Stories

Merryl Goldberg was at a birthday party in La Jolla several years ago when she struck up a conversation with a married couple whom she didn’t know.As often happens, the talk turned to careers. Goldberg told the couple (their names turned out to be …

Cal State San Marcos has announced the appointment of Andrea “Andy” Fisher as its new vice president of University Advancement and executive director of the CSUSM Foundation. Fisher joins CSUSM at an important moment in the university’s fundraising …

Cal State San Marcos welcomed around 17,500 students to kick off the fall semester Monday.President Ellen Neufeldt expressed excitement and optimism about the new academic year during her annual convocation address to faculty and staff last …

Cal State San Marcos welcomed first-year and transfer students to the Cougar family on Saturday during New Student and Family Convocation, an annual celebration held in the Sports Center.The event included remarks from, among others, President Ellen …

An event showcasing the cultural consultants who helped bring the live-action “Moana” to life highlights the fall lineup of the longstanding Arts & Lectures series at Cal State San Marcos.This season boasts a diverse selection of eight events as …

Cal State San Marcos will serve as a key North County partner in a new $1 million regional workforce development initiative designed to connect young people with career preparation, paid learning experiences and pathways to employment.Funded through …

When Campus Coffee closed its trademark red awning for the last time during the fall 2025 semester, it marked the end of more than two decades of tradition at Cal State San Marcos.Since 2004, Campus Coffee had been a beloved CSUSM cafe and eatery, …

Celebration was in the air at Cal State San Marcos on Aug. 3, as hundreds gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Black Oak Hall and Kwíila Dining.Black Oak Hall is CSUSM’s fourth housing community, and Kwíila Dining is the …

When he started out as a Cal State San Marcos student, Tony Acevedo’s relationship with history was simple: It was just a subject that he had to take to fulfill the university’s general education requirements.But something happened along the way. …

A new science and engineering building. A national center dedicated to social mobility. A year of transformational philanthropy. Over the past 12 months, Cal State San Marcos celebrated several fundraising milestones. Last fall, the university …

When Alyssa Clerihan moved to Temecula during her junior year at Cal State San Marcos, the commute nearly derailed her degree. Instead, she found an unexpected solution just minutes from home: …

If you had a choice to climb the highest mountain in the lower United States or walk across a stage to get your college degree, which would you choose?For Cal State San Marcos alumnus Jaedon Spurlock, the decision was simple.During commencement …

One of the slowest creatures on Earth might be heading toward a scientific breakthrough at warp speed.Cal State San Marcos researchers – along with colleagues from the San Diego Natural History Museum, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles …

Colin Dobbins is used to fighting for wins as a standout lacrosse player for Cal State San Marcos.But in spring 2025, the 22-year-old offensive midfielder was fighting to recover after a serious injury to his collarbone. Dobbins was participating in …

For many students, quantum physics education centers on theory, with few opportunities for hands-on experience. Cal State San Marcos physics professor Justin Perron aims to change that. Perron is leading a three-year, $1,085,815 …

For Alyssa Helmantoler, the path to becoming a teacher began in a pottery studio. Helmantoler had planned to major in speech-language pathology, but a part-time job leading art classes for children shifted her direction …

Spring commencement is far from the only excitement around Cal State San Marcos this week.While the Class of 2026 prepares to walk across the graduation stage in their caps and gowns, four Cougars athletics teams and one individual are gearing up to …

As Karen Julian prepares to take the stage for graduation, she looks back on her life and recalls the many hardships she has faced to bring her to this moment. The journey wasn’t easy, but she couldn’t be prouder of the person she has become.Julian, …

With five young grandchildren and five acres to tend, retirement for Major General Anthony “Tony” Jackson and his wife, Sue, has been a full-time endeavor.“You need to find something to stay active,” Tony said.He picked up gardening, building raised …

Akayla Hackson has always had a knack for finding solutions to problems.So when Kelsey Forrester told Hackson about the most challenging part of her job at UC Santa Barbara, Hackson took action.Hackson and Forrester have been close friends since …

Ask William Yang if he wants to shoot photos or help film a social media clip, and the response is an immediate and enthusiastic, “Let's do it!”Yang is part of Cal State San Marcos' Aspiring Scholars program, which helps students with …

Almost from the day she started as Cal State San Marcos’ administrator in charge of community engagement more than a decade ago, Patricia Prado-Olmos had one goal in mind.Her aspiration was to build something lasting: a culture where community …

More than 4,000 students are expected to graduate from Cal State San Marcos this academic year, including six standouts from the Class of 2026 who are receiving special recognition for their achievements.Honorees were nominated by faculty or staff …

It all started with a dog lover and a dog in desperate need of some love.Bonnie Biggs was a longtime Cal State San Marcos librarian – so long that her tenure predates the university’s official founding by three years – who knew that her second act …

Creativity plays a vital role in how we understand the world and one another. At Cal State San Marcos, President Ellen Neufeldt has turned that conviction into a tradition, …

Allison Newell had thoughts about medical school throughout her undergraduate studies at Cal State San Marcos. But it was always challenging to envision herself actually in that field.It wasn’t until she had a conversation with Robert Iafe, one of …

A team of 17 Cal State San Marcos students recently competed and won two major awards at the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference in New York City.Representing Mexico, the team won the Outstanding Delegation Award, and one of the members, …

Cal State San Marcos marked a major construction milestone Friday, April 24, as university leaders, donors and community supporters gathered to celebrate the topping out of the new Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering.Topping-out ceremonies are a …

Seeing Sierra Brandt’s technological magic in action led Erica Cullwell to dub Brandt “The Departmental Wizard” of the Career Center.Not only was Brandt able to resolve a longstanding problem for the Career Center, her solution will support Cal …

Johanna Robinson joined the Resilient Entrepreneur Program (REP) at Cal State San Marcos with a three-ring binder filled with sketches of two kittens inspired by her twin daughters.  She wasn't sure if her project would …