The nomination of Lewis noted that he “is a transformative leader in higher education, philanthropy and social justice.”

In his roles at CSUSM, Lewis oversees programs expanding access to education for low-income and justice-impacted students, creating pathways to opportunity.

“His leadership extends beyond academia, shaping initiatives that drive economic mobility and equity,” the nomination said.

As a board member for Episcopal Community Services, Lewis supports the Resource Development Committee, advancing fundraising efforts for early childhood education, mental health and substance use recovery programs. He also played a key role in St. Paul’s Cathedral’s major gifts campaign, helping raise over $2.5 million.

A North San Diego NAACP lifetime member and longtime Williams College mentor, Lewis has a deep commitment to community impact, the nomination noted. As one colleague said: “Justin is a great leader and mentor. His knowledge of business proved invaluable during and after my internship. With 30-plus years of volunteer experience, his vision, fundraising expertise and dedication to social justice make him an outstanding candidate.”

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

“I've been hosting this conference for 28 years because you are my future,” Michael Lewis, EOP special coordinator/transitional counseling, told attendees. “Today begins a relationship with all of us. When you go to college, we are your resources.” 

This Thursday, EOP will host the Brothers Gonna Work It Out conference for high school boys. The conference series provides support and strategies to African American, Latinx, Samoan and American Indian high school students who are at risk of facing environmental challenges in school and at home. 

The Sisters Gonna Work It Out conference included a panel of four professional women who have succeeded in their careers and have compelling personal stories. 

Althea Williams, founder of She Vets It, a podcast hosted by women veterans that explore topics related to entrepreneurship and career, was the first speaker. Williams flew from Texas to share her experience serving in Afghanistan and Germany, and how she took her path to becoming a business owner. 

“Everything is possible,” Williams said. “You need to write it down and make a plan and connect with people that have the ability to translate that into something. I'm not just saying that because I was a single mom who had a child at 18. I went through a long journey. But guess what? I ended up getting my MBA. I worked for the chamber of commerce. I was in the military. It doesn't matter what your background is, no matter where you come from. The sky's the limit if you really believe in yourself.” 

Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, who serves as a trustee for the San Diego Unified School District, reflected on when she was in eighth grade and there were still Jim Crow laws in Virginia. 

“I know I don't look that old, but I grew up in a segregated South,” Whitehurst-Payne said. “But my family decided that we were going to go to college.” 

Whitehurst-Payne became a math teacher when she was 21. In college, she was selected to explore a career path in engineering and computer science at Virginia Tech. 

“Exploring another field helped me decide what I wanted to do, and that was teaching,” Whitehurst-Payne told attendees. “I'm encouraging you right now. You're here today and you see the university. This is a wonderful place. I remember when it was located at the furniture store. This university did not exist. It was a vision, it was a dream in someone's mind. Don't let the world define who you are and what you're going to be. You decide that and you can do it.” 

Another speaker, Guadalupe Gonzalez, a San Diego County Office of Education board member and CSUSM alumna, worked as a faculty member at San Diego Mesa College for over 20 years. 

Gonzalez is the youngest of 11 siblings, and her father died when she was only a year old. To help provide for the family, Gonzalez and her siblings would pick cotton after school until it was dark. 

“Out of the 11 kids, I was the only one that went to college,” Gonzalez said. “Because I surrounded myself with people that told me I could do it. I grew up being told that all I had to do was learn how to cook and clean. I skipped a grade and graduated high school at 16. But what did I do at 17? I got married because that's what I was raised to do. I got pregnant at 17 years old. But guess what? He was not a great guy. He ended up being an abuser.”

While raising four children, Gonzalez took college classes when she could. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree at 38 years old and obtained her master’s from San Diego State when she was 40. 

“You may not graduate from college when you're 22,” Gonzalez said. “You may not even do it at 38 like I did, but the point is that you can do it.”

CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt completed the panel by sharing her personal path to higher education. Neufeldt encouraged the audience to consider becoming a college president one day. 

“It's really important that more females do this job, especially more females of color because that's how we're going to change the system to make sure that more and more people are finding their way in,” Neufeldt said.

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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

Some told her she was too old. Others said her focus should be on having kids, not school.

“I lost a lot of my ‘friends’ because they used to laugh about me, make jokes and all that,” Salazar said. “But now look at me. I'm almost done.”

Salazar, who dropped out of high school after her sophomore year to help support her family, is almost done with her undergraduate studies. A mathematics major, she needs to complete just two more classes at Cal State San Marcos this fall to become the first person in her family to earn a college degree as she continues working toward her goal of becoming a high school math teacher.

“I truly admire her resiliency and determination,” said Marylou Gonzalez, Salazar’s retention counselor in CSUSM’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). “There were times and situations that truly tested her, but her desire was much stronger.”

A few weeks ago, Salazar was joking with her husband, Marcelo, about how most people take 8-10 years to earn a Ph.D. while she was taking that amount of time to obtain her bachelor’s. In Salazar’s case, that decade also included obtaining her GED, completing ESL classes and earning her associate degree at Mesa College.

It has been a remarkable journey, from leaving Mexico for the promise of a brighter future after the death of her father to sleeping in Los Angeles bus stops to dropping out of high school to help her family. But even when she was spending those years working to help her family survive, she never gave up her dream of an education.

It wasn’t until eight years after dropping out of high school that Salazar, then 24, enrolled in night school to obtain her GED. But, for her, there was never any doubt.

“Inside of me, I always thought, ‘No, I want to do more. I want to go back to school,’ ” she said.

Salazar’s father died when she was 12 and a family dispute over ownership of their Tijuana home ended with her on the streets with her mother and two younger siblings. The family found shelter with a relative, but the ongoing financial struggle led her mother to move the family to San Francisco to stay with an uncle.

It was another short-lived arrangement. When the property owner where Salazar’s uncle lived learned about the four additional tenants, they were forced to leave. Unable to afford housing in the Bay Area, Salazar’s mother moved the family to Los Angeles. There, they spent days on the streets and rationed a few hundred dollars that her uncle gave them for cheap motel rooms at night. When her mom got a cleaning job at night, Salazar and her siblings were left to fend for themselves until their mother returned from work.

“It was really scary because it was not a nice area,” she said. “It was only us, three kids in a motel.”

Salazar’s mom eventually found a second job, and the extra income helped them rent a garage, cramped quarters where they lived for nearly five years.

“It was a garage, but we were so happy,” Salazar said.

While finally having a permanent address meant Salazar and her siblings could enroll in school, financial pressures weighed on the family.

Salazar tried to help by selling candy to her high school classmates, but she didn’t make much money and she got in trouble with teachers for her efforts.

“They didn’t understand that if I was selling candies, it was for a reason,” she said. “It was because I really wanted to stay in school and I really needed the money.

“It was not enough so I ended up dropping out of high school. I was so sad.”

Salazar found work as a clothing salesperson, and she continued working when she enrolled in night school to get her GED.

Though she wanted to continue her education after completing her GED in 2012, college seemed out of reach. Despite living in the U.S. for 10 years, she didn’t qualify for in-state tuition as an undocumented student. It wasn’t until she applied for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, more commonly known as DACA, that she could afford to enroll in college.

Salazar and Marcelo had been married for about three years at this point, and they moved from Los Angeles to San Diego so he could enroll in a program at Mesa College. He encouraged Salazar to pursue her college dreams, too.

Salazar completed her general education requirements at Mesa and enrolled at CSUSM in 2018, about the same time that she received her green card. She met Gonzalez through the EOP Transfer Bridge program, which assists students transitioning from community college to a university setting.

“I knew right away she was motivated, determined and a go-getter,” Gonzalez said. “She quickly connected with EOP and made sure she asked questions to help her get ahead. In our meetings, she allowed herself to be vulnerable and expressed her fears and always followed up by saying, ‘I’m getting it done. One way or another, I am getting it done.’ ”

Salazar said many people assume math just comes easy to her and don’t realize the time and effort she puts into her studies. Math professor Amber Puha saw Salazar’s dedication for herself when Salazar took Puha’s Math 441 Introduction to Mathematical Probability course in 2019.

“She brought enthusiasm and a bright personality to class and office hours every week,” Puha said. “Her positive vibe is infectious. And because of that, I would have never guessed the circumstances that she has endured and overcome to get where she is now.”

Salazar told Puha about her plans to become a high school math teacher. She wants to help other students, especially migrants, avoid the difficulties she faced.

“She has chosen to use smarts, resilience, determination, forgiveness and open-mindedness to find her way to a life where she can do mathematics and help others,” Puha said. “This may sound a bit cliché, but it is far easier said than done when life beats you down and you are your only support network. She is an inspiration, and we are fortunate that she will continue in mathematics and become a role model for her future students.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

Know someone who deserves special recognition for their efforts? Email details to publicity@csusm.edu and we’ll include them in an upcoming edition of this ongoing series.

Rosa Conrad, outreach staff, University Library

Among Conrad’s many contributions since the University Library’s move to a virtual environment are creating a video to introduce new and potential students to the library and coordinating its first virtual Pause for Paws event.

“Rosa’s ability to adapt and meet short deadlines, all while continuing to be innovative and maintain a positive attitude has been remarkable, and I am so glad I have the opportunity to work with her and that students have the opportunity to interact with her as they learn about the library,” the nominator wrote.

Marylou Gonzalez, retention counselor, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)

Gonzalez has been instrumental in encouraging students to continue moving forward on their path to graduation.

“Marylou goes out of her way to make sure people reach all their academic goals as she role models solution-focused interventions that help students in the EOP department remain resilient,” the nominator wrote. “She has a great sense of humor and goes the extra mile even on days off to accommodate students’ needs prior to graduating.”

Danielle McMartin, associate director, Global Education

While the COVID-19 pandemic has led to challenges across campus, it has included unique ones for Global Programs and Services as it works to ensure the well-being of international students. McMartin (pictured with the Global Programs and Services team at last year’s International Fair) was highlighted for her ability to rapidly respond to an ever-evolving situation as she continued to provide valuable services and keep international students informed.

“At this time, it's really important to be responsive and dedicated, which she does with great efforts,” the nominator wrote. “Her work should be much appreciated.”

Rachel Miller, lecturer, psychology

Miller was highlighted for her compassion and her ongoing assistance for students during the transition to virtual learning in the spring. The nominator also praised Miller for her support of Disability Support Services.

“Dr. Miller pushes everyone to reach their fullest potential,” the nominator wrote. “She pays special attention to everyone’s schoolwork and provides feedback that is helpful. Dr. Miller will always be memorable to me. She is direct, funny and, most importantly, accountable.”

Toni Olivas, engagement and inclusion librarian, University Library

Olivas was praised for her ability to continually find and implement ways to engage with CSUSM students, faculty, staff and the community, all while implementing inclusive practices. Olivas’ accomplishments during the pandemic include launching the library’s first campus Common Read virtual book discussion, and she is currently working on the next context exhibit, which will be the library’s first all-virtual exhibit of the series.

“Toni’s passion and work ethic has been inspiring and extremely motivating as she continues to engage with the CSUSM community and library partners,” the nominator wrote.

Library Technology Initiatives and Development (LTID) team

The LTID team includes Ian Chan, head of library technology initiatives and development; Amanda Dalgleish, web development and user experience specialist; Roger Delgado, DevOps specialist; Steven R. Espinoza, systems operations analyst; and Khuong Vu, analyst/programmer.

“Ian and his team have been responsive, nimble and innovative in transitioning the library to virtual services – no easy task,” the nominator wrote. “They continually improve the library’s online tools and systems, enhance the user experience, and enable the library’s website to be utilized in new and exciting ways.

“They have also taken on a huge task this summer of testing and changing the process for logging in to library databases so only one login is required. This is especially crucial as students, staff and faculty continue to work virtually. The team has also played a key role in building the infrastructure for the Together/Apart COVID-19 Community Memory Archive.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

The first time came after Reyes got a job as a cashier and saved enough money to buy a plane ticket to Oaxaca, Mexico, surprising her family during spring break of her freshman year at Cal State San Marcos. She saved enough to visit again last December.

It’s the only face-to-face time she has had with them since moving by herself from Oaxaca to Escondido when she was 16. Reyes can’t even see them virtually – her parents don’t have internet access – so she has tried making daily phone calls part of her routine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reyes was born in the United States but moved to Oaxaca with her family when she was 11, and the daily phone calls are a change from when she first returned to the U.S.

“Initially, I wouldn't call them too much when I moved back,” Reyes said. “I think just that sensation that I felt away from them made it difficult to engage in conversation, and it would just remind me that I wasn't with them. But now I’m definitely keeping contact and letting them know about everything that's going on.”

Reyes has much to share. She’s halfway to becoming the first person in her family to earn a college degree. She works as a student assistant in CSUSM’s DREAMer Resource Office, she’s part of the TRIO McNair Scholars Program and she’s an active member of the Human Development Club. She does all of this while completely supporting herself financially and, for the past year, contending with housing insecurity that had her bouncing around different living situations (including a month in emergency housing) before finally finding stability.

“She has such a big heart,” said Maria Chiem, coordinator of the DREAMer Resource Office. “I place so much emphasis on that because it's hard to find people like that. So when you do come across it, it gives you hope.”

The DREAMer Resource Office, which provides a safe space and resources for undocumented students, has become a vital part of Reyes’ life. Though she is a U.S. citizen, her parents are not. Their undocumented status and ongoing financial insecurity are what led them to return to Oaxaca when Reyes was 11.

The move wasn’t easy for Reyes. She spoke little Spanish at the time and was accustomed to the American educational system. In Oaxaca, she saw firsthand how numerous people were struggling, and her own family could only afford basic needs. Reyes’ parents even reached a point where they wanted her to drop out of school because of the financial burden.

After completing her sophomore year, Reyes made a difficult decision – she would move back to the U.S. by herself to complete high school.

“Pursuing my education here was going to provide me a better opportunity for myself, my family and my career goals,” she said. “So that really influenced me to come back, although that meant leaving my family behind and struggling at first to get used to it and navigating everything alone.”

Returning to the U.S. wasn’t as simple as completing her final two years of high school. Many of the courses Reyes took in Mexico didn’t transfer, and she had to make up eight classes in addition to her regular class workload. But Reyes never had second thoughts about her decision. She wasn’t just continuing her education for herself, she also wanted to be a positive role model for her younger sisters.

“There is a huge age gap (her sisters are 7 and 1), but once they get older, I want them to see that an education is possible,” Reyes said. “Both of my parents just went to elementary school, so I think that's just showing my sisters that going to higher education is possible for us. I'm one of the first in my extended family who is going to college, and I think making an impact within my own family is going to encourage more people from my community to pursue education and look at other opportunities available.”

Reyes is grateful for the help she has received while continuing her education at CSUSM. She has a strong support system that includes Chiem; Bianca Rodriguez, a retention counselor in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP); and Bonnie Campbell, manager of the Campus Assessment, Response and Education (CARE) team.

Reyes wants to provide the same type of support to others as she has received from her mentors. While Reyes doesn’t have to worry about her immigration status, working for the DREAMer Resource Office has helped her understand the importance of assisting students who face endless worry because of their status.

“She’s a genuine person who’s very caring and thoughtful,” Chiem said. “She really cares about her community and she really cares about Cal State San Marcos and the students here. All of the caring and passion and compassion that she has, she brings that all to the office. We're really grateful and appreciative of that.

“The work that we do is extremely sensitive, and it’s difficult and challenging at times. You really need to have that compassion and that open mind in order to really help the students that we help. And it's just been really cool to see her growth in the past year and to see how she dedicates herself to the space and the way that she advocates for everyone in that space in our community.”

Reyes is majoring in human development with a counseling service emphasis and a minor in Spanish. Being part of TRIO McNair Scholars has helped develop her interest in graduate school and pursuing a Ph.D. in psychological counseling. Coming from a mixed-status family herself and working in the DREAMer Resource Office has inspired her to pursue a career that will allow her to continue supporting undocumented students and assisting those with mental health struggles.

“The resources provided by the DREAMer Resource Office really came in handy for me,” Reyes said. “Without that support, I probably wouldn't have continued my education and my challenges would have overcome me. But just knowing that there's that space for students and for myself to feel supported and have a home have really impacted me. I have seen how it has really benefited other students, and it’s shown me that it is possible to continue your education and to not let these external challenges stop us from doing it.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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