Honorees were nominated by faculty or staff and endorsed by their college’s dean. Here is a closer look at each award recipient:

Alexis Medina, human development

President’s Outstanding Graduate Award

Dean’s Award, College of Education, Health and Human Services

Medina was lauded as an exceptional scholar, mentor and advocate whose achievements reflect the highest ideals of CSUSM and the CSU’s mission of social mobility.

His academic excellence culminated in a 3.97 grade-point average and summa cum laude distinction. But it was his hands-on commitment to advancing student success for others that most distinguishes him.

Across more than 1,200 hours of community-engaged service, Medina has worked directly with K-12 students in under-resourced schools, providing individualized academic support, facilitating small-group instruction and mentoring young learners as they navigate their own educational journeys. In dual immersion classrooms, he leverages his bilingualism, supporting Spanish-speaking students in developing both academic confidence and a sense of belonging in spaces where they are often marginalized. He intentionally creates inclusive learning environments that affirm students’ identities, reinforce their capabilities and encourage persistence in the face of challenges.

Beyond the classroom, Medina extends this impact by guiding high school students, including first-generation and multilingual learners, through college and career exploration, helping them envision pathways that may have once felt out of reach.

Wendy Hardy, linguistics

Dean’s Award, College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences

Hardy, who also has a minor in French and American Indian studies, was praised for leaving a lasting impact academically and culturally across the campus community.

Hardy’s work demonstrates the transformative power of language to build understanding, preserve culture and advance justice. Graduating with a 3.958 grade-point average, she displays academic excellence that's matched by the depth of her applied work, from contributing to the Kawaiisu Language Documentation Project in support of Indigenous language revitalization to advancing research on linguistic justice through faculty-led scholarship. She is also a gifted educator, serving as a teaching assistant in French, teaching at the San Marcos Senior Center, and bringing creativity and care to tutoring and mentoring.

As founder and inaugural president of the Linguistics Collective, president of the French Club and a leader on the CHABSS Dean’s Student Advisory Council, Hardy has created spaces for belonging, professional growth and community that will endure well beyond her time at CSUSM.

Casey Budlong, business administration marketing

Gerevas Family Dean’s Award, College of Business Administration

Budlong has made a difference across many student groups on campus, and she was hailed as a purpose-driven student leader whose academic excellence and professional growth reflect the very best of CoBA.

Graduating with a 3.915 grade-point average, Budlong has distinguished herself as a top-performing marketing student with a strong foundation in both the analytical and creative dimensions of the field. Business professor Kristin Stewart said from her experience working with Budlong through a Professional Sales Center social media micro-internship, along with consistent feedback from her professors, she is repeatedly described as reliable, independent and collaborative. Budlong also was lauded for consistently taking initiative and producing work that is both thoughtful and results-driven.

Beyond the classroom, Budlong has made a meaningful impact on campus and in the broader community through leadership and service, including supporting environmental efforts through the Surfrider Foundation and serving as a volunteer board member for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America San Diego Chapter.

Isabel Serrano, biochemistry

Dean’s Award, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Graduating with a 3.95 grade-point average in a demanding major, Serrano has distinguished herself through academic excellence and the depth and impact of her research.

In the lab, Serrano has made meaningful contributions to the field, developing novel compounds with potential applications in areas like medical imaging and next-generation technology. Her work has led to a peer-reviewed publication and a patent contribution through her internship with Novartis.

Serrano was lauded for how she brings others along with her. As the founding president of Out in STEM and a leader in multiple student organizations, she has created opportunities for her peers to connect and see themselves in STEM fields. She has helped raise funds so fellow students could attend conferences, mentored first-generation students and built communities where people feel like they belong. Outside of campus, she has carried that same commitment into her community, using her bilingual skills to advocate for others. Serrano’s journey is already opening doors for those around her.

Callie Steppat, biological sciences

Dean’s Award, Graduate Studies and Research

Steppat is completing a master’s degree with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and will continue her education in a Ph.D. program at Cornell.

In the lab, Steppat has built an extraordinary track record by finishing her degree in one year, an unprecedented achievement in the program. She has led five research projects, contributed to six peer-reviewed manuscripts and introduced entirely new lines of inquiry that will continue shaping the lab’s work long after she leaves, according to biology professor Dennis Kolosov.

Kolosov praised Steppat for being an outstanding teacher and mentor, someone who creates supportive, inclusive spaces where students feel comfortable asking questions and building confidence in science. She has co-mentored undergraduate and graduate students in the lab and the classroom, truly embodying the teacher-scholar model, helping lead them to conference presentations and publications.

Outside the university, she volunteers in her community through beach cleanups, supporting dental care for underserved populations and working with veterans in need.

Nayelie Ortiz, sociology

Dean of Students’ Outstanding Leadership Award

Ortiz has built a strong academic record, but Interim Dean of Students Norma Larios said what stands out most is how Ortiz has used her time at CSUSM to lift up those around her.

Since her first year, Ortiz has been deeply involved with the COMPASS Center, supporting undocumented, mixed-status and immigration-impacted students through mentorship, advocacy and day-to-day care. She has helped students navigate challenges and persist to graduation, often stepping in during moments of real crisis to make sure no one feels alone. Whether organizing support for a peer in need or simply showing up consistently with empathy and encouragement, Ortiz leads in a way that is both powerful and personal.

That commitment to others extends far beyond campus. Ortiz mentors first-generation students, coaches youth soccer and volunteers in community safety patrols to support families in her hometown. Even while facing personal challenges, including the impact of devastating fires affecting her own community, she has remained focused on showing up for others.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

But before putting the finishing touches on your list of New Year’s resolutions, let’s take a look back at some of the most-talked-about stories of 2025.

Hunter Industries Gives Transformational $10M Donation for ISE Building

In September, CSUSM announced a transformational $10 million philanthropic investment from Hunter Industries, one of the largest gifts in university history. The donation is supporting the construction of CSUSM’s new Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering, a cornerstone of the university’s commitment to preparing the next generation of engineers and scientists.

Perfect Chemistry: Campus Wedding 16 Years in the Making

If getting married at one’s place of employment seems unconventional, it shouldn’t to those who know biology professor Elinne Becket and chemistry professor Robert Iafe. The passion they have for their students is the same passion they have for the university, so it makes sense that the tied the knot on campus at the McMahan House on campus.

CSUSM Kicks Off Historic $200 Million Fundraising Campaign

Through the largest fundraising campaign in university history, CSUSM is aiming to raise $200 million to support student success and power the region’s future. The university officially launched its “Blueprint for the Future” campaign on Sept. 19. It’s an effort that combines philanthropy with grants and research funding. The campaign’s theme reflects both the physical growth on campus and the forward momentum building at CSUSM. 

Professor Elevates Samoan Language, Culture as Consultant for "Moana 2"

Professor Grant Muāgututiʻa never could have dreamed that linguistics would take him to the shores of Oʻahu as he rubbed elbows with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and other stars of the Disney glitterati before the world premiere of the animated film “Moana 2” in 2024. Indeed, Muāgututiʻa was more than a little caught off guard when the filmmaking team behind the sequel to the wildly popular movie “Moana” from 2016 contacted him out of the blue two years ago.

Construction of New Wellness and Rec Center Underway

CSUSM held a Construction Kickoff on Nov. 12 to celebrate construction being underway for the Student Wellness and Recreation Center (SWRC), which is expected to open by summer 2027. CSUSM is partnering with Sea Breeze Properties – developers of North City, which includes CSUSM’s North Commons, The QUAD and the Extended Learning Building – on the SWRC, which will be the latest addition to campus life.

Faith, Resilience Help Athlete Through Life-Threatening Crisis

It all started with a headache. A seemingly normal ailment, but Malachi Wright doesn’t get headaches. And he definitely doesn’t get headaches that force him to leave work early or have him confined to the couch and throwing up for three straight days. That's when his mom, Ivonne Mancilla, knew this was something more. Wright spent the next 40 days in the hospital, undergoing three brain surgeries with no idea what the future would bring. But Wright defied all odds. 

Alumna Finds Purpose in Advocacy for Native Children and Families

As Maya Goodblanket reflects on her time as a student, she vividly remembers the day she found the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center at Cal State San Marcos. Little did she know that she was meeting mentors that day who would help her achieve the career she has today. Goodblanket, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, serves as an Indian Child Welfare Act court advocate for the Valley Center-based Indian Health Council, which provides health and wellness services for American Indian communities in north San Diego County. 

Ask the Expert: A Scientific Perspective on the L.A. Fires

When the hills above Los Angeles exploded in flames early last month, Matt Rahn snapped into action. Rahn, though, isn’t a firefighter who was called into duty to help battle what became one of the biggest and most destructive fires in California history. Rather, he’s a wildfire researcher at Cal State San Marcos who, in 2019, created a unique degree program called Wildfire Science and the Urban Interface. He’s also the executive director of the Wildfire Conservancy, a nonprofit research foundation dedicated to serving the state’s firefighters and protecting its communities.

Cougar Care Network Marks 10 Years as a Campus Hub for Connection

Built on listening first and guiding without judgment, the Cougar Care Network enters its second decade as a trusted stop for students seeking practical help, community and a path forward. The Cougar Care Network (CCN) launched in fall 2015 as part of Cal State San Marcos’ Early Support Initiative within the Student Outreach and Referral (SOAR) program. 

Chronic Illness a Journey of Strength, Self-Discovery ... and Salt

The first time Emmi van Zoest rode in an ambulance was in May 2024. She was in the middle of her 10:30 a.m. Communication 200 class when she realized her vision and hearing were failing. She couldn't keep her legs or arms straight and she couldn’t speak. The full memory is hazy, but she found herself sitting outside of Crash’s Market in the University Student Union with a handful of salt packets and on a Facetime call with her parents, who live in Tennessee. This experience didn’t come out of nowhere. She has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, a chronic condition that she has lived with since her junior year of high school.  

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

When she was growing up, her mother always made dentist trips a positive experience for Johnson and her brothers by offering them rewards for doing well in the office. Those positive childhood moments led Johnson to dream of working in health care and dentistry. 

Today, Johnson is one step closer to fulfilling that dream.

“I’m so excited. I feel like the finish line is right there,” said Johnson, a fifth-year general biology major and pre-dental student who's graduating from Cal State San Marcos this month. “I’m really excited to navigate the world outside of school, spend time with my family and husband, and start working as a dental assistant during my gap year.”

Along with a gap year to gain experience, Johnson plans to move to North Carolina with her family. She hopes to attend her top choice, the University of North Carolina, to study dentistry and become a dentist.

Johnson was an active member of the Pre-Dental Society at CSUSM. She joined the campus organization in spring 2024 and became the social media officer during the 2024-25 academic year. Her efforts in the club helped her achieve the role of senior president this fall.

“Being a part of that club taught me a lot about confidence and allowed me to be really comfortable speaking with other students,” she said. “I loved the leadership roles because of what they brought out in myself, and I loved being able to help and support others.”

Not only did the Pre-Dental Society give Johnson a place where she belonged, but it also helped her understand the path to dental school.

As club president, Johnson has tried to make clear to newer members that they should take their educational journey at their own pace. She often talks about her experience as a fifth-year student and how that extra time has benefited her academically.

“I feel like a lot of members think they need to graduate within a certain time, because in high school that’s what we’re told,” Johnson said. “We’re told, ‘You have to graduate college in four years,’ and sometimes that can be a little discouraging. I think it's nice for the members to hear that I’m a fifth-year and see that I’m not defeated by it. I’m enjoying the ride.”

Johnson also works hard to make the Pre-Dental Society a welcoming place for students. She encourages members to ask questions, informs them about volunteer opportunities and helps them connect with academic resources and see what lies ahead on the path to dentistry.

Her passion for creating and fostering a loving environment is evident to her peers and professors. James Kezos, an assistant professor of biology, has worked closely with Johnson in the classroom and lab.

“She is a very determined, hard-working and compassionate individual who has set high goals for herself,” Kezos said. “She is willing to learn and help with any task, showing exceptional levels of initiative and dedication. She excels at whatever responsibilities she undertakes, including her classwork, her research and her extracurriculars such as being president of the Pre-Dental Society.”

In the Fly Lab with Kezos, Johnson began studying the physiological adaptations to chronic high-sugar diets in Drosophila (fruit flies) and how these diets affect their heart health and lifespan. Johnson explained that because Drosophila share many genetic traits with humans and have such a short lifespan, they’re ideal subjects for biological study.

Alongside the study on high-sugar diets, Johnson has analyzed the Hedgehog signaling pathway in Drosophila heart function.

“If we’re discovering new things that could help someone else’s future research, if it could be applied in any way and help the human population, I think that’s really neat,” Johnson said. “I love that we’re taking steps forward to potentially help people. That’s what I want to do in my future, help people.”

As the Fly Lab’s sole data analyst, Johnson works closely with the flies’ heartbeats – noting that, in some cases, the flies have a fluorescent heart – by watching videos and turning that information into data through programs like Microsoft Excel.

“The biggest impact she has made has been her efforts in implementing a large statistical code to process and analyze our fly cardiac videos,” Kezos said. “Without her help, we would not be able to analyze any of our data, and probably would be struggling with fixing the code.”

Creating the code was a challenge that Johnson felt confident in tackling. She had data analysis experience from EOS Fitness, where she worked as a data coordinator. She also took a class on biological data analysis, so when Kezos mentioned that he had code that needed fixing, Johnson was quick to take on the project.

It took Johnson roughly two months to go through the nearly 3,000 lines of code. She watched thousands of videos, quantified the data and made it possible for the lab to analyze all of their hard work. Johnson referred to the project as the ultimate puzzle.

“It was so frustrating but also really rewarding,” she said. “That went beyond what I thought I was capable of, and just having the belief in myself that I could achieve that, it was such a rewarding feeling. It also strengthened my confidence in myself; I am capable of doing something like that. That was super empowering for me.”

Johnson has used these new skills to teach other students in the lab how to use the code to analyze data.

“Quetzalli has been an integral member of my lab, and has been a tremendous help in establishing the data analysis process,” Kezos said. “Without her efforts, initiative and care, we would not be as productive as we are today.”

When looking back on her time at CSUSM, Johnson said her biggest advice for future students is to get involved.

Transferring from Palomar College, Johnson thought she could handle everything on her own at CSUSM. She wasn’t thinking about joining clubs or finding community. But as she delved deeper into her coursework, she realized there was much she still needed to learn about the path ahead.

She first heard about the Pre-Dental Society in a Biology 101 class, and the timing felt right. She decided to go to a meeting, and the organization ended up giving her the guidance and support she hadn’t realized she was missing.

“I attended a meeting and thought, ‘This is so helpful,’ ” Johnson said. “Then, while I was at these meetings, I saw this community and the relationship between officers and members. I was like, ‘I really want to be a part of this,’ which was new for me. I had never felt like that before.”

Being a member of the Pre-Dental Society and volunteering with the Fly Lab helped Johnson grow as a student. The knowledge she gained from both, combined with community support, helped her see how she could give back.

Johnson’s newfound desire to get involved led her to participate in events such as the Student Poster Showcase. She presented a poster on the physiological responses to chronic high-sugar diets in Drosophila, the research she had done in the Fly Lab.

“Get involved, because it doesn’t hurt; it only helps. You build such a great community and you learn so much. You’re able to meet like-minded people and grow as a human being,” she said. “Enjoy the ride. Enjoy where you’re at in the moment. Enjoy the people around you. Slow down and just enjoy where you’re at.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Growing up, Loyola Torres was interested in filmmaking and acting. But he found himself gravitating toward the medical field after taking anatomy and a biomedical elective course at San Marcos High School (it was in the latter class that he saw the sheep’s brain).  

Loyola Torres, a molecular and cellular biology major at Cal State San Marcos, is the first person in his family to attend college. Elementary school teachers told him that there would be a spot for him at CSUSM when the time came, thanks to CSUSM's K-12 Alliance, which motivated him to work hard from an early age. 

Loyola Torres’ efforts paid off, as he was honored recently as CSUSM’s recipient of the 2025 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, California State University’s highest recognition of student accomplishment.  

The CSU recognizes 23 students every year – one from each campus – with the Trustees’ Award. Students are selected based on academic achievements, financial need, excellence in community service and personal hardship. Awardees have all demonstrated inspirational resolve along the path to college success, and many are the first in their families to attend college.  

“It's almost like imposter syndrome,” Loyola Torres said. “It was just an honor to receive the nomination.” 

Loyola Torres’ decision to attend CSUSM over other universities, including UC Riverside, was based on community and affordability. It was a place where he could be close to home while affording school, and his parents supported his decision.  

“My parents weren’t able to pursue higher education, so that motivated me,” Loyola Torres said. “I have the privilege of pursuing it, so I have always planned on it.” 

As a Pathmaker intern at Palomar Medical Center Escondido, Loyola Torres saw the language barriers that Spanish-speaking patients often experience in health care.  

“I have the privilege of speaking both English and Spanish,” he said. “A lot of the patients struggle with understanding what the doctors are saying. I'm going to be able to almost close that gap in the language barrier.” 

Loyola Torres also serves in CSUSM's COMPASS research internship, which recruits local high school students and trains them in stem cell science. Expanding hands-on learning opportunities through internships like this is one of the goals of CSUSM’s recently launched “Blueprint for the Future” fundraising campaign. Research and industry partnerships are a key part of how the university prepares students such as Loyola Torres to thrive in the workforce. 

Loyola Torres works in biology professor Carlos Luna Lopez’s lab, studying breast cancer cells. Along with a master’s student, Loyola Torres investigates cell culture and how breast cancer cells grow.  

This fall, Loyola Torres will serve as president of the campus’ MedLife club, which aims to combat health care shortages and help increase essential health care services to low-income communities in Latin America and Africa. He calls it one of his biggest accomplishments.  

Reflecting on his journey, Loyola Torres is proud of his growth. From entering his first year as a quiet student to working internships, serving as a club president and being nominated for an award, he is thankful for these opportunities.  

“My GEL professor freshman year told me I have to be comfortable with the uncomfortable,” Loyola Torres said. “I'm proud of myself, because I don't know what I would have been doing right now if I didn't open up or didn't receive that advice." 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

The conference – planned by CSUSM biology professors Jane Kim, Sergio Nigenda-Morales and Carlos Luna Lopez – is one of the oldest events for undergraduates to present their research. 

Some of the conference talk sessions included subjects such as microbiology, neurobiology and physiology. Svasti Haricharan, who started an independent lab focused on non-canonical roles of DNA repair proteins in promoting treatment responsiveness at Sanford Burnham Prebys in La Jolla in 2018, was the event's keynote speaker. Haricharan recently moved to San Diego State as an associate professor of biology to continue her research. She is also a full member of the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego.

The goal of the conference is to provide a forum for undergraduate researchers to present original data that they've generated in the fields of biology, biochemistry, biophysics and related fields, and to foster intercollegiate interactions among students and faculty who share a commitment to undergraduate research in the biological sciences.

“CSUSM, President Ellen Neufeldt, CSTEM Dean Jackie Trischman and the Office of the Provost supported this conference from the beginning, allowing the planning team to have the time to prepare for the conference,” Luna said. “This further demonstrates CSUSM’s commitment to undergraduate research and to form a supportive scientific community.” 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs
ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Mendoza has worked in the lab of biology professor Elinne Becket for two years, applying her independent research skills to studying taxonomic and functional profiles associated with plastic marine substrates.

In her recommendation letter for the award, Becket noted that “Marisa has already made a tremendous impact on our lab’s research productivity, leading efforts on two projects. Overall, Marisa is an incredible researcher who is effective, reliable, collaborative and highly resilient.”

Becket said Mendoza began making an impact while still a student at Palomar College before transferring to CSUSM. In furthering her education at CSUSM, Mendoza continues to give back by mentoring students in the Bridges to the Baccalaureate program, which prepares community college students who are interested in biomedical research careers to seamlessly transition to four-year universities.

“She is already an exceptional researcher at such an early stage, and her grit, integrity and adaptability will lead her to be very successful in her Ph.D. endeavors and beyond,” Becket wrote. “I believe she will make a strong impact in the microbiology field in her future career.”

The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established in 1986, and the scholarship program that honors Sen. Barry Goldwater was designed to identify, encourage and financially support outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics.

From a pool of more than 5,000 college sophomores and juniors, 1,350 science, engineering and mathematics students were nominated by 445 academic institutions to compete for the 2025 Goldwater scholarships.

Learn more about applying for the Goldwater Scholarship and other opportunities by visiting CSTEM's Funding Opportunities webpage.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs
ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Ask Iafe and he’ll say the crack he made about Becket’s beloved Croatian soccer team did the trick. Not so, says Becket.

“At first, I actually disliked him for weeks,” Becket said. “Once he finally started being nice to me, then I started liking him. But he's like, ‘No, that's what caused interest.’ This is one of those agree to disagree moments.”

But there’s no such controversy when it comes to their engagement in 2022.

“It was perfect,” they both said, nearly in unison.

Becket, a biology professor, and Iafe, a chemistry professor and department chair, tied the knot two years later, exchanging vows last Oct. 5 at the place that has become a second home for them – Cal State San Marcos.

If getting married at one’s place of employment seems unconventional, it shouldn’t to those who know Becket and Iafe. The passion they have for their students is the same passion they have for the university. And CSUSM’s Event and Conference Services (ECS) team ensured there wasn’t a moment of doubt about having their wedding at the McMahan House on campus.

“Everyone at ECS literally brought me to tears in a good way multiple times because they were just so helpful and so thoughtful,” said Becket, noting the tireless work and attention to detail of event planners Lizette Alvarado and Zayla Paschall. “It went perfectly because of them. I'm just so, so grateful for the fact that they made it even more special than I thought it was going to be.”

It was a day that was 16 years in the making.

Becket and Iafe met in 2008 at UCLA where each was working on their Ph.D. (Becket in molecular biology and Iafe in organic chemistry). Though they were in different departments, they met through one of Becket’s former teacher assistants who was lab mates with Iafe.

They were friends for about six months before they started dating, though the friendship could have been derailed by Iafe poking fun at Croatia’s painful exit from the 2008 Euro Cup when Turkey tied a quarterfinal match as time was winding down before advancing on penalty kicks.

“It was just enough of a bite for her to be annoyed but have that interest,” Iafe said.

Becket remembers it a bit differently. Born in Los Angeles, she traveled between the U.S. and Croatia frequently as a child during the Croatian War of Independence, spending time with her grandparents while her mom helped guide humanitarian aid to the front lines.

Needless to say, her ties to Croatia – and its soccer team – run deep.

“Oh, he knew what he was doing,” she said.

Iafe rebounded from the faux pas and their friendship evolved as they regularly hung out in UCLA’s grad lounge while waiting on results from their respective research experiments.

Both play piano, leading to battles in the grad lounge pitting Becket’s classical music against Iafe’s penchant for Elton John (Becket’s wedding processional was to John’s “Your Song,” which Iafe often played for her). The piano duels led to another talent they share – dancing. Becket has danced a variety of styles throughout her life and Iafe competed in ballroom in college.

Their friendship blossomed, and, on Dec. 16, 2008, they had their first official date, even marking the occasion with a photo.

The 16-year wait from that first date to their wedding day wasn’t intentional so much a product of juggling a relationship with the challenges of establishing their respective careers.

“Marriage was always what we wanted to work toward, but we were just enjoying what we had,” Becket said. “It was less important about the legal thing and more important about saying vows in front of our loved ones.”

And it was those vows that remain a highlight from their wedding day, particularly Iafe’s words. He took to heart an early conversation they had when they were dating – though, much like the soccer joke he made, they don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye on the way that conversation went.

“So, 16 years ago, she had a couple of demands for me,” Iafe said. “She said, ‘You are not allowed to read your vows. You have to say it from the heart.' ”

“This was when I was 20, when we first started dating,” Becket interjected. “And it wasn't a command, it was an off-the-cuff remark where I was like, ‘I don't understand how people can just read their vows.’ It was one of those things of, ‘If you really mean it, you should be able to say it, blah, blah, blah.’ ”

“And I listened to every word that she said,” Iafe said.

Fast forward 16 years and Becket jotted down some bullet points to ensure that she would hit on the topics that were most meaningful. Iafe, on the other hand, decided to wing it.

While there is friendly disagreement over whether it was truly off-the-cuff or well-rehearsed, they agree that Iafe nailed it.

“Of course, this guy has the best vows ever memorized and completely showed me up,” Becket said. “And what's really annoying was that when we were talking about who goes first, he's like, ‘You know what? I'll let you go first.’ He said he didn't want to repeat something I said.

“And, no, it was because he wanted to show me up,” she added, laughing. “The video shows me saying, ‘Oh, now I know why you wanted to go second.’ ”

Similar to how he lectures, Iafe said he had major points he wanted to hit and just let it flow from there. His groomsmen, Becket said, tell it differently.

“They were telling me, ‘He was practicing all day,’ ” Becket said.

“Just the major points,” Iafe said. “How we get there, I don’t know. It’s a journey. Live on the edge.”

As they approach their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple this week, there aren’t any special plans in the works. They’ll mark the occasion in the low-key way they normally do.

And before Becket can give details on what they normally do, Iafe jumps in.

“We don’t actually celebrate Valentine’s Day,” he said, “because every day is Valentine’s Day.”

Less than five months into marriage, spoken like someone who already knows the key to wedded bliss.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

But before putting the finishing touches on your list of New Year’s resolutions, let’s take a look back at some of the most-talked-about stories of 2024.

CSUSM Receives Two Gifts Totaling $20 Million, Largest in 35-Year History

In a historic moment, Cal State San Marcos received two philanthropic donations totaling $20 million – the largest gifts in its 35-year history. $10 million from Price Philanthropies Foundation will create a first-of-its-kind, three-year accelerated bachelor's degree and workforce pipeline for behavioral and mental health. The other $10 million came from Daniel J. Epstein – a director of the CSUSM Foundation Board – and his wife, Phyllis. Their contribution will serve as a unique dollar-for-dollar matching gift opportunity for all CSUSM donors to double their impact across campus.

Balancing Act: Master's Grad Perseveres Through Challenges

A master’s of biological sciences student, Jocelyne Dates was selected last spring as the recipient of the 2024 President's Outstanding Graduate Award, the highest honor a graduating student can receive. She also received the Dean’s Award for Graduate Studies, which recognizes the accomplishments of one master’s student. Jocelyne is continuing her education by pursuing her Ph.D. at Vanderbilt.

'I Just Want to Make Him Proud and My Life to Count'

Last spring, at 76 years old, Kathryn Cook walked across the graduation stage as the oldest graduate of Cal State San Marcos' class of 2024. Her path to this accomplishment was not one of a traditional four-year-and-done experience. In fact, it was 50 years in the making, with monumental life transitions and rocky hardships in between. The passing of Cook’s husband in 2019 led her to continue her education at CSUSM and graduate with a sociology degree.

From the Baseball Diamond to 'The Bachelorette'

Austin Ott had never watched an episode of “The Bachelorette” when he received a DM on Instagram from the show encouraging him to apply. While nervous, his communication and media studies degree from Cal State San Marcos gave him a foundation to build on. Ott’s first speech in COMM 100 gave him an idea of what being in the public eye might look like. “My time at Cal State San Marcos was probably the best years of my life,” said Ott, who graduated in 2019. “There’s nothing better than playing the game you love and being around your best friends.”

American Indian Student Follows Passion for Animals, Environment

Aiden Valverde, an American Indian Studies major from the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, has made significant contributions through his engagement with the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center. As an intern for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Valverde was able to connect more with his culture, and his passion for animals and the environment. “Aiden exemplifies everything we strive to achieve in American Indian Studies and at the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center,” said Joely Proudfit, the department chair of American Indian Studies.

Computers a Lifelong Passion for Trustees' Award Winner

In 2009, Minh Tran’s family moved to Escondido from Vietnam, the only home that he, his parents and his two older siblings had ever known. Now, the fourth-year student who’s on track to graduate in May, was honored as CSUSM’s recipient of the 2024 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, the California State University’s highest recognition of student accomplishment. Students are selected based on academic achievements, financial need, excellence in community service and personal hardship. Awardees have all demonstrated inspirational resolve along the path to college success, and many are the first in their families to attend college.

Graduate Crafting Career on Helping Children

A child and adolescent development major at Cal State San Marcos, Tania Arceo spent the last year and a half working with Voices for Children, a nonprofit organization where volunteers are trained to become court-appointed special advocates. Volunteers like Arceo represent juvenile dependency cases in San Diego County. Since graduating last spring with her bachelor’s, Arceo has started her Master of Social Work program at CSUSM this fall. 

Alumnus Seeks Better Mental Health Through Better Cuts

John Edwards was only 12 years old when he taught himself how to cut his own hair. By the time Edwards enrolled at Cal State San Marcos as a transfer student returning to higher education in 2021, he was close to completing barber school. Now a licensed barber and a recent CSUSM graduate, he operates a small studio in San Diego, rotating about 25 clients through his single chair. Edwards studied psychology at CSUSM, and it was at the university that he dreamed up the idea of melding his longtime practice of barbering with his fledgling research on mental health treatment. 
 

CSUSM Earns Prestigious Seal for Serving Latinx Students

Cal State San Marcos has earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia, a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally serve Latinx students. CSUSM is one of only 17 colleges and universities to earn the Seal of Excelencia in 2024. In 2018, Excelencia introduced the seal to certify colleges and universities for their efforts to become learning environments where Latinx, and all, students thrive. This year marks the organization’s 20th year of service to accelerate Latinx student success in higher education.

Surfer Makes School History With National Title

Tanner Vodraska, a Cal State San Marcos business student, became the first surfer in university history to win an individual national title. The junior competed in the college men’s division of the 2024 National Scholastic Surfing Association interscholastic national championships at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. Vodraska dominated the field. He posted a two-wave score of 17.5 points in the final, far outdistancing his closest competitor. “I feel really proud of myself because I set a goal to win the national title before I graduate, and I accomplished it,” Vodraska said.

Incredible Mulk: Class Project Becomes Thriving Business

Melissa Finestone remembers the assignment in her business marketing class that started it all. Each student was required to develop a business plan based on a product they conceived. Finestone decided to curate a product that combined her passion for cooking with a childhood love of chocolate milk. But Finestone wanted to develop a healthy alternative to other chocolate milks on the market. When Finestone couldn’t find a product on the market that met her requirements, she chose to make her own. Using her Vitamix blender to grind almonds in her kitchen at home, Finestone crafted samples of chocolate- and strawberry-flavored, plant-based almond milk. She served it to each student in the class while presenting her product. The overwhelming support from her peers inspired Finestone to launch The Mulk Co. in June 2018, only one year after she graduated from Cal State San Marcos with a bachelor’s degree in global business management. 

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Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

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One day, McDermid will be meeting with a company that is developing what are effectively electric helicopters designed to cover distances of less than 100 miles – basically, an Uber for the skies. The next day, she’ll sit down with a business that’s building a device that captures a semi truck’s carbon emissions directly from the tailpipe, pumps it into a tank, then either buries it underground or sells the CO2 for use in products like soda.  

Still other days might include huddles with firms that make rooftop solar panels, heat pump water heaters, even self-driving cars.   

“Each of the clients that I work with, I get a chance to embed in their team,” McDermid said. “I get to jump around. And not only is the subject matter different, but the people are different and the vibe is different. I like that diversity.” 

Those clients, in turn, value McDermid’s expertise, so much so that they’re willing to pay handsomely for it, in many cases while they’re still trying to get off the ground as a startup. The Cal State San Marcos alumna is the founding partner of Caliber Strategies, a Sacramento-based lobbying firm that helps energy and climate companies – whether sexy startups or stodgy utilities – navigate the regulatory maze that is the California policy arena.  

In doing so, McDermid draws on almost two decades of experience in state politics and policymaking, going back to when she was a clean energy adviser to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in her early 20s, only a few years after graduating from CSUSM with a degree in biology.  

“I founded this company because it’s really challenging to bring new technologies to market, especially in a place like California where the market rules are quite complex and there are all these different agencies doing different things,” McDermid said. “We focus exclusively on climate and energy, and primarily on what I refer to as disruptive technologies.” 

Founded in 2013, Caliber now totals eight employees, and one of McDermid’s fellow partners is Michael Picker, former president of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the nonpartisan body charged with regulating the state’s utilities. The company has almost 50 clients, including investment management giant Blackstone, accounting firm KPMG and Sunrun, one of the nation’s biggest solar installers. 

Sometimes Caliber’s clients take the form of a legacy company that’s opening a new product line. A.O. Smith Corporation, for example, has been around for 150 years and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of water heaters and boilers, with annual sales of almost $4 billion. But as California increasingly moves toward the full electrification of all buildings, A.O. Smith is gravitating toward heat pumps, which heat water using electricity instead of gas.  

Enter Caliber. The company worked with a team of nonprofit, industry and environmental organizations to help pass legislation to allocate about $44 million in incentives for heat pumps. Caliber then led an effort with this coalition and the CPUC to design an incentive program that would offer state residents payments of up to $7,300 for installing heat pumps.  

Another category of clients is fledgling businesses with an innovative solution to a climate-related problem. Charm Industrial is a Bay Area startup with a mission to, as its website touts, “put oil back underground,” an elegantly simple description of the complex science involved in carbon capture and sequestration. Charm approached Caliber in its infancy, seeking to get introduced to the right people, increase its name recognition and create a market from scratch.  

“It’s about streamlining the process, and even more so trying to educate regulators,” McDermid said. “We educate regulators and policymakers about what the needs of new technologies are. After the policymaker has already said, for example, we want electric cars and you have the market ready, there remain all these barriers that no one has figured out. So it’s a collaborative process to figure out how we get from where we are now to where we want to be.” 

It was at CSUSM where McDermid discovered her twin passions for environmental science and public policy. Having initially enrolled at the university on a cross country and track and field scholarship (she competed for two years before injuries forced her to stop), she decided she wanted to pursue conservation biology and save the earth one planted tree at a time.  

At some point in her college journey, however, it dawned on her that planting trees – even 10 to 20 acres worth – couldn’t compare with, say, protecting millions of acres through legislation. As a junior, McDermid spent the fall semester in Washington, D.C., as part of the Panetta Congressional Internship Program, and when she returned, she ran for and was elected president of Associated Students, Inc., for her senior year in 2004-05. She even started a progressive activist organization with some friends.  

“CSUSM was this perfect testing ground to try out all these different things,” she said. 

Using her student experience as a springboard, McDermid was accepted after graduation into the Capital Fellows Program, an initiative through Sacramento State that offers paid, full-time fellowships in each branch of California’s government. She was assigned to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office for a year, followed by a year working in the office of First Lady Maria Shriver.  

In 2008, McDermid got her big break when Susan Kennedy, still early in her tenure as Schwarzenegger’s chief of staff, acted on a recommendation to tap McDermid as her top deputy. Kennedy was seeking not an executive assistant but someone who could step into her high-pressure position when necessary and not miss a beat. In McDermid, she found a kindred spirit, essentially a younger version of herself.  

“She was perfect,” Kennedy said. “She looked out at the landscape from the perspective of, if she were the chief of staff to the governor, how would you prepare for this? How would you brief him on this? What information do you need from the agencies or the departments or the senior staff? 

“It’s a very tough role to step into, and she earned everyone’s respect because she was so good at what she did. She made me twice as good at what I was doing because she was as good as me.” 

Near the end of his eight years as governor, Schwarzenegger began to feel a particular urgency to buttress his accomplishments in the climate space. He tasked Kennedy with figuring out how to secure permitting for a host of renewable energy projects being incentivized by the Obama administration, and Kennedy in turn tasked not only Picker – the former CPUC president and current Caliber partner – but also McDermid.  

“It was a failure-is-not-an-option initiative by the governor,” Kennedy said. “I gave Michael all the power, and I gave him the most powerful weapon I could think of, which was Manal. The two of them were responsible for basically unlocking gigawatts of renewable energy in California, which completely changed the landscape of the state’s climate initiatives.” 

McDermid’s efforts were so successful that, when Schwarzenegger left office in 2011 and Jerry Brown entered, she was among just a handful of staffers retained out of the nearly 100 in the governor’s office. She departed later that year to take a job in Washington as a lobbyist for NextEra Energy, an electric utility holding giant, before Kennedy lured her back to California in 2013.  

With her longtime mentor, McDermid launched not only Caliber but also Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS), a company that was born out of the shuttering of the San Onofre nuclear power station in June 2013. That closure created an immediate 20% power shortage in large portions of Los Angeles, a gap that AMS filled by building what McDermid called the “world’s largest virtual power plant” – battery storage systems at commercial sites like Kaiser Permanente, Irvine Company and Walmart. Over time, AMS shifted its focus from developing those large-scale energy storage projects to providing software that allowed others to optimize their own energy storage assets. 

When AMS was sold in 2020, McDermid rededicated herself to Caliber, which had been on the back burner for a few years. During the pandemic, she got married and moved from San Diego (where she grew up after her family escaped war-torn Lebanon when she was 3) to Santa Barbara, her husband’s hometown. Manal and Hitch, her husband, have a 3-year-old son, Malek.  

McDermid makes frequent trips to Sacramento and to San Francisco, where Caliber has a small office. Not coincidentally, the Bay Area also is the headquarters of the CPUC, one of the regulatory bodies that Caliber works closely with, along with the California Energy Commission, the Air Resources Board and the Natural Resources Agency. 

Many for-profit companies have an adversarial relationship with the regulators that establish the rules governing them, but that’s not the case with Caliber or most of its clients. They’re all in the same boat and rowing in the same direction when it comes to the state’s ambitious climate goals, which is one of myriad reasons why McDermid loves the work she does.  

“We’re very focused in California precisely because we actually want to get things done,” McDermid said. “I don’t want to spend my time convincing someone that climate change is a problem or that we should put more electric vehicles on the roads. The nice thing about California is, at the highest level, the leadership is completely bought in on what the problem is. And it’s more about figuring out: How do we solve it?” 

Manal Yamout McDermid 

Major at CSUSM: Biology 

Graduation year: 2005 

Company: Caliber Strategies 

Website: caliberstrat.com 

Founded: 2013 

Number of employees: 8 

Talking Business With Manal Yamout McDermid

What's the best advice you received about starting a business? 

Work with people you like. It's super simple, but if you pick people you like and admire and want to spend an inordinate amount of time with, you really can't go wrong. In some ways, getting the people right is more important than the idea and the path to market.  

What advice would you give budding entrepreneurs? 

Same advice as the first one: Choose your partners carefully, and choose them based on their character, their integrity and your level of trust in them. Don’t just think about breaking into a market. 

What's the greatest challenge in starting your own business? 

I think it's the uncertainty and the self-doubt that come with it, like: Should I grow? The greatest challenge is believing that as you scale up, things will work out, and getting the confidence to take that next step. 

Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?  

No. I'm a firm believer that whatever happens was supposed to happen, and it doesn't mean that it was good. But I wouldn't have done it differently.  

What are the qualities of a good entrepreneur?  

I would say confidence, belief in yourself. The ability to really pay attention to what's happening around you, whether that's the market or the people you surround yourself with. 

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However, for Symphony Rutkowski, a junior biological sciences major at Cal State San Marcos, the name was more of a spontaneous decision.

“My mom always tells me she was just driving and thought, ‘What about the name Symphony?’ ” Rutkowski said.

Despite her name's connection to the arts,  Rutkowski is fully invested in her scientific strengths. She was accepted to Cal State San Marcos’ BEARS program, which stands for Building Early Awareness and Research in Science, during her freshman year and participated for the two-year duration offered.

BEARS, the school’s first bioengineering training program, is in its second year and co-directed by biology professors Tracey Brown and Carlos Luna Lopez. It is a scholarship-based program that is federally funded by the ESTEEMED (Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Educations Diversity) program at the National Institutes of Health.

The program selects a cohort of first-year undergraduate students who are interested in bioengineering and biomedical research. Each cohort of students completes a two-year paid program that has activities and research at CSUSM and UCSD. Students participate in the program from the summer before starting at CSUSM through the summer after their second academic year. The goal of the program is to enhance the diversity of the biomedical research workforce.

During their first academic year, students are connected with faculty and advanced students to learn about campus research projects. During that summer, they will do an extended group research project with their cohort to help introduce them to bioengineering research. The summer after their second academic year, they join a professor at CSUSM or UCSD for an individual research opportunity. During the final summer, students are paid $2,000 to conduct their own research projects with faculty from CSUSM or UCSD and present in the CSUSM Summer Poster Showcase.

“We did a lot in the program,” Rutkowski said. “Usually every week, we dedicated a certain amount of time to learn some kind of practical techniques and applications in the lab that you might see.

“We did fluorescent imaging of breast cells and we gained familiarity with techniques such as pipetting. We also did welding, which was something I'd never experienced before.”

Students also attended the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists. While attending the conference, students get to hear presentations from a variety of other students and professionals in the field. 

“The conference essentially gave me a lot of exposure to what you should be seeing as a scientist,” Rutkowski said. “Overall, I would say it was a very good experience to see what a scientist can become and the introduction to it.”

Exposure and opening opportunities are top priorities for the BEARS program.

“It definitely gears you toward getting into another program, especially if you have ambitions of a master's or a Ph.D.” said Rutkowski, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. after graduation. “It sets you up for that trajectory, just getting to know the people in the CTREE (Center for Training, Research, and Educational Excellence) community that was like my gateway.”

Following her involvement in the BEARS program, Rutkowski is a part of the U-RISE, which is intended to prepare talented and motivated minority undergraduate students majoring in the sciences to enter and succeed in doctoral studies. 

“I'm very grateful for the opportunity and the community itself,” Rutkowski said, "Everyone is extremely supportive. All of the coordinators, Dr. Luna and Dr. Brown, are very open to talk to you and get you the help and support you need as are the people I met there. So you start to develop friendships with these people and you see them in your classes. There's people I still talk to from that cohort.”

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Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

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Brown, who joined the faculty in  2002, researches various aspects of conservation, restoration and physiological ecology of vertebrates with a focus on native reptiles. The nomination lauded her for bringing enthusiasm for science into the classroom. It also noted her work in providing advancement opportunities for students through research training grants, especially those designed to increase diversity, and she co-developed and directs CSUSM's Wildfire Science and the Urban Interface bachelor's degree program.

For the past decade, Brown has also been involved with or been co-principal investigator on CSUSM’s NIH Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program that connects underrepresented community college transfer students with biomedical research labs and activities at the university and other local research organizations to ensure they successfully bridge to a four-year institution.

Garcia, who joined the faculty in 1996, focuses on genetics using molecular tools, with research interests in genome restructuring after viral pathogenesis and genetic factors controlling important traits in animals. She is principal investigator and director of the NIH Bridges to the Future Program and principal investigator and director of the McNair Scholars Program. Both programs provide professional development and support to students from underrepresented backgrounds to help them succeed and prepare for careers in their fields.

Garcia is part of the writing and leadership team for the successful HHMI Inclusive Excellence Grant, for which she runs a yearlong STEM Faculty Learning Community that brings knowledge of active learning strategies in STEM. She is also director of the Center for Training, Research, and Educational Excellence (CTREE).

Growing up, Tulloch spent most of her summers and free time at Cal State San Marcos, either tagging along with her mom at work, running through the halls or volunteering.  

Tulloch’s mom, Tricia Henlon, is an alumna of CSUSM’s class of 1995 and now works as the budget and operations manager for the Extended Learning Building. As such a longstanding member of the campus community, she got to see it grow exponentially while raising her daughter.  

“My mom was here back when signups for the school were in the Jerome’s parking lot,” Tulloch said. “It’s been cool to kind of compare and contrast her experience to mine. When the time came to choose where to go for my bachelor's, I already had such a strong connection to the campus, it was an easy decision to follow in my mom’s footsteps.”  

In 2019, 24 years after her mom graduated, Tulloch enrolled at Cal State San Marcos to study biology.  

Tulloch had gained interest in the sciences at an early age. The world of medicine and healing sounded fascinating to her, and she was eager to learn more about the field alongside those who shared her passion.  

Unfortunately, the first half of her college career was derailed due to the pandemic. Opportunities to connect with peers and join organizations were stilted, and Tulloch found herself feeling removed from a sense of community with everything moved to online. 

“I didn’t really know anyone who was interested in medicine or similar things,” said Tulloch. “I also didn’t know how to put myself out there or have anyone to guide me, so it felt hard for me to get involved.” 

As the pandemic progressed and Tulloch reached her sophomore year, she decided to take action and carve out her own path to meet other students on the medical track. She joined the Pre-Health Society as event coordinator, hosting beach clean-ups and setting up workshops to make baby blankets for sick children. With each event, Tulloch built connections with her peers and recognized how others felt similarly disconnected to the community after the pandemic. This inspired her to become a student liaison to mentor other members and raise camaraderie within the organization.  

Thriving in her leadership roles, Tulloch felt ready to tackle her next challenge and became president of the Pre-Health Society for the 2022-23 school year. Handling communications and brainstorming ideas to expand the club’s reach, Tulloch put together the event she is most proud of, a panel of UC San Diego School of Medicine students who shared their experiences and advice with CSUSM students.  

“Growing the pre-medical space on campus has been so important to me these past years,” Tulloch said. “We’re a small but mighty community, and I think it’s so important to create a space for students where they can come in and nurture their passions in an environment that feels safe and supportive.”  

Tulloch helped students identify and guide their interests in other organizations, as well. Understanding the importance of mentorship and thinking about what she wished she knew early on in her education journey, Tulloch joined the leadership team for the Student Healthcare Readiness Program. This program works with high school students interested in studying medicine and offers them support to ensure they start college feeling confident and prepared. 

“It’s such an awesome feeling to know that you can have a positive effect on somebody,” Tulloch said. “Seeing potential in someone that they haven’t quite yet seen in themselves and pulling it out of them and watching their confidence grow is something I can’t even put into words. I love it.”  

As Tulloch expanded her community with each new mentee and peer, she also developed her research skills and real-world experience with medicine.  

She conducted research studies alongside biology professors Julie Jameson and Elinne Becket and has presented at national conferences. She also became treasurer of the Flying Samaritans, a club on campus that hosts a free clinic in Mexico and offers checkups to residents who face barriers accessing health care.  

“If you had asked me if I would be doing research or getting involved in such exciting things when I first started college, I would have laughed at you,” Tulloch said. “I think I’ve done more than I ever expected to, and that’s an amazing feeling to have.”  

This spring, Tulloch, who was named the CSTEM Dean's Outstanding Graduate for her academic and service accomplishments, graduated with a bachelor’s in biology and minor in public health. She is looking forward to pursuing medical school, and currently she is working as a medical assistant at Scripps Medical Center and practicing pediatrics and adult medicine.  

“As I watched Patty grow into a beautiful young lady who has always wanted to be a doctor, she has faced challenges with grace, embraced opportunities with courage and pursued her dreams with hard work, perseverance and dedication,” Henlon said. “I am so proud of her.” 

Tulloch considers her experiences at CSUSM and the support of her mom to be what have shaped her into the person that she is today.  

“Since I was little, my mom has told me I can be whatever I want to be, and I think her unwavering belief and confidence has always left me sure that I can do anything I set my mind to,” Tulloch said. “She is the blueprint for me. She is my best friend, my biggest supporter and the best person I know. 

“Being raised by her and growing up around the Extended Learning staff and the deans over there, has truly been some of the best mentorship for me.”  

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Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

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While not fond of them, Jocelyne musters up the courage to walk past the tarantulas to her lab station where she works with her own animals – caterpillars. 

Although Jocelyne spends multiple days in the lab working with these insects, she has not always felt confident around them. In fact, she was scared of them. Facing her fears, Jocelyne has learned how to thrive, overcoming challenges while striving for a career that will support her family. 

Jocelyne has stood out to her instructors at Cal State San Marcos. A master’s of biological sciences student, Jocelyne was selected this month as the recipient of the President's Outstanding Graduate Award, the highest honor a graduating student can receive. She also received the Dean’s Award for Graduate Studies, which recognizes the accomplishments of one master’s student.

To qualify for the President's Outstanding Graduate Award, a student must show outstanding achievement in multiple areas such as academics, professional and service activities. Jocelyne has gone above and beyond when it comes to these requirements, and her journey, while not easy, has paid off.

Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Jocelyne started her postsecondary education in Illinois at Parkland College where she received an associate degree. Jocelyne moved with her children and then-husband to California, where she started attending CSUSM to pursue her undergraduate in biology.  

Right before starting at CSUSM, Jocelyne and her husband divorced. As a single mother of three kids, balancing being a student and a parenthood has its fair share of challenges. 

“Undergrad is a set schedule,” Jocelyne said. “It doesn’t anticipate parent-teacher conferences or a kid being sick. I don’t have a lot of the freedoms other students have. A teenager has no less energy than a 2 year old but they're still navigating high school and choosing a college and how to buy a car and get a loan. A lot of emphasis is put on having little kids and thinking that once they reach school age you can navigate anything, but it's really not the case.”

Not only did Jocelyne have to learn to anticipate the unexpected, she often went without some things many people in their academic journey had access to.

“Childcare was $30 an hour and I made $14 at the time,” Jocelyne said. “So a lot of times we got free food on campus. There were times where we had to take advantage of something or go without. I didn’t have any resources, so I did most of it solo.” 

Jocelyne said the most challenging part is balancing.

“You've got multiple roles as mom and dad, and there's not a whole lot of positive storylines about single parents,” she said. “Usually the first line of everything is ‘single parent, broken home’ or the story is ‘They've done well, despite growing up in a single-parent household.’ 

“Our house is not broken. We have a ton of fun, but it's a balancing act.”

Not only does Jocelyne have a great relationship with her kids – she has sons who are 22 and 19 and a daughter who is 14 –  but she has gained skills that have transferred over to her journey in grad school and the science community. 

“All the skills I have as a single parent transferred directly into grad school,” Jocelyne said. “Things like multitasking, organizing a schedule, planning ahead and anticipating the inevitable. So, unlike a lot of people, grad school has been a breeze. I love it. I think it's just ideal for an adult who's already had to adult a little bit.” 

Jocelyne credits much of her success to the mentors she met at CSUSM. Not only did professor emerita Linda Pershing play a critical role during Jocelyne’s undergraduate journey, but so does her current adviser, biology professor Dennis Kolosov. 

“He’s just been great,” Jocelyne said. “It’s very much a family in his lab.” 

Jocelyne’s work in Kolosov’s lab has focused on caterpillars. She studies their kidneys, which function much differently than in a human. 

“And caterpillars, I always say, are a lot like my teenagers – they literally eat everything, nothing's toxic,” she said.

Jocelyne also brings her knowledge from the lab into the community around her to inspire young scientists. Her neighbor has a 5 year old who loves science, so Jocelyne and other neighborhood kids go to the park for “Science at the Park” sessions.

Next up for Jocelyne is continuing with her education. Jocelyne was accepted to 12 Ph.D. programs, and involved her kids in the process for every step of the way. 

“I made the decision with them because it was going to involve a move, and they're going to be along for the ride so they have a say,” she said. “We were all in the kitchen together when we clicked the ‘I accept’ button, and we did it together.”

They clicked accept on Vanderbilt’s offer, and she will begin classes in the fall. While there, Jocelyne will begin working with multiple species of animals such as mosquitos, beetles and treefrogs. 

“We struggled for a really long time,” she said. “So it's nice to have something outside of just being a mom that I can do. There's no yearly review for being a mom. You don't get a raise, there's no report card. So sometimes it's nice to have something outside that's tangible. It's been difficult, but I wouldn't have it any other way. They've been phenomenal."

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Datta, who will graduate from Cal State San Marcos with their master’s in biological sciences this May, has worked to overcome challenges with imposter syndrome and their own diagnosis of a disability a few years ago. Now they’re working to help others battling disabilities.

Datta has worked in several different places to fuel their experience at CSUSM, including helping with multiple biology courses, serving as graduate mentor for the Summer Scholars program and working as a tutor.

Those efforts have paid off. Last fall, Datta won the CSUSM Social Innovation Challenge and in January they won the Crellin Pauling Student Teaching Award.

“I always liked learning,” said Datta, who uses they/them pronouns. “Every class that I took added a lens in terms of how I see the world. I see a leaf and I see all of its different parts and I see the physics and the chemistry that comes together to make it, and it's a wonderful thing.”

Datta enrolled at CSUSM for graduate school after earning their bachelor’s from UC Davis for multiple reasons, including access to faculty who does research in their field and CSUSM’s proximity to their family.

“I’m a person with disabilities and I’m from San Diego,” they said. “My entire family is here and I needed that support system.”

Datta studies how to make higher education (particularly STEM) classrooms more accessible for students with disabilities. 

Currently a peer mentor in STEM, Datta has been interested in both the fields of STEM and education since they were a young teenager. Since this initial interest, Datta has taken on several roles that gave them experience and made them more well rounded as an educator.

“Exposure to different types of people’s experiences helps you understand how to be more empathetic and kind toward them as a person,” Datta said. “You realize these things that you might never experience and you start to notice those factors and begin to recognize the telltale signs of people struggling or needing help and recognize that better in the future.”

Datta produced an impressive project for CSUSM’s Social Innovation Challenge, an ideation competition in which students compete to solve real-world problems.

“My thesis is on how closed captioning affects the academic experiences of students with disabilities and STEM classrooms,” Datta said. “My business proposal was on how we can integrate that realistically and logically into higher education.”

Datta’s project has been in the works since their senior year of undergrad, stemming from an honors thesis during COVID when they saw how the pandemic affected people with chronic and physical disabilities and neurodivergent challenges. Some of their friends did not adjust well to the new climate while others (like Datta) thrived in an online learning environment.

The project has continued to grow. Datta has conducted extensive research and found ways to help students, including through recorded lectures with captions. Datta then looked for ways to get the project into action.

But Datta knows that change is slow.

“I had sections in my proposal for what we should do if my proposal wouldn't work, because I recognized that it was too ideal,” Datta said. “I want to get these resources universally implemented into as many institutions as possible, and that is a lot of money and a lot of coordination. With the amount of cooperation required, it's hard.” 

Datta had to use a deeper-level thinking process, focusing on whether institutions even had the resources needed to put their plan to action and whether it was equitable to ask instructors to do these tasks. 

As the first-place winner, Datta was awarded $500 and an opportunity to share their project, build their resume and get involved in networking. 

Datta cares deeply about making education accessible. They not only have their winning social innovation project, they also have been a graduate teaching assistant for over a year instructing labs, holding office hours and developing tools for their students to succeed. 

Beyond just the logistical roles of being an educator, Datta really stands out in the impression they leave on their students - being real. 

“I had a student tell me, ‘You’re like the first human professor I’ve had,’ ” Datta said. “I make mistakes and I have difficult days. I joke with my students and share struggles I had when learning the same materials and taking the same classes.” 

When students are learning a difficult subject or in a difficult class, honesty and relatability from their teachers can make a world of difference. Instead of being discouraged, students are more likely to improve, leading them to thrive. Datta also urges their students to find a healthy balance.

“I always encourage my students to prioritize their mental health,” Datta said, “but get the degree, do whatever you have to do, keep your head down. Take your time, but get the degree.” 

Not only have Datta’s students recognized their hard work, but so has their mentor, biology professor Mallory Rice.

“They care deeply about not only improving the experiences of students in their own classroom, but all students that cross their path,” Rice said. “Poorvi’s advocacy has even had a profound impact on my teaching and influenced me to integrate practices into my own classroom to improve students’ experiences.”

In January, Datta won the Crellin Pauling Student Teaching Award, which acknowledges those who show student teaching achievement in the field of biotechnology. The award branches across to students from any CSU, yet only two are selected. Winners received $2,000 and an invitation to attend the CSU Biotechnology Symposium. Datta’s acceptance speech had a strong impact on the audience.

 “I had so many people coming up to me and telling me about it when I had this moment, where I realized words have power,” Datta said, “I spoke for three minutes and impacted people in a way that's really significant and meaningful, and that was eye-opening for me.  

“Receiving this award means a lot. I put in so much work and I care so much about my students. Having your work recognized when you have imposter syndrome, that type of external validation can be very significant.”

As someone who deals with disabilities themselves, Datta understands the challenges that one goes through and incorporates these experiences into their teachings.

“I have a lot of flexibility with my students, and I also ask my students to be flexible with me,” Datta said, “The most important advice I would give to any student with disabilities is to spend less time thinking about how to fix yourself, assuming that you're broken, and spend more time trying to figure out how to be compassionate to yourself and how you can succeed because you deserve it.” 

Datta was recently admitted to the integrated life sciences Ph.D. program at the University of Georgia for the fall and intends to pursue a doctorate in neuroscience. Their ultimate goal is to become a teaching professor of biology. This career would allow Datta to continue their research and develop evidence-based recommendations that would help institutions retain more students with disabilities in STEM.

 After spending years of their life learning how to adapt to and grow through challenges, Datta wants to share their understanding with others.

“Sometimes situations can be unfair and it’s not your fault,” Datta said, “Being kind to yourself and giving yourself the space to be human and asking for things you need from the people you feel safe asking from will always yield you success because you deserve it, and all of us are capable of being successful.” 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

While 8-year-old Gideon’s spelling was a bit off, her desire to be a scientist came through loud and clear — and stayed with her throughout her elementary, middle and high school years. When it came time to pursue a bachelor’s degree, Gideon knew the path she wanted to take, and that path led her to Cal State San Marcos.  

“I have always loved biology and the niches of the subject,” Gideon said. “I love researching animals and discovering how they affect our world. It’s something I truly have a passion for.” 

Attending school in the San Diego area was essential for Gideon as her twin sister was attending UC San Diego and her grandmother wanted them to be near each other. Family is an important value to Gideon; one she credits originating from her grandmother. After all, it was her grandmother who took in 13-year-old Gideon and her three sisters when they became foster youth. 

“I never met my father, and my mother was experiencing mental health problems at the time, so my grandmother raised us four girls,” Gideon said. 

As a first-generation college student and former foster youth, Gideon’s adjustment to college life was anything but smooth sailing. She found herself facing failure, financial stress and strong fear of her peers and professors learning of her foster youth background. 

“I was ashamed when people asked questions,” Gideon said. “It’s hard to talk about things that hurt you, you know, especially when there’s such a stigma that comes with being a foster youth. I had to swallow my pride and accept it as being part of my journey.” 

Looking for support, Gideon explored a variety of campus resources and built close relationships with staff and faculty members. It was them who introduced Gideon to the Center for Training, Research and Educational Excellence (CTREE), a program designed to provide research and educational opportunities to students of marginalized groups. Through CTREE, Gideon conducts research alongside her mentor, professor of biological sciences Dennis Kolosov, and presents findings at conferences. 

“A lot of my science identity has been built by the people in my lab,” Gideon said. “The professors here are really good people and care about shaping students and getting those wheels turning in your head.” 

As Gideon continued to grow in the program, she found herself eager to expand her leadership skills. Her fellow peers recognized her devotion to the campus community and voted her in as the ASI representative of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In this position, she expresses student needs and collaborates with the dean to enhance the student experience. 

To Gideon, her passion for biology encompasses advocating for Black education. As a Black woman, she has experienced cases of racial discrimination and ignorance throughout her life. However, she is determined to transform these hurdles into steppingstones. 

“It’s a thing I have learned to leverage,” Gideon said. “My professors know when I miss class, they know my name, they remember me and sometimes that leads to them reaching out. As the only Black student, it’s hard to miss me.        

“Anytime I experience microaggressive comments, I have learned to build my armor and be confident in who I am. I will not let it tear me down.” 

Indeed, she lets it make her stronger. By using the tools in her arsenal, Gideon is sharing her story and striving to make a difference on campus. She joined the National Society of Black Engineers, founded the club Black in Stem and works as a peer mentor at the Black Student Center. In each of these roles, she is carving out a space for Black students to have a voice and increase chances of success. 

As a prominent leader in the campus community, Gideon serves as a role model not only to her peers but also to her two younger sisters, each of whom followed in her footsteps and are now attending CSUSM.

“My sisters, grandmother and mother, who overcame her own life challenges, are my biggest supporters," Gideon said. "They make up my village and are the greatest cheerleaders. I am so grateful to all of my loved ones for supporting me throughout my academic journey.”

It was also Gideon’s hard work and determination that led her to this semester, where she will be graduating and heading to UC Irvine to earn a doctorate in immunology.  

The challenges Gideon encountered shaped her into the person she is today, someone who values community over all else and is dedicated to increasing resources in the education system for students who experience adversity like she did.

“Seeing the stereotypes about foster youth and how the statistics just get smaller and smaller for us when it comes to attending college and graduating, and on top of being Black, you carry so much baggage,” Gideon said. “The statistics are against you.”

“But I know what it’s like to persevere. Each time I have fallen, I have gotten back up. I crawled, walked and ran the whole way to this degree, and I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who helped me get to this point.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

The other winners were from Yale, Cornell and MIT.

To be selected for the award, Brown had to shine in an applicant pool of more than 350, the largest number of submissions in the four-year history of the award. The honor includes sharing a young Black scientist's story and their future goals. Brown’s article, published in “Cell Press” on Feb. 15, details how he pushed through his past with an admirable goal to decrease medical distrust among underrepresented groups.

Brown writes how he became interested in science and medicine after a trip to the ICU in his childhood. He suffered from ventricular tachycardia, a heart condition in which the lower chambers of the heart beat quickly, and had to undergo heart surgery to help fix the issues.

Since this life-altering experience in the ICU, Brown has worked in several different avenues of medicine, including research at California's Institute for Regenerative Medicine BRIDGES internship, where he studied full time for a year in the neuroscience lab. He later worked on his own project centered on Alzheimer's disease. For that research, Brown said he “worked toward better understanding synaptic development of stem cell-induced neurons across various genotypes that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.”

The main goal of Brown's project was to “see if genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease had any effect on the growth and maturation of developing neurons.”

Brown’s experience on the project helped him grow his passion for medicine. He used this passion to work with a mentorship program that helped aspiring STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine) majors with the high school-to-college transition process. He also built a tutoring company that has since helped several students pass their organic chemistry classes.

Brown took his passion for science and medicine abroad, continuing his studies in Lisbon, Portugal, where he worked at another neuroscience lab. There, his research “explored the effects of a genetic mutation in the cerebellum.” Using a mouse model, Brown was able to show that, “a single point mutation in a single gene produced deficiencies in learning and memory.” Brown is aiming to find breakthroughs in medicine that will be beneficial in the treatment of disease in underrepresented groups.

After all of the challenges Brown has overcome, he is grateful for this award recognition.

“This award helps me grapple with the idea that I belong here; I am where I’m supposed to be,” Brown said. “I am humbled by the recognition of my hard work and truly honored to have an entity like Cell acknowledge my potential.”

Brown, who is currently applying to Ph.D. programs, plans to continue striving to leave a positive impact on the world with his research and accomplishments that help others.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

The manuscript “Massive contractions of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2-associated CCTG tetranucleotide repeats occur via double strand break repair with distinct requirements for DNA helicases” was published by Oxford University Press in the scientific journal G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics in early November. 

The research analyzed the disease myotonic dystrophy type 2, which is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness. To conduct the study, Kim and her students used yeast to investigate the CCTG DNA repeats that are responsible for the disease. Yeast is commonly used by biologists and geneticists because the cells replicate their DNA similarly to human cells. 

“Even though DNA repeats associated with human disease have been studied for 20-plus years, this was the first study that investigated CCTG DNA repeats in a system that mimics the human situation where the repeats are on a chromosome,” Kim said. 

“I think what's exciting is that this was the first comprehensive genetic analysis of these CCTG repeats. And we were able to pinpoint genes that are involved in contractions. Then we were also able to show that these repeats, when they're long, are actually more susceptible to breaking.” 

Kim started the research in 2017 while doing postdoctoral work at Tufts University in Boston and brought it to CSUSM when she became a professor.

“The pandemic definitely slowed things down a lot,” Kim said. “In 2020, we were at peak productivity. It felt like we were just a few months away from publishing at that point. Then the labs were basically shut down completely from March to about November.”

The amount of time that Kim and the students could be in the lab was limited, but the research started picking up once pandemic restrictions were lifted. The project took a total of five years to finish. 

“It feels like such an accomplishment,” Kim said. “I'm just so proud of the work scientifically and also the student contributions to the work. When I see the author list, I'm just very proud that each name represents an individual academic journey.”

Kim’s former students involved in the project are David Papp, Luis Hernandez, Theresa Mai, Terrance Haanen, Meghan O’Donnell, Ariel Duran, Sophia Hernandez, Jenni Narvanto, Berenice Arguello and Marvin O. Onwukwe. 

Media Contact

Bri Phillips, Communications Specialist 

bphillips@csusm.edu 

Nature is a highly selective scientific journal, meaning only about 8% of the articles submitted are selected for publication.

Nigenda-Morales’ research focuses on two different fin whale populations from the Eastern North Pacific and Gulf of California. The article describes the severe impact of whaling and migration on fin whale populations by investigating demographic history and using genome-based analyses.

“During the 20^th century, industrial whaling significantly decreased the populations of many great whale species, with the fin whale being among the most affected,” Nigenda-Morales said.

After conducting genetic studies to analyze whole genomes, they found that the Eastern North Pacific fin whale population was severely impacted by whaling. The genomic testing indicated that the population was once much larger than previous ecological studies suggested. The article highlights the discovery of “a 99% reduction in the effective population size for the fin whale population in the Eastern North Pacific (from the coast of Alaska to California), which contradicts what was previously thought of as a reduction of around 70%.”

Nigenda-Morales and his fellow researchers also studied the Gulf of California fin whale population “that has remained small and isolated for 16,000 years, resulting in inbreeding which has led to an accumulation of harmful genetic variants that could negatively affect the long-term survival of this population.” Although this population of fin whale were not impacted by industrial whaling, their isolated migration patterns has put them at risk for extinction.

“Our study exposes the severity of whaling, emphasizes the importance of migration between populations, and demonstrates the usefulness of genome-based analyses for informing conservation strategies,” Nigenda-Morales said.

Honorees were nominated by faculty or staff and endorsed by their college’s dean. Here is a closer look at each award recipient:

Aidelen Montoya, special major in studio art, museum studies, and theory 

President’s Outstanding Graduate 

Dean’s Award, College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences 

Montoya’s degree program only scratches the surface of her interdisciplinary and community-engaged accomplishments. She was selected as one of nine students of color in the Planet Mentorship pilot in which she conducted research resulting in a beaded data visualization that addresses environmental issues through a social justice lens.  

Nominating professor Lucy HG Solomon noted that the quality of this presentation led to her inviting Montoya to join a prestigious residency on Volcan Mountain where they held a public exhibition of her work.  

Montoya integrates themes of climate justice into her art. Through her research and creative activities, she crosses boundaries between physical sciences and the arts with a mind for practical situations such as improving museum sustainability and K-12 education. 

Kianni Albrecht, Master of Social Work 

Dean’s Award, College of Education, Health and Human Services 

Albrecht has dedicated her career to serving the veteran community. She grew up in a military family and was able to see firsthand the necessity of trauma-informed and culturally sensitive mental health services. She interned at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare Systems where she served veterans who have been impacted by the vulnerabilities of marginalized and systemic disparities.  

To address this issue on a larger scale, Albrecht and her father have coordinated presentations at local, national and global conferences, which provide both a social worker perspective and the veteran’s perspective to help reduce stigma and encourage awareness of mental health resources for the treatment of PTSD.  

Albrecht pursued many leadership opportunities during her time at CSUSM, including vice president of the Social Work Coalition and representing the university at the National Association of Social Workers-CA Lobby Days where she spoke with policymakers to advocate for legislation that aligns with the values of the social work profession.  

Serena Farrell, biological sciences 

Dean’s Award, College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 

A first-generation college student, Farrell has overcome every hurdle in her path as she worked to earn money to support her education, ran long distance on both the cross country and track teams, engaged in research that earned recognition at CSUSM and nationally, and served in countless leadership roles, including as the CTSEM representative to ASI.  

At CSUSM, Farrell not only found mentors, but she also worked hard to find every opportunity she could to reach back and be that positive voice for others. Farrell has provided CSUSM’s student body with career-advancing workshops, opportunities and panels. In the last year, Farrell has helped organize a career panel and a Women in STEM panel.  

Farrell is also a URISE scholar in the Center for Training, Research, and Educational Excellence where she has further demonstrated her commitment to her education and research while mentoring the next generation of scientists from historically underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. 

Learn more about Farrell here.

Jennifer Figueroa, master’s psychological science 

Dean’s Award, Graduate Studies 

A first-generation Ecuadorian American college student from a low-income background, Figueroa has demonstrated outstanding achievements throughout her time at CSUSM. She has achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.82, successfully defended her master’s thesis and trained new members of her research team.  

During her time in the master’s program Figueroa has amassed several research achievements, including one first-author publication, three first-author conference presentations, and four co-author conference presentations. 

Nominating professor Haylee DeLuca Bishop noted that Figueroa’s achievements are outstanding for someone so early in their career and they reflect her initiative and intellectual curiosity.  

Rachel Jackson, business administration, management  

Gerevas Family Dean’s Award, College of Business Administration 

Jackson’s considerable contributions have been essential to the rebuilding of an active student community in CoBA and across CSUSM amid the return to an on-campus, post-pandemic environment. Her officer positions in CoBA Management Society alongside her membership in CoBA’s new Dean’s Student Advisory Council has helped build relationships with the external community for meaningful society-community events.  

Jackson assisted in a meeting with a Fortune 500 company, and the representatives specifically mentioned her as having a positive impact on their decision to move the new relationship forward which helped to create employment opportunities for CoBA students. 

Nominating professor Catalin Ratiu highlighted Jackson’s energy and charisma, noting that she has helped the college in many ways. Through her active participation and strong leadership, Jackson has contributed to creating a sense of belonging and support within the CoBA community.  

Ilianna Ramirez, psychological sciences 

Dean’s Award, Dean of Students 

Ramirez has made lasting contributions to student life at CSUSM through her many involvements, including the ASI Board of Directors, President of the American Indian Student Alliance, Arts & Lectures and her work with the Anti-Racism, Anti-Colonialism, Social Justice Committee. 

Ramirez took her experience one step further through an internship student teaching at her community college where she is creating a pathway for others and laying the foundation for her future career as a college professor. 

Ramirez has strived to help create a sense of belonging at CSUSM. She utilizes her ability to empathize with others who have experiences different from hers to create connections not only within the American Indian Student Alliance but also with other student life areas. 

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Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Her active, impactful work has earned Farrell the 2023 CSTEM Dean's Outstanding Graduate Award. During her time on campus, Farrell has held many roles, including a founding member of Dennis Kolosov’s lab, an undergraduate mentor, a summer scholar, U-RISE scholar, a voice for change as an Associated Students Inc. (ASI) leader and a student-athlete, team manager and student-athlete advisory council representative for cross country and track and field. 

In each curricular and extracurricular task she juggled, she quickly became known among peers and mentors as a leader who goes above and beyond, is not afraid to rally for change, and enthusiastically gives others a sense of belonging.

“Since joining my lab, Serena has demonstrated countless times that her enthusiasm does not stop at bench research,” Kolosov said. “In the past two years, Serena has served the CSUSM community in several leadership service roles, standing out for her ability to work collaboratively (and an) infectious way of sharing her knowledge and passions.” 

A love for animals, problem-solving and “Grey’s Anatomy” led Farrell to pursue an undergraduate degree in biological sciences, and it was through conducting research in the Kolosov lab that she found an unparalleled level of support. 

“The kind of methodology that Serena has established and mastered in the Kolosov lab requires manual dexterity, sterile technique, and microscope skills rivaling that of a neurosurgeon,” Kolosov said. 

In his lab, she primarily tackles issues related to mosquito larvae. Mosquitos are moving close to coasts and becoming native to a number of areas they were invasive to only a couple of years ago.  This is an issue because they can carry a substantial number of infectious diseases, such as the West Nile Virus, malaria, yellow fever, the Zika virus, etc. Currently there isn’t much exposure to these diseases in California. However, the more mosquitos that come to an area and acclimate, the higher the chance of exposure. Thus, it becomes crucial to control the population.  

Farrell is working toward this goal by researching how mosquitos acclimate so well – a theory she believes would lie in how excretion works in mosquito larvae.  

“Voltage-gated ion channels are integral membrane proteins famous for their function in excitable tissues of animals (e.g. muscles and nerves). They’re what enables individuals to catch a baseball which is about to hit their face, just in time to stop it,” Kolosov said. 

Kolosov’s research has recently shown that many of these channels are found in non-excitable non-contractile epithelia of animals, including the epithelial tissues of mosquito larvae called Malpighian tubules (mosquito version of the kidney) and anal papillae (mosquito version of the gill). These channels help mosquitos maintain salt and water balance in the face of changing environmental salinity using their kidneys and gills, but this process could be impacted by an environment’s salinity.  

Through her tireless work in the lab, Farrell has seen that mosquitos can maintain their salt and water balance in different salinity levels with the help of voltage-gated ion channels found in their epithelia.  

“If we can find channels that would help in this ion transport, we can try to either block or activate these channels,” Farrell said. “This would help us see if it could shut down the ability for the mosquitos to acclimate … and prevent them from spreading to more saline habitats in the future.” 

Farrell’s research with molecular biology was an opportunity she did not expect to have in an animal physiology lab. This rare opportunity has been paired with two others: the chance to complete this research herself from start to finish and be the first author on the research manuscript, which she hopes to have published before graduating. Both accomplishments are especially uncommon for STEM undergraduates. 

Once published, any scientist will have the chance to reference Farrell and Kolosov’s research, then use the findings as preliminary data for their own research. And because there isn’t much known about how voltage-gated ion channels function in epithelia, the manuscript has the potential to impact a lot of research in the future.   

Outside of the lab, Farrell also pours herself into service for ASI. As the college-wide CSTEM representative leader, she is often the sole representation for students on committees comprised primarily of faculty and staff. Farrell uses her position on these committees to advocate for diversity within the university and CSTEM. She’s worked with CSTEM Dean Jackie Trischman to provide safe spaces for students through events like Embrace Equity in STEM, which allowed students to learn from current industry leaders about the challenges they may have faced as a female in the field.

“At times, it's hard to find a support system within our college and to want to continue with the degree because (historically, there’s been a lack of) representation of women in the field,” Farrell said. “Through talking to Trischman, the provost and the ASI Board of Directors, I’ve realized that diversity is a really important because people need to be able to see themselves in their dream position. 

“The people who are going to make change ultimately is going to be the people who haven't felt change.”  

Farrell plans to continue sparking change in her next chapter of life: a Ph.D. program at Texas A&M University, where she plans to study ecology and conduct research on grasshoppers. She credits the acceptance into the program to the support of the Center for Training, Research and Educational Excellence (CTREE), where many late nights, computer charges and coffee breaks in the pursuit of admittance led to the opportunity to transform her passion into a career. 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

But during the pandemic, the team stopped competing competitively, and it changed the trajectory of Castellanos’ plans for her future career. Castellanos started to prioritize her coursework, and her interest in biotechnology started to grow, which ultimately led to her leaving the golf team. 

“I was very lucky to find my interest in biotechnology, and the pandemic allowed me to transition into doing research now,” Castellanos said. “But I still golf. I love it. I think from a very young age, I was interested in the field of medicine and I think I didn't know what that meant at the time. But being able to get exposed to some of the classes, as well as talking to faculty, I was able to understand that my interests align with bioengineering and biotechnology.”

Castellanos was recognized in the summer of 2021 as one of 11 students in the CSU to receive the CSUPERB President’s Commission Scholar, which is a program to help financially support undergraduate students conducting research in the biotechnology field. Castellanos also visited Tokyo in January as part of a Bioscience Beyond the Borders course where she attended labs and lectures and visited various STEM industries. 

Castellanos learned about the President’s Commission scholarship from one of her professors, but they didn’t have enough space for a lab. Castellanos expressed her interest in the biotechnology field to biology professor Carlos Luna Lopez, and he happily agreed to support her research and grant for the President’s Commission Scholar program. 

Castellanos moved back home to Tijuana to be with her family during the pandemic. She still came to campus to attend Lopez’s lab, but she would have to leave home an extra hour early to cross the border to get there on time. 

“I was excited to do this research grant with him,” Castellanos said. “I worked hand in hand with him writing the grant, and we got it. Then I started doing my work in this lab. The research specifically for the grant was to study cancer metastasis, specifically breast cancer.” 

Since receiving the honor, Castellanos has worked with Lopez ever since. Together, they fabricated microfluidic devices to study the formation of 3D cellular spheroids to help understand cancer cells.

“Gilda is an amazing student with an unrelenting drive to succeed,” Lopez said. “Her positive attitude, strong work ethic and dedication are contagious and serve as an example to what our undergraduate students can achieve. She approached college with a career-focused mindset and was willing to put in the hard work necessary to go into a top three graduate school in bioengineering.” 

Castellanos’ hard work and dedication has landed her a spot in UC San Diego’s graduate program where she plans to study tissue engineering.

“I know that if I didn’t receive the grant or networked with the professors or met Dr. Lopez, I think it wouldn't be possible to get into UCSD,” she said. “My life definitely changed when I stopped playing golf and prioritized that as my career. It was a big loss in my life. But golf really helped me transition to my new pathway.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Green has been singing since she was 4 years old, but her family figured it was just a phase. They soon realized her voice was impressive for her young age, and her mother put her in singing lessons when she was in the fifth grade.

Green auditioned for “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice” on Zoom early in the pandemic, but she didn’t get the chance to move forward in the process.

But Green never gave up on her dream, and her resilience paid off last fall when she auditioned for “American Idol” in front of producers online. 

“I was driving back to San Marcos from my brother’s football game when I got the call that I would be able to audition in front of the judges,” Green said.

Green, a third-year biological sciences student at Cal State San Marcos, traveled to Las Vegas last September to sing before celebrity judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie for a chance to compete on “American Idol.” 

“The producers gave me great feedback and everything before I auditioned in front of the judges,” Green said. “I felt really good, but I was also super nervous because there were other contestants waiting outside and they could hear you.”

Green performed “Cry Pretty” by Carrie Underwood for the judges. While Bryan questioned the emotions of Green’s performance, Perry and Richie enthusiastically endorsed giving her the “golden ticket” that allowed her to advance to the next stage of the competition.

Although Green was sent home after her performance during Hollywood Week, she will never forget the experience as she continues to pursue her passion for singing. 

“Even though the experience didn't go my way in the end, I feel like Hollywood Week was great because I know what I need to work on and what the judges are looking for,” Green said. “I learned from the judges that I need to feel the emotion in the song and let yourself be in the moment. It's funny that the judges noticed that because my singing teacher says the same thing. It’s just something I've been trying to work on, but it's been getting better.” 

Green is implementing this feedback into her own songwriting and music. Earlier this year, Green put out her first single, “Point of View,” on Spotify. The song highlights the struggles of growing up with divorced parents. 

“It was a little hard at first because I had never written any songs before,” Green said. “I had tried to when I was younger, but it was never about how I was feeling. I am working on another song right now, and I’m hoping to write more when I have more time in the summer.” 

Green chose to attend CSUSM not to study music, but to pursue another passion. She has always been fascinated by true crime, and she decided to major in biological sciences so she can one day become a coroner. Green plans to find a crime scene cleanup job to gather more experience before she graduates next year, and she is also considering graduate school. 

“Singing will always be a big part of my life,” Green said. “I’m hopeful it will take off, even in the slightest. But I want to make sure I have financial security. I want to audition again on ‘The Voice’ or ‘America's Got Talent,’ and hopefully make it further in the competition.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

CTREE formerly was known as the Office for Training, Research and Education in the Sciences (OTRES) from 2010-2022 and as the Office for Biomedical Research & Training (OBRT) from 2000-2010. Denise Garcia, CTREE director, changed the name this fall to reflect the official recognition of center status and the expansion of programs to support students from all majors. 

CTREE offers nine programs to support students, though the number often changes as the team consistently looks for opportunities to expand resources. The mission of the center is to enhance the educational and research experiences of students from historically/presently excluded and underserved backgrounds in higher education. CTREE enhances the experience of its scholars by offering one-on-one advising and research opportunities, assistance with the graduate school application process, Graduate Record Examination resource materials, student presentations and attendance at conferences across the U.S., and the chance to network with industry professionals.  

“All of our students are from historically/presently excluded backgrounds in education, and so helping them see and understand the value and knowledge they bring into their unique fields is such an important aspect of what we do,” said Richard Armenta, CTREE associate director and an associate professor of kinesiology.  

“So many times, students don’t see anyone who looks like them or they’re told, ‘You don't belong here.’  So an incredibly important aspect of what CTREE does is help these students develop confidence that they belong and can contribute significantly to their fields.” 

For 2019 graduate Faye Raymond, being part of the CTREE programs provided her with the resources and structure to apply to graduate school. Now a Ph.D. student in biochemistry at the University at Buffalo, Raymond praises the center for teaching her fundamentals that set her ahead of her peers in graduate school – skills such as networking, making a research poster, writing data and constructing data in a way that’s consumable.  

Each CTREE program provides support in a more personal way as well. For students like Raymond, it gives them a community and family to call their own. 

“For myself, especially as a person of color in STEM and a woman of color in STEM, the program really did help me in grappling with loneliness (that I experienced). Just the community that the program provided for me alone was fantastic,” Raymond said. “I would 100% recommend CTREE to any student – I actually can’t recommend it enough.” 

This atmosphere is fostered by the center’s open-door policy and a welcoming culture that's made possible with the help of an entire village across campus. Many faculty members work closely with the students and teach them how to be successful not only in research labs but in life.  

Faculty are at the root of CTREE’s accomplishments. They take students in their labs, conduct creative activities, offer hands-on mentorship and attend conferences with students. Fundamentally, they are dedicated to providing meaningful opportunities for students, instilling the confidence not only to achieve goals, but surpass them.   

Natalie Campos, a CTREE scholar and pre-med biological sciences major, discovered a calling for research after working in a lab with Casey Mueller, a CTREE faculty mentor and biological sciences professor.

“I came into this program thinking that I was going to go straight into pursuing a career in the medical field,” Campos said. “I never knew I needed time in research, but this opened my eyes to involving research in my future goals. Now, I might want to work as a clinical researcher.”  

Campos found a home in CTREE after discussing her research findings with peers at a conference in Seattle. Those peers soon became a family she would lean on, cry to and celebrate with. 

CTREE encourages, and provides funding for, students to attend discipline-specific conferences across the United States, where they can network with keynote speakers, visit graduate school booths, present research findings, engage in activities from universities they may be interested in applying to, and attend professional development seminars. 

Raymond Malfavon-Borja, assistant director of the TRIO McNair Scholars Program and a biological sciences lecturer, knows firsthand how transformational these opportunities can be for students. Malfavon-Borja is a CSUSM alumnus, and after excelling in one of Garcia’s genetics courses, she invited him to join her lab. He was subsequently accepted to a CTREE program. The program’s resources and Garcia’s training helped him gain acceptance to a summer training program at Stanford University followed by a Ph.D. program for genome sciences at the University of Washington immediately after he earned his undergraduate degree.  

Once Garcia received funding for the McNair program, she knew Malfavon-Borja would be the perfect person to lead the initiative because, like her, he is passionate about fostering students' growth, academically and personally. 

“CTREE as a whole is student-focused,” Malfavon-Borja said. “We work really hard to build up these programs and put our heart and souls into them. A lot of us have a philosophy in the office: Our students have limitless potential. They’re ambitious and they’re hard-working. So we’re going to meet them where they are and hold ourselves to the same high standards, because they deserve it.”

For Garcia, watching scholars get accepted into graduate school makes her feel like she’s a parent, humbly and proudly watching a child go off to college. A large smile crosses her face when she describes the joyous feeling of seeing a student, who two years earlier knew nothing about graduate school, hold their head high and radiate confidence after nailing an interview.

“This institution wouldn't exist and CTREE wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the students,” Garcia said. “We are truly here to support students in any way that we can so that they can be successful throughout their pathway in their education.”

Students from over 22 majors have completed programs through CTREE, and the team conducts outreach across campus to improve students’ awareness of their programs. For the most up-to-date list of programs with application information and eligibility criteria, visit the CTREE website. 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Public Affairs and Operations

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Lombardi adeptly switches positions without skipping a beat, able to start at catcher in the opening game of a doubleheader before moving to shortstop for the finale. She was one of the team’s top hitters as a freshman during the abbreviated 2020 season, and picked right up as a key contributor in 2022 after the 2021 season was canceled due to the pandemic. And she has arm strength that led one of the university’s baseball coaches to wonder aloud during a scrimmage if Lombardi can pitch – and he didn’t mean for the softball team.

“Most females do not throw a ball overhand like she does,” Ewing said. “If you come to a softball game and you watch everyone play catch and then you watch Gianna pick up a ball and throw it, you don't even need any sports knowledge to know it’s a whole different level.”

For the record, Ewing made it clear to the baseball coaches that Lombardi wasn’t going anywhere. But Lombardi’s value to the team goes beyond her considerable athletic ability.

“You get in a room with her, and she just fills it in a positive way,” Ewing said. “She’s funny and charismatic. When new people come in and they're around our softball program and they see that she can be who she is, they know they can be who they are.”

Lombardi’s infectious personality and approach to life harken to her father, Phil. The pandemic has taken a toll in so many ways, but none more difficult for Lombardi than losing her father in May 2021 to complications from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Most people diagnosed with glioblastoma die of the disease within 12-18 months. Phil’s death came only seven months after his diagnosis.

But the lessons Lombardi learned from her father continue to resonate.

“He taught me to be proud of myself, but also to be humble,” Lombardi said. “But I think the biggest thing he ever taught me was he would always say, ‘Don’t fear failure.’ Especially in a game like softball, you fail more than you succeed when you’re hitting. I just always kept that with me.”

It was something Phil knew firsthand from his days as a major league baseball player. A third-round draft pick of the New York Yankees in 1981, Phil made his major league debut with them five years later and spent parts of three seasons in the big leagues (including one with the New York Mets) before nagging injuries led to an early retirement before the 1990 season.

Phil coached Lombardi’s older sisters, Lauren and Julia, in softball, and both went on to play for Long Beach State. Lombardi flirted for a short time with the idea of trying something different than her sisters, but quickly realized it was more fun playing softball and benefiting from the experience and knowledge of her father and sisters.

Lombardi never had a chance to see her father play professional baseball – she was born more than a decade after he retired – but knew about his career growing up, even if she didn’t always realize when he was pulling her leg.

“I didn’t really know much about the game when I was younger, and he would joke, ‘I used to play with Jackie Robinson.’ And I thought he was serious,” Lombardi said of her father’s reference to the iconic Hall of Famer who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947 – four decades before Phil made his major league debut.

“But he didn’t bring up his career around other people. He was really humble about things.”

Playing catcher was a natural choice for Lombardi. After all, it was Phil’s primary position during his career. And while nepotism may be an issue on some youth softball teams, having her father as a coach didn’t come with any special favors for Lombardi. Phil even insisted on Lombardi calling him “Coach Phil” instead of dad when they were anywhere near the softball field to avoid any thoughts of favoritism.

Of course, with Lombardi’s work ethic and ability, it didn’t matter if it was her dad or a complete stranger coaching – she was going to be in the lineup. Lombardi thrived at West Ranch High School in Valencia and on travel ball teams. One of her frequent adversaries was Zoe Ballen, who played at Thousand Oaks High School about 40 miles away and was also a foe in travel ball. They are teammates at CSUSM now, but Ballen still remembers being in awe of Lombardi’s boundless energy and the difficulties she presented opponents.

“When I came to CSUSM, I was kind of nervous to get to know her,” said Ballen, a pitcher who frequently throws to Lombardi behind the plate. “But she just kind of exceeded my expectations of the kind of person that she is and the kind of player that she is.

“She's great at communicating with all of our pitchers and has a great relationship with everyone on the team. I don't think I've ever heard a negative thing come out of her mouth. She’s just an overall great person and player.”

Lombardi started all 19 games in 2020 before the pandemic brought a premature end to the season and completely wiped out the 2021 slate. But she gave a glimpse of what she’s capable of in those limited games, batting .356 and impressing Ewing and teammates with her softball acumen.

“Gianna is just someone who comes in and plays and there are no norms; she's rewriting the norms,” Ewing said. “If I asked Gianna to go play third base, she’d go play third base. If I told her go into left field, she'd go into left field. She will go do anything you ask her to do. She'd run through a brick wall for anybody.”

Ewing may have as many as three more seasons with Lombardi after this. The NCAA adjusted its rules on playing eligibility because of the pandemic. So while Lombardi has completed her third year at CSUSM as a biology student, she will still be a sophomore next season in her softball eligibility.

All of Ewing’s players faced an adjustment this year as they completed their first full season in three years, but Lombardi had the added weight of playing her first season without her dad.

Phil was a familiar face at games in 2020, sometimes observing from beyond the center field fence and other times sitting right behind home plate where he could offer encouragement (and occasionally critiques) during games. But Lombardi is persevering, just as her dad would want.

“We had our offseason games during the fall, and I was kind of crying on the way to my first game,” she said. “It was my first game without my dad being there. It was kind of sad, but I always do look on the positive side of it, and now it's like I’m playing for him more than playing without him.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

To pass the time, Garcia’s grandmother, Antonia, introduced her to at-home science experiments they could do together. Garcia’s grandmother wasn't a scientist, but the two of them shared a genuine curiosity about biology.

Little did Garcia know that this would spark her interest in pursuing a career in science research years later.

“One of the things she bought was through an infomercial, and it was this rock tumbler,” said Garcia, who will graduate from Cal State San Marcos next month with a bachelor’s in biological sciences with a concentration in molecular and cellular biology. “It's personalized to you, and you can take any of the rocks that you find in your backyard or in a river and put it in a spinning turbine for weeks. It ends up polishing these beautiful rocks for you. It didn’t end up working. That was probably the best one I think we did, even though it didn't work.”

When the opportunity presented itself to study and run track at CSUSM, pursuing science made sense to Garcia. Not only did Garcia have the same inquisitiveness for science as her grandmother, but she had the opportunity to turn her passion into a life-long career.

But when Garcia told her parents she was admitted to CSUSM, her mom walked away from her bedroom and didn’t say much when she heard the news. 

Garcia knew her family had to make sacrifices to provide her with opportunity. She remembers the stories of her grandparents immigrating from Mexico and being pulled out of kindergarten to start working. They worked trade jobs and never had the ability to attend college because it was too expensive, so Garcia understood why her mom would be hesitant about higher education. And it was difficult for Garcia’s mom to see her daughter leave home at 18 to attend CSUSM.

“It was kind of awkward,” Garcia said. “I still decided to go, and I think the reason why I wanted to go is that I knew what was out there. I knew it would open so many doors for me. I knew that I wouldn't be as limited, and I could have the experience of meeting new people and making new connections and have that freedom to navigate my own career.”

That career likely will involve cancer research, a disease that has hit close to home for Garcia. Antonia died of lung cancer when Garcia was 11 years old and her maternal grandmother, Luisa Tejeda, died from cancer last October.

Garcia spent five months during the pandemic helping to care for her bedridden aunt, Martha Betancourt, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. Garcia would catch up with her classes in the evening after taking care of her aunt. She maintained a 3.8 grade-point average despite those challenges.

Garcia was accepted into CSUSM’s Undergraduate Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (U-RISE) program, which is helping her pursue a career path in cancer research in honor of Antonia, Luisa and Martha.

“I think the biggest thing that has helped me is the U-RISE fellowship, because now I have a cohort of people in the STEM field who are also first gen or minoritized,” Garcia said. “And those are like my life-long friends, so it's been very helpful, especially to be a first-gen student at Cal State San Marcos.”

Garcia attended a summer research program in 2019 at George Washington University through U-RISE and explored an immunology-based lab on lymphoma. The program experience led Garcia to join biology professor Jane Kim’s lab to broaden her research background. It was a challenging time as instruction temporarily moved online because of the pandemic. But Garcia was still able to complete a project involving bioinformatic analysis using publicly available datasets during fall 2020 when on-campus research at CSUSM was limited.

“Clarissa is a model of perseverance and strength in the way that she seeks out opportunities to move toward her goal of being an independent scientist in the field of cancer research,” Kim said. “She took the initiative to audit a population genetics course to gain further knowledge and reached out to the authors of published papers to inquire about their datasets. Her efforts have been validated by awards for her conference presentations and all-academic honors as a track and cross-country athlete over multiple semesters.”

Over the past three years, Garcia has worked on a half-dozen research projects in four different labs. These were intentional decisions as Garcia wanted to broaden her research knowledge as much as possible.

Garcia will continue her work this fall in a Ph.D. program. The schools she is considering include Stanford, Sanford Burnham Prebys, Oregon Health and Science University and the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz.

It has been a remarkable journey. Despite her mother’s initial hesitancy about seeing Garcia leave home, she has seen how higher education is putting her daughter on the path to a successful career.

“My mother has now started to realize my sacrifices in leaving the house at 18,” Garcia said. “Usually Hispanic people, we stay pretty close to home for a very long time. I think she's come to realize that it was necessary for my growth, and that I am getting great opportunities and the potential to have a very stable life and career and doing something that I'm passionate about. So she is very proud of me.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

But he had parents who instilled perseverance, gratefulness and the promise of brighter days ahead through building an academic foundation.

Theresa Mai has no teachers, doctors or scientists in her family either. Her parents emigrated to the United States during the Vietnam War, and they still only speak Vietnamese. Their path to success in their new country was forged through one way and one way only: work. And despite that work ethic, Mai grew up extremely poor without examples of advancement through academic means.

But what she did have was love and curiosity.

What Hernandez and Mai both had growing up in Southern California was a sliver of opportunity. And sometimes that’s all it takes.

The two Cal State San Marcos biological sciences graduate students – both currently working in biology professor Jane Kim’s lab – are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. While their decisions growing up often came between helping the family and doing homework, they’re both now deciding which great Ph.D. programs in the country to attend.

“To be honest, I didn't have anybody to inspire me,” said Mai, who graduated from the former Serra High School in nearby Tierrasanta. “No one told me that it was even possible for someone that looks like me and came from a background like myself to even be working in the lab going to school achieving a higher education. No one in my family told me go to college. It was something that I pursued on my own. My parents didn't really understand that we could go to college. But I had their support no matter what.”

Mai’s final decision is between Johns Hopkins, Stanford and USC. Hernandez has been admitted to eight Ph.D. programs, including Stanford, Cal, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, Washington and Michigan.

Heavy hitters all of them.

“The most important thing is I just want to be happy,” said Mai, who also did her undergraduate work at CSUSM. “The one thing about getting accepted to these prestigious schools is that there is kind of that culture where things can be a little bit cutthroat. So the most important thing to me is happiness and having the same support that I received here at San Marcos.”

While Mai earned her bachelor's degree at CSUSM, Hernandez earned his at Cal State Fullerton. His love for molecular biology had its origins in his high school AP biology class. It further developed at CSUF, and upon arrival at CSUSM as a graduate student, he was introduced to Mai in Kim’s lab.

It was truly a unique experience because not only were they in the midst of the pandemic, but Kim was on maternity leave.

The original plan was for them to start working in summer 2020 and receive training from graduating students. Instead, due to tight restrictions to on-campus research throughout the year, they were only approved to work on campus for 10 hours per week beginning January 2021.

Full restrictions were only lifted last August.

“Both Luis and Theresa have overcome many challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kim said. “Both have made considerable research progress with limited research hours during the start of their M.S. programs. I was able to offer only limited guidance. Nevertheless, Luis and Theresa were able to write their own thesis proposals, initiate experiments, learn how to organize their time effectively, and ask for help as needed. I am excited for them to defend their M.S. theses and start their Ph.D. programs this fall.”

Although Hernandez admits the pandemic caused a huge setback because access to the lab was limited, taking classes online was perhaps a greater challenge. It was hard to develop a strong relationship with the fellow members of the cohort because of the lack of face-to-face interactions.

The unique circumstances helped them learn how to work without someone holding their hands through the process. It helped them mature in their scientific approach and to learn how to perform experiments on their own.

All done with the distance guidance of Kim.

“Dr. Kim has been a role model for how to approach science and teaching,” Hernandez said. “She is super organized and really demonstrates how to break down information to those that are brand new in the lab like Theresa and I were when we started. For the research aspect, she continually challenges you to push past current limitations. Without her and her support, we would never have garnered the skills to become successful in the pursuit of our future goals.”

Hernandez and Kim met in January 2020 at the CSU Biotechnology Symposium when he was presenting his undergraduate research.

In researching M.S. programs, he talked to CSUSM students who were in Kim’s lab at the time. On the last day of the conference, he sought out Kim to express interest in applying to be a graduate student in her lab.

“This display of initiative, motivation and curiosity stuck out to me as something that a senior graduate student would do in finding a postdoctoral research position,” Kim said. “I have been able to observe these same characteristics strengthen and flourish over the last two years that Luis has been a student in my lab, and I believe he will hit the ground running as a Ph.D. student.”

Mai didn’t exactly have that same initiative upon her arrival on campus as a freshman. In her words, she stumbled upon the science hall to find posters on the walls describing research projects. She was intimidated but wanted to contribute her own research, hang her own posters.

Thanks to the support and mentorship of her professors, she was quickly able to turn early struggles into a strong finish.

She has a 3.94 GPA during her master’s coursework while working up to 20 hours a week at various campus jobs. One of those jobs is in the Office of Sponsored Projects at CSUSM Corporation.

“Theresa has demonstrated a striking determination and laser-like focus on improving as a scientist and experimental biologist,” Kim said. “She is exceptionally reflective in how she thinks about her research project and continues to grow as a young scientist, a trajectory I anticipate will continue as a Ph.D. student.”

Both Mai and Hernandez have expressed interest in a career in academia. They not only want to teach and perform groundbreaking research, they simply want to mentor students like themselves who didn’t have the same advantages growing up that many others did.

“I would love to come back to academia and just be one of the mentors that have inspired myself and students like myself to do what we're doing right now,” Mai said. “I would really love to be able to inspire students like myself who come from low-income and first-generation students who don't really see themselves being successful, especially in a career in science – and show them that you can do anything that you put your mind to.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

“This is critical in getting our students prepared to join the workforce and understand what research really involves and what their career path could be if they go into research,” said Jackie Trischman, interim dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. “The presentation skills that they gain from something like this can be very helpful in every stage of their career from this point forward.” 

The showcase was created more than a decade ago by the Committee for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) to share students’ passion for research while encouraging them to take the next steps in their future careers. This year’s event was presented by CUGR and the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.

“We are a campus that is deeply committed to undergraduate research for multiple reasons,” said Chuck De Leone, interim dean of Graduate Studies and Research. “We know that it's wonderful for our students and we know that it helps our faculty in accomplishing the research goals that they have.” 

There were 19 research posters at the showcase, covering an array of topics. 

Ciara Sanders, a master’s student in biological sciences, used the showcase as an opportunity to spread awareness around climate change. Sanders wanted to explore the effect of extreme weather conditions on horizontal gene transfer among coastal microbiomes. 

“It gives us a really good idea of how it's going to impact antibiotic resistance genes on the coast, which can be been really detrimental to human health because the of the antibiotic resistance crisis that's currently happening,” Sanders said. 

Sanders curated her experiment in the lab of biology professor Elinne Becket, who recently received an award from a state organization recognizing up-and-coming professionals in the life science industry.  

Sanders is hoping to publish her research before she begins a Ph.D. research program next fall. 

Devanshi Upadhyaya, Rosalva Romero and Kasandra Barajas studied the differences of wise reasoning in first-generation and continuing-generation college students under the direction of psychology professor Alex Huynh. Last summer, they were able to collect data from over 200 participants. 

“We're all psych majors,” Upadhyaya said. “We have a realm of amazing professors who have their own labs here. Professor Huynh was our mentor and he guided us through the study.” 

As a first-generation student, Romero was curious to explore the differences.

“I think for me personally, you oftentimes hear a lot of conversations between the experiences and differences between first gen and continuing gen,” Romero said. “I can resonate with a lot that we did with my background. This is just a great way to bring more awareness of these differences between first gen and continuing gen. It's very important.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

CSUPERB announced the awards on Oct. 7 as part of an “ongoing initiative to assist tenured/tenure track faculty researchers and their students across the California State University system as they restart, reinitiate and reengage in existing and established research activities after campus laboratory closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The CSUSM recipients are:

• Elinne Becket: $1,500 for the proposal titled “Acquisition of DNA extraction and next-generation sequencing reagents to re-analyze samples due to expired materials.”
• Julie Jameson: $1,500 for the proposal titled “Recovery of lost cell lines due to COVID-19 shut down.”
• Carlos Luna-Lopez: $1,403 for the proposal titled “Cancer-associated adipocytes: Investigating the crosstalk between MD-MBA-231 and adipose.”
• Bianca Mothé: $1,500 for the proposal titled “MHC Expression in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (IPSCs).”
• Arun Sethuraman: $1,500 for the proposal titled “Deciphering the Evolutionary History of Dinocampus coccinellae (Hymenoptera:Braconidae).”
• George Vourlitis: $1,500 for the proposal titled “Interactions between carbon type and nitrogen pollution on soil microbial activity and abundance.”

NAU honors communication professor

Communication professor Antonio De La Garza was named the Dr. Cliff Harkins Distinguished Citizen of the Year, presented by the Northern Arizona University Alumni Association to recognize distinguished service to nonprofit organizations; governmental assignments at the municipal, county, state or federal level; or other outstanding citizen service.

De La Garza received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Arizona before attending the University of Utah for his Ph.D.

Rankings

• CSUSM is ranked 42^nd for total bachelor’s degrees awarded in Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine’s annual list of “Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics.” The university was also 78^th for total enrollment among four-year schools and third in “Top 10 Schools by Major” in the category of “Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Degrees.”
• The nursing program is seventh out of 36 schools in Nursing Schools Almanac’s 2021 rankings of prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs in California.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Whether it’s a straight path or the road less traveled, every Cougar has their own set of challenges in getting to campus.

And then there’s Ivan Gonzalez.

As a child, he walked miles every day from Mexicali across the border into Calexico to attend school in the United States. Barely understanding English, he faced challenges that were equally daunting once he arrived at class.

His goal was making it to class every day on time. Nary was there a thought of eventually pursuing higher education.

In fact, what he witnessed in high school (his family had moved to Calexico by then) was that whatever small thoughts the seniors had about college were washed away because the community environment was much more focused on work.

“Many of the students who graduated from high school back home would often get a full-time job to begin paying for their own expenses and help their parents out financially,” said Gonzalez, who graduated from Calexico High School in 2017. “Thus, I then began to follow those footsteps of basically applying to full-time jobs right after finishing high school. I didn’t believe I was higher education material since my level of English was too far behind.”

But something stirred inside him. He knew there was more for him, particularly after he had spent so much of his high school years working extra hours to keep his college aspirations alive.

He set out to prove that a first-generation Mexican-American student like him could not only complete the journey to earning a high school degree, but could go much farther.

Mission accomplished.

Now a biological sciences senior at CSUSM, Gonzalez recently was honored as the university’s 2021 Trustees’ Award recipient.

“This scholarship award made me feel super special,” Gonzalez said. “It just served as proof that I was meant for higher education. This award is a recognition and validation that all of my hard work is finally paying off. Although I am still not where I want to be, the funds allocated through this award will go toward applying to graduate school (physician assistant) programs and will help me achieve my long-term goal of becoming a PA.”

Gonzalez is an active member of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and the Pre-Health Society, for which he serves as secretary. He also is a medical intern and interpreter at Palomar Medical Center, assisting medical providers and patients.

This year, he is working in biology professor Dennis Kolosov’s lab, where he is researching epithelial cell separation of the Malpighian tubules of the cabbage looper caterpillar.

He happened to be in Kolosov’s lab when he found out about the Trustees’ Award.

“I remember I was cleaning and feeding the caterpillars when my friend Ashlyn DM'd me on Instagram with a huge congratulations,” said Gonzalez, who is minoring in Spanish. “At first I was in shock. I had no idea what was happening. I instantly placed the caterpillar down and checked my phone. As soon as I opened my Instagram, I saw the @cstem_csusm Instagram post, and that was the best thing ever. I remember shouting, and my lab mates Emilie and Alexis stared at me, confused. I told them what had happened, and they instantly gave me a huge hug. It was the best day ever.”

Last year he worked in biology professor John Eme’s lab, which focuses on comparative integrative and evolutionary vertebrate physiology. He assisted with a project on the growth of young alligators, and he assisted a graduate student with her project on the thermal biology of fish.

“Ivan's work in two separate labs is one small example of his excellent performance as an undergraduate academic,” Eme said. “Ivan is a wonderful person, engaged in his coursework, thoughtful when it comes to interacting with his fellow students. He is a joy to have in the classroom.”

In addition to Eme and Kolosov, Gonzalez pointed out several other members of the CSUSM community who have been crucial to his successful journey.

“A big shout-out to Dr. Jacqueline Trischman, Shauna Mendez, Gina Lopez, Ricardo Pliego, Julia Garcia and so many more,” said Gonzalez, referring to the dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; three members of the library services team; and the CSTEM Success Center coordinator. “There are a ton of more people who have influenced me here at CSUSM, too many to name. I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my CSUSM journey. I couldn’t have done it without their help and support.”

Gonzalez plans to attend graduate school to pursue a career as a PA. He wants to work in underserved and underrepresented communities, giving back while also helping to transform the health care system into one that promotes a healthier lifestyle for all.

To do that, he’ll rely on the support of those around him. From staff and professors on campus to those cheering him on from home, his success will come with several big assists.

“My family has been the best support system I have ever received,” said Gonzalez, who was recognized by the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society for first-year students as a prime student and scholar in its honor roll list. “Their upbringings of constant hope and positivity give me the strength to keep moving forward. From calling my parents at 2 a.m. when I need moral support to celebrating with them when I do good in my exams, presentations, projects, etc. My sister and brothers all check up on me to see how I am doing mentally more than anything else. They treat me with Starbucks drinks often so that the caffeine keeps my brain rushing, which helps me stay up late to study for upcoming exams and finishing up assignments.

“In all honesty, they are my everything, and without them I do not think I would have been here where I am today.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

It’s not unusual to see Sethuraman smiling while teaching, sitting in on a meeting or simply walking around the campus of Cal State San Marcos.

But forgive the biological sciences professor if his smile has been extra wide these days.

Earlier this month, Sethuraman was granted early tenure and promotion to the rank of associate professor starting with the upcoming fall semester.

That announcement came on the heels of his National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award being recommended for funding. It’s a prestigious award that puts Sethuraman in rare company as he’s believed to be one of just two CSUSM professors to ever win it. The other was biology professor George Vourlitis in 2002.

Sethuraman’s grant will cover a period of five years and is worth a total of $608,360.

“It's a career-building opportunity,” Sethuraman said. “It’s set up to both engage our student population in science and to make sure that we communicate it. We want to be able to communicate our science to the general public with all sorts of engagement activities and programs.”

The NSF CAREER Award is for early career researchers. The award aims to provide financial support and assistance to those who have just started out on their careers and are trying to establish a program for themselves. Only assistant professors and tenure-track assistant professors can apply for it. The award needs a scientific or public community engagement component for it to work.

That won’t be a problem for Sethuraman, who with an NSF grant earlier in his career as a postdoc student at Temple University established a summer workshop program for high school teachers in the Philadelphia area.

That program trained teachers basic programming skills to take to their high school biology or chemistry classroom after a week of learning different types of exercises.

As soon as next summer, Sethuraman plans on implementing a similar program for San Diego County high school teachers, one in which potentially 25-30 lesson plans can be given to each teacher.

“That’s one part of (the grant),” said Sethuraman, who earned his bachelor’s in computer science from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, India, and his Ph.D. from Iowa State. “The other part is, I write for a popular science blog called ‘The Molecular Ecologist,’ and my goal as part of this career was to incorporate my own graduate students and teach them how to do science communication to the general public. They will work on tutorials and articles, which we’ll then publish as part of the science blog accessible to the general public. So there's a number of other sort of synergistic outreach and community engagement activities that are also part of the brand.”

Sethuraman isn’t waiting until next summer to make his latest impact.

The second annual Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program that he and biology professor Betsy Read co-run began on campus last week and runs for 10 weeks.

There were more than 250 applicants from all over the country for this year’s program. Ten students will do research projects in different labs and receive training in genomics and bioinformatics. The program will end with a poster presentation on Aug. 13.

Whether it’s earning tenure, receiving a prestigious award or being the driving force for an important summer program, Sethuraman has big goals for his career beyond just the classroom and lab.

“I've already started to think about sabbatical years and things that I want to do in those years,” he said. “My immediate goal would be to teach a lot of genetics classes here. I've noticed over the years that genetics textbooks and resources are not very inclusive, and actually that's also written into my NSF CAREER grant.”

Last spring, Sethuraman co-taught a one-unit seminar course with kinesiology professor Richard Armenta that is open to the entire campus called the genetics of minorities. In that course, he discussed the genetic basis behind ethnic and racial minorities, sexual orientation, weight and people with pre-existing conditions, and how there are different types of minorities and disabilities that are also affected by sociological perspectives.

“It’s also actually written into my CAREER proposal that the goal is to offer that class as a three-unit course on campus to explore the sorts of things that are not in the textbooks and not talked about or not studied enough just by virtue of the fact there's no resources in parts of the world that are highly underrepresented or for sections of the society that are highly underrepresented,” Sethuraman said. “So my goal, whenever I'm eligible for sabbatical, would be to eventually write about genetics of minorities in a much more inclusive genetics book.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

“I want to be one of the largest biotech companies in San Diego,” Vallejo said. “I want to bring a lot of talent from Cal State San Marcos. I know it has a good biotech program, and I want to bring students like me out in the light and make sure they have an opportunity to shine.”

It’s easy to understand why Vallejo sees himself in so many of CSUSM’s students. Like many of them, he was a nontraditional college student. His path to a degree began at CSUSM in 2001 and took nearly two decades, culminating in his 2018 graduation. In between was a six-year stint in the Marines, a readjustment to civilian life, a move to Orange County and, finally, a return to the place where his higher education journey began.

Vallejo was 6 years old when his parents moved from Peru to the United States. Although his family lived comfortably in Peru, the country’s economic uncertainty and political turmoil at the time prompted a move to ensure that Vallejo and his sister would have an opportunity to thrive.

“My parents came here to give me and my sister a dream, to give their kids a chance,” said Vallejo, 38.

Vallejo joined the Marines as a reserve after graduating from high school. While he was at boot camp, a friend who was attending CSUSM kept sending him applications and encouraging him to apply. Vallejo eventually filled out one of those applications and was accepted through the Educational Opportunity Program’s Summer Bridge.

Vallejo excelled in the Summer Bridge program, which carried over into his first year at CSUSM. But he was called to active duty after 9/11 and sent to Yuma, Ariz., to train in preparation for deployment to the Middle East. Vallejo spent 18 months in Yuma before it was decided that his platoon wouldn’t be deployed. It allowed him to return to CSUSM, but being back in school after so much time away proved daunting.

“When I started, I was an A and B student and I was doing well,” he said. “But when I came back from military service, my grades weren't as good. An adjustment had to happen.”

Vallejo took some time off and even moved to Orange County. He always intended to return, but he needed several years before he felt completely readjusted to civilian life.

When Vallejo decided it was time to return to school, he initially applied to universities near his Orange County home. But it didn’t take long for him to realize that it would be best to finish where he started. He moved back to San Marcos and into an apartment a stone’s throw from campus, which he said helped him focus on his studies.

Vallejo had worked as a pharmacy technician for Kaiser Permanente for more than a decade when he graduated from CSUSM with a degree in biological sciences, but he found it challenging to land a suitable job in his field.

“I was turned down for a lot of things in my life,” he said. “But my biggest thing is my perseverance. I kept pushing.”

The job-hunting struggles inspired Vallejo to begin thinking about launching his own company. When he raised enough funds to get one started, he wasted little time.

Proper Cell Biotechnologies opened in Sorrento Valley in June with a mission “to provide quality laboratory services in a timely, accurate, and efficient manner and to provide profound research.”

Vallejo has hired a small team – including CSUSM biology professor Daun Everforest as the company’s lead scientist – and anticipates continued staff growth in the coming months. Proper Cell received a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in September, and Vallejo has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise additional money that will be used for researching cures and vaccines related to COVID-19.

“My parents pretty much rolled the dice moving here, for me to be something,” Vallejo said. “Now that I have this business, they see the fruits of what they gambled.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

“Hydroseeding does not appear to be doing what we were hoping it to be doing, at least so far,” said Dr. Arun Sethuraman, a computational biologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. “Instead, it appears to be impeding the recovery of microbial diversity.”

What’s more, some of the microbial samples could not be categorized even after sequencing their DNA.

“There are some species we just can’t classify,” said Dr. George Vourlitis, who heads the CSUSM Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Lab and who partners with Sethuraman in teaching the course Research Methods in Molecular Evolution and Ecology. “What is pretty clear is there is a different bacterial community in the hydroseeded area.”

Eleven students were enrolled in the course taught for the first time this spring. The class is unique in that it is entirely research-based. It is funded through a four-year, $278,679 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“This was entirely a student-led project,” Vourlitis said.

The project focused on the ecological impacts on a hillside charred by a 2,000-acre brush fire at the edge of CSUSM. An earlier, 2016 student-led study found that hydroseeding was inhibiting the recovery of native woody shrubs after almost two years of post-fire recovery.

The just-concluded study went further, digging deeper into the impacts on soil microbial abundance and diversity in the burn area. Students employed next-generation DNA sequencing to measure 24 soil samples from a burn area that was hydroseeded, 24 samples from a burn area that recovered on its own, and 24 samples from an unburned area.

Microbial diversity is critical in soil health and quality, and bacteria is a primary regulator of decomposition and carbon storage.

“It’s important to understand how fire and post-fire management affects carbon and nutrient cycling,” Vourlitis said.

In applying for the grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Vourlitis and Sethuraman highlighted the importance of boosting the number of students conducting research and being trained in agricultural sciences, increasing student confidence in their ability to conduct agricultural research, and increasing the number of students seeking graduate degrees or careers in agricultural sciences. Agriculture is a growing industry in San Diego County and had an economic impact of nearly $1.8 billion in 2017, according to the San Diego County Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures.

Next year’s research will focus on the diversity of different hop strains used by the local craft brewing industry and how well they grow in different soil types.

“It is important to train the next generation of agriculturalists, not just in field work, but in the lab and in working with data,” Sethuraman said. “We want our students to tackle local environmental and agricultural problems and show they can address these challenges when they join the local workforce.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

As he enters the final stretch of a seven-year journey toward his bachelor’s degree, Francisco is determined to help others from his hometown of Zapopan, Mexico, follow a similar path to college. 

Even if it means helping to pay for it himself. 

Francisco, a senior molecular and cellular biology student at Cal State San Marcos, regularly sends money to his mother in Lomas de Tabachines, a community in the northeast part of Zapopan, which is about 1,400 miles south of Tijuana. She then distributes it to children in the community who are doing well in school.  

It is typically just $5 here or $10 there, but the nominal amounts of money aren’t nearly as important as the gesture. Francisco will do whatever he can to inspire people from his hometown to pursue an education. 

“If I get one kid to go to college over there, I’m happy,” Francisco said. 

Francisco isn’t just helping financially, he’s setting an example through his actions. In September, his efforts were recognized at the California State University Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach where he was presented with the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. The award is given annually to one student from each of the CSU’s 23 campuses who demonstrates superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need.​​​ 

“Francisco is always eager to learn and has an outstanding work ethic,” said Dr. Matthew Escobar, a CSUSM professor of biological sciences and Francisco’s mentor in the Maximizing Access to Research Careers-Undergraduate Student Training Research (MARC U*STAR) program. 

It’s been a remarkable journey for someone who arrived in the United States a day after his 18th birthday knowing just one word of English – “Hello.”

As a teenager, Francisco said he was constantly told he wasn’t smart enough or wealthy enough to attend college. Rather than discourage him, it fueled a desire to pursue an education and help his family. To do that, he knew he had to leave Zapopan. 

“My high school years in Mexico are just a blur,” he said. “I didn’t know how to be a student. I wasn’t mature enough to be a student and I didn’t do well.” 

Francisco was born in the U.S., but his parents moved back to Mexico when he was an infant. He returned some 18 years later, in September 2011, and moved into the garage of an uncle who lives in Escondido. Almost immediately, Francisco began taking night classes to learn English. He got a job at a car wash – the same business where his parents worked two decades earlier – and eventually settled into a schedule that had him working 16 hours a day three days a week so he could attend community college Monday through Thursday. 

Trying to learn English, not to mention the intricacies of higher education, while taking courses at Palomar proved challenging. Francisco didn’t know what a credit class was, didn’t know about choosing a major and didn’t know the first thing about writing an essay. 

“I literally didn’t know anything,” he said. “Luckily for me, there’s a lot of people who speak Spanish at Palomar and I got a lot of help.” 

Though Francisco was able to get some direction from advisers, he still cringes when thinking about his early struggles in class. As his English slowly improved, Francisco took his first science course at Palomar. It proved to be a life-changing experience. 

It was in Jim Gilardi’s biology class that Francisco learned about the North San Diego County Bridges to the Future Program, a partnership between CSUSM, Palomar and MiraCosta to help prepare underrepresented students for a seamless transition to a four-year university and a career in biomedical sciences. 

The program includes a stipend for students, which allowed Francisco to ease up on the number of hours he was working each week and spend more time focusing on his classes and research. 

Another door opened after he transferred to CSUSM when he learned about the Office for Training, Research & Education in the Sciences (OTRES) and was accepted into MARC U*STAR, which prepares qualified underrepresented undergraduate students majoring in the sciences to enter and succeed in doctoral studies. Only five new scholars are admitted to the program each year. The accompanying program stipend allowed Francisco to quit his outside jobs and focus completely on school. With more time to devote to his studies, his grades skyrocketed. 

“OTRES is like your family,” he said. “They care about you. They help you with your personal problems, they help you with your research problems, they help you look for opportunities. I call them my school family, but they’re my family.” 

Francisco was chosen for a summer research program at Marshall University in 2016 and completed a stem cell summer program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas in 2017. The experience in Dallas led him to put UT Southwestern among his top choices for pursuing his Ph.D. 

“It’s been a long trip from literally knowing nothing to applying to Ph.D. programs,” Francisco said. “If you would have told me two years ago that I’d be applying to Ph.D. programs, I would have said you’re joking.”

Francisco doesn’t get back to Zapopan often. It’s a long, expensive trek, so he only visits every two years or so. But he communicates daily with his family via Facebook. His parents tell him about the people in his community who are keeping tabs from afar, invested in Francisco’s success as if he were their own son. 

It’s similar to the reaction he receives when he visits the car wash where he used to work. 

“Now when I go to the car wash people ask if I’m doing my best and say, ‘Show them you can do it,’ ” Francisco said. “I have a lot of people who believe in me, here in the U.S. at the car wash and in Mexico in my community. 

“I’m pretty lucky. I come from humble beginnings, but when I was hungry, I always had food. Even though I struggled a lot, I consider my life as being easy. My parents are alive, I have all my limbs, I can see. I’m lucky. I want to help people who haven’t been as lucky.” 

Francisco took English classes, obtained his GED and enrolled in community college while working at a car wash to support himself.

While enrolled at Palomar College, Francisco participated in the North San Diego County Bridges to the Future Program, a partnership between CSUSM, Palomar and MiraCosta to help prepare underrepresented students for a seamless transition to a four-year university and a career in biomedical sciences. The program includes a stipend for students, which allowed Francisco to ease up on the number of hours he was working each week and spend more time focusing on his classes and research.

Now in his senior year at Cal State San Marcos, Francisco was recently awarded the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, which is given each year to students who demonstrate superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need.​​​

“I made my goal to help my family, and the best way to do that was by obtaining an education,” said Fernandez, who is a Trustee Emeritus Kenneth Fong Scholar.

Francisco, a molecular and cellular biology major, is part of CSUSM’s highly competitive Maximizing Access to Research Careers-Undergraduate Student Training Research (MARC U*STAR) program.

Working in the lab of CSUSM professor of biological sciences Matthew Escobar, Francisco worked on a project focused on characterizing the role of class III glutaredoxins in Arabidopsis thaliana root development. Francisco has presented his work at conferences, symposiums and research competitions.

Francisco will graduate from CSUSM in May. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical research and continue his mentorship of educationally at-risk students.

The CSU Board of Trustees, CSU Foundation Board of Governors, faculty, students and staff publicly recognized the scholars during the CSU Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 19. The scholars include one student from each of the CSU's 23 campuses, along with the top-scoring CSU-wide scholar.

More than 340 CSU students have been honored with this award since the program’s creation in 1984.

The scholarship program was established by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation as an endowed scholarship fund to honor William Randolph Hearst, founder of the Hearst newspaper chain. In 1999, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation partnered with the CSU Board of Trustees to supplement the endowment with contributions from CSU Trustees, CSU Foundation Board of Governors and private donors.

About California State University San Marcos

Building on an innovative 27-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution, dedicated to preparing future leaders, building great communities and solving critical issues. Located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the City of San Marcos, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving North San Diego, Southwest Riverside and South Orange Counties.

The University enrolls nearly 17,000 students. With approximately 2,000 employees, the institution is a Great College to Work For® (The Chronicle of Higher Education). As a recipient of the annual HEED Award since 2014—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—CSUSM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.

-- Dr. Casey Mueller

Dr. Casey Mueller has been intrigued with animals since she was a little girl growing up on a farm stocked with sheep and cattle in Australia. After being the first generation of her family to attend college, Mueller is now an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Cal State San Marcos, where her lab explores concepts in developmental physiology with a focus on environmental changes.

Since arriving at CSUSM two years ago, Mueller has provided research opportunities for five undergraduate students, organized symposia on developmental physiology, and been invited to conferences throughout the country and Europe.

“I am fascinated by how physiological systems develop and respond to the environment, and how developmental physiology influences animals later in life,” she said.

Mueller studies local species of frogs and fish.

“We are the first lab to study developmental physiology of the relatively abundant Baja California chorus frog,” she said. “Our research will help to understand how this frog continues to be successful, while so many other species of amphibians are in worldwide decline.”

Mueller moved to CSUSM in the fall of 2015 to teach physiology after earning her Ph.D. at the University of Adelaide, Australia, and completing postdoctoral work at the University of North Texas and McMaster University in Canada. She couldn’t be happier.

“CSUSM is providing a center for learning and discovery in North San Diego County,” she said. “Most of the students are local, and for dedicated students, CSUSM can serve as a platform to go on to even greater things. Helping them in this process, is very rewarding.”

As a young girl, while many of her peers were reading Teen Magazine, Rocha was immersed in the science section of periodicals such as Newsweek.

“Imagine my excitement when I grew up to learn that there were entire stacks of a library dedicated to peer-reviewed research journals filled to the brim with the latest medical and technological advances, insight to understanding the workings of our brain, and human behavior,” said Rocha, a Research Associate and Assistant Director for Student Support in Cal State San Marcos’ Office for Training, Research, and Education in the Sciences (OTRES).

Rocha doesn’t visit the library as often these days, instead relying more on online library database searches. But her enthusiasm for science hasn’t waned.

Rocha will be celebrating her love for science on Saturday when she participates in the March for Science San Diego. The event is one of more than 400 planned around the world, including the centerpiece event in Washington, D.C.

The March for Science is being billed as the first step of a global movement to highlight the vital role science plays in health, safety, economies and governments.

Rocha is on the organizing committee for the San Diego march, which is a nonpartisan group of scientists, engineers, students, teachers and science enthusiasts united by an appreciation for science in people’s everyday lives.

Festivities begin with featured speakers at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Downtown San Diego Civic Center Plaza at 1200 Third Ave. The one-mile march to Waterfront Park (1600 Pacific Highway) begins at 11 a.m. and there will be additional speakers and a science expo at Waterfront Park from 12:30-2 p.m.

Rocha helped secure speakers for the event, including three from CSUSM – Bianca Mothe, associate dean for the Office of Undergraduate Studies and a professor of biological sciences; Sharon Patray, a biochemistry student; and Kevin Tenerelli, a biology student.

“Science is not at the forefront of people’s attention anymore, but it should be because that is what is going to improve health and the human condition,” Mothe said. “Almost everything that you consume is somehow related to science at this point. Everything from our phones to new materials that go into the things that we carry to the computers that we’re on every day to things that we eat. Once the emphasis goes away from that, how is the human experience going to be affected?”

Kevin’s passion for science derives largely from seeing his 6-year-old daughter’s battle with Septo-optic dysplasia, which includes an underdevelopment of the optic nerve, pituitary gland dysfunction and some structures connecting the two hemispheres of the brain. As it has for Kevin’s daughter, it can cause blindness.

“Science, from a biomedical research point and perspective, has helped me deal with my daughter’s disabilities,” said Kevin, who graduates from CSUSM in May and will then begin work as an M.D./Ph.D. student in UC San Diego’s School of Medicine. “It empowered me to realize you don’t have to be fearful of these things. People are doing research, and it’s important to do this research.

“This is a crucial time to support science.”

Similar sentiments were voiced by other CSUSM students planning to participate in Saturday’s event.

“We’re trying to increase awareness of how science isn’t fake and we’re trying to open up the community to what we do,” said Veronika Espinoza, a biochemistry student. “We’re curious, and we want to find the answers to all of life’s possibilities.”

At a time when budget cuts are being proposed at the federal level, Abraham Escobedo also emphasized the importance of funding to the work being done by scientists.

“We need resources to find answers,” said Abraham, a graduate student in psychology. “Sadly, a lot of people manipulate that into an idea that we’re just wasting money, which is not true.”

Rocha expects Saturday’s festivities to be a peaceful, positive, uplifting, family-friendly celebration of science. As it is also Earth Day, she is encouraging attendees to be conscientious of their environmental impact by carpooling if possible and considering repurposing cardboard or other materials to create signs.

“Science impacts every part of our lives, no matter our age, race, gender, sexual orientation or political party,” Rocha said. “From medical advances and improved technologies to clean air and water, we all benefit from science.

“Our nation needs science in order to thrive. Science allows us to discover, explore and understand the world around us. We need to stand for science. Not because science needs us, but because we need science.”

CSUSM community members share why they’re participating in Saturday’s March for Science:

Dustin Calvillo

Associate Professor, Psychology

“I am participating in the March for Science to support science and my fellow scientists. Science improves every aspect of our lives and its contributions should be celebrated. In order to continue the advancement of science, we need to increase funding for research, which requires the public to appreciate its benefits. We seem to be failing here because science deniers are being elected to public office. Policies that neglect scientific evidence and budgets that decrease funding for science will have a negative impact on the future of our nation and our planet. I am also marching to resist these policies.”

Jeani Cressy

Lab Coordinator, Budget Manager, Department of Biological Sciences, Biotechnology

“We are joining in the cognitive dissonance with our scientific community in order that our individual voices can be heard. Science is how we function in the 21st century; from the immunizations we received in early childhood to the satellites orbiting the planet that allow our phones to communicate with the world daily. We find it ironic that one of the richest countries in the world would consider defunding the science research and development which brought us to our standing in the first place. It is through the support of research that scientific applications have brought us to our modern day society.”

Suzanne Hizer

Director of Supplemental Instruction Program and STEM Tutoring

“I am marching because all people in our society (not just scientists) need to understand why science, truth and facts matter. It matters not only to make our lives easier, safer and longer … but matters because scientific inquiry and discovery is centered on finding the truth. The current socio-political climate has, unfortunately, validated the rejection of scientific findings, not based on data to the contrary but based on feelings of distrust, incompatibility with religious views, or worse … for economic profit. We must do a better job at educating the public on how science works and how the scientific community comes to accept certain principles. We must come out of our ‘laboratories’ and become activists for truth and fact!”

Michael Schmidt

Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

“I am planning on participating in the March for Science because I think it’s the patriotic thing to do. Our nation was founded based on ideas from the Enlightenment, on the idea that humans working freely, communicating freely, and experimenting freely could come up with better understandings and better ways of organizing ourselves than those handed down by tradition and authority. Benjamin Franklin, one of the most influential of our founding fathers, was, among many things, a scientist. Today, there is a lot of doubt as to whether our national government, at its highest levels, really supports the spirit of free inquiry and seeking after the truth that guided our founding fathers. I’m participating to show support for that spirit and those ideas.”

Amara Siva

Chair, CSUSM Native Advisory Council

“I march for researchers, without whom the screening methods, diagnostic tests and therapeutic drugs we have today would not be possible; for teachers and professors who share their knowledge and inspire our future leaders to pursue their passions; for my grandmother as well as all of my family and friends who have had to face a disease diagnosis; for the patients who I impact every day through my work; and finally (fitting that the coming week is National Lab Week) I march for my fellow laboratory professionals who are the unseen heroes behind every diagnosis.”

Jackie Trischman

Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

“I feel the current administration is politicizing science and scientific progress to an unacceptable extent. Our country relies on having a steady stream of scientific breakthroughs to continue our progress toward curing diseases, advancing technology and understanding the world around us. We need to insist that genuine scientists be in charge of scientific endeavors in the U.S., and that results are not censored or even changed to suit the will of a political leader.”

Keith Trujillo

Director, Office for Training, Research & Education in the Sciences (OTRES); Professor, Psychology

“Scientists are increasingly recognizing that we need to be better about sharing the importance of scientific discovery to health and well-being and the excitement of scientific discovery. The March for Science is a big step forward to communicating better with the public about science. In the end, we hope to increase the public’s understanding of science and attract young people to careers in scientific discovery.”

George Vourlitis

Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

“First of all, I am not one who normally participates in marches, in fact this will be my first. However, I am so disheartened by the posture of our elected representatives as they fully assault the scientific community with their ill-informed and partisan conspiracy theories. Contrary to their beliefs, the scientific community does not have a partisan ax to grind. We are entrusted with taxpayer support to assess how the natural world operates, and we use these resources as objectively as possible to answer the questions that we are tasked to address. It is not our fault that our elected officials do not like the answers that they are receiving from our research, but it is our problem when they use their position of power to quiet the scientific community and stifle intellectual progress. We have so many pressing scientific problems that need to be addressed, and the current administration’s efforts to reduce funding, conduct smear campaigns, and spin ‘fake news’ conspiracy theories about the ‘hidden agenda’ of the scientific community is a cunning and effective strategy to distract society on the need to deal with these pressing problems. So, I am marching because we, as a community, must band together and confront this tide of ignorance and partisanship. Our response must be loud, united and resounding, so these forces understand that we will not let them hijack science and stifle the scientific progress that is urgently needed to address the multitude of problems facing society.”

That’s the conclusion from CSUSM biology professor George Vourlitis and a group of biology students whose research into the impacts of hydroseeding the hillside has been published in a recent edition of Ecological Engineering.

“The benefit of hydroseeding is you’re reducing the chances of erosion after the fire,” Vourlitis said. “But what we’re seeing is the crowding out of woodland shrubs that had been growing on that hillside and seeing it replaced by grassland. And grassland is more vulnerable to fire than shrubland.”

Vourlitis wrote the paper with several student co-authors, including Jacob Griganavicius, Nikki Gordon, Kaitlin Bloomer, Timothy Grand and Cloe Hentz. The group focused their research in three undeveloped areas of the CSUSM campus that burned during the 2014 Cocos fire, which destroyed 36 homes and left more than $10 million in damages in its wake. Vourlitis was on sabbatical in Brazil at the time, but when he heard about the fire, he saw an opportunity.

“I thought we definitely have to do some research out there,” Vourlitis said. “It was a no-brainer. It burned on university land, and it offered a great chance to use it as a living laboratory.”

Part of the affected hillside had undergone hydroseeding. Another section was left to recover by natural means. A third area that was examined did not burn, but was close to the burned slope and had the same slope direction and characteristics. Research was conducted between September 2015 and April 2016. Working in teams, students from Biology 354 (Principals of Ecology), Biology 390 (Terrestrial Plant Ecology Lab) and Biology 386 (Terrestrial Ecology) catalogued plant species, measured growth and tested soil. The verdict: Hydroseeding inhibits the recovery of native woody shrubs after almost two years of post-fire recovery.

“The hydroseeding treatment used here may result in a vegetation type conversion from a shrub- to a grass-dominated system,” states the research paper. What’s more, “an increase in annual grass dominance has the potential to increase fire frequency such that native shrubs may not be able to regenerate following fire recovery. Such a type conversion could have significant implications for chaparral plant species diversity.”

Gordon said the experience was invaluable.

“We learned how to extract nitrogen from soil samples and determine the percentage of nitrogen and hydrogen in the vegetation samples,” said Gordon, who graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in biology and is applying to CSUSM’s master’s degree program in the subject. “It was a nice introduction to basic field work and basic lab work and it enabled me to see how the two are interrelated.”

This is not the first time students have worked with Vourlitis on a research project. Nearly four years ago, he spent several weeks in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, Brazil, with CSUSM undergraduates examining soil fertility and biodiversity in the Brazilian savannah.

“I’ve always attempted to get our students involved in research,” said Vourlitis, a two-time Fulbright Scholarship recipient who heads the CSUSM Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Lab. “It was a wonderful experience in investigating the ecological impacts of fire restoration close to home.”

Many consider the material in their textbook to be definitive and unchanging.

“Sometimes they’ll think, ‘How can this not be known?’ ” said Kim, who is in her first year as an assistant professor of biology at Cal State San Marcos. “But I try to emphasize that it’s people like them who do the research and find the knowledge.”

Kim is quite familiar with the work that goes into such research. She just had an article titled “The role of break-induced replication in large-scale expansions of (CAG)n∙(CTG)n repeats” published in “Nature Structural & Molecular Biology,” a prominent peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The article is based on Kim’s work as a research assistant professor at Tufts University, research she will be continuing at CSUSM.

The work, co-authored by two undergraduate students who Kim mentored at Tufts, shows how the addition of DNA repeats can occur in human diseases.

Kim said Huntington’s disease and myotonic dystrophy are two examples of diseases caused by a short triplet sequence CAG increasing in length. She notes that everyone has short CAG repeats in various genes and it only has harmful consequences when these repeat lengths become too long.

“An important question is how these repeats get long or expand,” she said. “In particular, how do such large-scale expansions occur where dozens of repeats are being added in a single step? This has been a challenging question in the field of repeat expansion diseases.”

Kim’s article reports on an experimental system she designed to study these DNA repeats in budding yeast.

While using yeast for experiments may seem unusual to some outside the science community, Kim said it has been used for about a century as a genetic organism.

Budding yeast is just one example of a model organism that has been widely adopted for use by scientists. Drosophila fruit flies, which Kim worked with in graduate school, are another example of an organism scientists started working with 100-some years ago and is commonplace today.

“Budding yeast and Drosophila were among the first organisms to get their whole genome sequenced, even before humans got their genome sequenced,” said Kim, who already has two CSUSM undergrads lined up to help continue the research she started at Tufts.

Working with yeast has many advantages, according to Kim. It’s cost-effective, strains can be frozen for long-term storage and if something goes wrong with an experiment a researcher can often start over the very next day.

And, unlike the situation faced by a microbiologist who works with bacteria, Kim said it smells pleasantly like a bakery when you open the incubators during experiments involving yeast.

Kim is most interested in DNA repeats and their stability. She said yeast do things like replicate their genomes, partition the duplicated DNA during cell division, and make proteins. Those fundamental processes are highly conserved, Kim said, so it’s like a streamlined human cell; scientists can work much more quickly with yeast cells than human cells.

“You can introduce different DNA that you design and cut and paste certain things that you couldn’t do in human cells,” Kim said. “Yeast is a great system to ask questions such as, ‘How do the molecular processes like DNA replication or DNA repair influence these repeats?’ ”

Kim said her research is more basic, or about understanding the process, than applied.

“But at the same time,” she said, “a high-level goal is, if you understand how these repeats get too long then potentially in designing drug therapies or candidate drugs for diseases, maybe you could target these pathways for positive clinical outcomes. So, say you discover in yeast that a certain DNA repair pathway, or some molecular pathway, causes the repeats to have a higher tendency to get a lot larger or maybe it suppresses them from getting a lot larger, then it’s sort of a candidate pathway to investigate further in higher organisms.”

Kim worked for about four years on the project that led to the recently published article. She is proud not only of the work, but also that it was done with undergrads that she mentored who had no prior molecular biology research experience.

“I try to convey to students that doing research as an undergrad, your goal should be to gain experience in what it’s like to solve new problems in an actual research lab setting as opposed to verifying existing knowledge in a class setting,” Kim said. “This is the most important goal, but ending up on a scientific publication is certainly a cherry on top.”

It proved so successful, in fact, that it has become a biannual event.

The second annual STEM In Your Backyard: Vista Village event will be from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9 in the Main Street parking lot across from Wavelength Brewery in downtown Vista. The event is free and open to the public.

The College of Science and Mathematics partnered with Wavelength Brewery and the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering to hold STEM In Your Backyard: Vista Village as a precursor to Super STEM Saturday last March.

The event was so popular that Hans Haas, owner of Wavelength, and Amanda Coates, education and program manager for the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering, approached Laurie Schmelzer, Student Services Professional in CSUSM's College of Science and Mathematics, about holding STEM In Your Backyard: Vista Village twice a year.

The second edition features an expanded program and has been extended an additional hour. CSUSM faculty and students from physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biological sciences as well as STEM Ambassadors will be in attendance to help facilitate hands-on experiments and interactive presentations.

Visit the College of Science and Mathematics’ events website for more information.

What: STEM In Your Backyard: Vista Village, a biannual family-friendly event to celebrate science with hands-on experiments and interactive presentations.

When: 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9

Where: Vista Village in the Main Street parking lot across from Wavelength Brewery

BSCRIP places students in full 12-month internships with host laboratories throughout San Diego County to cultivate the next generation of young scientists and ensure that California remains at the forefront of stem cell discoveries aimed at helping patients with unmet needs. Participating students earn a stipend of $2,500 a month as well as their tuition paid in full by the grant up to $7,000. Participating labs also receive a small remuneration to offset any costs incurred.

Ralph Feuer, Ph.D., program director for the SDSU BSCRIP and associate professor in the Department of Biology explained, “Stem cell-based treatment strategies represent the future of medicine for patients suffering from chronic disease and injury. Continued progress in the development and administration of these new therapies not only require ongoing basic and translational research, but also a sustainable approach whereby the next generation of scientists and technicians build upon the initial success of previous scientific accomplishments.”

Academic coursework at their home institution is designed to teach BSCRIP students about stem cells including research, ethics and regulatory affairs. Other activities are also designed to provide students with direct patient engagement and outreach activities engaging California’s diverse communities. In the field, the students gain extensive hands-on training through a comprehensive lab-training course in basic cell culture and maintenance of stem cells as well as a 12-month research internship at local host institutions investigating human stem cell therapies and disease models.

Alex Mendoza is a first generation in college student at Cal State San Marcos currently interning at Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Carlsbad site through BSCRIP. She says that she has found the program to be not only rewarding but inspiring.

“Thanks to this program, I can put all of my energy and focus into being a scientist,” she said. “The skill sets I’m learning at Thermo Fisher Scientific—from hands-on experiment planning, to learning how to minimize errors and learn from my mistakes—is giving me a complete picture of what a career in stem cell research will be like.”

During the internship period, students attend research seminars, present their scientific progress at monthly colloquia to other students as well as participating host mentors and scientists, and present scientific posters at local and regional scientific meetings.

“We are fulfilling the industry’s demand for more trained stem cell researchers so, as a state, California can continue to be competitive in the field,” stated Bianca Mothé, Ph.D., the CSUSM BSCRIP program director, professor of Biological Sciences and associate dean of Undergraduate Studies. “This is also a great opportunity for Cal State San Marcos and San Diego State to strengthen partnerships with academic and biotech labs within the region.”

Dr. Feuer also indicted that “due to cuts in federal funding for research, biomedical students find the present environment to be a particularly challenging time to begin a scientific career. The BSCRIP program addresses both issues, financially supporting young scientists and providing internship opportunities as they get the experience they need to launch their biomedical career.”

“The goal of the Bridges program is to prepare undergraduate and Master’s level students in California for a successful career in stem cell research,” said Randal Mills, Ph.D., president and CEO of CIRM. “That’s not just a matter of giving them money, but also of giving them good mentors who can help train and guide them, of giving them meaningful engagement with patients and patient advocates, so they have a clear vision of the impact the work they are doing can have on people’s lives.”

Thermo Fisher Scientific has numerous programs to help educate and develop the next generation of stem cell scientists. Through the Gibco Education initiative, the company has developed many tools available to any stem cell researcher, including virtual training and conferences, protocol and resource handbooks, and an in-depth hands-on PSC training course.

“Thermo Fisher is pleased to support budding researchers in an effort to cultivate tomorrow’s leading scientists who will be responsible for the next great breakthroughs in the field of stem cells,” said Peter Silvester, president of the Biosciences business at Thermo Fisher. “We consider it an honor to play a role in teaching young researchers the foundational lab skills that will help them advance in their careers.”

Since 2009, San Diego State University has trained 62 students while Cal State San Marcos has trained 65, the majority of whom came from diverse backgrounds and are now working in biotech or academic research laboratories or attending professional programs in the field of regenerative medicine. Ten interns at each university are currently being trained through this program. CSUSM partners include MiraCosta College and Miramar College.

The simple remark from one of the panelists at her University of Oxford Ph.D. interview spoke volumes about Colleen Lopez’s tenacious spirit and the preparation and mentorship she received at CSUSM.

The statement still echoes in her mind.

“If you are determined enough, you can do anything,” said Colleen, who graduated with her master’s in biological sciences from CSUSM in May.

This fall, the 26-year-old graduate student will move to the U.K. to study cardiovascular stem cell research with the goal of improving heart function for patients after a heart attack.

“Heart conditions run in my family, so this topic really hits home for me,” she said. “Undoubtedly, the opportunity to study and contribute to this research, alongside some of the most brilliant minds in the world, is a dream come true.”

Finding Her Own Way

After earning her bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a minor in education from University of California, Irvine, Colleen struggled to find purpose in work. While volunteering with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, she found her new calling – she wanted to save lives through applied biomedical research.

She enrolled at Palomar College and began taking the prerequisite science courses to apply for graduate school. Through a collaborative program between Palomar College and CSUSM that mentors minority students in the sciences to enter and succeed in doctoral studies, Colleen began shadowing Cal State San Marcos professors and being exposed to hands-on research.

Colleen was persistent, never missing an opportunity to work in the lab. She knew she wanted to pursue her master’s and it was in Professor Bianca Mothé’s immunology laboratory that she found a focus for her passion.

“Early on, I knew Colleen had the drive and motivation to succeed in science,” said Mothé, professor of biological sciences at CSUSM. “She does not shy away from a challenge and, in fact, excels beyond expectation.”

On the first day of her graduate program at CSUSM, Colleen entered the lab and read a post-it written by Mothé.

The post-it note read: next generation sequencing of MHC – go!

“I was terrified,” Colleen recalled. “But, at the same time, it was the best learning experience.”

Mothé’s belief in her new graduate student’s abilities fueled Colleen’s confidence to rise to the challenge and begin to tackle the uncharted complexities of gene sequencing.

Over the next three years, Colleen led immunology research and studied vaccine development for infectious diseases, like HIV.

Passionate about science and making a difference, she has mentored students as a supplemental instructor and STEM ambassador, and cofounded a vibrant STEM outreach program at CSUSM through the Office of Service Learning, growing the program into a nonprofit that enriches science curriculum for K-5 students at local elementary schools.

Colleen continually leverages her professional network and seeks out additional research opportunities. She logged over 500 hours job shadowing doctors, surgeons and anesthesiologists at Palomar Health and Scripps to better understand how health practitioners integrate and apply research in a hospital setting. As a CIRM scholar, she is currently conducting biomedical stem cell research at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, focusing on using reprogrammed stem cells to model neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson’s Disease.

Last year, Colleen was one of a small handful of students chosen for a summer research internship at the University of Oxford. The opportunity awakened a new dream for Colleen.

“I remember thinking, I can do this – I belong here,” she noted of her summer semester at Oxford.

Oxford Bound

The Ph.D. interview panel clearly agreed. Her impressive curriculum vitae far exceeded that of her peer-applicants from Ivy-league universities. At 26, Colleen will join top researchers at Oriel College at the University of Oxford and begin an intensive three-year program to earn her Ph.D. in physiology, anatomy and genetics.

“I have thrived so much in this environment at CSUSM,” said Colleen. “The dynamics here have made it possible for me to follow this path and pursue this dream.”

“Colleen’s perseverance illustrates how seizing opportunities can lead you on a path to your dream,” Mothé added. “I am excited to see her contribute great things in science that will have a profound impact on human lives.”

Dr. Bianca Mothé, professor of biological sciences

Mothé is a leading expert on immunology and virology, with research interests in designing novel vaccines for rapidly mutating pathogens, including HIV and SIV. She has also collaborated with Dr. Thomas Geisbert, with the University of Texas medical branch in Galveston, Texas, who is a leading expert on the Ebola virus.

“The compelling life stories of these extraordinary student scholars are a testament to the transformative power of public higher education,” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. “Through the generous support of our donors, many of whom are first-time contributors to the Trustees’ Award program, we are able to help these scholars create a bright and successful future.”

As a child, Carlos Betancourt lived with his single mother in rural Mexico, spending his days helping his grandfather tend to their mango grove. At the age of ten, he left home to live with relatives in the United States and pursue a more formal education. After high school, Carlos attended a local community college before transferring to CSUSM.

Although his family discouraged him from attending college, he continued to pursue higher education to better himself and make a difference. In fall 2013, he began undergraduate research in an algal biomineralization laboratory under the direction of Dr. Betsy Read. Carlos is the second author of a paper related to the algal strain, emiliania huxleyi, which will be published later this year.

“I yearn to be part of an organization that works to better the lives of present and future generations,” he said.

This past summer he traveled to the UK for an internship at the University of Cambridge. Carlos looks forward to one day becoming a scientist and traveling the world. He will soon be applying to graduate schools abroad in order to earn a doctorate.

For more information about Carlos and the 22 other awardees, visit the CSU Trustee Awards website: http://www.calstate.edu/foundation/trusteesawards/

"The total number of species on earth is estimated to be 8.7 million," explained College of Science and Mathematics Dean Katherine Kantardjieff. "To have an organism named after you is a distinct honor that places Dr. Sheath in very distinguished company as a scientist. CSUSM is extremely proud of his achievement. Dr. Sheath joins a group of notable individuals who have organisms named for them, including naturalist David Attenburough, as well as Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama."

The new group of Sheathia algae was formerly lumped in with the Batrachospermum genus, until a research team led by Morgan Vis, professor of environmental and plant biology at Ohio University, recently discovered a subgroup within the species that shared a distinct morphological characteristic, known as heterocortication, and is distinct on DNA sequence gene trees. A term coined by Dr. Sheath, heterocortication describes a mix of spherical and cyclical cells that cover the main axis or branch of the organism. The varied cell-structures are believed to help protect the algae from breaking apart in the moving current of the stream.  

The splitting of the Batrachospermum genus, as well as the unveiling of the new Sheathia genus, will be published in upcoming issue of the Journal of Phycology and can be read online.  

"We think it is fitting to name this genus after Dr. Bob Sheath as it has many of the North American taxa that he has worked to elucidate the systematics as well as the ecology,” said Dr. Vis.  

Having the new name published in the Journal of Phycology, one of the most cited journals in aquatic botany, is also a touching tribute for Dr. Sheath after serving five years as the editor-in-chief of the publication.  

“It’s a big honor to have my work in the field of freshwater algae be recognized in this way,” said Dr. Sheath.  

Dr. Sheath has been studying freshwater algae for almost 40 years. In 2012 his lab at CSUSM was certified as the California Primary Algae Laboratory, the only lab in the State of California to collect and catalog freshwater algae samples.

Read more about Dr. Sheath's work in Clean Water, Green Water.