CSUSB History Professor Surprised by University President

Associate Professor Tom Long was lecturing his historical documentaries class on Tuesday, March 3, at Cal State San Bernardino when the door burst open. In walked university President Tomás D. Morales, accompanied by about 20 members of the university faculty, staff and administrators. Morales walked straight to Long and shook his hand. The president had barged in to Long’s class in what has become a university tradition – notifying the recipient of the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence while teaching his class. Morales said Long was being recognized for “the quality of his teaching, the quality of his service, and his role as a citizen of CSUSB. Students have really written about our colleague, our friend, and we’re here with former awardees of the Golden Apple, other faculty awardees to ‘ambush’ and to recognize Tom for his work.” Long was quiet during the presentation, but afterward said he was “very surprised and happy.” “I thought the president was in the wrong place,” Long said. “Why is the president coming in here?” Morales read from the nominating letter from the Golden Apple nominating committee. “Dr. Tom Long has an excellent record of teaching related activities both inside and outside of the classroom. Dr. Long…has excelled in his impact on students,” according to a letter. Long “received nominations from multiple alumni who all commented on the impact Dr. Long had through his teaching. Dr. Long shows a dedicated interest in the development of his students, and the achievement of each student's goals.” One alumna and a former student of Long’s wrote to the nominating committee about the professor’s dedication. “Professor Thomas Long is an extraordinary professor and has been my chosen academic advisor and mentor at California State University, San Bernardino,” wrote Lauren Elizabeth Kirschke. “Thomas Long’s teaching style is unique from many professors in that he allows the student the freedom to highlight his/her strengths and he guides them through their weaknesses, helping them to really improve and in the process, better preparing them for the world outside of college. Thomas Long possesses an elevated level of honesty, sincerity, and responsibility for his students. As a former student of his, it is evident that Thomas Long saw my potential and pushed me to exceed my personal expectations and goals.” Another student wrote, “He is always willing to assist students and never fails at making students enjoy their time in class.” Morales also complimented Long for his ongoing work with Native American tribes and local museums. “He has worked incredibly with a number of Native American communities, including the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, March Air Reserve Field Museum, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana and the national archives, the Sherman Indian School Museum,” said Morales, who also credited Long for creating and nurturing the university’s ongoing relationship with the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. Long is a “great mentor and citizen; really it’s just wonderful for us to acknowledge you as our next Golden Apple awardee,” Morales said. Long is the author of “Daily Life in the California Gold Rush,” by Greenwood Press. He also continues to work on projects in the fields of museum studies, archival practices, California Indian history and U.S. Constitutional history. Long joined Cal State San Bernardino in 2006. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Sonoma State, a master’s degree in history from Cal State Fullerton and a doctorate in history from UC Riverside. The Golden Apple recipient will receive a $2,000 teaching grant and will be recognized at the end of the year faculty recognition luncheon.