College of Science Spring 2022 Staff Award Winners

Both Staff Award recipients are from the Department of Biological Sciences. They are Instructional Support Technician III - Health and Safety, Anthony Beachler, and Administrative Support Coordinator I, Cindy Dang.

Anthony Beachler
IST III – Health and Safety

Anthony Beachler majored in molecular biology with a minor in chemistry at San Jose State. After graduating he worked in a lab at the Jerry Pettis Memorial Veterans' Hospital in Loma Linda. Prior to coming to CPP he also worked at University of Redlands and UC Riverside.

In 2002 Beachler was hired by the biology department at CPP to help ensure safety. Biological science labs can involve dissecting animals, and working with bacteria, and cultures, as well as chemicals. They can also produce biohazard waste.

Beachler ensures that the department’s operations comply with Department of Health, and State Fire Marshall regulations. He also coordinates safety training for student assistants, and faculty. He’s successful at communicating those legal and safety requirements to a variety of people with unique personalities.

He recalls how things have changed over the last 20 years. “The attitude of faculty now is more safety conscious. Many of the newer faculty come from schools with similar or stricter safety protocols,” he said.

The way science research is conducted has also changed. “I remember collecting DNA and you had to use autoradiography and develop film, now it’s all computerized,” Beachler said.

Staying connected to new technology keeps it exciting for Beachler. “I also enjoy going to the lectures and seminars that are available here,” he said. “So many opportunities to learn.”

Over the 20 years he’s been at CPP he sees a positive thing in the College of Science in that there is now interdisciplinary research and cooperation between departments.

When not working, Beachler collects and watches movies. His collection includes thousands of titles and his favorite genre is science fiction. He also enjoys audio books and is currently listening to Night Watch, and its companion volumes, by Russian author Sergei Lukyanenko.

Cindy Dang
ASC I

Cindy Dang comes to us from the banking industry where she worked in credit, and as a loan analyst. She was a temporary, emergency hire in 2019 and accepted a permanent position when it was offered because she liked the human interaction and found it more rewarding.

Dang helped the Department of Biological Sciences office transition to remote work in 2020 and was helping as many as 100 students a day with registration questions.

Dang’s demeanor is always friendly and cheerful, and being able to help students is what she finds most rewarding. “Supporting them and helping them is important. I sometimes see students who are distressed. I remember seeing a student almost crying in the hall. Whatever the problem is, there’s always a solution. Sometimes they just need someone who will listen,” she said.

She handles everything that’s needed to keep the office running, from posting signs on doors to helping students with permission codes. She helps staff and faculty with keys, and office supplies.

“I love the student assistants. They help so much. There’s a lot of support from coworkers too. I think we have a really great group,” Dang said. She confides there’s never a boring day. There are always challenges like learning new technology and programs like 25Live.

Everyone who knows Dang knows that she loves food, and she shares it as readily as she shares her time with students. When she’s not working she’s experimenting with recipes like chicken wings in fish sauce. She’s learning to crochet, and likes to listen to audio books on her commute. She’s currently listening to The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.