When, in February, the curious people asking those questions weren’t random strangers but rather elite athletes who had just won medals in the most storied sporting competition on earth, Miller-Wing knew that this was the assignment of his dreams.

That assignment: protecting members of Team USA during the recent Winter Olympics in Italy as a special agent with the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

“It was a great experience,” said Miller-Wing, who graduated from Cal State San Marcos in 2022. “I lucked out. It was like winning the lottery.”

The DSS dispatches agents to many major international sporting events, and the Olympics opportunity came about only two years after Miller-Wing started working for the agency. One of a few agents chosen from the DSS Boston Field Office, he flew to Milan in early February for initial security briefings before making the trip to the Alps resort town of Cortina, where he was stationed for the rest of the Winter Games.

Miller-Wing was responsible for the Olympic Village that housed the athletes, and he also served as a flex agent, filling in for colleagues at competition venues after they had worked particularly long days. In that capacity, he spent considerable time at the curling center, where a highlight was watching Cory Thiesse become the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in curling as part of her second-place finish (with Korey Dropkin) in mixed doubles.

“I knew absolutely nothing about curling and then, in the Olympics, I think I saw almost 20 full curling matches,” Miller-Wing said. “I now feel relatively confident in being able to explain the rules and strategy. Just enough to be a Monday morning quarterback at the Games.”

Other memorable moments from Miller-Wing’s Olympic fortnight was seeing the famous Jamaican bobsled team – “that was on the bucket list” – and meeting U.S. star skiers Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn. After the Games ended and he was off the clock, he extended his time in Italy by exploring the country with his wife.

It all added up to an unforgettable experience in which the competition in the athletic venues was counterbalanced by camaraderie outside of them.

“All the athletes were phenomenal,” he said. “It didn’t matter if they had just won a medal or if they were really focused on a competition – they always greeted everyone with a smile.

“And working with the other countries was a pleasant surprise. It really reminded me of what we do in diplomatic security, in our normal job, which is working with other nations to enable the diplomats to focus on their job overseas.”

The Olympics have ended, but Miller-Wing’s fulfilling work with the Diplomatic Security Service continues. The law enforcement and security arm of the State Department, the DSS creates a safe environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy by protecting the department’s people, property and information. The DSS has the largest global presence of any U.S. law enforcement organization, operating at more than 275 American diplomatic posts in over 170 countries and more than 30 U.S. cities. Miller-Wing is among more than 2,500 Foreign Service specialists working and traveling worldwide (DSS agents are both sworn law enforcement officers and members of the Foreign Service).

A Carlsbad native, Miller-Wing was raised by a mother who worked for the federal government. In fact, her being reassigned is why the family left the San Diego area for Northern California. He was a standout quarterback at Folsom High School outside Sacramento and aspired to play college football, but a shoulder injury sustained at the local community college short-circuited his gridiron goals.

Unsure what to do next, Miller-Wing decided to join the U.S. Army in 2017. After switching over to the Army Reserve, he jumped at an opportunity to return to his hometown as a member of the 416^th Civil Affairs Battalion out of Camp Pendleton.

During his time with that battalion, Miller-Wing had occasion to go overseas and work with DSS agents, many of whom serve as regional security officers at diplomatic posts around the world. He thought the job sounded ideal for him, but he assumed that RSOs were political officers who specialize in national security.

“My mom was working at an embassy, and she said, ‘Hey, did you know that the State Department has special agents?’ ” Miller-Wing recalled. “So I looked into it, and I realized that this is exactly what I want to do.”

With that career track firmly in mind, Miller-Wing set out to revisit higher education. He earned an associate degree at Palomar College before transferring to CSUSM in 2019, six years after he had finished high school. He majored in global studies, receiving particular help along the way from political science professor Meshack Simati.

“The biggest thing that I feared was going back as an adult with a full-time job and responsibilities where I had to take care of things that you don’t have to worry about when you’re 18,” he said. “But CSUSM was accommodating, all the professors were accommodating. And the environment was such that they focused on setting us up to be professionals in the future, not just college graduates. It was unique.”

Miller-Wing started applying for the DSS program almost as soon as he earned his CSUSM degree in May 2022, and he was a special agent stationed in Boston less than two years later. Besides Italy, he has traveled on official business to four other countries, and he hopes that his next posting will be in a foreign nation.

“I’ve worked a lot of jobs in the private and public sector, and this is by far the most rewarding,” Miller-Wing said. “One day you could be on a high-value target warrant, the next you could be on the foreign minister’s detail in Bahrain, the next you could be in Italy at the Olympics. Every single day is different.

“It’s definitely a different life experience than most people, but if you like to travel and want to experience different cultures, then I highly recommend it.”

Media Contact

Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist

bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Patty joined CSUSM back in 1990, becoming just the second faculty member of the university’s new History Department. She had earlier earned two BAs (one from Georgetown and the other from Oxford) and a Ph.D. in history from Stanford University. As an assistant professor, she immediately began shaping the History Department by adding new courses. She subsequently became chair of the department for more than a decade, mentoring faculty and staff and encouraging their professional growth. Her own scholarship ranged from research into the key role of Sean MacBain in the founding of Amnesty International to publications examining the experience of Irish women working as servants in eighteenth-century England. 

In 2020, Patty retired and became professor emerita. She taught part-time on campus in the Faculty Early Retirement Program until last year.

Patty was a dedicated teacher. She taught at all levels of the curriculum, in multiple modalities and at all hours, offering high-quality courses that inspired countless students. Patty successfully brought her broadly conceived, international perspective of history into the classroom and was consistently one of the highest-rated instructors in the college. Her recognition as the General Thomas S. Jones Distance Learning Instructor of the Year by the U.S. Marine Corps is one of many testaments to her impact as an educator.

Patty was always a tireless advocate for students and was instrumental in making CSUSM a student-centered campus. She secured an AAC&U grant for “Shared Futures: General Education for a Global Century,” and helped launch what is now the Global Studies Department. As program director of global studies, she developed a strategic plan to grow enrollments and hire new and diverse faculty. Patty later received a dual appointment in global studies and in history.

Patty was no less active in the college and the university as a whole. She served as CHABSS associate dean for budget and operations for three years. Her commitment to university service was reflected in her many leadership roles, including two terms as chair of the Academic Senate, multiple terms on the Promotion and Tenure Committee, and several leadership positions within the CFA, including CSUSM chapter president. Patty played a central role in the university's WASC reaccreditation as co-chair of the 1997–2000 Self-Study Steering Committee, even before she became a full professor. Patty received the 2009 President’s Award for Service in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to CSUSM.

Outside of CSUSM, Patty was often to be found at the beach walking Gus, her beloved and enormous Labrador, or visiting friends in the company of Emile, her equally boisterous but much smaller Coton de Tulear. A voracious reader of both fiction and nonfiction, a connoisseur of fine food and wine, a rose gardener, a transatlantic traveler and a passionate champion of intellectual freedom, Patty loved life and learning in equal measure.

Patty’s legacy at CSUSM — through her service, research and teaching — is profound and enduring. She was a source of new ideas, an enemy of complacency, and a catalyst for constant improvement and development. Moreover, Patty often quietly supported her staff, faculty and administrative colleagues in ways that did not bring attention to herself, but were deeply meaningful to those who received these kindnesses.  She helped build our campus, and her influence will continue to be felt by the many students, staff, and faculty whose lives she touched.

Navigating higher education felt intimidating at times for Serrano, a first-generation college student. She worried that she didn’t belong, and often suffered from imposter syndrome. 

“There have been moments where I didn’t think I could continue being in college,” said Serrano, a double major in economics and global studies. “My family has been very understanding, and they always encourage me. If I ever needed help, they were there for me. I think that one of the comforting parts about it is knowing that I did have a solid support system and they just really wanted me to graduate.”

Serrano’s parents have always encouraged her to follow her interests, and they understood how important it was for her to attend college. 

“As long as my mom saw a book in my hands as a child, she thought I was going to end up OK,” Serrano said. “My mom's highest level of education was middle school and my dad’s was elementary school. My parents told me to just graduate high school, and once you get your high school degree, you’ll have something. But they always wanted me to keep learning and pursue higher ed as well.”

Serrano’s efforts continue to pay off, and she was recognized as Cal State San Marcos’ 2023-24 recipient of the President’s Student Champion Award for Inclusive Excellence at the annual All Peoples Luncheon on Oct. 19.

“It still hasn't even hit me that I won,” said Serrano, who was lauded for being an advocate for undocumented and mixed-status students. “I just do what I do because I love it and I want to help.”

In high school, Serrano was in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which helped her with her sense of belonging and feelings of imposter syndrome. Serrano became a peer mentor for CAMP at CSUSM in 2020 because she wanted to give back and help students feel like they can succeed on a college campus. 

“I made some really meaningful friends in CAMP,” Serrano said. “It was a great community for me to be in on campus, especially because I find it difficult to open up sometimes.” 

Serrano was presented with an opportunity to help undocumented and mixed-status students as an ambassador in the Dreamer Resource Office (DRO) in 2021. 

“I connect with the DRO because I do come from an immigrant mixed-status background,” Serrano said. “For the longest time, I didn't feel like I had a place where I could belong. I didn't know we had a center like this on campus. The atmosphere in the office made me feel so safe. It was so welcoming. There is no judgment whatsoever. I think for me, the hardest part is finding a place where people can understand you and acknowledge your experience.” 

Serrano has worked in the DRO for over two years. She currently serves as a DRO representative for the President’s Inclusive Excellence Advisory Council, where she advocates for the undocumented community. 

Serrano’s impact goes beyond campus. She was also a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and had the opportunity in 2021 to study abroad in South Korea and help English professors in a language and cultural exchange. 

After graduating next spring, Serrano plans to take a gap year before continuing to fulfill her love of learning by pursuing a Ph.D. 

“I’m finding my way as I go,” Serrano said. “I’m just really grateful to have been nominated and to have been able to participate in the organizations that I have. It feels very unreal because I just had a lot of fun doing what I'm passionate about. I'm just really grateful more than anything.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

So, while Kay’s parents might have been nervous about seeing her travel more than 9,000 miles to attend college, they were supportive of her pursuit of a degree.

Kay graduated from Cal State University San Marcos in December with a business degree in Global Supply Chain Management.

While she remains immersed in her lifelong pursuit of knowledge, she is continuing work she began long ago to empower young girls in Africa to gain an education and better their lives. She wrote a book called “Ask Believe Receive” that details her fight against poverty and education. She also founded the nonprofit Maggie Kay Foundation to help inform, educate and empower girls to improve their lives through education.

Kay took time recently to talk about her foundation, her path to CSUSM and the importance of education.

What inspired your parents to encourage the pursuit of education for you and your siblings?

My dad’s only sister grew up in a place where gender discrimination in education prevailed. My dad, even as a youngling, believed that girls were born to defy all odds and should therefore be afforded the opportunity to learn. So, he secretly taught his sister how to read and write. She ended up becoming very successful compared to women that did not have the opportunity to learn, read nor write. My dad swore that his daughters would be educated.

How did you come to attend CSUSM?

How did I end up in California should be the question. I was listening to a song by Tupac and Dr. Dre, “California Love,” and I romanticized California. CSUSM was geographically advantageous, so it worked out perfectly for me.

How do you enjoy living in the U.S.?

I have made it my second home. I’m full of gratitude to Americans. I fell in love with the American spirit -- the spirit of generosity and unshakable faith. Nevertheless, Africa remains not only my home, but my love.

You went through 11 attempts at acquiring a visa before being allowed to come study in the U.S. How did you persevere?

The first time they said no I was thinking if the U.S embassy thinks I won't try again, it has massively underestimated me. I’m not one to go down without a fight. I wasn’t raised that way. But on my fifth denial, I hit and came face-to-face with the mother of all rock bottoms. I wanted to quit. I started ruminating on Europe. My mother helped me actualize that for either route, nothing ought to be straight; making everything right needs a little bit of fight. I put on my fighting gloves and fought tirelessly. When you attempt a challenge repeatedly, rest assured you’ll reach a point where you’ll start feeling like a champion. On my eighth try I started feeling like a champion and looking forward to going back -- and, as subnormal as it sounds, going back and being denied so that I could tell people, ‘You’ve been denied once and here you’re whining? This is my 10th try. Watch and learn.’

What inspired you to start the Maggie Kay Foundation?

Not until I heard Africa’s dreams, did I discover my purpose in life. It happened while I lived in Europe and saw the immense demand for social workers. I thought, if the African women stuck in the ghettos, fighting the chains of poverty could master French and German, I could secure these jobs for them. So, I opened a school in Kenya. At first, it was just a simple platform for them to propel themselves, but when I witnessed how when propelled most embarked on entrepreneurship, building their families homes, getting them out of the slums, educating their siblings, I wondered, ‘What if more girls became informed, educated and empowered?’

Were other girls from your neighborhood inspired by your journey?

Not when I was going through the visa process. Most laughed at my efforts and mocked my dreams. I remained focused. People residing within the cult of mediocrity don’t like to see others rise. It threatens their security and spotlights their low self-worth. Today, most of them are in better standing thanks to the opportunities brought forth by the Maggie Kay Foundation. Hopefully they’ll inspire themselves more than I aim to inspire them.

As someone who successfully immigrated to the U.S., first to study and then gaining your citizenship, what are your thoughts on the current immigration climate in America?

I understand the apprehension of some Americans when it comes to the vetting process. However, I also know how the ban affects genuine immigrants who just want to be safe and free in the U.S. When the ‘world’ was busy digesting and ingesting the news, I ran into a girl from Somalia detained at the airport. It was emotional. Somalis use the U.S. embassy in Kenya. Thus, I understood the rigorous vetting process she underwent. I tried to smile at her, but she detected no smile. She sat there looking on in the distance, seemingly wondering if the land beyond the horizon had a purpose to take a chance on her, a chance on her dreams.

Are you seeing progress in how girls are treated and the opportunities they’re afforded in Africa?

“Yes, indeed. When these girls get informed, they’re a force to be reckoned with. They don’t wait for opportunities to be afforded to them, they compete to create opportunities for themselves as much if not more than they compete to create opportunities for others.

Is there anything else you would like people to know?

We still live in a gendered world. To change society is to give her a book, and the progress of the society will be enchanted in her education and delight in her success. Let’s empower together. We rise by lifting others.

The course, titled The British Invasion in U.S. Pop Culture, explores popular literary, cinematic, musical and theatrical traditions in the British Isles. From the 5^th century legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table to the modern day television series Game of Thrones, the course analyzes how British popular culture both entertains and satisfies audiences while probing deeper into what that means for American society.

“British popular culture is consumed voraciously in the United States,” said Associate Professor Heidi Breuer, a medieval and renaissance British literature scholar. “We want to tap into that interest and use it to catalyze a scholarly inquiry about exactly why we are so fascinated—what are the things that are positive about it as well as what’s problematic, especially in regard to race, class, gender and sexuality.”

Students will travel first to London, England, where planned excursions include a Tower of London tour, Sherlock walking tour, a visit to the Harry Potter Warner Brothers studio and a James Bond walking tour. From there the course will go to Cardiff, the capital and largest city in Wales, to explore the folklore and mythology of King Arthur as well as for a Dr. Who interactive experience. The trip will conclude in Dublin, Ireland, with a visit to Trinity College, home to The Book of Kells, a literary pub crawl and tours of film sites from the HBO series Game of Thrones.

“We’ve selected a lot of locations that will do double duty for us,” said Associate Professor Rebecca Lush, an expert on colonial and transatlantic literature. “These places offer some of the strongest, most lasting influential aspects of British culture that we’ve assimilated into our American culture juxtaposed next to 21^st century cultural sites that are important and popular now.”

Both Breuer and Lush have a love for British culture, but aren’t afraid to turn a critical eye to it.

“For me, popular culture is a lens through which to see how the character types and narrative patterns that were invented in the 16th through 18th centuries continue to get recycled to celebrate a new sense of Americanness,” said Lush. “Taking students to these locations in London, Wales and Ireland is a way for them to understand the multifaceted transatlantic undertones that they have always assumed to be American.”

Added Breuer: “We are celebrating the aspects that are fun, enjoyable and satisfying while also looking at how British pop culture perpetuates ideological structures that have gone on for a long time.”

The course, which includes the two-week abroad trip from May 21 to June 2 and an additional two-week online component, satisfies three units of upper-division credit. Open to CSUSM students and the community through Open University, application materials are due Tuesday, Feb. 16.

For more information, visit the CSUSM Study Abroad website.

According to GKIDS Films, The Rabbi’s Cat, set in the Jewish community of Algeria during the 1920s, tells the story of a rabbi and his talking cat—a sharp-tongued feline philosopher brimming with scathing humor and a less than pure love for the rabbi’s voluptuous teenage daughter. The filmmakers spare no group or individual as they skewer faith, tradition and authority in a provocative exploration of God, lust, death, phrenology, religious intolerance, interspecies love and the search for truth. Rich with colors, textures, flavors and music of Mediterranean Africa, the film embarks on a cross-continent adventure from the tiled terraces, fountains, quays and cafes of colonial Algiers to Maghrebi tent camps, dusty trading outposts, and deep blue Saharan nights in search of a lost Ethiopian city.

Organized by Geiger, the Departments of Modern Language Studies and Global Studies, and the Global Studies Club and French Club, this event is made possible with support of the Leichtag Foundation. The film will be presented in French with English subtitles.

What: Free film screening of The Rabbi’s Cat, the 2011 French animated film based on the best-selling graphic novel by Joann Sfar.

When: Thursday, September 24 at 6 p.m.

Where: Cal State University San Marcos, Academic Hall, Room 102 – 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos

Directions and Parking: Directions can be found at www.csusm.edu/guide. On-campus parking is available with rates from $3 to $9 depending upon length of stay.

The motto of the CSUSM study abroad program deeply resonates with global studies student Elise McDow. She recently returned from a three-week trip to Rwanda with Global Youth Connect (GYC), a nonprofit that believes the key to preventing massive violations of human rights and protecting basic freedoms lies in organizing the world’s youth to take action.

A novice to international travel, Elise was both excited and nervous for her first journey to Africa. As part of GYC’s “We are Together—Human Rights Learning and Action Program,” she joined twelve delegates from around the world and twelve delegates from Rwanda in a workshop to discuss human rights issues.

“Representatives came from a variety of places, including the United States, Britain, Brazil, Ghana and Korea,” said Elise. “Hearing about their experiences and perspectives had a big impact on me.”

The group of delegates also traveled together to local sites that memorialized the 1994 mass genocide in Rwanda, during which Hutu extremists killed an estimated 500,000 to one million Tutsi and moderate Hutu. It was during these visits in particular that Elise felt the strongest sense of solidarity with her fellow delegates.

“Seeing the genocide memorials was difficult for all of us,” said Elise. “Some of the delegates had a hard time even participating because they were so overcome by emotion. Yet we also were able to come together during the experience because we knew we were all there for the same reason—to help ensure that such atrocities won’t happen again.”

The delegation also had the unique opportunity to work alongside a nonprofit in the area to develop a strategic plan for a local community hospital. Elise counts the experience as her greatest accomplishment in Rwanda.

“We had three days to develop a mission statement, a pros and cons list, and a plan for serving our target groups,” she recalled. “We were overwhelmed at first but then we came together and said, ‘okay, we can do this.’”

To help her process what she experienced in Rwanda, Elise kept a personal journal that topped off at 100 pages by the end of her trip. She was anxious to share it with her CSUSM mentor, Professor Elizabeth Matthews, when she returned home. After all, it was Matthews who helped Elise organize her study abroad plans and who sparked her interest in global studies in the first place.

Elise first met Matthews when she took her genocide and crimes against humanity class. “Professor Matthews’ course was an inspiring and eye-opening experience for me,” said Elise. “I decided to focus my education on global studies and human rights, with a particular focus on women in a global perspective.”

Matthews feels mutual regard for Elise, whom she considers a very brave and committed student. “To dedicate oneself to finding out more about the kinds of atrocities that we studied in class, including actually visiting the site, takes great courage,” said Matthews. “In terms of teaching, we cannot ask for anything better than a student’s desire to immerse oneself in the material.”

With the convergence of cultures throughout the world at an all-time high, it is critical to cultivate a global perspective. Matthews strongly advocates that her students seize opportunities to travel and study abroad.

“In the globalized world, understanding others—politically, culturally, economically—is essential for students on the job market,” says Matthews. “Students will be more competitive in the global economy and will become more well-rounded if they immerse themselves in other cultures and societies.”

For Elise, Rwanda truly was a life-defining experience. “I didn’t want to leave—I was actually in tears at the thought of returning home because the work I was doing was so worthwhile and rewarding.”

Elise has plans to return to grass-roots human rights work in Africa soon after graduation. Her studies at CSUSM have strengthened her belief that cross-cultural education and collaboration are imperative to peaceful conflict resolution.

On the wall of Elise’s bedroom hangs a picture of Nelson Mandela with a quote that reads: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Elise is determined to do just that.