California State University, Northridge marine seismologist and geological science professor Dayanthie Weeraratne’s passion for her subject matter radiates like an earthquake’s P wave traveling deep into the Earth. But it wasn’t always like that. Originally a psychology student, she lost interest and settled into a job as a machinist.

Brian Burkhart, who joined the faculty of the American Indian Studies program in 2010, is delighted that his appointment has him interacting within a variety of disciplines that make full use of his academic training. Burkhart received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and Native American literature at the University of Northern Colorado, after which he earned his doctorate in philosophy, with a minor in religious studies at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Women have always been a strong influence in Jason Flowers’ life. He was raised by a single mother, and a slew of other women also contributed to the man he is today. That’s what Flowers, head coach of the California State University, Northridge’s women’s basketball team, in part credits, for his success in coaching women’s basketball.

Computer science professor Richard Lorentz takes his games seriously. But you won’t find him glued to a PlayStation or engrossed in the latest version of The Sims. In Lorentz’s world, games are an outstanding vehicle for testing computer algorithms, and as the college’s 2011-12 research fellow, he’ll be spending the spring semester studying the merits of different algorithms in computerized versions of three lesser-known board games: Amazons, Havannah and EinStein würfelt nicht. Lorentz and the university’s other six research fellows will be presenting their research at an event in the fall.

George Johnson ’84 (RTVF) remembers what it was like to be a student at California State University, Northridge. Earning his degree with an emphasis in television production required long hours.

When Heidi Wolfbauer ’85 (Business Management), administrative specialist for the Faculty Senate, first came to California State University, Northridge as a student in 1980, she saw the campus as a stepping stone to what she thought was a future career as a teacher. One change-of-major and 32 years later, she’s happily still here.

Geography is more than locating a destination on a map or memorizing the names of capitals and countries. It’s an all-encompassing discipline that seeks to understand the surface of the earth, its landscapes and its human and physical features.

Jackie Stallcup, chair of the Department of English, still can’t believe she gets paid to do something she loves as much as teaching at California State University, Northridge. She said it’s particularly hard to believe because her career trajectory has been anything but direct to teaching.

Jim Logsdon, landscape, grounds and events manager for Physical Plant Management at California State University, Northridge, likes to give people a hard time. Staff members planning special events and programs are frequent targets.

Early struggles in life can foster a sense of humility, gratitude and growth. From these lessons come the compassion, ability and passion to pay it forward in the hopes of helping someone else. This philosophy governs much of what California State University, Northridge faculty member Glenn Omatsu does.