Village.

The man ran away, abandoning his vehicle, when a police officer approached.

The man appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s, white, balding, about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 and with a muscular build. He was missing a front tooth. 

The suspect was wearing Dickie-style pants and a plaid jacket, which he removed and left at the scene. He also had a holster and a security badge on his belt, and police found a BB gun in his red Ford minivan, which was parked in the visitor lot near the Temple Avenue exit. 

In his weekly video message, President Ortiz recaps the PolyTeach event last Friday, which drew 150 faculty and staff. The half-day event featured two keynote speakers, discussions, and faculty presentations on how they use technology in the classroom. The event was recorded by the MediaVision team, and video will soon be available.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson will be speaking Thursday evening as part of the continuing Kellogg Distinguished Public Lecture Series. She authored the book, "The Warmth of Other Suns." Online registration is required.

Cal Poly Pomona has received a three-year, $1.5 million grant renewal for stem cell education and research from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Building upon a previous $1.5 million grant, the award will increase opportunities for both science and non-science majors to learn about stem cells in their coursework, and will also continue to offer intensive research internship experiences for highly qualified biology students.

"CIRM is on the cutting edge of research. This grant is really going to continue to grow biotechnology at Cal Poly Pomona," says Professor Jill Adler-Moore, who directs the Bridges to Stem Cell Research Training Program.

A good cause never tasted so good.

Cal Poly Pomona will host its fifth annual Southern California Tasting & Auction on Sunday, May 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Rose Garden and the adjacent Aratani Japanese Garden. The event, which provides thousands of dollars in scholarships and academic enrichment opportunities for students, is a cornucopia of tastes from some of the region's finest restaurants, wineries and breweries.

Two well-known chefs will offer cooking demonstrations during the event: Darrin Finkel, executive chef for Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney; and James Kelly, owner and chef at Owen's Bistro in Chino. Seating is limited and will be offered to registered guests and sponsors before the event on a first-come basis.

President Ortiz congratulates the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers for placing first in the Pacific Southwest Conference and competition. Students competed against teams from 17 other universities in Central and Southern California, southern Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. The concrete canoe team will move on to the ASCE national competition June 14-16.

Other student groups recognized in the weekly video are the American Marketing Association for bringing home a number of awards from a recent conference, as well as the Model United Nations team for receiving the Distinguished Delegation award at its conference in New York. The Society of Automotive Engineers and advisor Cliff Stover have also been awarded by their national organization.

Are you in the habit of driving blindfolded? Perhaps not literally, but this strange concept may be closer to the truth than you realize.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) website on driving distractions says that the average text will take a driver's eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds, leading to a startling conclusion -- "at 55 mph, that's like driving an entire football field blindfolded."

As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, police across the state will enforce a zero-tolerance policy toward drivers engaging in distracting behaviors.

The 20th annual Unity Luncheon on Thursday, April 12 will include a new theme, an array of entertainment and a keynote address from Bob Suzuki, president emeritus of Cal Poly Pomona.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the celebration of diversity and unity from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Ursa Major Suite of the BSC. Tickets are $15 for students and $20 for faculty and staff, and 10-person tables may be purchased for $200. The event typically sells out, so early registration is recommended.

Nobel Prize-winning economist, professor and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman will speak about the nation's fiscal challenges on Friday, April 13 at 3 p.m. in the Bronco Student Center's Ursa Major Suite.

"The Crisis: Year Five" is sponsored by the economics department and by Krugman's textbook publisher, Worth Publishers, to celebrate the publication of the third edition of his text "Microeconomics," which he wrote with his wife, Robin Wells.

The event is free and open to the public. A Q&A session will follow his presentation.

"It's a thrill to have Paul Krugman speak to our community," says Lynda Rush, chair of the economics department. "He has the rare ability to make complex economic issues understandable to the layman while commanding the respect of academic economists based on his significant contribution to our discipline."

Andy Thacker, professor emeritus in the international business and marketing department, died March 31 in his home in Seabrook, Texas. He was 73.

Thacker joined Cal Poly Pomona in 1985, following a successful career with Shell Oil in Houston and teaching at the University of Houston. At Cal Poly Pomona, he was named Pi Sigma Epsilon National Advisor of the Year. In addition, he was honored by presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

During his tenure, Thacker helped build the IBM professional sales program into one of the strongest in the nation. As an advisor, he helped garner more than 60 awards on behalf of students from the American Marketing Association, Golden Key, Pi Sigma Epsilon and the General Motors Marketing Institute. Thacker retired in 2004.

Most people don't think about emergency planning until one arises. But it's better to plan ahead than wait for a crisis to hit, says Debbi McFall, Cal Poly Pomona's emergency services coordinator.

Ask yourself: What's the most efficient evacuation route in your home? Do you have a survival kit and where? Have you created an emergency plan with your family?

"Hurricane Katrina taught us a really big thing -- the people who put in the effort, they are the most survivable. The people who waited for other people to help them didn't fare as well," McFall says. Without being alarmist or overly negative, McFall emphasizes the importance of planning ahead for individuals and families.

With commencement right around the corner, the Career Center will host a week of activities to help students find a job, land a summer internship and improve their presentation skills.

To prepare for the Spring Career Fair on Thursday, April 19, students can perfect their resume and pick up professional attire from the Clothes Closet.

At the Resumaniac event on Tuesday, April 17, employers will critique resumes of students and alumni from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Career Center. No appointment is necessary.

President Ortiz shares great news about the comprehensive campaign reaching the $100 million mark, a milestone for Cal Poly Pomona.

The campaign, with an overall goal of $150 million, seeks to strengthen the university's ability to provide hands-on learning opportunities, to prepare students for the changing demands of workplace, to increase research and scholarship opportunities, and to ensure that a quality college education remains within reach for underrepresented communities.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson will discuss her New York Times bestseller book on Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. in the University Theatre.

The event, sponsored by the Kellogg Distinguished Public Lecture Series, is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is required.

Wilkerson's book, "The Warmth of Other Suns," brings to life one of the greatest underreported stories of the 20th century. During the Great Migration from 1915 to 1970, about six million black Southerners moved north and west in search of a better life.

Wilkerson interviewed more than 1,200 people and unearthed archival research. Her book focuses on the lives of three individuals and also compares the epic migration to the migration of other peoples in history.

Wilkerson discussed her book and research on NPR in September 2010. The 25-minute audio interview, transcript, and an excerpt from her book are on the NPR website.

[This event has been cancelled due to illness.]

Korean dramatic tenor Kim Jun Man will sing opera arias, Italian and Spanish songs, and from "Phantom of the Opera" at a performance on Wednesday, April 11 at 8 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall.

Man will perform "All I Ask of You" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical with guest soprano Karen Benjamin. Cal Poly Pomona music students Michael Jung, Kat Anderson and Angelina Hu will also perform.

Man has performed in many opera houses and gala and solo performances in Europe, Asia and Australia. His repertoire includes numerous opera arias and more than 1,000 Italian Canzones, Spanish songs, Latin American tunes, and jazz and pop. Man studied at the Santa Cecilia Music Academy, one of the best-known conservatories in Italy, and at the Aidem Academy in Rome.

At first, it was just another paper that Edna Cruz, a fourth-year student, did not want to write. Urban and regional planning Professor Richard Willson had asked her to write a research paper for a national conference. She knew it was a great opportunity to showcase her work in front of a national assembly of student and professional urban planners, but she also did not feel like working throughout summer vacation.

Before long, she had another email from Willson, saying that a second professor was recommending she submit the paper to the conference -- an honor, Cruz says, that she never expected.