Breaking New Ground at CSUN Graduation

This week, more than 6,300 Cal State Northridge students will receive degrees in subjects ranging from anthropology to urban studies. For 26 of those students, however, the commencement ceremony means much more--they are the first graduates of two new academic programs.

At 8 o’clock this morning, the first 21 graduates of CSUN’s nursing program--all women--will receive bachelor’s degrees from the Health Science department. Scheduled speakers include Mitzi Parker, who created the two-year program for working registered nurses in 1993, and Dr. Ellen McFadden, the program’s director.

“I feel like we’re blazing the trail,” said Darlene Llorens of Mission Hills, who was the first to declare a nursing major at CSUN. For the past 3 1/2 years, Llorens has worked as a registered nurse for Penny Lane, a group home for emotionally disturbed children headquartered in North Hills.

Following the commencement ceremony for the School of Communication, Health and Human Services in front of CSUN’s Oviatt(CQ) Library, the graduates will be honored at a special event at 10:30 a.m. in the University Student Union.

In another first, on Friday five women will become the first CSUN students to receive master’s degrees in genetic counseling.

The interdisciplinary program began in the fall of 1994 to train students to provide information about genetic disorders.

In California, CSUN is one of only three universities offering such a program, joining UC Berkeley and UC Irvine.

The degrees will be awarded during the School of Science and Mathematics’ commencement ceremony at 11:30 a.m. at the University Club.