Service Awards

I was literally born into the KHP department and have spent my whole life here in one way or another. My father started as a professor in the department three months before I was born (and spent 40 years teaching for KHP); I spent my childhood here. I was an undergraduate and graduate student at CPP and have been teaching at KHP for 35 years.

Dr. Nourse was hired in 1989 as a full-time lecturer in the Geological Sciences Department and was promoted to full professor in 2007. He holds a BS in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an MS and PhD in Geology from the California Institute of Technology. He developed multiple new courses and taught approximately 2/3 of the Department curriculum. His areas of specialization include Structural Geology, Tectonics, Geological Mapping, Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology, and Geochronology. Nourse actively engages students with mentored research in field localities, including the San Gabriel Mountains, Mojave Desert, and Sonora, Mexico. He has published numerous articles describing these areas' geology, hydrology, and mineral resource potential. Nourse has served as Geology Department Chair for the past 15 years and as Director and Vice President of Exploration with Colibri Resources Corporation (Vancouver, BC) from 2006 to 2012. The past 35 years of teaching and research at Cal Poly Pomona have been hugely rewarding and full of many fond memories.

At a young age, I found my passion for working with plants. When I discovered that I could earn a living doing what I loved, I was very excited. After graduating high school, I took a few classes in Horticulture at MSAC. At twenty-three, I became the lead of the grounds department, on the other side of the hill, at Forest Lawn, Covina Hills. A few years later, I saw an advertisement in the LA Times for a grounds position here at Cal Poly, Pomona. On June 15th, 1989, I was so excited to begin my new career at a place that had so much to offer. By January of 1990, I had enrolled in Cal Poly’s Horticulture program and began to take advantage of the Fee Waiver program which allowed me to take University level courses for three dollars each, plus the price of books. In 1997, I was given the opportunity to lead the North Campus team in Landscape Services and have found it to be very fulfilling. As a student and staff member, I have met countless wonderful people. When asked why I haven’t retired, I reply, “Because, this is where all my friends are!” I LOVE CAL POLY!!!

After completing my BS in Animal Science in 1994, I began my employment tenure with CPP as an equine research technician. While working alongside great mentors and students, I finished my MS in Agriculture in 1998. During my 30-years at CPP I have worked with some amazing academic faculty, researchers, and staff at this university and others in California, Washington, Oregon, Kentucky, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Germany, and Italy. I cannot thank them all by name, as that would exceed my allotted time! To them I say: Thank you for all your support over the years! You are forever a part of my world! I have had the honor to help mentor 60 graduate students and well over 1000 undergraduate students in the area of animal science, which included horses, cattle, swine, sheep, emus, and ostriches. During these mentoring activities, I know that I have done something which made their life fundamentally better. It is these Lollipop Moments which were (and) are the driving energy for me to stay at CPP for these 30-years. One of my most influential mentors had a great philosophy about career choices: Work Hard, Play Hard...if you are not having fun… find another profession!

Dr. Kageyama introduced Neuroscience research to CPP and developed several Neuroscience-related courses: Neuroscience, Biology of the Brain, Developmental Neuroscience, Neuroanatomy, and Neurological Diseases. He helped save the Biology Department over $100,000, coordinating the repair of 40 Zeiss microscopes via the Department of Electrical Engineering, and replacing damaged electrical cords with AC adaptors. He chaired the committee for the SCAS Conference at CPP in 1998 and helped to establish the Veterinary Sciences program at Western University. Dr. Kageyama served several years as Chair of the Animal Care and Use Committee when CPP was the only CSU campus with AAALAC accreditation. He teaches over 21 undergraduate and 6 graduate Biology courses, including Biology, Cell Physiology, Anatomy, Histotechniques, Neuroscience, Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Native Plant propagation, and Electron Microscopy. He’s presented lectures on the Manzanar Guayule Rubber project and was instrumental in bringing undergraduate research to CPP as coordinator of the first large-scale undergraduate research program, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) program. Trained over 200 undergraduate and graduate students in Neuroscience research and is currently training 30+ students in Alzheimer’s Research, emphasizing a better understanding of the metabolic differences in neurons in nondemented individuals that express abundant Alzheimer’s neuropathy. Thank you, Cal Poly Pomona!

It feels like it was just yesterday when I started at Cal Poly in the Paint Shop in 1994. It was the best decision I ever made joining the Cal Poly facilities management team. I cherish many memories and have made many friends during my 30-year tenure. I am now the supervisor to our Lanterman property, and I am looking forward to spending my last years in this ghost town (JK) before retirement.