Outstanding Project Directors for 2006–2007

John Nishio Directs Professional Science Master’s and Pursues Own Research

From left: Tag Engstrom, Ray Boykin, Jean Schuldberg

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs honored Ray Boykin, Tag Engstrom, and Jean Schuldberg for the scope and depth of their funded projects. Each of them has led projects that contributed to a high level of research, which has benefited and involved students and enhanced their own teaching.

Ray Boykin, Business
Ray Boykin is an experienced project director. Since joining the CSU, Chico faculty in 1986, Boykin has received more than 40 research/development grants totaling more than $4 million. One of the most far-reaching and exciting projects began in June 1996, when SAP America, Inc., the world leader in enterprise business software systems, selected the College of Business at CSU, Chico as its first partner in the SAP University Alliance Program. By the end of 2006, SAP had entered into partnerships with more than 150 universities in the Americas and more than 700 worldwide. Currently, Boykin’s project director responsibilities focus on hosting and supporting the academic use of enterprise systems software, and working with students and faculty involved in the project. The SAP software projects are currently generating annual funding in the range of $700,000 to $800,000. In addition, the project has established a state-of-the-art data center and computer lab in the College of Business that employs more than 20 students a semester.

Tag Engstrom, Biological Sciences
Tag Engstrom is a new project director. In a short time, by working with the development specialists in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Engstrom has acquired funding to conduct research projects that include some of his favorite subjects: salamanders and snakes, and CSU, Chico science students. His current projects are “Herpetofauna of Sutter Buttes State Park, Sutter County, CA,” funded by the California State Parks Foundation, and “Genetics of Giant Garter Snakes,” funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Engstrom says that everyday he strives to preserve and enrich the lives of salamanders, snakes, and students alike. Engstrom frequently takes students to field trips at Eagle Lake and other destinations, where they’re able to observe the species they read about in class. Engstrom freely contributes to his students’ learning, goes the extra mile to be accessible and supportive, and then continues his work by enriching his discipline through publications in important scholarly journals.

Jean Schuldberg, Social Work
Jean Schulberg is the director of the Hartford Geriatric Enrichment in Social Work Education (GeroRich) grant. The CSU, Chico School of Social Work was one of 67 social work programs awarded this prestigious grant. The grant allowed aging content to be developed and included in all bachelor and master in social work foundation courses. The funding also allowed Schuldberg and her students to produce a recruitment video for gerontology social work. The video, Voices in the Field: Social Work with Older Adults, is distributed to high schools, community colleges, and universities. The development of the recruitment video provided opportunities to collaborate with community agencies, students, faculty, and consumers. Two additional regional grants funded free training for current social workers and supported paid internships for students as they rotate through a variety of learning settings. Through her project work, Schuldberg has supported her students and the community, making the North State an even better place. Schuldberg is the author of The Challenge of Cross-Cultural Competency in Social Work: Experiences of Southeast Asian Refugees in the United States.