Spring 2009

A recap of Spring 2009 Spring 2009 brought a free literary lecture series, open to the public, that offered lectures by award-winning authors such as Reyna Grande(A Journey of a Hundred Mountains) and Brighde Mullins, Director of the Master of Professional Writing Program at USC. It also saw the 10th anniversary of SMC's 10th Anniversary of the Asian/Pacific Islander Celebration being celebrated in a fitting manner with the innovative performance group Hiroshima.  The Distinguished Scientist Lecture Series featured NASA/JPL's lead atmospheric scientist during the Phoenix Mars mission's entry and landing phase, Dr. Peter Tsou from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and nanotechnology researcher Dr. Christina Bauer. The Global Connection Series brought Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins, who journeyed from California to Hawaii aboard a raft made from 15,000 plastic beverage bottles; Dr. Steven Kwon, founder of Nutrition & Education International and Dr. Amir Hussain, a specialist in the study of Islam. The Masters of Dance series featured Karen Goodman showcasing Yiddish Dance, Heritage, Style and Steps; Eric Neff with Capoeira; Reid Olson presenting a ballet master class and Trish Sie-ballroom dancing. The UC Press Lecture for Spring 2009 brought Dr. James L. Powell, Author and Executive Director of the National Physical Science Consortium.