What started as a pilot program, has now been signed in to law for the CSU system to offer doctoral degrees. The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San José State University is pleased to announce that Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 422 which grants California State University full authority to offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree as of January 1, 2018.

Both Dr. Ruth Rosenblum and Dr. Lori Rodriguez, The Valley Foundation School of Nursing, took a leadership role in the initial planning and implementation of the Northern California Consortium Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. They worked in conjunction with faculty partners at Fresno State School of Nursing to create a highly successful pilot program for DNP students over the past five years. Many faculty members at The Valley Foundation School of Nursing have also contributed to the great success of this program. “Congratulations to all! l feel very proud of what we have been able to accomplish as nursing leaders in the CSU.  Thanks to everyone for your support,” says Dr. Colleen O’Leary-Kelley, Director, Professor, Valley Foundation School of Nursing.

The CSU practice doctorate degree in nursing was first legislated as a pilot project. Now, the CSU DNP degree is fully recognized in legislation as a quality educational program that offers the highest level of scholarship in nursing practice. “We are proud of the graduates of our CSU pilot project,” says Dr. Margaret Brady, Nurse Faculty, CSU Nurse Coordinator.  “They are nursing leaders and engage in quality improvement projects within their practice settings that support optimal healthcare for the citizens of California. Moreover, CSU nursing programs have witnessed an influx of these graduates into CSU faculty positions, and the California Community Colleges are pleased to count them among their Associate Degree in Nursing faculty.”

There are many people who deserve to be thanked for supporting CSU Nursing during the quest for full authority. Special thanks to Dr. Joaquin Arambula who sponsored AB 422. He is truly a physician who knows that quality healthcare is a team effort and values the work of his nursing colleagues. The California Assembly and Senate representatives showed their overwhelming confidence in CSU Nursing by their enthusiastic “yes” votes. A shout out for the people behind the scenes such as Nichole Munoz-Murillo, CSU Senior Legislative Advocate who was instrumental in guiding legislative efforts and meeting with California legislators to educate them about CSU Nursing and the DNP degree. Dr. Chris Mallon, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Academic Programs and Faculty Development, has worked with nursing faculty over the long haul on this project. She met with nursing leaders who first brought the idea to her almost 10 years ago and never wavered in her commitment to secure full authority.

Five CSU Nursing campuses, which includes The Valley Foundation School of Nursing, joined to form two joint programs and launched the Northern and Southern CSU DNP consortia in 2012. These graduates joined the pilot project because they believed in the CSU system and its reputation for excellence in nursing education. Many of these graduates told their stories to legislators who listened. Nursing faculty throughout the CSU system worked to secure letters of support from industry partners and also told their stories as advance practice nurses, nurse administrators and nurse educators.

There are 198 graduates of the first four cohorts in Northern and Southern California. There are currently 24 in the Northern cohort that will graduate in Spring 2018 and 38 in the Northern cohort that will graduate in Spring 2019. “We are thrilled that the legislature and Governor so clearly embrace the importance of the DNP degree to support nursing education and improved health outcomes in the state. We are looking forward to next steps,” says Dr. Ruth Rosenblum DNP, RN, PNP-BC, CNS, Assistant Professor, DNP Program Director-Interim, SJSU’s Valley Foundation School of Nursing.

The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San José State University was an instrumental part of the pilot project. The vision for nursing education empowers faculty and guides students on the path to what is regarded as the most trusted profession. Congratulations on the successful passage of AB 422.

CASA Faculty Receive Grants

Associate Professor Diane Guerrazzi, School of Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC), is the primary investigator for a $250,000 U.S. State Department grant to train journalists in Georgia.  “Our plan is to bring 20 journalists to San Jose State University January 2018,” says Professor Guerrazzi. “We plan on helping Georgian journalists become more independent and entrepreneurial. We’re collaborating with Facebook, Google, NBC Bay Area and the Society of Professional Journalists.”

Others assisting on the grant are Halema Kazem-Stojanovic, Lecturer, Dr. Dennis Wilcox, Professor Emeritus; Dr. Phylis West-Johnson, Director, School of Journalism and Mass Communications; and Howard Combs, Professor Emeritus, former chair of SJSU’s Marketing department.

The School of Information (iSchool) has received a $100,000 grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Dr. Sandy Hirsh, Professor and Director School of Information, is listed as the primary investigator, however, Sue Alman, lecturer, had the idea for this grant, wrote this successful grant proposal, and will be taking the lead on this project.

The iSchool will investigate ways that blockchain technology can be used by libraries to partner with other organizations and to support city or community goals. Blockchain technology is a shared digital/electronic ledger featuring a constantly updated list of transactions. It is supported by a peer-to-peer network that may be either public or private. This technology has the potential to help libraries develop a distributed metadata system; facilitate better digital rights management; and create a protocol for supporting community based collections.

The proposed National Forum would bring together 20-30 technical experts in libraries, blockchain technology, and urban planning to discuss ways that blockchain technology can advance library services to support city or community goals. The resulting commentary from a project blog, national forum, conference, and the survey data will be evaluated and included in the project’s final report, which will be available online. The recommendations will serve as a guide for, both large and small, urban and rural libraries to implement blockchain technology or consider other directions.

The iSchool is also a partner university on the WGBH Educational Foundation (WGBH) grant of $229,772. Alyce Scott, lecturer, is representing the iSchool on this project. The WGBH will host a Public Broadcasting Preservation Fellowship for 10 students enrolled in Library and Information Science (LIS) graduate programs to pursue digital preservation projects at public broadcasting organizations around the country, gaining hands-on experience in audiovisual preservation. WGBH will work with five partner universities: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Missouri, University of Oklahoma, San Jose State University, and Clayton State University.

Each university will be paired with a local public media station to serve as a fellowship host. Fellowship placements will address the need for digitization of at-risk public media materials and increase audiovisual preservation education capacity in LIS graduate programs across the country.

Lecturers Peta Wellstead and Diane K. Kovacs, iSchool, have received a 2017/2018 Quality Assurance Grant from the eCampus Office of Quality Assurance (EOQA).

CASA Faculty Receive Numerous Awards and Recognition

Dr. Steven Lee, Justice Studies Professor, Director of Forensic Science Programs has been appointed to the Organization of Scientific Area Committees Facial Identification subcommittee, and the editorial boards of the Journal of Forensic Research and Analysis and Journal of Forensic Sciences and Digital Investigations. “I am very excited and honored to be working with these experts,” says Dr. Lee.  “Furthermore, the connections provide additional networks of experts that can contribute their expertise to San Jose State University’s Forensic Science program.”

Dr. Zongchao Cathy Li, Assistant Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communications was recently appointed as the Chief Research Editor for Institute for Public Relations’ Behavioral Insights Research Center (BIRC). Institute for Public Relations serves internationally as a hub to connect academic research with the industry. It is a high-impact nonprofit institution focusing on applied research and intelligence that PR professionals can put to immediate use. Click here to learn more about the Institute.

News release from IPR

Dr. Winifred Schultz-Krohn, Chair, Occupational Therapy is the recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year award at the upcoming annual California Foundation for Occupational Therapy (CFOT) Awards Luncheon and Symposium which will be held on Friday, October 20, 2017 at the Occupational Therapy Association of California Conference (OTAC).

Here is an excerpt from the OTAC website:

Winifred Schultz-Krohn, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, SWC, FAOTA, is the recipient of the 2017 CFOT Humanitarian Award. She is honored for her many years of volunteer work with the San Jose Family Shelter which is part of the Family Supportive Housing Organization of San Jose. She received a regional Jefferson Award in 2011 for her volunteer commitment.  Awards are from the Jefferson Awards Foundation whose mission is to empower others to have maximum impact on the things they care about most. It was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard. Schultz-Krohn was the CFOT Honored Lecturer in 2012. She has also previously received the OTAC Award of Excellence and OT Practice Award. She has more than 30 years of experience as an occupational therapy practitioner working with individuals, primarily infants and children, with feeding disorders. Schultz-Krohn is Board Certified in pediatrics by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and has co-edited books and authored well over 20 articles and chapters. She has served in various volunteer roles with both OTAC and AOTA and is the department chair of occupational therapy at San Jose State University.

Look Who is in the News!

Dr. Matt Cabot, Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communications was interviewed by NBC Bay Area, August 30 about the profound impact that social media and technology played in the call for help and assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Dr. Richard Craig, Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communications was live via Skype, June 29, KTVU-TV, discussing President Trump’s recent criticism of the press.

Jess Guy, Lecturer, Justice Studies appeared on KRON-TV, August 14^th as a domestic violence spokesperson in regards to the Charlottesville violence.