CSUB honors 2023 Faculty Hall of Fame recipients

Four former faculty members recognized during induction ceremony

By California State University, Bakersfield

March 17^th, 2023

Family, peers and friends of four iconic California State University, Bakersfield professors gathered in the Dezember Reading Room at the university's Walter Stiern Library Thursday afternoon to honor those academic leader’s legacies and commitment to students.

Dr. Beth Rienzi, James “Jim” Segesta, Dr. Mark Evans and Dr. Jan Gillespie were inducted into the CSUB Faculty Hall of Fame during the luncheon ceremony that recognized their history of scholarship, research, and service to the university.

CSUB Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Vernon Harper said the powerful work these educators did was tied to the very core of what CSUB does for its students.

“All the value that is created in the university is created in the interface between faculty and students,” he said.

But CSUB students weren’t the only people who the four inductees taught during their time act the university. Speakers spoke repeatedly about how the inductees served as mentors, friends and cheerleaders for themselves and other staff and faculty at the university. Dr. Evans said, in turn, that it was his mentors who helped him become a leader and supporter of others.

Dr. Gillespie and Dr. Evans accepted their awards in person. Family members of Rienzi and Segesta accepted the posthumous honors on their behalf.

Here is more information on each of this year’s inductees.

CSUB honors 2023 Faculty Hall of Fame recipients

Dr. Beth Rienzi, Professor of Psychology

Dr. Rienzi served the university for a total of 26 years. She published and contributed to more than 20 articles, lectures and presentations during her career. Dr. Rienzi received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from CSUB and returned to the university as a lecturer after receiving her Ph.D.

She eventually went on to become an administrator, first as the director of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Center, in which she helped early faculty adjust to their positions and prepare for tenure. She then transitioned to being an assistant dean for the School of Arts and Humanities. In 2004, she took on the role of associate vice president of Faculty Affairs. Dr. Rienzi also served on CSUB’s Behavioral Assessment Intervention and Response Team. Dr. Rienzi died in 2014 at the age of 70.

“Her work and service left a lasting mark on the students, alumni and faculty here at CSUB,” said Librarian Amanda Grombly, who nominated Dr. Rienzi for the Hall of Fame. “She worked tirelessly to improve the situations of women and girls in the community and of female faculty at CSUB. She was a stellar faculty member and administrator at CSUB, and her hard work deserves to be recognized.”

James “Jim” Segesta, Librarian

Jim Segesta was CSUB’s first librarian. Although the campus didn’t open until 1970 — at which time it was a state college — Segesta was at CSUB in 1969 and was a central figure in the planning and development of the school’s library. Segesta earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan and master’s degrees in English and library science from the University of Southern California. Before coming to CSUB, Segesta held academic library positions at other institutions and was therefore well-prepared to helping establish the CSUB’s library.

Segesta was involved with many of the changes the library made as the university grew, such as the shift from a physical card catalog to an online system. He also established CSUB’s first archive, which collected many of the school’s founding documents. When the library outgrew its first location near Red Brick Road, Segesta played a vital role in designing what we now know as the Walter W. Stiern Library.

In addition to his work as a librarian, Segesta was a poet and a scholar whose research has appeared in journals such as Reference Services Review, College and Research Libraries and the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. He also co-authored a booklet with artist David Koeth called “A Walker’s Guide to CSUB” that was published in 1994 and was used for many campus tours. Segesta died in 2001 at the age of 66.

“He deserves to be inducted in the Faculty Hall of Fame for his devotion to student learning, his groundbreaking scholarship and his visionary service to the library and the campus,” said Library Dean Emeritus Curt Asher. “His instruction and service helped direct the academic and professional lives of countless students. Jim was also a mentor to new librarians and he aided numerous faculty with their research. Jim was passionate in his efforts to seek improvement for the library and its users. He worked in a profession he loved and did much to improve the educational opportunities at CSUB.”

Dr. Mark Evans, Professor of Economics

During his time in the Economics Department at CSUB, Dr. Evans helped foster an environment in which economics majors were able to thrive on campus and go on to achieve successful careers. He made sure that students were developing skills that could be transferred to the workplace and that the economics curriculum was adapting to market changes and needs. He helped transform CSUB’s previous petroleum land studies degree program into the current environmental resource management program and was involved in the creation of the online master’s degree in administration. Dr. Evans also helped the School of Business and Public Administration maintain accreditation through his involvement in three five-year accreditation reviews by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

In addition to his work on campus, Dr. Evans also used his expertise to help support and educate the broader community. He frequently provided free financial consultation to nonprofit organizations and often wrote for the Bakersfield Californian on topics relating to the regional economy. He also led the effort to create a Small Business Development Center on campus to assist small businesses in the community.

“What makes Mark stand out from many others is his generous personality, his dedication to the mission of the university, his extensive community engagement, and his focus on student success,” said Dr. Aaron Hegde, economics professor and chair of the Academic Senate, who nominated Dr. Evans for the Hall of Fame. “His biggest contribution to the university and beyond was his 40 years of exceptional service, which was never self-serving. The needs of the institution, students and the community were always paramount in everything he did.”

Dr. Jan Gillespie, Professor of Geology

Dr. Jan Gillespie served as a mentor and role model for women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics during her 28-year career at CSUB. She helped create the university’s first dual-credit program in geology, which was very successful and led other departments to adopt their own dual-credit programs.

Dr. Gillespie established herself as an expert in water quality in the Central Valley through her work as a researcher. In addition to her role at CSUB, she began working with the United States Geological Survey in 2015 as a senior research scientist. She helped create a 3-D map of subsurface aquifers in the Central Valley and throughout the state. Dr. Gillespie also analyzed geological data to determine the impact of oil and gas development on the state’s groundwater resources. Through her dual roles, she was able to arrange for CSUB students to visit the USGS for field trips.

Dr. Gillespie has earned several awards, including the Distinguished Educator Award from the Pacific Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Millie Amblin Outstanding Professor Award.

As an emeritus professor, Dr. Gillespie continues to stay connected to the Geology Department, including arranging for student field experiences, serving as an adviser for the department and helping to coordinate student and graduate opportunities at the USGS.

“Jan Gillespie is a pioneer educator and scholar whose 28-year career at CSUB left lasting, positive impacts on student education and the University’s research reputation,” said Dr. Gillespie’s nominator, professor and chair of the Geology Department Anthony Rathburn.

Dr. Former Psychology Professor Dr. Beth Rienzi, fourth from left, poses for a photo with her family at the Faculty Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday.

Former Economics Professor Dr. Mark Evans, third from left, was inducted into the Faculty Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Former Librarian James “Jim” Segesta was posthumously inducted into CSUB's Faculty Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Former geology professor Dr. Jan Gillespie, third from left, was inducted into CSUB's Faculty Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Dr. Mark Evans speaks during the Faculty Fall of Fame induction ceremony on March 16 at the Walter W. Stiern Library.

Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Vernon Harper speaks during the Faculty Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 16 at the Walter W. Stiern Library.

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Footnotes

Story by Joseph Luiz, writer/marketing and communications specialist and James Burger, Director of Marketing and Communications; photos by EJ Medellin, student multimedia assistant.

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FootNotes

Story by Joseph Luiz, writer/marketing and communications specialist and James Burger, Director of Marketing and Communications; photos by EJ Medellin, student multimedia assistant.