Student Success

Students with general queries regarding the Geological Sciences advising & resources can visit the Department of Geological Sciences at Live Oak 1202 or call (818) 677-3541.

Learn More About Student Resources

Department Chair

Richard Heermance


Live Oak 1202

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330-8346

Phone: (818) 677-2052

Send email

GEMS Program

Tenure Dayanthie Weeraratne


Weeraratne, Dayanthie

Professor 
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics 

Email: dsw@csun.edu 
Phone: 818-677-2046 
Office Location: LO 1209
Webpage

Improving the Geological Experience for Marginalized Students

  • Mission: This program provides community building, academic and research support to encourage and improve the geological experience of disadvantaged and underrepresented marginalized (URM) students, such as Hispanic American, Latinx, Black, and Native American students at CSUN in the Department of Geological Sciences.
  • Peer Mentorship
  • Guidance in navigating and balancing academics with jobs and family
  • Assistance seeking and applying for academic scholarships and research support
  • Incentives for success and tutoring in Math and Chemistry
  • Incentives for better GPA performance
  • Assistance with Resume building (PDF)
  • Assistance with transition after B.S. degree to employment or graduate school
  • URM students make up more than 52% of undergraduate geoscience majors.
  • Develop skills in balancing time management
  • We seek to support and improve diversity at all levels in academia and society to provide equal representation and also to improve the diversity of scientific ideas, perspectives, and more innovative discoveries (e.g. Hofstra et al., 2020). See current diversity statistics at CSUN below. It's a starting point!

 

  • GEMS Program Student Success 2010 to 2020
    • B.S. Graduates (30 + 12 in progress)
    • Advanced to graduate schools M.S. or Ph.D. programs after CSUN GEMS (15)
    • Hired in industry jobs after CSUN GEMS (15)
  • Dr. Dayanthie Weeraratne (GEMS Director) is a person of color, raised by a single mother, first-generation resident, and 2nd generation to college, who has risen out of poverty through her education and research which she loves passionately.
    • Dr. Weeraratne's website: http://www.csun.edu/~dsw/.

Join us!
VIDEO: Listen to former GEM Students!


Donate to Support GEM Students

Contact: Dr. Dayanthie Weeraratne, dsw@csun.edu

Dept of Geological Science, CSUN

Student Success

Students with general queries regarding the Geological Sciences advising & resources can visit the Department of Geological Sciences at Live Oak 1202 or call (818) 677-3541.

Learn More About Student Resources

Department Chair

Richard Heermance


Live Oak 1202

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330-8346

Phone: (818) 677-2052

Send email

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