Stories

Every morning, Kathleen Parra wakes up and sees the bookcase in her bedroom that her mom, Alicia, helped arrange. Parra could have organized the bookcase herself, but Alicia wanted to ensure that the shiny gold statue she lovingly refers to as her …

If you want to understand Dilcie Perez’s rise to become one of the most vital leaders in the California State University system, you could do worse than to start with quilt camp. Perez hasn’t been able to attend for a few years because of work …

Parents usually do anything they can to get their kids to take a break from playing video games. Emily Sorger’s parents took a different approach. “When I was younger, my dad would say, ‘No, you can't go outside and play until you finish this level’ …

In 2014, two women conducted a writing workshop in the women’s pod of a county jail in Tulsa, Okla.They used poetry and other types of creative writing as a way to help restore the voices of a couple dozen incarcerated women who had experienced …

Nikita Sharma never had visited the United States before, much less California, much less Cal State San Marcos.Even so, as a high school student from a small village in northern India, Sharma knew she wanted to experience Summer Scholars. How could …

Victoria Naficy didn’t expect to find her future in a research lab.After attending community college and working for a few years, she enrolled at Cal State San Marcos as a psychology major, eager to continue her education but uncertain about what …

The final episode of a landmark documentary series that reexamines California’s history through Indigenous perspectives will be screened at the University Student Union on Sept. 22.The 10th and last episode of “People of the West” will be shown in …

Through a tumultuous childhood and early adulthood, Kaitlyn Stowinsky had grown accustomed to labels being attached to her – foster youth, runaway, young mother.In 2021, she feared that she would be pinned with another moniker: college dropout.Only …

Cal State San Marcos’ signature Report to the Community event returned Thursday after a one-year hiatus.As President Ellen Neufeldt explained, however, there was a good reason for the break. She effectively took Report to the Community off campus …

For many residents across North San Diego County, accessing basic preventive health services can be challenging.Through the Mobile Wellness Initiative, Cal State San Marcos is helping bridge that gap while preparing students to become the next …

Cal State San Marcos has announced the appointment of Peter A. Lien as its new chief enrollment officer.Lien joins CSUSM from the University of Northern Colorado, where he has served as associate vice president for enrollment management since 2021. …

Imagine having five minutes to make a pitch in the style of the reality show “Shark Tank” on the future of California’s quantum workforce.For Justin Perron, a physics professor at Cal State San Marcos, that pitch was the culmination of months of …

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Cal State San Marcos’ Latinx Center is partnering with campus organizations to present an exciting lineup of events. The month, which runs Sept. 15-Oct. 15, is an opportunity to celebrate the rich …

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, which was sponsored by North City, included remarks …

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 …