Alumni Archives

List of awards by year

• 2022

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Maribel Martinez

    Anthropology

    

    Maribel Maribel has spent the last 20 years working with various nonprofits in Santa Clara County addressing issues ranging from education reform, community safety measures, social services, health care outreach, to public policy. For nine years, she served as the founding director of the Associated Students Cesar Chavez Community Action Center at San José State University creating interdisciplinary and innovative approaches to infusing social justice and service learnin​g in the cocurricular experiences of students. Prior to that, she worked with organizations such as People Acting in Community Together, Catholic Charities, Somos Mayfair and the City of San José. She holds a BA in Political Science and Sociology, a graduate degree in Applied Anthropology. She holds certificates from the McCourt School of Public Policy from Georgetown University, Stanford University’s Local Governance Summer Institute, The Panetta Institute for Public Policy, and the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Program.

    Changing the World Together:
    Social Entrepreneurship and
    Community Engagement Alumni Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    Jason Su 

    Urban and Regional Planning 
    

    Jason Su is an urban designer focused on the intersection of public life, community engagement, and our built and natural environments. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, overseeing strategy, advancement, and partnerships for the active-use and development of the Guadalupe River Park - the 254 acre, three-mile riverfront that makes up San Jose’s civic greenway. Jason is also a faculty member of San Jose State University’s Urban and Regional Planning Department, where he co-taught the capstone community planning studio. He approaches complex urban and social issues through a human-centered, systems-level, and design-thinking lens, and aims to center community wisdom in this work. 

    Previously, he was the Street Life Manager for the San Jose Downtown Association, where he retrofitted ground floor retail in a parking garage, built San Jose’s longest “parklet” and its first artistic crosswalk, and implemented multiple mural and placemaking projects. He has also worked on streetscape projects with the City of San Francisco, including the redesign of Castro Street, in their historic LGBTQ district.

    Jason is a Fellow at the Harvard Young American Leaders Program and New Leaders Council, Silicon Valley, and Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum, Silicon Valley.  He earned his Master of Urban Planning from San Jose State University in 2013, Bachelors in Sociology and Business Economics from UC Irvine, and Certificate in Landscape Architecture from UC Berkeley Extension. 

     

• 2021

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Jana Taylor

    Justice Studies 

    Ms. Taylor received her BS in Administration of Justice in 1990 with a minor in Psychology.  Since then, she has had an exemplary career in probation services and has made tremendous contributions to her profession, community, and university. Ms. Taylor is now Assistant Chief of the San Francisco Adult Probation Department, second to the chief, with responsibility for overall operations.  In 2019, she was elected president of the California Association of Probation Services Administrators (CAPSA). That same year, she was honored as Employee of the Year by the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC).  Ms. Taylor has made outstanding contributions to SJSU. For years, she volunteered her expertise to the Record Clearance Project, transforming the lives of students and clients. Semester after semester, she has hosted SJSU interns at Santa Clara County and San Francisco.  She has helped arrange field trips for our students at the Santa Clara County Jail and has agreed to be the featured speaker at the Department’s recognition event for graduates.

    Changing the World Together:
    Social Entrepreneurship and
    Community Engagement Alumni Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    Ida Wilson

    Applied Anthropology

    Ms. Wilson earned an MA in Applied Anthropology from SJSU in 2015. Shortly after receiving her MA, she began working at the Center for Critical Public Health, a research group housed within the Institute for Scientific Analysis. Ms. Wilson serves as a Project Manager for several state- and federally-funded research projects that employs a critical perspective on the understanding and examination of public health issues such as substance use. In addition to her role as Project Manager, Ms. Wilson hosts the Center’s internship program, where she conducts training in qualitative methods and analysis with graduate and undergraduate students. She also has a published paper titled “‘Some Are Good, Some are Bad’:Perceptions of the Police from Black and Latina Women Living in the San Francisco Bay Area” that details findings from a pilot study she led on young women of color’s perceptions of police practices. In the fall, Ms. Wilson will be starting the Doctor of Public Health Program at UC Berkeley, where her research will focus on women of color’s experiences with police violence.

• 2020

  • Changing the World Together: Social Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement Alumni Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    Marina Corrales

    Chicana and Chicano Studies

    

    Ms. Corrales earned an MA in Applied Anthropology from SJSU in 2010 and a second MA in Education from UC Irvine in 2014. The focus of her work and research agenda was on how to increase retention of first-generation, low-income, college students of color by improving campus climate and increasing their sense of belonging.

    After more than a decade in higher education, Ms. Corrales made the transition into her current role as a Project Administrator for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, where she uses her experience as a research associate and program administrator to focus on operations and policy. Ms. Corrales plans to continue participating in work and volunteer opportunities that contribute to a more equitable society.

• 2019

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    John McLemore

    Mr. McLemore earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science from SJSU. After graduating, Mr. McLemore
    worked for 38 years in the electronics industry. In addition, he served as a City of Santa Clara council member and on numerous committees and local boards. He has contributed significantly to SJSU and COSS committees over the years.

    He is a long-time supporter of the SJSU Alumni Association and co-founded the Political Science Alumni Association. The PSAA established an Alumni Scholarship that has raised tens of thousands of dollars and supports more than 20 students to date. Most recently, he established the annual John L. McLemore Scholarship to help support a student majoring in Political Science.

    Changing the World Together:
    Social Entrepreneurship and
    Community Engagement Alumni Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    Kanhong Lin

    Mr. Lin received an MA in Applied Anthropology from SJSU in
    2012. Since then he has achieved an extraordinary level of achievement within the American Red Cross. He works tirelessly to help people with urgent needs, particularly disaster victims. Much of Mr. Lin’s recent work has been “behind the scenes,” by helping to launch immediate financial assistance programs for flood and hurricane victims. His current efforts are focused on community mobilization and policy development. He is based at the American Red Cross’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

• 2018

  • Outstanding Alumni

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Patricia Gardner

    Political Science

    Since her time at SJSU, Patricia Gardner has become a dynamic and passionate community leader in Santa Clara County. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, she works to promote, advocate and advance the impact of the nonprofit sector, representing over 200 Health and Human Service agencies.

    Under her nearly 20-year leadership, SVCN has magnified the united voice of nonprofits, strengthened industry leadership, and ensured that nonprofits have the resources and capacity to best serve their communities. As a founding member and longtime Co-Chair of the SJSU Political Science Alumni Association, Patricia has spearheaded fundraising efforts, raising thousands of dollars for SJSU student scholarships.

    In her continued commitment to SJSU, she has hired and mentored dozens of SJSU students through the SVCN service learning internship in public policy, exposing students to the largest regional cross-sector advocacy and training program for nonprofits in the State of California. One of her greatest joys is seeing SJSU alumni working and succeeding in public policy work and leadership in government and nonprofits.

    Changing the World Together:
    Social Entrepreneurship and
    Community Engagement Alumni Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    Mayra Cerda

    Applied Anthropology

    Mayra S. Cerda has a BA in International Business and an MA in Applied Anthropology from San Jose State. After graduating, she became heavily involved in financial research studies to understand financial behavior and practices by low- to moderate-income individuals.

    In 2011, Mayra began working as a researcher in California for a major national study called “US Financial Diaries.” She gathered qualitative and quantitative data from 35 Latino households about how they managed their income and expenses. The information gathered is the result of a scholarly book written by the lead researchers called, “The Financial Diaries: How American Families Cope in a World of Uncertainty.”

    In addition, Mayra worked as a researcher in San Francisco to find out hidden loan fees and practices from a predatory lender that targets low-income and immigrant families. She became an active participant in the asset building world through Opportunity Fund. She has traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for and to keep the federal funds intact for the Asset for Independence Act and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.

• 2017

  • Changing the World Together Social Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement Alumnus Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    Kristin Keller

    Applied Anthropology

    Kristin Keller received an M.A. in Applied Anthropology from SJSU in 2013. In her graduate project, Keller examined refugee resettlement policies in practice, as well as institutional barriers to effective service delivery at an organization in Oakland, CA. In order to mitigate organizational and bureaucratic challenges rooted at the policy level, Keller developed and implemented a training program to enhance service provision among their large volunteer workforce.

    In another project, Keller partnered with a team to conduct research at three sites of the Occupy Movement in California. The team created an ethnographic pamphlet to provide insight about actions, narratives, and practices employed by activists to generate change in their communities and beyond. Presently, Keller is Director of the Drop-In Center at San Francisco’s Compass Family Services, a new program that connects families experiencing homelessness to immediate counseling, case management, and supportive services in the areas of family well-being and self-sufficiency, shelter, and housing stabilization.

    In her role, Keller applies user experience design principles, formative evaluation, and ethnography in the development of program services, and to advocate for larger systemic changes that will better meet the needs of families. Keller also serves on the Communications Committee of the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology.

• 2016

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Alan E. Kazdin

    Psychology

    Alan E. Kazdin. Ph.D. (Northwestern University) isSterling Professor of Psychology, Professor of Child Psychiatry at Yale University, and Director of the Yale Parenting Center, a service for children and families. Before coming to Yale, he was on the faculty of the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

    At Yale, he was Chairman of the Psychology Department, Director and Chairman of the Yale Child Study Center at the School of Medicine,and Director of Child Psychiatric Services at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Dr. Kazdin’s research is focused primarily on the treatment of aggressive and antisocial behavior in children and the contextual influences that contribute to child dysfunction.

    His work has been supported by numerous institutions and foundations including the National Institute of Mental Health and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Dr. Kazdin’s 700+ publications include 49 books that focus on methodology, interventions for children and adolescents, parenting and child rearing, cognitive-behavioral treatment, and interpersonal violence. He has been editor of six professional journals, and he has received several prestigious professional awards. In 2008, he was president of the American Psychological Association.

    Changing the World Together Social Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement Alumnus Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    Maribel Martínez

    Political Science and Applied Anthropology

    Maribel Martínez, BA in Political Science and MA in Applied Anthropology (both SJSU), has demonstrated an extraordinary level of achievement in leading and organizing diverse government, non-profit, and community-based organizations.

    While a student at SJSU, she was a founding member of Voices Rising, an undergraduate student organization formed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to help sensitize the SJSU community to creeping racism and xenophobia.

    Over the past 15 years, she has made a positive impact on the lives of community members through her involvement and leadership in a wide range of projects and organizations, from Catholic Charities to CommUniverCity to SJSU’s César Chávez Community Action Center. She has worked as a community organizer for PACT, leading efforts to organize families around educational reform, mental health services, and neighborhood safety. Ms. Martínez recently accepted a position as director of Santa Clara County’s Office of Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, and Queer (GLTBQ) Affairs, the first of its kind in the nation.

• 2015

  • Outstanding Alumna

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Maryanna McSwain

    Social Sciences

    Maryanna McSwain is the Senior Vice President of DTZ, a major commercial real estate firm and a global player in commercial real estate services. She earned her BA in Social Sciences in 1968, and was in the Graduate Teaching Program at San José State University. After a time in teaching, she switched careers. She is the past director of Placer Savings Bank and ASVB. Among the many awards she has earned, Maryanna was awarded the ASVB Michael Murphy Award for her contributions to the brokerage community and the community at large. Her service to the College of Social Sciences has been considerable. She is on the Advisory Board for CRED, and was the San José State University Acceleration Campaign Chair for our College. In reflecting on her links to San José State, Maryanna notes, “after changing careers and getting involved in commercial real estate, I owe an immense amount of my success to the lifelong relationships I formed in my time at San José State.” She feels that being a student gave her invaluable opportunities that had a huge impact on her life. She says that she is “looking forward to getting involved with the college even more in the future.”

    Changing the World Together Social Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement Alumnus Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    Amie Frisch

    Environmental Studies

    Amie Frisch became the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Veggielution even before she graduated in 2007 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Veggielution Community Farm started in backyards near San José State University. It is now a six-acre farm that supplies fresh, affordable produce for families in the South Bay. Veggielution coordinates more than 3,000 volunteers to create access to healthy, affordable food. Reconnecting people to food, dedicated to building a sustainable food system, Veggielution is a grassroots nonprofit, now managing a budget of more than $400,000 per year, which has become a model for urban farming and community connection. In the words of her mentor, Rachel O’Malley, “Amie is a force of nature, herself.”

• 2014

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Scott Lefaver

    Urban and Regional Planning

    Scott Lefaver, DPA, AICP, is an owner of Cabouchon Properties, LLC, a developer and buyer of affordable tax credit housing. Cabouchon Properties has bought and rehabilitated 2,200 tax credit apartment units located all over the US, with over $35 million in tax credit equity and $115 million in tax exempt bonds.

    Scott is a former faculty member in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at SJSU, where he taught a variety of courses, and has also taught in the College of Business and at Stanford University. He continues as a Research Associate with the Mineta Transportation Institute at SJSU and serves on the Department of Urban and Regional Planning Department's Advisory Board.

    Scott Lefaver is currently Chair of the County of Santa Clara Planning Commission and is a charter member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He is a former Colonel in the California State Military Reserve, a combat veteran, and a retired member of the US Army Reserve. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and Master in Urban Planning from SJSU and holds both a Master and Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

    Changing the World Together Social Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement Alumnus Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    The Andariega Collective, Co-founders
    Rosanna Alvarez, Marlene Chavez, and
    Ana Lilia Soto

    Mexican American Studies

    The Andariega Collective was founded by three Chicanas who met as graduate students in the Mexican American Studies Program at SJSU. Their graduate work inspired them to develop, provide, and engage in ongoing opportunities to discuss, debate, and reflect on shared experiences as women committed to community development.

    Out of that work emerged a framework grounded in the exploration of how women resist, challenge, and constantly navigate dominant discourses of gender and sexuality. Moving forward as the Andariega Collective, they shifted toward exploring and building on resiliency to achieve Chicanas' individual and collective potential.

• 2013

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Robert G. Foster

    Public Administration

    Bob Foster is the 27th mayor of Long Beach, an office to which he was first elected in 2006. Prior to becoming mayor, he served as president of Southern California Edison. He was at Edison for more than 20 years, during which time he led California’s largest electric company through the 1999 energy crisis. During his tenure, Edison developed the largest renewable, clean energy programs—solar, geothermal, biomass, and wind—in the United States.

    Foster began his career in public service as a staffer in the California State Senate and California Energy Commission, where he established statewide energy efficiency standards that are still enforced today. He is active in the U.S. Conference of Mayors and was appointed Environment Committee chair in 2008 and elected to the Advisory Board in 2009. He currently serves as chair of the Mayors Business Council and as a trustee. He was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the Board of Governors for the California Independent Systems Operators and was reappointed by Governor Brown in 2013. Foster was born in Brooklyn, New York, and received his bachelor’s degree in public administration from San José State in 1969. Before being elected mayor, he served as a trustee to the California State University system and co-taught a political science class at San José State with Professor Larry Gerston.

    Changing the World Together Social Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement Alumnus Award

    This award recognizes alumni who have contributed to the core mission of CoSS, to help bring about a more just, adaptable, and sustainable society which supports lives that are meaningful, creative, and productive.

    Roseanne Duncan

    Communication Studies

    Roseanne Duncan is a communications and marketing manager at Hewlett Packard and has been working in education services for more than 16 years. She is an active member of the special needs community and has served on the board of directors of two local nonprofits, the Autism Project PTA and Angels on Stage (AoS). Duncan is also a member of the Bay Area Professionals Special Needs Network (BAP).

    In recognition for her volunteer work at AoS, she was a 2011 recipient of Service Above Self award from SARC. She has served as a production manager and in a variety of other volunteer roles at AoS for five years. She has provided in-kind marketing support and web design services to AoS, CAA, Netta for Special Ed, Golf4Autism, and BAP. Additionally, she has volunteered in theatre support roles, such as costume designer, entertainment coordinator, and stage manager, for other special needs events, including Take Flight for Kids, ViaWest, Walk Now, and Magic Makers. Her passion comes from being a caregiver of two children with autism. Duncan strongly believes in giving back to the community and feels that sharing your time and talent for a cause you are passionate about can bring positive change in both you and those you are serving.

• 2012

  • Outstanding Alumna

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Jeanne Sheldon

    History

    Jeanne Sheldon, '70 History, is corporate vice president of Office Reading and Authoring Applications for the Microsoft Office Division. In this role, she leads the product development teams for Microsoft Word, One-Note and Publisher, as well as the Microsoft Education team, which works to contextualize Microsoft products for the education market. She joined Microsoft in 1989 as a software test manager for Microsoft Word and a variety of workgroup applications.

    She subsequently became general manager of Microsoft Office's Sustaining Engineering Services, which focuses on maintenance and continuous improvement of Microsoft Office in-market products. Before joining Microsoft, she served as a section manager in software quality assurance for Software Publishing Corporation. Sheldon has also been an active participant in Microsoft recruiting and in scholarship programs for minorities and women.

    Her extraordinary achievements have not gone unnoticed in the industry, and Women in Technology International showcased her career accomplishments, determination and dedication as early as 1996, during Women in Technology Month. Sheldon grew up in San José and graduated from San José's Pioneer High School, as did her future husband, Marvin Parsons, who is an alumnus of San José State and Microsoft. In addition to earning an SJSU bachelor's degree, she also did graduate work in history of science and urban planning at San José.

• 2011

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Steven E. Bochner

    Political Science

    Steve E. Bochner is the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich and Rosati, the largest law firm in Silicon Valley, widely considered the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences and growth enterprises worldwide. He earned a bachelor’s in political science from San José State University in 1977 and a law degree from the UC Berkeley School of Law in 1981.

    Bochner has served on the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council, the SEC’s Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies, and the Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network board of directors. In November 2010, he presented the San José State David E. Saurman Provocative Lecture, and has been a lecturer at UC Berkeley and Stanford University. Bochner is a frequent speaker and author on securities and business law topics.

    He has received numerous honors and awards, including being named one of Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Lawyers in America” and a “Northern California Super Lawyer,” as well as being listed in Chambers U.S.A.: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, the Legal 500 US, and The Best Lawyers in America.

• 2010

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Keith Barnes

    Environmental Studies

    Keith Barnes is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Verigy US Inc., a Cupertino-based company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced test systems and solutions for the semiconductor industry. From 2003 through 2006, he was Chairman and CEO of Electroglas, Inc., having been brought in by the board to execute a turnaround of the manufacturer of integrated circuit probers. Prior to that he was Chairman and CEO of Integrated Measurement Systems, a leader in digital, mixed-signal and memory-IC verification, until its acquisition by Credence Systems Corporation in 2001.

    Before assuming his role at IMS, Mr. Barnes was a division president at Cadence Design Systems and at Valid Logic Systems. Just three years after earning his degree in Environmental Studies at San Jose State, he co-founded Kontron Electronics, Inc., which was acquired by BMW in 1985. Mr. Barnes has served on numerous boards and industry associations during his career, including three terms as a regent of University of Portland. He is currently on the board of Cascade Microtech, Inc. He is an inaugural member of the College of Social Sciences' Dean's Circle and spoke on campus in November 2008 as part of the Alumni Association's Alumni Legends Speaker Series. He and his wife Sharon have three children and live in Portland, Oregon.

• 2009

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Bob Pisano

    Public Administration

    A. Robert Pisano '65 is president and chief operating officer of the Motion Picture Association of America and was previously national executive director and chief executive officer of the Screen Actors Guild. Prior to this, he was vice chairman of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

    Before joining MGM he served as executive vice president and general counsel of Paramount Pictures and was a partner in the Los Angeles-based law firm of O'Melveny & Myers. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Pacific Council on International Policy and the Entertainment Council, and he serves on the boards of several other organizations.

    Bob received his B.A. in Public Administration from San Jose State and a law degree from University of California, Berkeley. While at San Jose State, he served as president of the Associated Students and was a member of Theta Chi fraternity. In February 2009, Bob returned to campus to talk to students as part of the Alumni Association's Alumni Legends Speaker Series.

• 2008

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    James L. McGaugh

    Psychology

    James L. McGaugh is a Research Professor and Founding Chair (1964) of the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and a Fellow and Founding Director (1981) of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at the University of California, Irvine. He completed his undergraduate studies at San José State University and received his Ph.D. degree from Berkeley. He was on the faculty of the Department of Psychology at SJSU from 1957-1961. McGaugh's research investigates stress hormone influences on brain systems that modulate the consolidation of lasting memories. He has over 500 scientific publications, including over two dozen authored and edited books.

    His honors include election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as well as election as a Foreign Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the Mexican Academy of Sciences. He was awarded the Laurea Honoris Causa from the University of L'Aquila in Italy. He is a William James Fellow and past president of the Association for Psychological Science and received the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the American Psychological Association, the McGovern Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Norman Anderson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Experimental Psychologists. At UC Irvine, McGaugh has received the Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Award, the Extraordinarius Award and the highest honor offered at UCI, the UC Irvine Medal. McGaugh Hall, on the UCI campus, is named in his honor. Dr. McGaugh has long had a keen interest in the success of SJSU. He endowed a scholarship for an SJSU Psychology student through the Western Psychological Association.

• 2007

  • Outstanding Alumna

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Susanne B. Wilson

    Political Science

    Susie Wilson has a superb record of community service as well as service to San José State University. She was County Supervisor for District 1 from 1979-1991, and served the Board three terms as Chair. From 1973-1978, she sat as a member of the San Jose City Council, and was Vice-Mayor from 1976-1978. Since 1999 she has been CEO of WKW Mechanical Contractors, Inc. and sole proprietor of a governmental consulting firm, Solutions by Wilson. In addition to these key governmental and professional positions, Susie has served as Chair of the Valley Transit District Board, and was the first woman to become President of the Association of Bay Area Governments. She was a founding member in 1974 of California Elected Women for Education and Research (CEWEAR), as well as past president and life member.

    In 1990, she became a member of the Valley Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors, and is presently serving as Chair. She is a founding and continuing member of the Board of Directors of Bridge Housing. Susie played an integral role in insuring that the 100-year history of the YWCA was written and published in 2005. She was chair of the YWCA Capital Campaign from 1990-1993. In turn, the YWCA named its 63 low-income, housing units the Susanne B. Wilson Residence. Susie has been an active volunteer for the YWCA for 45 years. In 1975, Susie team-taught (as a student) a summer workshop on Politics with Prof. Terry Christensen. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science in 1976. She became the first "Leader In Residence" in 1995, team-teaching with Prof. Betsy Carroll.

    Susie currently serves on the Alumni Steering Committee for the Political Science Department, has been a member of the Spartan Foundation since 1982, and was the Foundation's past president from 2004-2006. She has also lent regular support to the Don Edwards lecture series. In 1980-1991, she co-founded with President Gail Fullerton, the Walk for Women of Sparta, which raised over $1 million for women's athletic scholarships over ten years. Susie also received the prestigious Tower Award from the university for the 1995-96 academic year.

• 2006

  • Outstanding Alumnus

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    Leslie C. Francis

    Social Science

    Leslie C. Francis is a native of San José and a graduate of San José State University. He received his BA in Social Science (1965) and Secondary Teaching Credential (1966). Les Francis began his career in 1967, when he became the youngest person ever to join the ranks of the professional staff of the California Teachers Association. During his time there, he also played an instrumental role in the national campaign to amend the U.S. Constitution to permit 18-year olds the right to vote, an effort that was spearheaded and funded by the National Education Association.

    Les Francis currently is with Goddard Claussen Strategic Advocacy, one of America's most successful public affairs and issue advocacy firms, where he serves as Executive Vice President in the company's Washington, D.C. office. Previously, Les served as Vice President for Communications & Public Affairs, for Educational Testing Service, the world's largest private educational research and assessment organization. Prior to joining ETS, he was Vice President of Winner & Associates and a partner in Winner/Wagner & Mandabach Campaigns. He has lived and worked in Washington, D.C., since January 1975, when he joined the staff of Congressman Norman Y. Mineta of San José, as chief of staff and principal political adviser. He served as deputy chief of staff in President Jimmy Carter's White House. His White House responsibilities included devising legislative strategies for presidential policy initiatives and coordinating the various Cabinet departments' congressional relations operations. Francis has served as a staff member, manager, or senior adviser in campaigns for almost every office from city council to president. He also served as executive director of the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

    In 1981, Francis launched his own business, The FMR Group, which was a pioneer in the grassroots-lobbying field. He and his firm won national recognition from the Public Relations Society of America and the American Association of Political Consultants. Francis is a board member of several nonprofit organizations, including the Council for Excellence in Government, the Civic Mission of Schools Campaign, and the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate. He also serves as a volunteer consultant to the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and has advised democratic movements and parties in Northern Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bolivia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Bosnia. Francis has authored and co-authored articles for such newspapers as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Sacramento Bee, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the San Jose Mercury-News, among others. He spent eleven years as an adjunct instructor of Political Communications at the George Washington University, and has been a guest lecturer at several other universities.