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Dominican Inspires Family Legacy

ggrubb — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:50:32 +0000

Dominican Inspires Family Legacy ggrubb Tue, 06/23/2026 - 15:50 08/17/26

For Kevin Sunga '15, Dominican is family.

Not only is his wife, Elizabeth “Nikki” Chan-Sunga, a Dominican alumna, but several cousins also attended the university between 2012 and 2021. “Dominican is a family legacy,” Kevin says, referring to relatives Susana “Stacey” Cummings, Francis Sunga, Yvonne Bamba, Joanne Bamba, and Mirabella Mercado-Sunga, Francis’ spouse.

Most of Kevin’s cousins studied nursing at Dominican and now work in prestigious health centers. Kevin and Nikki took a different path and today are leaders in the nonprofit sector in California’s Central Valley.

Kevin serves as deputy director of Little Manila Rising, a place-based social justice nonprofit in Stockton. There, he works at the intersection of community development, historic preservation, health equity, environmental justice, and youth empowerment to benefit residents of South Stockton who have been historically redlined. Nikki is executive director of Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, which practices community-based transformative justice to heal and prevent violence while advancing holistic liberation.

Kevin credits the rigor of his Dominican education with providing a strong foundation for his future career.

“I've spearheaded a fair amount of advocacy work, navigating and negotiating with legislative offices, state agencies, and philanthropic circles,” he says.

“What I took from my classes and coursework has translated more than I expected. It's been especially useful in staying creative and strategic in sustaining our movement during this challenging moment.”

A growing interest in history and government led Kevin to Dominican with a goal of one day working in politics.

“It was my senior year in high school that I became interested in how history and the powers that be shape policy,” he recalls.

A classmate at St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School recommended Dominican’s political science program, and after speaking with his cousin Stacey, Kevin knew he would find a supportive and welcoming community.

Initially, Kevin envisioned a career in a congressional office. As he gained a deeper understanding of the political system, however, he realized he wanted to work closer to home, where he could have a more direct impact on his community through local and state-level decision-making.

One person who played a pivotal role in Kevin’s journey was political science professor Alison Howard, who encouraged him to apply for a postgraduate fellowship through the University of San Francisco’s Leo T. McCarthy Center.

Selected as a McCarthy Fellow, Kevin gained firsthand exposure to California’s policymaking process. His placement with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation introduced him to health policy in motion and sparked an interest that would shape the next stage of his career.

That interest led to a full-time position at UCSF Medical Center, where Kevin first worked as a clinic coordinator and later as a clinic supervisor, overseeing several oncology service units at Mt. Zion. Over the years, he took on a wide range of responsibilities, including helping facilitate expansion into UCSF’s Mission Bay and Redwood City campuses.

It was at UCSF that Kevin developed a passion for addressing inequities in healthcare.

“I became deeply engaged in patient advocacy — navigating insurance denials, coordinating care across regions, and ensuring patients had equitable access to care,” he says.

He also witnessed the barriers many patients faced.
“I worked with patients from the Central Valley whose only option was to drive to UCSF in San Francisco for treatment because there were no services available closer to home.”

The experience deepened his understanding of the disparities in healthcare access.
“UCSF is a great system,” he says, “but I realized it was a system that many marginalized communities had difficulty accessing.”

That passion for advocacy and community health ultimately led Kevin to Little Manila Rising, where, since 2021, he has worked on historic preservation, community development, health equity, and environmental justice initiatives.

His first role was co-developing the Equity in COVID and Health Outcomes program, which focused on COVID-19 response, vaccination outreach, and health education for marginalized communities in South Stockton. The initiative distributed 2,000 COVID-19 tests and supported more than 1,700 vaccinations.

Kevin later became director of grants and fiscal sustainability, fundraising $7 million for multiple initiatives before being named deputy director in June 2024, overseeing the organization’s environmental justice initiatives while leading grant strategy and fund development.

Kevin has contributed to several major milestones, including artifacts for the Smithsonian National Museum of American History exhibit “How Can You Forget Me?” He also helped secure financing for a $7 million renovation of the organization’s center, which will reopen next year as a Climate and Community Resiliency Center.

Today, Kevin continues to draw on lessons from his Dominican education as he helps shape programs focused on climate change, urban reforestation, community redevelopment, and anti-displacement strategies, allowing community wealth to flow without gentrifying communities.

He encourages current students to take full advantage of the opportunities available at Dominican.

“As I reflect on my own Dominican experience, I would advise students to embrace the rigor and take advantage of the low student-to-teacher ratio. This mirrors real life in terms of engagement and collaboration,” he says.

He also encourages students to remain open to unexpected opportunities.

“My journey was not linear,” he notes. “We all have hopes of where we want to land. For me, life has been so fun because I’ve moved in a nonlinear direction. I’ve embraced what has come in between.”

That journey into leadership has reinforced the importance of empathy. As he continues to grow in his career, Kevin remains inspired by a quote he often recites:
“Empathy is the most necessary trait for effective leadership, which requires one to perform all roles that lead up to that leadership position. To empathize, you have to live a day in their shoes. Take your time. Climb the ladder.”

Student Story University NewsSchool of Liberal Arts and EducationPolitical ScienceHistory and PoliticsSelect

Inaugural Occupational Therapy Doctorate Cohort to Present Capstone Projects

ggrubb — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:22:07 +0000

Inaugural Occupational Therapy Doctorate Cohort to Present Capstone Projects ggrubb Mon, 08/17/2026 - 11:22 08/17/26

Dominican University of California’s Department of Occupational Therapy will celebrate a significant milestone on Friday, Aug. 21, as 12 students from the university’s inaugural Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) cohort present their final doctoral capstone projects.

Occupational therapy practitioners work in hospitals, clinics, schools, business, industry, and community settings, serving persons of all ages with developmental, physical, psychiatric, or behavioral disabilities. OTs also promote health and help prevent disease and disability through occupation-centered interventions and environmental adaptations.

In Dominican’s OTD program, students work in cohorts, progressing from foundational knowledge to practice and application of concepts and skills and, finally, integration of knowledge, skills and professional identity. Classroom learning is primarily in-person with selected use of distance education for specific courses. Students complete 24 full-time equivalent weeks of fieldwork internship training, as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 12 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.

“Through their doctoral capstone experiences, these students have had the opportunity to bring together their academic preparation, clinical experiences, and personal passions as they continue to develop as innovators, leaders, advocates, scholars and practitioners,” says Dr. Kitsum Li, professor and doctoral capstone coordinator in the department of occupational therapy.

The students’ capstone projects represent a diverse range of topics, populations, practice settings, and emerging opportunities for occupational therapy,” she adds.

Final capstone presentations will take place from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, with presentations taking place simultaneously in Meadowlands 133, Meadowlands 209 and Science 133. The presentations will be available both in person and online, with Zoom access available for each presentation room.

The presentation schedule includes:

Meadowlands 133, Zoom link.
1:35–2:05 p.m. — Megan Maekawa: Promoting Occupational Balance for High School Students Transitioning to College
2:05–2:35 p.m. — Naomi Sosa: Family Occupations and Cumulative Trauma: Exploring the Ripple Effects in Underserved, Neurodivergent Households
2:45–3:15 p.m. — Alyssa Vessel: A Digital Resource to Support Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Students and New Graduates in Applying Occupation-Based Practice in Inpatient Settings
3:15–3:45 p.m. — Jasmine Henley: Strengthening Communication and Collaboration Between the Student Support Triad (Teachers, Parents, and Health Professionals) in Schools
Meadowlands 209, Zoom link.
1:35–2:05 p.m. — Isandla Blanc: "Sensory Friendly Summers: Designing Inclusive Camp Experiences for Children with Sensory Processing Challenges"
2:05–2:35 p.m. — Catherine Roghi: "Facilitating Nutrition Self-Management for Adults with Chronic Conditions: An Occupation-Based Program"
2:45–3:15 p.m. — Catharina Smith: "Promoting Postpartum Maternal Self-Efficacy through Education about Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Sensory Dysregulation"
3:15–3:45 p.m. — Clarissa Junio: "A Resource Guide for Cultural Arts Organizations in the Bay Area Informed by the Lived Experiences of People with IDD"
Science 133, Zoom link.
1:35–2:05 p.m. — Giavanna Stavros: "The Role of Occupational Therapy in Developing Aquatic Programs for Children Diagnosed with Autism"
2:05–2:35 p.m. — Molly Busby: "OTs’ Role in Creating an Inclusive Playground Environment for Parents with Physical Disabilities"
2:45–3:15 p.m. — Skylar Simpson: "Strong Foundations: Supporting School-Aged Youth in Developing and Maintaining Mental Well-Being"
3:15–3:45 p.m. — Aveen Dulai: "Sensory Modulation for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: An Occupational Therapy Approach for Adult Day Programs"

News School of Health and Natural SciencesOccupational Therapy

2026 Fall Leadership Lecture Series at Dominican University of CA

ggrubb — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:49:22 +0000

2026 Fall Leadership Lecture Series at Dominican University of CA ggrubb Fri, 08/14/2026 - 11:49 08/14/26

U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman; psychologist and professor Angela Duckworth; chef and cookery writer Yotam Ottolenghi; and comedian/actor/author Eric Idle will appear at Dominican University of California as part of the fall 2026 Leadership Lecture Series, presented by Dominican’s Institute for Leadership Studies in partnership with Book Passage.

On August 23 Congressman Jared Huffman will discuss his book "No Prophets" in conversation with actor and author Peter Coyote. In "No Prophets," the Congressman argues that Christian nationalism is now America’s most dangerous political movement. He examines the extent of Christian nationalism’s reach in government and discusses the ongoing fight to defend the separation of church and state. Drawing on his experiences as a formerly devout Christian and the only Humanist ever to serve in Congress, Huffman maps the Christian nationalist movement’s largely hidden landscape, showing how America is imperiled by our reluctance to confront threats cloaked in Christianity. 7 p.m., Angelico Concert Hall.

Tickets

On September 9, Angela Duckworth, author of the New York Times bestseller “Grit,” a MacArthur Fellow and the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, will be joined in conversation by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to discuss Dr. Duckworth’s second book, “Situated.” The book examines how personalities change from one situation to another, the secret to conquering temptation without willpower, why taking the less effortful path can feel like cheating but often solves a stubborn problem, and how the company you keep shapes the person you become. 7 p.m., Angelico Concert Hall.

Tickets

On October 13, Yotam Ottolenghi will present his latest cookbook, “Simple Too.” Ottolenghi will share how "Simple Too" was born from real life: recipes that work with you, not against you. Dishes that can begin with half a plan and end with a deeply satisfying meal. Ottolenghi will dive into the ingredients and techniques that quietly shape this new collection: beans simply dressed, black chickpeas, sesame in generous handfuls, sweet-and-spicy balances, pasta cooked directly in its sauce, and whole meals roasted start-to-finish in a single tray. He’ll also introduce the new “Fundamentals” chapter —15 fridge-ready flavor builders like spring onion oil, green salsa, za’atar oil, confit tomatoes and chili crisp. Small additions that make big differences on the busiest weeknights. 7 p.m., Angelico Concert Hall.

Tickets

On October 25, Eric Idle will be joined in conversation by Dave Eggers to discuss “Idle in Provence.” In 1971, at the beginning of Monty Python mania, Eric Idle bought a crumbling ruin in the hills of Provence. With no electricity, no water, no road, and no plan, he set out to transform the neglected stone shack into what he lovingly calls a shackeau. "Idle in Provence" is the story of the transformation of both the place and the man. Against the backdrop of southern France, Idle penned iconic songs and scripts, hosted friends — George Harrison, Robin Williams, Paul Simon, and others — and found a rare kind of peace far from the madness of showbiz. 4 p.m., Angelico Concert Hall.

Tickets

News Institute for Leadership StudiesBarowsky School of Business

A Community Conversation on Choice, Care & Compassion

ggrubb — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 22:13:28 +0000

A Community Conversation on Choice, Care & Compassion ggrubb Thu, 08/13/2026 - 15:13 08/14/26

By the Bay Health and Dominican University of California will present a special community screening of the acclaimed PBS documentary “When My Time Comes,” followed by a panel discussion exploring Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), serious illness, end-of-life care and the importance of compassionate, patient-centered decision-making.

The screening and discussion, free and open to the public, will be held in Dominican’s Guzman Lecture Hall on September 23 from 6–8 p.m. Free parking is available in the Conlan Center parking lot at the intersection of Grand and Acacia avenues.

“When My Time Comes” film follows NPR journalist Diane Rehm's personal journey after the death of her husband, John, while bringing together the voices of patients, families, clinicians, clergy, and policymakers to examine one of healthcare's most complex and important conversations.

Following the screening, attendees will engage with a distinguished panel of healthcare and community leaders, moderated by Skelly Wingard, CEO of By the Bay Health.

Featured Panelists

Deborah Meshel, MSN, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Dominican University of California
Dr. Carolyn Rennels, Assistant Clinical Professor, Palliative Medicine and Physician Lead, Medical Aid in Dying, UCSF Health
Diane Button, Death Doula and Author of “What Matters Most”
Victoria Wilkinson, BSN, Director of Patient Care Services, By the Bay Health

Please register here

News University NewsSchool of Health and Natural SciencesNursing

Dominican Researchers to Use Nontoxic Steam Treatment to Battle Pests at Marin Park

ggrubb — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:14:55 +0000

Dominican Researchers to Use Nontoxic Steam Treatment to Battle Pests at Marin Park ggrubb Thu, 07/30/2026 - 09:14 07/30/26

When the Marin County town of Fairfax had to suddenly close a local children’s playground due to a flea infestation, city officials turned to Dominican University of California’s National Ornamentals Research Site (NORS-DUC) for a solution.

The NORS team will use a nontoxic steam treatment to help battle the infestation, applying a protocol they developed more than a decade ago to combat the spread of sudden oak death from plant nurseries into the wild.

A collaboration between Dominican, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the NORS-DUC research site studies emerging and invasive quarantine pathogens of ornamental and native plants in an open, nursery-like environment. The facility provides nursery growers with solutions, along with collaborating researchers with lab and field support, to aid in horticulture and plant disease management.

The key focus is on diseases caused by members of the genus Phytophthora, such as P. ramorum, the causal agent of sudden oak death and more recently P. tentaculata, a newly discovered plant pathogen in North America impacting native plant nurseries in California.

Laboratory studies conducted by the team found that heating soil to 122°F (50°C) for 30 minutes effectively kills the microorganism.

According to Dr. Wolfgang Schweigkofler, Research Professor and Director of NORS-DUC, the same heat-based approach can also control a variety of pests, including fleas.

"We have successfully treated areas infested by other pathogens and pests," Schweigkofler said. "Based on published research, both adult fleas and flea eggs can be killed at relatively moderate temperatures. Soil temperatures above 95°F are sufficient to kill flea larvae."

For the past several years, NORS-DUC has provided steam treatment services to nurseries and other clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding counties. The team brings its own equipment — including a SIOUX SF-20 steam generator and soil temperature sensors — and plans, conducts, and monitors each treatment.

"Steaming is a highly efficient and relatively fast way to combat both pests and plant diseases," Schweigkofler said. "It uses no chemicals, produces no toxic residues, and treated areas can be used again as soon as the process is complete."

Using its equipment, the team can treat soil plots measuring approximately 30 by 40 feet with a top-down steam application. NORS-DUC has also developed additional steam treatment methods for potting mixes, tools, and other agricultural materials.

The technology has been used in several other large-scale projects. In one case, the NORS-DUC team spent three days steam-treating more than 175,000 used strawberry containers at a Northern California farm. The treatment allowed the grower to safely reuse the plastic pots by eliminating traces of Phytophthora, reducing both costs and plastic waste.

Researchers have also tested heat treatment on wood infested with the Mediterranean Oak Borer, an invasive beetle that attacks mature oak trees in Northern California, particularly in Napa County and the Sacramento Valley.

In Fairfax, the steam treatment will rely on diesel-powered equipment to heat several hundred gallons of water, producing steam that will be released through hoses placed across the treatment area. The soil will be covered with tarps to retain heat, while temperature sensors monitor conditions below the surface.

Depending on the type of ground surface, each treatment area may take several hours to reach the target temperature. Once the coldest point reaches the required temperature, steam will continue for an additional 30 minutes before the site is allowed to cool. Afterward, the tarps, hoses, and sensors will be removed, leaving the soil moderately moist but free of chemical residues.

Because of the size of the playground, the Dominican team will complete two to three separate steam treatments over the course of two days.

_{Pictured: NORS-DUC’s Vernon Huffman and the SIOUX SF-20 steam generator}

News University News

Dominican Named Among Best Colleges in U.S. by Money

ggrubb — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:52:52 +0000

Dominican Named Among Best Colleges in U.S. by Money ggrubb Mon, 07/20/2026 - 15:52 07/21/26

Dominican University of California has been recognized as one of Money’s Best Colleges in America 2026. Money's analysis showcases the country's top 735 colleges based on a number of factors, including graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, and alumni salaries.

Money uses “star ratings” to identify standout schools, with 5 stars being the highest. Dominican scored exceptionally high on most of Money’s metrics to receive 4.5 stars. Most colleges on the list landed in the 3.5 to 4-star category.

The ratings combine the most accurate pricing estimates available with indicators of alumni financial success, along with an analysis of how much value a college adds when compared to other schools that take in similar students.

Money starts by analyzing more than 2,400 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges in the country. To make Money’s initial cut, a college had to have at least 500 undergraduate students or 150 freshmen; have sufficient, reliable data to be analyzed; not be in financial distress; and have a graduation rate that was at or above the median for its institutional category.

The 735 schools that met the requirements in this initial cut were then ranked on 25 factors in three categories:

Quality of education (30% of weighting). This included graduation rates, Pell Grant recipient outcomes, and student-to-faculty ratio, and peer quality, including test scores and the average GPA of incoming first-year students. Affordability (40% of weighting). This was calculated by examining the net price of a degree (the “sticker” price minus institutional aid) and the net price paid by students in different income brackets. Outcomes (30% of weighting). This included earnings 10 years after college entry; employment outcomes; value-added earnings; and economic mobility index.

In addition to Money’s ranking, Dominican again ranked this year as among the top regional universities in the west by U.S. News & World Report. The ranking reflects Dominican’s strengths in academic quality and graduate outcomes.

The latest data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that Dominican graduates who received federal student aid (Pell Grants) earn a median salary of $95,437 just four years after graduation.

Dominican has earned the prestigious 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a national designation which recognizes the university’s deep commitment to community engagement. Nationwide, just 277 institutions hold the designation. Dominican is being recognized for the important and ongoing collaborative work of faculty, students, and community partner organizations to address barriers that limit access and opportunities for disenfranchised people and communities.

In June 2022, Dominican was listed at 174 out of 3,410 institutions nationwide – or the top 5.1% nationally – for providing the highest return on investment (ROI) to low-income students, according to a study by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. In California, Dominican held the ninth spot out of 43 private, nonprofit undergraduate institutions.

News University News

Oleander Identified as New Host for Sudden Oak Death Pathogen

ggrubb — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:44:02 +0000

Oleander Identified as New Host for Sudden Oak Death Pathogen ggrubb Tue, 03/03/2026 - 09:44 05/13/26

New research by Dominican University of California scientists has found that oleander, one of the most widely planted ornamental shrubs in the United States, can host the pathogen responsible for sudden oak death, one of California’s most destructive forest diseases.

Sudden oak death is a serious disease of native plants caused by the invasive pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. Since it was first detected in the 1990s, the disease spread along the California coast and killed many millions of trees, especially Coast Live Oaks and Tanoaks, changed whole ecosystems and increased the risk of wildfires.

Researchers at the Dominican University of California’s National Ornamentals Research Site (NORS-DUC) have confirmed that the Phytophthora ramorum pathogen infects oleander. The study marks the first report of the pathogen occurring on oleander in the United States.

“First Report of Phytophthora ramorum Causing Leaf Blight on Nerium oleander in the United States” has been published as a short report in the peer-reviewed journal Plant Disease.

“Oleander is a very popular ornamental plant cultivated worldwide, and therefore our finding can have an effect for nurseries growing and selling oleanders, and on the official regulations by federal and state agencies,” said Dr. Wolfgang Schweigkofler, Research Professor and Lead Scientist at NORS-DUC.

Oleander is commonly planted along highways, in residential landscapes, and in commercial developments because it is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and produces abundant flowers in different colors. California alone is estimated to have approximately 25 million oleanders lining roadways. Because infected plants may not show severe or lethal symptoms, they can act as silent carriers, spreading the pathogen to nearby wildlands through wind-driven rain and water runoff.

The disease, called ramorum blight when found in nurseries and sudden oak death in the wild, has more than 100 susceptible host plants, including such common garden ornamentals as camellias and rhododendrons. Once introduced into natural areas, the pathogen can infect native species, including tanoaks and coast live oaks, accelerating forest decline.

In May 2024, NORS-DUC researchers observed small brown necrotic leaf spots on residential oleanders in Mill Valley, California — an area where many California bay laurels also are infested with Phytophthora ramorum.

To confirm oleander as a host, researchers fulfilled Koch’s postulates — a standard scientific method used to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between a pathogen and a disease. Healthy oleander plants were inoculated with the pathogen and subsequently developed the same symptoms, confirming susceptibility.

The study’s authors, all research scientists with NORS-DUC in the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Dominican University of California, are graduate student Dinh Hieu Pham, Huiying Liu, Tomas Pastalka, and Schweigkofler.

“The findings underscore the importance of monitoring ornamental plants as potential reservoirs for invasive pathogens and may inform future nursery regulations and landscape management practices aimed at protecting California’s forests,” said Schweigkofler.

A collaboration between Dominican University of California, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the NORS-DUC research site studies emerging and invasive quarantine pathogens of ornamental and native plants in an open, nursery-like environment.

NORS-DUC focuses on diseases of ornamental and forest plants, especially those caused by members of the genus Phytophthora, such as P. ramorum and more recently P. tentaculata, a newly discovered plant pathogen in North America impacting native plant nurseries in California.

The research facility’s main focus is applied research, such as validation and development of best management practices (BMPs); development of remediation options for soil, water and infested plants; and development of monitoring and control strategies.

News University NewsFaculty ResearchNatural Sciences and Mathematics

MFA Graduate Merges Healthcare and Creative Writing

ggrubb — Wed, 13 May 2026 22:31:01 +0000

MFA Graduate Merges Healthcare and Creative Writing ggrubb Wed, 05/13/2026 - 15:31 05/13/26

Angelica Recierdo MFA ’26 exemplifies the power of writing to bear witness to the human experience. Through her poetry chapbook “One Last Ripe Life,” narrative medicine expertise, and health journalism, Angelica combines her healthcare background and poetic artistry to give voice to the beauty and complexities of living in an uncertain world.

Angelica’s vocations for creative writing and healthcare first merged when she was an undergraduate nursing student and her essay, “Coming Out of the Medical Closet,” was published in “The Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine.” Creative writing, especially poetry, had long been an important outlet for Angelica. In that moment, the connection between writing, the humanities, and healthcare “clicked” for her in a new way.

“My essay being published was my first introduction to the field of narrative medicine and the idea that writing and stories could improve healthcare. This was never discussed in nursing school. It immediately made sense,” Angelica commented.

A Global Health Corp fellowship after nursing school further fueled Angelica’s interest in marrying the arts with her nursing career. While practicing as a nurse Angelica began the MS in Narrative Medicine program at Columbia University. During this time Angelica also joined “The Intima” as an editor, where she continues to work as part of a tight-knit team to produce new journal issues, serve as a poetry editor, write book reviews, and promote the journal. Angelica shared, “For me, being an editor is a way to give back to the literary community and amplify important voices that aren’t usually heard.”

Collaborating with other clinicians, writers, and artists while completing her graduate degree in Narrative Medicine and at “The Intima” solidified Angelica’s calling to make healthcare writing her full-time career. In 2019 she became a Senior Editor at a news and networking site for clinicians where she curated, strategized, and wrote medical content. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the next year and lockdown began, the urge to reflect and go inward moved Angelica to deepen her poetry writing practice.

During this time she wrote many of the poems included in her chapbook, “One Last Ripe Life”(Bottlecap Press, 2024). Described on the back cover as “love poems to children of immigrants, women, artists, and bon vivants” “One Last Ripe Life” brings readers on a vivid, transnational journey through the poignant and intimate moments of life. An avid fan of the chapbook form, Angelica commented that publishing “One Last Ripe Life” was an important milestone to encapsulate a chunk of her life and allow new writing to emerge. Having a chapbook also provides a beautiful way to share her poems within the literary community and with those unfamiliar with her poetry.

Writing these poems propelled Angelica to transition away from the corporate world to focus on her poetry and pursue her MFA. The optional narrative medicine track in Dominican’s MFA program spoke to Angelica’s passion for writing through an embodied lens. The low-residency format also allowed her to pursue her journalism passion as a Fellow in Journalism and Health Impact at the University of Toronto. During her seven-month fellowship Angelica wrote health-related stories that ranged from traditional journalism and reportage to a memoir-style piece about being pregnant and expecting a child for the first time.

In a full-circle moment, Angelica’s essay “Coming Out of the Medical Closet” that started her on the path to health writing over a decade ago is included in the recently published anthology, “ Where it Hurts: Dispatches from the Emotional Frontlines of Medicine” (Ed. Donna Bulseco, The Experiment, 2026). About first writing this essay Angelica shares, “It was pivotal in shaping the future, to finding my voice as a writer, and bringing me to Dominican.”

_{Story by Ma’ayan Simon (2026 MFA).}

Student Story Student StorySchool of Liberal Arts and EducationMFA

Dominican Celebrates Spring 2026 Commencement

ggrubb — Fri, 01 May 2026 16:17:32 +0000

Dominican Celebrates Spring 2026 Commencement ggrubb Fri, 05/01/2026 - 09:17 05/04/26

Mary Jane Burke ’74, who served as Marin County Superintendent of Schools for 28 years, delivered Dominican University of California’s Spring 2026 Commencement address on May 16.

The Commencement ceremony began at 10 a.m. on Forest Meadows Field. More information.

Burke grew up in Stockton as the oldest of eight children. She graduated from Dominican College in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and four teaching credentials. Over a career spanning almost 50 years and counting, she has held a variety of positions in Marin County public schools, including special education instructional assistant, teacher, principal, special education director, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent.

Burke served as Marin County Superintendent of Schools from 1994 to 2022. As superintendent, she led impactful projects to broaden technical education pathways in our local high schools. She also advanced improvements in special education, early childhood education and career education programs across Marin while facilitating collaboration between parents, schools, districts and the community.

Burke currently sits on several boards, including the Dominican Sisters Charitable Trust, WestEd, EdSource, The Civics Center, Brewster West Foundation, and the IBIS Group. She is a consultant and advisory board member to the UCSF Dyslexia Center’s Multitudes Project and is a consultant to the John H. and Regina K. Scully Foundation. Her esteemed service on Dominican University of California’s Board of Trustees will come to an end next month.

Burke was awarded Dominican’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995 and the Sister Patricia Lyons Award in 2021.

Dominican holds two commencement ceremonies each year. A total of 284 undergraduate and 360 graduate students received diplomas during the 2025-2026 academic year. This includes 206 undergraduate and 92 graduate students at the May 16 ceremony and 78 undergraduate and 268 graduate students at the December 15, 2025 ceremony.

News University NewsAlumni News

Pulitzer Prize-Winning author Jason Roberts to speak at MFA Residency

ggrubb — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:39:16 +0000

Pulitzer Prize-Winning author Jason Roberts to speak at MFA Residency ggrubb Wed, 04/29/2026 - 15:39 04/30/26

Dominican University of California’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program will host a conversation between Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jason Roberts and MFA writing mentor Lee Kravetz at 6:30 p.m. June 6.

The conversation is free and open to the public. To reserve a seat, please email mfa@dominican.edu. For more information about the MFA program, please visit dominican.edu/mfa.

In his book, "Every Living Thing," Roberts writes about how conflicting approaches to knowledge in the 18th century have created and shaped the field of biology. Roberts wrote parts of his prize-winning book in the Dominican library.

“The Archbishop Alemany Library at Dominican has been a creative oasis of mine for over a decade now,” Roberts says. “I don’t remember the research task that brought me there in the first place, but I know I’ve kept coming back on the slightest of pretexts.”

“Unlike far too many other libraries, the Alemany is designed for reading. The atrium pours light onto the page. The dual levels let the ceiling soar without feeling cavernous. If you’re far from a window, it’s by choice. You’re comfortable, but not insulated from the outside world. It’s easy to register the weather outside, and the changing seasons … nestle with a book or three, or focus on filling your own pages. I probably owe at least a chapter’s worth of 'Every Living Thing' to the Alemany, and I’m grateful for that.”

The Summer MFA residency runs from June 4 to June 13. This year, the residency will focus on story/line, particularly how to craft a story. Visiting writer Shobha Rao will give a talk on method writing. Related to a similar technique in acting, this process involves stepping into a character through the senses. This sensory exploration can imbue our stories with authenticity, humanity and depth. Dr. Judy Halebsky, MFA program director, will lead a series of workshops in live storytelling.

MFA faculty and alumni will also lead a panel discussion on community engagement. Maw Shein Win, MFA writing mentor and recipient of the 2026 AWP George Garrett Award for Outstanding Community Service in Literature, will discuss her work in teaching, organizing literary events, editing, and publishing as ways to create and expand a literary community. MFA alum Melanie Dines (MFA ’24), a registered nurse, will join the panel. Melanie focused on narrative medicine while in the MFA program and will discuss her role leading a breast cancer writing group.

The MFA program is also offering a noncredit, three-day creative writing course open to the public June 5-7. This course welcomes writers to Dominican to have an immersive experience that dovetails with the MFA student residency. Called "Green Room," the course is geared toward serious writers along with MFA alumni. It includes morning workshops with MFA faculty members, group lunches on campus and afternoon sessions that include special guest speakers, a poolside pizza party and a dedicated reading open to friends and family. For more information visit the Green Room creative writing course page here.

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