CSUSB CAL Talks

Kelli Cluque
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The CSUSB CAL Talks Podcast Series explores Arts and Humanities interviewing faculty, staff and students. Cal State University, San Bernardino's official CAL website: https://www.csusb.edu/cal

  1. Dr. Erin Hall, Professor Department of English

    JAN 16

    Dr. Erin Hall, Professor Department of English

    Dr. Erin Hall is an Assistant professor of linguistics and speech-language pathologist in the English Department at CSUSB. She tells me that she has a goal of building a strong rapport with students and leading them to develop an appreciation of the field. She hopes to help develop new programs in speech-language pathology at CSUSB to address the lack of a public university options in the Inland Empire, which will prepare students for well-paying and interesting careers in the field. Regarding research, Erin examines the intersection between child language acqusition and sociolinguistics with a particular focus on how children participate in language change. She also has more than 12 years of clinical experience as a speech-language pathologist, addressing various communication challenges with children and adults. Dr. Hall is also a founding professor in our Speech-Language Pathology Master's Preparatory Certificate Program which provides students with the prerequisite coursework needed to apply to most Master’s programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Communication Sciences & Disorders.  I think you'll enjoy hearing about her work and her hobbies which take her often to the water!

    13 min
  2. Scott Kruger, Publicity Specialist & Graphic Designer, Department of Theatre Arts

    12/04/2025

    Scott Kruger, Publicity Specialist & Graphic Designer, Department of Theatre Arts

    ​Scott was such an fun interviewee! Not only does he have a colorful background but he delivers his story with vividness and humor. He is a true Inland Empire original being born in San Bernardino and growing up in the High Desert.  His youth brought some health challenges that turned into his life's passion. Well, his work passion! Because there's Julie Kruger, too. And much more importantly so - his wife and high school sweetheart. The Department of Theatre Arts has Scott as their cheerleader and staple.  Here's the biography he provides: An American Advertising Federation multiple ‘Addy Gold Award’ winning graphic designer that earned his Bachelor’s Degree, as class valedictorian, in Graphic Design and Marketing from the Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. He worked for several years in the marketing department for San Manuel Casino in Highland California; former Art Director and Co-Owner of Desert Barn Brewery in Hesperia, California; and currently as a Graphic Design/Publicity Specialist for California State University San Bernardino’s Department of Theatre Arts.

    31 min
  3. Dr. Kevin Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Music

    11/07/2025

    Dr. Kevin Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Music

    Kevin Zhang’s work as a composer and experimental musician encompasses instrumental, vocal, electronic, and electro-acoustic concert music, along with field recordings, sound walks, site-specific installations, and interdisciplinary projects involving film, theater, and dance. His compositions have been presented internationally at the Darmstadt Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, Dian Red Kechil International Young Composers Residency, Electroacoustic Barn Dance, Festival de Royaumont, Hear Now Music Festival, MOXsonic Festival, Northwestern University New Music Conference (NUNC!), Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium, Puerto Rican Sound Art Fair, Qualcomm Institute’s IDEAS series, the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS) National Conference, the UC Davis Music and Words Festival, and the VU Symposium for Experimental, Electronic, and Improvised Music. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition at California State University, San Bernardino, where he also directs the CSUSB New Music Ensemble. Education Ph.D., University of California, San Diego M.F.A., University of California, Irvine B.M., New England Conservatory of Music

    16 min
  4. Dr. Matthew Smith, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

    10/14/2025

    Dr. Matthew Smith, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

    Dr. Matt Smith began his academic career at Cal State San Bernardino but that's just part of his amazing college experience. He takes us through that path and the hows and whys of his commitment to student affairs. After all, we're all here because of the students! But his story may be the best. Matt spent his youth in the Inland Empire so he knows first hand what it's like to make your way as a young adult in our region. Describing his K-12 years you'll find his story engaging and enlightening. As a teenager he decided what to do with his life and it all centers around students and their welfare. It's a wonderful interview with a passionate member of our campus community. Cheers to Dr. Smith!

    25 min
  5. Peter Nguyen, ITS Consultant & Coyote Radio Engineer

    09/12/2025

    Peter Nguyen, ITS Consultant & Coyote Radio Engineer

    Peter has such a fun zig-zag college path that is unlike most students in getting where he is today. He laughs frequently at discribing how he came to be an ITS Consultant trhough that very path of finding his way through academia.  Peter describes his Vietanmese background and the orign of his family's last name. It's all so facinating and the epitome of being American. Coyote Radio is in the College of Arts and Letters and the home to these podcasts. Peter knows the equipment all too well! He is our IT Consultant and Broadcast Engineer. Peter always has a smile and warm greeting for all and you hear that in this interview.

    25 min
  6. Professor Kristi Papailler, Department of Theatre Arts

    06/13/2025

    Professor Kristi Papailler, Department of Theatre Arts

    And just like the blouse she wears in her profile pic here, Professor Papailler is colorful, intriguing, smartly presented and just a bounty of liveliness. She has some super fun stories about growing up in Louisville, Kentucky. From that early age she was play acting with her brother and neighborhood friends. Her desire was to attend Columbia University but stayed home and was a student at University of Louisville. Listen and find out why it was a great choice.  Kristi is so passionate about Theatre Arts that it's contagious! From start to finish you'll be engaged in this interview. Pure entertainment with that dramatic flare. Kristi Papailler, MFA   Graduate Certificate in African American Theatre Sifu Tai Chi & Qi Gong With Specialty in These Arts for Actors Theatre for Positive Social Change  Head of Acting & Faculty Advisor Professor, Department of Theatre Arts Faculty Fellow - CSUSB Extended Reality for Learning xREAL Lab Advisor- Student African American Sisterhood Department Representative, California Faculty Association, San Bernardino Chapter College of Arts & Letters Representative- Faculty Senate Treasurer, The Black Theatre Network Next Steps Coordinator, KCACTF Region 8

    39 min
  7. Dr. Debora Perez Torres, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication & Media

    06/05/2025

    Dr. Debora Perez Torres, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication & Media

    This episode will bring you a smile! Dr. Perez Torres brings her happiness to this interview which features her infectious laugh. Her educational path has a terrific travel element to it and that is fun to hear.  Empirical evidence is her stronghold as she talks about her research and expertise in media effects. I asked her if she could devise a course to teach what would it be and what would the students learn. It's fascinating! Bio Dr. Debora Pérez Torres (She/Her/Ella) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the California State University, San Bernardino. She holds a BA in Journalism and Media Studies from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) in México, an M.A. in Communication from the University of Utah, and a PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on emotion, social identity, and media effects, particularly in the context of minority populations, namely Latinos. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Applied Communication Research, Health Communication, and Media Psychology. She teaches courses on strategic communication, media effects, global communication, organizational communication, and research methods. She lives in California with her marvelous husband Dr. Benjamin K. Smith and delightful daughter Olivia. Education Ph.D. in Communication, University of California, Santa BarbaraFocus: Media Effects, Latino/a/x Stress and Well-BeingDissertation: Media-Based Coping for Latino PopulationsM.A. in Communication, University of UtahFocus: Health Communication, Media Effects, Latino/a/x DisparitiesThesis: The Influence of Ethnic Newspaper Consumption on Cancer Prevention Behaviors: A Test of The Cognitive Mediation ModelB.A. (Licenciatura) in Journalism and Media Studies, Instituto Tecnológico de MonterreyInternational Honors Program:Georgetown University, Washington DCUniversity of Ulster, Northern IrelandCharles University, Prague, Czech RepublicResearch and Teaching Interests Media and emotion; Stress and coping; Media and well-being; Stress and media effects; Latinos and media effects; Discrimination-related stress; Persuasion and narratives; Ethnic health disparities; Health promotion and education.

    17 min
  8. Dr. Sunny Hyon, English Department Professor of Linguistics

    05/28/2025

    Dr. Sunny Hyon, English Department Professor of Linguistics

    It's fascinating that Dr. Hyon achieved her PhD at just age 27. And with that she also got her first professor job at Cal State San Bernardino. Lucky for us she has retained her position in the English Department since then. But wait, there's more! In addition to her Professor of Linguistics office, Sunny is the coordinator at the Professional & Career Readiness Center for Students within the College of Arts and Letters.  Dr. Hyon is about as So Cal as it gets, too. Join us for a listen of her life from L.A. to San Diego and then here in the Inland Empire. It's a unique journey! As an 80s kid you'll hear about the entertainment she grew up on and still loves today. What about her bucket list? You'll hear about it as she wraps up the podcast with me. Dr. Sunny Hyon Biography Education PhD in Linguistics, University of Michigan BA in Linguistics, UC San Diego Courses/Teaching Language Acquisition, English Grammar, TESL Methods, Composition for Multilingual Students, Professional Pathways for English Majors Specialization Applied Linguistics Research and Teaching Interests Genre theory and pedagogy, discourse analysis, grammar and style

    20 min
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About

The CSUSB CAL Talks Podcast Series explores Arts and Humanities interviewing faculty, staff and students. Cal State University, San Bernardino's official CAL website: https://www.csusb.edu/cal

Information

  • Creator
    Kelli Cluque
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 CSUSB CAL Talks
  • Show Website
    CSUSB CAL Talks