Baseball Honors Faculty on Most Valuable Professor Day

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - CSUN Athletics and the Matador baseball team completed a series of events honoring the University Faculty, paying tribute to 15 professors during its final Most Valuable Professor (MVP) Day of the academic year on Saturday, May 11 at Matador Field.

Tue, May 14, 2024

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - CSUN Athletics and the Matador baseball team completed a series of events honoring the University Faculty, paying tribute to 15 professors during its final Most Valuable Professor (MVP) Day of the academic year on Saturday, May 11 at Matador Field.

During the 2023-24 academic year, CSUN Athletics paid tribute to the University Faculty at eight Matador athletic events. The series began in the fall when CSUN men's and women's soccer, and women's volleyball/cross country hosted their respective MVP Nights. The series moved into the winter, where the men's and women's basketball teams paid tribute to their professors before men's volleyball and softball preceded baseball this spring.

"The initiative of MVP Day is a testament to the profound relationships and mutual respect fostered between student-athletes and faculty members," said Shawn Chin-Farrell, CSUN's Director of Athletics.

Before the Matadors took on UC San Diego in Big West baseball action, each participating student-athlete honored one professor who has significantly impacted their academic journey, underscoring the deep connections beyond the classroom. Each of the 15 CSUN professors was honored on the field before professor Iliana De Larkin threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Wade Chumney, a professor from the Nazarian College of Business and Economics, was invited by student-athlete Mason Le.
Colleen Coffey, a professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, was invited by student-athlete Destin Allen-Fox.
Anthony Dawahare, a professor in the Department of Humanities, was invited by student-athlete Neil Feist.
Iliana De Larkin, a professor from the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication, was invited by student-athletes Blake Ignaciak and Andrew Gauna.
Jeff Foster, a professor from the Nazarian College of Business and Economics, was invited by student-athlete Shunsuke Sakaino.
Eric Gamino, a professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, was invited by student-athlete Nathan Barraza.
Wendy Hassenplug, a professor in the Department of Health and Human Development, was invited by student-athletes Gabriel Hernandez and Andrew Parker.
Tom Hogen-Esch, a professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, was invited by student-athlete Conner Stewart.
Debbi Berry Malmberg, a professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, was invited by student-athlete Kamau Neighbors.
Peter Marston, a professor from the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication, was invited by student-athlete Ben Griffin.
Corie Mesa, a professor in the Department of Humanities, was invited by student-athlete Lucas Casey.
Kathleen Roman, a professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Development, was invited by student-athlete Xavier Rios.
Sandor Samuels, a professor from the Nazarian College of Business and Economics, was invited by student-athlete Roberto Gonzalez.
Wayne Smith, a professor from the Nazarian College of Business and Economics, was invited by student-athlete Jon Mocherman.
Augie Underwood, a professor from the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication, was invited by student-athlete Smith Chandler.