By Omar Hassoun
Staff Writer
Three professors from California State University, Dominguez Hills are being recognized in October at the third annual Graduation Initiative 2025 in San Diego. They are being recognized by the CSU system for their innovative practices aimed towards the ongoing success of students.
Dr. Nancy Cheever of the communications department and Dr. L. Mark Carrier and Dr. Larry Rosen of the psychology department received the honor for the innovative research they have conducted on campus the past decade. The George Marsh Applied Cognition Laboratory (GMAC), located in the psychology department, is the breeding ground for this research and was founded by the three professors in 2008.
Only 26 faculty were chosen statewide from 23 CSU campuses for the award.
“To be selected from more than 350 applicants is an honor,” said Cheever, who was also recently named Presidential Outstanding Professor at CSUDH in April 2018.
Cheever is not only a professor and alumni but also chair of CSUDH’s Department of Communications. Her years of dedication to research on this campus has led to much recognition and media attention all over the country, including segments on “60 Minutes,” “America Inside Out with Katie Couric,” and “Good Morning America.”
“These exceptional recipients demonstrate leadership in their respective fields and incorporate cutting-edge techniques into the curriculum. Their commitment to student success ensures that the value of a CSU degree continues to increase,” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White on the CSU website.
The research being conducted at GMAC focuses on the psychological impact of personal technology use.
“We run studies online via web-based questionnaires, in our laboratory through experimental work, in field settings such as classrooms and schools, and now in the brain imaging and psychophysiology laboratory,” Carrier said.
Previous topics they have researched in the past few years include smartphone use and anxiety, technology multitasking in the classroom, and sleep and technology use. Beyond national attention, GMAC has also been visited by news organizations from England, France, and other countries, while Italian public television will visit in October.
Dr. Carrier, who is celebrating his 20th year at CSUDH, is ecstatic about what he and his colleagues have accomplished since their beginnings here on campus.
“As soon as I arrived, I realized that Larry and I—both in the Psychology department—had shared interests around computers and behaviors. Basically, we were both computer geeks who also were psychologists,” Carrier said. “After several years of discussion over many lunches with Larry, the perfect storm of opportunity arose. I learned that he was mentoring Nancy— also a psychologist in the communications department and that she was an expert in media psychology.”
These three professors have dedicated their time to research and focused their lives on making an impact on those striving to reach their lifelong goals in education and their professional careers. Out of the more than 50 students who have worked through the GMAC program 13 have gone on to pursue master’s degrees, 19 are in Ph.D. programs and three have already completed their doctoral degrees.
“Being an alumna of CSUDH, I am extremely proud that so many of our students go on to graduate school. I have a deep sense of gratification knowing the work we do in the lab furthers our students’ academic and career goals. It is perhaps the most important part of being a professor,” Cheever said.
