CLA Distinguished Alumni 2013

September 22, 2014

 

DA CLA Tim Plax, portrait 2013

Timothy Plax

Timothy G. Plax (Speech Communications ’70, Rhetorial Studies ‘71) is a Distinguished Professor of Communication Studies and Administrative Director of the Hauth Center for Communication Skills at California State University, Long Beach. He has served on the faculty at the University of New Mexico and West Virginia University. His research and teaching focus on social influence and interpersonal and organizational communication, but is he is best known for his research in communication in instruction. His professional experiences include six years as a member of the Executive Staff at The Rockwell International Corporation and 30 years as a consultant in corporate, governmental, and instructional arenas. He has published over 150 manuscript including several textbooks, chapters, research articles, and commissioned research reports. He is listed among the 20 most published scholars in his discipline. He is a recipient of a number awards including the CSULB Distinguished Faculty Research and Creative Activity Award, the CSULB Associated Students Presidential Award, and both the “Triad of Excellence” Engineering Award and the Distinguished Research Award from the Space Shuttle Orbiter Division of The Rockwell International Corporation.

 

 

 

Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook

Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook

Dr. Dianne Van Hook (Sociology ’72) is both the youngest and the longest serving district CEO in the California Community College system. Prior to her present position as the Chancellor at the Santa Clarita Community College District, she served at several community colleges, rising to instruction/student service dean at Feather River College then College District dean at the Lake Tahoe Community College District. During her tenure at Santa Ana College, she launched the New Horizons program for re-entry students, which was implemented at 60 California colleges. She also taught graduate psychology at the University of LaVerne. She began her career as a teacher in the ABC Unified School District. Her civic advocacy includes founding the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) Child Care Task Force, SCV Arts Council and the Network of California Community College Foundations. She has served as president of California’s three major organizations for community colleges. Van Hook has received every statewide award bestowed specifically on community college CEOs, including the Community College League of California’s Five Star Leadership Award, and was named the 2009 L.A. County Woman of the Year. In 2013, she will participate in the CSU Working for California project. Her past CSULB volunteer work includes sitting on the Alumni Association board of directors and emceeing Concerts in the Grove. Her husband, Roger, is an alumnus (B.A., 1966; M.A., 1968; speech communication). Van Hook’s hobbies include yoga and photography.