“I’m really impressed with high student participation in my classes,” said O’Dell, who is particularly moved by the contributions of her global governance class, which is essentially an introduction to international relations.

“I’m really excited that the students are so interested in the subject matter. We’ve also already had some really good conversations about current events that are happening in my environmental politics class, which is called Green Planet Politics.”

O’Dell is one of four newly hired tenure-track faculty in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences.

She is spending this week at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom at the Human Development and Capability Association Conference, where she will present her research on how humans can agree on sustainable use and management of Earth’s resources. O’Dell is also a board member (director at large) for the organization.

O’Dell comes to CSUSM from Seton Hill University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Greensburg, Pa. There, she was program coordinator (essentially the chair) of the political science and global studies program, led the Model United Nations program and was the adviser for the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society chapter.

In addition to the larger student population here, another adjustment she has enjoyed is the change in lifestyle. Along with her husband and dog, O’Dell already has basked in beach days and local hikes, including traversing Torrey Pines recently.

“There are a lot of wonderful things about where I’ve lived before, but there’s nothing like being able to go for a walk by the ocean so easily, or be on the beach or even do some of the hikes around here and enjoy the beautiful views,” said O’Dell, who grew up in Montana and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, a master’s from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a Ph.D. from the University of Denver.

O’Dell is not unlike many CSUSM students. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, beginning that journey at the community college level.

Social mobility was a crucial part of her path, so she’s excited to help guide students here by utilizing the same tools of hard work and a caring support system.

“I know that CSUSM has that amazing opportunity for students, and so many people who come here are the first people in their family who have gone to a college or are thinking about a university degree or thinking about expanding what they want to do with their lives,” she said. “That was one of the things that definitely drew me.”

O’Dell wants to support students to learn and practice how to protect the environment. Essentially, how to make sure humans can thrive while also utilizing our resources sustainably.

Putting the theoretical into practice.

“There are so many ways CSUSM focuses on sustainability, on the concern for the environment,” she said. “That’s deeply connected to my study of public policy, my study of international relations – my academic interests and research interests, but also practical interests. So that’s really exciting.”

Hyunjin Koo

Hyunjin Koo is an assistant professor in the department of psychological science. She earned a Ph.D. in social psychology from UC Irvine and worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of British Columbia before joining CSUSM.

As a social psychologist, Koo has two main research programs. First, her work examines how experiences and beliefs about socioeconomic mobility shape everyday thoughts and behaviors, including attitudes toward work and leisure, views of the rich and poor, perceptions of inequality, morality, and social class. Second, in an emerging line of research, she studies a novel psychological construct that she and her team have introduced – leisure guilt — which refers to the guilt people feel when taking leisure time instead of being productive. Her research explores the antecedents and consequences of leisure guilt, as well as the cultural and social factors that influence it.

What drew you to CSUSM?

Koo: I was drawn to CSUSM for its strong commitment to student success and social mobility. My main research interest is social mobility, so I was excited to find that my work aligns perfectly with the university’s mission and goals.

 

What are you hoping your students will take away from your classes?

Koo: I hope that through my classes, students come to see how psychology connects to many aspects of their daily lives and experiences, and that they discover the joy of engaging with psychological topics. 

What is one of your professional goals you hope to accomplish while you’re here?

Koo: I want to embody the teacher–scholar model. My goal is to be both a strong researcher and a dedicated teacher who helps students achieve their own success.
 

What is your favorite activity during your downtime?

Koo: In my free time, I enjoy exploring new coffee shops and restaurants and finding new favorites. I’m especially excited that San Diego has so many places to discover!

Kiana Maillet

Kiana Maillet is an assistant professor in the American Indian studies department and is a member of the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe.

She is a double CSUSM alumna and a licensed clinical social worker with multiple certifications, and she has extensive volunteer and job experience working with youth, families and communities.

Her research interests include American Indian experiences within systems such as foster care, schools and mental health, as well as traditional teachings and experiences with language, foods, plants, places and ceremony.

What drew you to CSUSM?  

Maillet: I went through the Master of Social Work and the joint doctoral programs at CSUSM and have been a lecturer here for several years in the AIS department. 

What are you hoping your students will take away from your classes?  

Maillet: I hope that students will learn about the beauty and complexity of Native ways of being – our side of history, science, mental health, ecology, language, the real impacts of colonization and the strength and resilience of our people.

What is one of your professional goals you hope to accomplish while you’re here?  

Maillet: I hope to not only share my knowledge, but also to continue to grow and learn myself. I want to be able to make a positive impact on our students, our campus and in our communities.

What is your favorite activity during your down time?

Maillet: I enjoy hiking, gardening, playing with my grandsons and attending our Nüümü Yadoha (Paiute language) classes.

Carlos Rosas

Carlos Rosas is a new assistant professor in the psychological science department. He’s also no stranger to campus.

Rosas earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from CSUSM and a Ph.D. in psychology with a concentration in community and prevention research from the University of Illinois Chicago. Rosas completed epidemiology-focused postdoctoral fellowships at UC San Diego and San Diego State.

For the past two years, he also has taught various classes as a lecturer at CSUSM. His research program integrates social and health psychology theories, epidemiological methods, and community-based participatory research approaches to examine the social, cultural and psychological drivers/determinants of mental and physical health (particularly in the context of chronic disease prevention and management), and to develop, implement and evaluate culturally informed and tailored, community-based interventions to promote healthy behaviors and mitigate risk factors.

His research places special emphasis on communities of color and other historically understudied populations. Rosas regularly teaches multicultural perspectives in psychology, social psychology and statistics in psychology. 

What drew you to CSUSM?

Rosas: CSUSM is my alma mater. As an undergraduate, I found CSUSM to be an incredibly supportive and intellectually nurturing academic home. The encouragement and guidance I received from the psychology faculty were quite literally life-changing. I would not have pursued a doctoral degree without their unwavering support and mentorship. Hence, returning to CSUSM was the natural choice for me, and I'm really excited for the opportunity to provide my own students with the same support, motivation and inspiration that I once received from my own professors.  

What are you hoping your students will take away from your classes?

Rosas: I want my students to leave my classes inspired. In particular, I hope students from low-income and historically underrepresented backgrounds see that it is possible for people like us – the first in our families to attend college, from working-class families, etc. – to move up the socioeconomic ladder and pursue careers that often seem inaccessible. I also want to instill in my students a passion for psychology and psychological research. I still remember walking out of my first social psychology class in awe of the studies we had learned about, and I hope my students leave my classes with that same sense of wonder and curiosity. 

What is one of your professional goals you hope to accomplish while you’re here?

Rosas: I'm looking forward to establishing partnerships with local community organizations and clinics to collaborate on research projects that improve the health and well-being of underserved communities. 

What is your favorite activity during your down time?

Rosas: I enjoy working out, primarily lifting weights, though I also like to add a cardio session from time to time. 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

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

Both Cal State San Marcos students took considerable steps toward their career ambitions this spring by participating in semester-long internships in Washington, D.C.

Llorens and Wali were CSUSM’s representatives in Cal State DC Scholars, a program offered through Cal State Fullerton that gives students opportunities to earn academic credit while interning in the nation’s capital.

Llorens, a second-year student who’s majoring in criminology and justice studies, worked for the U.S. Department of Labor. Wali, a third-year who’s a double major in political science and computer science, interned for the Washington International Trade Association, or WITA.

“What I like best about my internship is gaining more research experience,” Llorens said. “Having the skills that come with doing thorough research will make it easier for me to be successful in my future career.”

Said Wali: “The most valuable aspect of this internship is the network it provides. Each month, we’ve had the opportunity to attend lunches with board members representing diverse backgrounds in trade. Additionally, we can research event attendees and speakers to identify professionals whose careers align with our interests, allowing us to reach out and arrange coffee meetings for deeper insights.”

Llorens chose to intern for the Department of Labor because she wanted to gain insight into working for the federal government. She worked with the head of the Employee Ownership Initiative, a new program that encourages business ownership by America’s workers. She also assisted with inquiries regarding the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans.

Outside of her internship and schoolwork (classes were Mondays and Wednesdays), Llorens lived in an apartment provided by an organization called Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH) and enjoyed exploring the city with other interns, including Wali.

Because of her interest in international relations, Wali gravitated toward WITA, a nonprofit dedicated to providing a neutral forum for discussion of international trade policy and related issues. Her daily duties included communicating with WITA members and trade professionals, designing graphics, promoting events, conducting research, and expanding knowledge of international trade and trade policy.

One of the particular benefits of Wali’s time in Washington was the chance, as a Pashtun Muslim, to connect with the robust Muslim and Afghan communities in the surrounding states of Maryland and Virginia. She too lived in WISH housing.

“Living in a building filled with student interns has been an incredible experience,” Wali said. “Most of us share similar goals, and since we come from all over the world, there’s so much to learn and enjoy from each other.”

An added bonus of both students’ Washington experience: the opportunity to meet with CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt, who was in the capital last month as part of the CSU system’s annual Hill Week.  

“Meeting President Neufeldt really put it into perspective that I am doing something great for my community at CSUSM by being a representative for our university within the DC Scholars program,” Llorens said. “During my time on the Hill, I aim to showcase the strengths and greatness that are taught at CSUSM.” 

Media Contact

Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist

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

In August 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lizarraga was coming from Rosarito, Mexico, where she lived with her parents and two younger brothers, to Cal State San Marcos' University Village Apartments.

Born in the United States and raised in Mexico, Lizarraga has always prioritized her education. In high school, she crossed the border every day to attend high school in Chula Vista, drawn to the learning environment and opportunities in the U.S. It meant early mornings and long days, but she remained committed, and that drive continued when she enrolled at CSUSM.

Lizarraga embraced life on campus, even in a time when many classes were still virtual. But her college experience soon expanded beyond academics. At 19, she became the legal guardian of her younger brother, Evaristo, to help him pursue a high school education in the U.S., an opportunity she knew could open doors for him just as it had for her. A few years later, she welcomed her youngest brother, Esteban, who is now thriving as a high school junior at San Marcos High.

In a few weeks, Evaristo and Esteban will join their parents at Mangrum Track & Field to watch their sister cross the CSUSM commencement stage and become the first family member to earn a college degree.

“I feel like my professors and the friends I have made at school have all helped me so much,” said Lizarraga, who is double majoring in finance and political science. “I really felt that this is my community, and I felt so supported by everyone. All of that has made my journey here so much easier.”

It hasn’t always been an easy journey. Lizarraga was working three jobs before an internship with the San Diego Diplomacy Council ended. She still works at a local restaurant and on campus for Associated Students, Inc., as the vice president of finance and operations where she manages a $2.1 million student-driven budget and leads initiatives that directly support students.

Caring for her brothers, working multiple jobs and studying doesn’t leave much free time, but Lizarraga is grateful to mentors like Ashley Fennell, ASI’s associate executive director, for providing a strong support system.

“She’s been a caring supervisor who looks out for me not just as a student, but as a person,” Lizarraga said. 

As Lizarraga’s undergraduate career winds down, she is looking ahead to the next chapter. She has been accepted to several master's programs in finance and hopes to stay close to San Marcos to continue supporting her family while advancing her academic and career goals.

As the first in her family to graduate from college, she’s proud to be setting an example and grateful for the support that helped her get to this point.

“I’m deeply grateful to my family and to everyone who supported me along the way,” Lizarraga said. “I truly couldn’t have done it without them. This is just the beginning.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

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

While the form was condensed from 108 questions to 40, the rollout of what was supposed to be a streamlined process was plagued by delays and glitches. A form that normally is made available on Oct. 1 didn’t become accessible until Dec. 31, which was by law the latest it could be opened. Even when the form finally opened, seemingly endless issues caused stressful delays for many students who couldn't find out how much aid they would be receiving.

Cal State San Marcos political science student Sarah Flores was among those affected. The myriad issues she had with the FAFSA caused so much consternation that she was called upon to provide testimony about the difficulties to the California State University Board of Trustees in September.

“I worry about not having enough money for school and living expenses as I haven't been able to successfully submit my financial aid application through the new system,” Flores told the trustees. “Financial aid is my lifeline. At first I thought it might be a glitch or maybe I typed something wrong, but after trying again and again the same issue kept happening.

“As deadlines loomed and the clock ticked, I couldn't access the one thing that would help me afford my education and living expenses. It was incredibly frustrating knowing that the solution to my financial aid worries was just out of reach.”

But CSUSM is at the forefront of trying to make it a smoother process for students across the country when the FAFSA opens Dec. 1 for the 2025-26 financial aid cycle. CSUSM was one of two CSU schools selected to participate in FAFSA beta testing, which will provide students with early access to complete the form and then provide feedback to the Department of Education. The early access also means CSUSM will be able to process financial aid packages sooner.

All currently enrolled CSUSM students are eligible to participate in the FAFSA beta testing. Students were informed via email and text message about the opportunity to complete an interest form by Oct. 25. Those who complete the interest form will gain access to the FAFSA form in mid-November, weeks before it becomes available to students across the country.

“Our students will have the ability to provide direct feedback to the Department of Ed on what is working well and what has to be corrected,” said Julie Lindenmeier, CSUSM’s director of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. “They're going to have the ability to say, ‘This question doesn’t make sense, or I had a technical error in this area.’ And that's important, because making the process easy to use was what this redesign was for.”

As one example, Lindenmeier said a question about whether students wanted an unsubsidized loan if their tax contributor was unable to complete the form caused confusion. Many students clicked yes thinking they wouldn’t otherwise be eligible for a loan. But by answering the question incorrectly, their parents were never even invited to complete their portion of the FAFSA.

“The beta is important not only because our students will get first access, but they'll have a real opportunity to contribute to the national discourse and make this better for everyone,” Lindenmeier said.

Lindenmeier encourages all CSUSM students to complete the interest form so that they can participate in the early access. She said it’s critical that students use the email address that they’ve previously used to access the FAFSA rather than their campus email.

Students who need more information about the beta testing can contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at finaid@csusm.edu.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

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

The trip was a way of getting young students to think about their educational futures. But for Glorioso, this was a trip to remember. A photo of Glorioso with other students on CSUSM’s Mangrum Track & Field during the visit even made it into the local Valley Center newspaper.

The experience certainly had a lasting impact. A decade later, Glorioso made her way back to campus, this time as a university student.

“Cal State San Marcos has provided me more than I could have ever thought possible,” said Glorioso, a political science student who will graduate next May. “All the opportunities that I've been able to be a part of, I don't think it would have been the same if I went to another university.” 

Glorioso has certainly made the most of those opportunities. As the fall semester approaches, she is preparing to serve the CSUSM student body as the president of Associated Students, Inc. 

As ASI president, Glorioso had the opportunity this summer to be a student representative at the Panetta Institute for Public Policy where she met state legislators, politicians and members of Congress. Glorioso was encouraged by Ann Elisabeth Rondeau, the president of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, to direct the upcoming goals for the school year toward connecting, communicating and focusing on ways to reach students. 

Glorioso never could have imagined in high school that she would be in a position that seemed to be made for extroverts. As a teenager, Glorioso didn’t find herself to be involved and mostly kept to herself. 

“I was a more introverted person in high school,” Glorioso said. “I really wanted to be like the other students that were involved in ASB, but I felt like in high school you have your cliques. It’s just a much different environment, and I couldn’t really find my place. After graduating high school, I really regretted not just getting out of my comfort zone more and taking advantage of opportunities. I told myself, ‘When I get to college, I’m not going to do that. I’m not gonna let myself be held back by anything. It’s a new, fresh start.’ ” 

Glorioso wasted no time, talking to all the student organizations at her freshman orientation to see how she could get involved. She learned about ASI’s volunteer groups and decided to try Lobby Corps, which is dedicated to advocacy in higher education policy.  

Joining Lobby Corps was the push Glorioso needed to get comfortable sharing her thoughts and opinions. Glorioso had the opportunity to speak in front of state legislators when she attended a lobbying trip at the Sacramento Capitol, which was something she wouldn’t have thought of trying in high school.   

“I’m going to be in ASI for my whole four years, and that was my favorite experience that I’ve had because it did exactly what I wanted it to do,” Glorioso said. “I was able to completely get out of my comfort zone. And I think I just learned from that experience that I really do enjoy public speaking. I just needed to build my confidence in that, and I think that ASI is a perfect opportunity to continue doing that.”

Glorioso saw firsthand what it was like to be an ASI officer as a member of Lobby Corps. She always kept in mind how she would one day like to run for a position. 

Michelle Tran, the former ASI vice president of student and university affairs, encouraged Glorioso to apply to be the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS) representative. Glorioso took Tran’s encouragement as a sign, and she made the application deadline the same day it was due. As the CHABSS representative, Glorioso advocated for students in the college.

Last year, Glorioso was elected vice president of student and university affairs where she led Lobby Corps, represented CSUSM at a systemwide level and led civic engagement.

Now, as ASI president, Glorioso has another opportunity to help students before graduating next May.

“I’ve seen Julia become an exceptional leader to ASI over the past year that I’ve gotten to work with her, and am so excited to grow professionally with her leadership,” said Ernest Cisneros, vice president of student and university affairs.

When Glorioso is not fulfilling her duties as ASI president, she is working at the district attorney office in North County where she reviews restitution cases and reaches out to victims. Glorioso is also studying for the Law School Admission Test, commonly known as the LSAT, with plans to attend law school.

Glorioso’s busy schedule calls for significant drive and determination, and she credits much of that tenacity to her grandparents. 

“My grandparents were both Italian immigrants, and I think their values really influenced me,” Glorioso said. “They were very hard workers who started from the bottom up. That always really impacted me and impacted my work ethic.

“They always put a large emphasis on education. They were not able to get an education. They stopped at third or fourth grade. So it will be really exciting to be the first to pursue a law degree in my family. And I think my mom and my dad are already excited for me.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

Just one year later, Wade got into another car accident that worsened her previous injuries.  

The recovery was a difficult process for Wade. She missed almost a month of her senior year of high school because she could not walk properly. She frequently passed out from her injuries and was required by her high school to finish her last few months of school online, which created more difficulties. 

“My grades had suffered tremendously,” Wade said. “And then I was able to bounce back and still graduate from high school. Cal State San Marcos was caring enough to listen to my story and welcome me, which was really nice.” 

Wade did not know what options she had for college. She was still slowly healing from her injuries and contending with the resulting academic challenges. CSUSM stood out to Wade because she was offered accommodations for her injuries and she was also drawn to the internship opportunities available for students. 

Wade made the most of those opportunities before graduating last month with a bachelor’s in criminology and justice studies. She was one of two CSUSM students who had the opportunity to participate in the Sacramento Semester Program during the spring. For Wade and Jessica Olvera, a business administration student, it meant a chance to gain hands-on experience and build their respective networks.

“My favorite part was the research because I knew it was going somewhere that was going to contribute to change,” Olvera said. 

Wade and Olvera each received 6 semester units for working a minimum of 25 hours per week as interns in Sacramento. There were an additional 6 semester units awarded to participants for completing two seminars. The Sacramento Semester Program offers internship placements in legislatives offices, departments in the executive branch, political associations and lobbyists.

For Olvera, it was the homeless issue in San Diego that led her to the Sacramento Semester Program. 

“I used to work downtown and I would see a lot of people my age or even grown adults or even younger in the streets,” Olvera said. “That really impacted me every time I was walking down the street. I always want to try to volunteer at homeless shelters but it’s never enough, so this is a research topic that I want to continue to do in the future.” 

Olvera was placed in a communications internship where she learned about potential solutions to homelessness and completed legislative work and research on passing bills. Olvera met many of the people she looks up to, including Mialisa Bonta, an assemblymember representing the 18th district in Alameda County, and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. 

“Seeing women so powerful and being so secure in themselves and confident and doing all these great things definitely interested me in doing this work,” Olvera said. 

Olvera was offered an opportunity to continue her internship after the program ended with assemblymember Brian Maienschein in San Diego’s 77th district. Olvera is graduating next spring and plans to combine her business degree with a minor in political science to contribute to a solution to homelessness.  

Wade is continuing her public relations internship remotely before attending USC in the fall to complete her master’s in criminology and study for the LSAT in preparation for law school. 

“I had a really fantastic time at the Sacramento Semester Program,” Wade said. “I wish it was elongated because I made so many friends. It was like a second home, because going in there we didn't know anybody at all. My family was 400 miles away from me. And everybody was dealing with the side effects of the pandemic, not talking to many people besides the people who they're really close to. But I believe we became like a family the more we were together. It was really nice.” 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

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

Krystal Alvarez-Hernandez, psychological science

President’s Outstanding Graduate

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

Alvarez-Hernandez overcame numerous challenges on her path to earning a degree. She became a mother at 16 and, as a first-generation college student from an immigrant family, had little support to help her navigate higher education. But Alvarez-Hernandez is highly motivated with a strong work ethic, and she consistently showed the persistence to thrive.

Alvarez-Hernandez was one of 10 students selected for the U-RISE@CSUSM program, which is funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to provide professional development and research opportunities to students from underrepresented groups who show promise for success in graduate studies and careers in research.

Nominating professor Keith Trujillo noted that Alvarez-Hernandez is thoughtful, organized and motivated, and regularly contributes insightfully to scientific discussions and assignments. She takes the program seriously and is a leader among her peers. She will pursue her Ph.D. in cognitive science and neuroscience at Northwestern University.

Learn more about Alvarez-Hernandez here.

Melissa Hernandez, human development

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

Hernandez was lauded for her strong record of educational achievements and service to CEHHS, the university and the region. Nominating professor Teru Toyokawa praised Hernandez for her passion for serving others and generously providing time for people in local communities.

As a first-generation college student, Hernandez navigated her own way into her academic achievement while working full-time and engaging in on- and off-campus activities.

Among the many ways in which Hernandez demonstrated her leadership is by serving on the CEHHS Committee of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity as a student representative. She also has been an active member in the Society of Pre-Health, a student organization with a mission to have students become involved with health-related issues and activities and facilitate students’ career exploration in health care. Through this organization, Hernandez helped other club members develop several projects and provided opportunities for club members to find jobs in health-related fields.

Learn more about Hernandez here.

Karolina Lindberg, business administration

Gerevas Family Dean’s Award Recipient, College of Business Administration

An international student from Sweden, Lindberg distinguished herself in the global business management program and across the college. She demonstrated consistently high academic performance, became increasingly involved within student organizations, and harnessed lessons learned in her professional experiences. And she did all of it while completing her degree in only three years.

Nominating professor Eric Rhodes noted that Lindberg arrived at CSUSM with a strong professional background in customer service and finance, incorporating her unique perspective and bilingual capabilities into her academic endeavors.

Among the challenges Lindberg has overcome are a diagnosis of epilepsy. When the pandemic hit, her family wanted her to complete her studies back home in Sweden, closer to her doctors and family. That meant attending CSUSM for the entire 2020-21 academic year from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Zoom, five days a week, due to the nine-hour time difference. Despite this hurdle, she maintained a 4.0 GPA.

Learn more about Lindberg here.

Billy Unger, mathematics

Dean’s Award, Graduate Studies and Research

Unger has demonstrated outstanding achievement across each of the rigorous selection criteria, graduating with a 3.8 GPA.

Unger’s thesis work involved the study of graph theory and the study of space, or topology. His work centered on a conjecture from graph theory posed in a paper that nominating professor Andre Kundgen coauthored in 2002 with CSUSM colleague Radhika Ramamurthi. A math conjecture refers to a statement that is assumed to be correct but has not been proven. Although the mathematical community had made little progress in addressing this conjecture in the last 20 years, Unger gravitated toward working on it when he came on as Kundgen’s student. In a few short weeks, he made a major breakthrough by coming up with the first graph that had the predicted behavior.

Kundgen praised Unger as an outstanding example of what can be accomplished as a graduate student at CSUSM.

Madison Wagner, chemistry

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

Wagner overcame numerous challenges to become a role model to her classmates in her commitment to excellence in academics, service leadership and research.

A first-generation college student, Wagner was a top academic performer, including a 4.0 GPA since transferring to CSUSM from Palomar College in fall 2019. Wagner consistently scored in the top 1% on all exams and written assignments in nominating professor Robert Iafe’s organic chemistry lecture and scored in the top 4% nationwide on the ACS Standardized Exam in organic chemistry. Wagner also was awarded the 2021-2022 CSUSM Beckman Scholars research award – one of only two on campus – to support 15 months of mentored research experience.

Iafe noted that Wagner works proficiently in a team setting, is not afraid to be a leader, and also has a professional and patient quality that builds confidence when she helps lab mates.

Learn more about Wagner here.

Anastasia Zacky, political science

Dean’s Award, Dean of Students

Zacky has made lasting contributions to student life at CSUSM through her many involvements, including as a Cougar Pantry intern, Orientation Team leader, event programmer/student coordinator with USU Live!, onboarding a new sorority as Panhellenic Affairs vice president, and most recently, as chapter president.

Zacky also excels in the classroom with a cumulative 3.6 GPA and membership in the Order of Omega and Gamma Sigma Alpha honor societies.

Zacky had multiple nominators for the award who said she has proven to be an outstanding role model for students by actively seeking ways to integrate her passions, student life experiences and dedication to her education. They noted that she has transformed the lives of CSUSM students, positively impacted the campus community, and served as an ambassador and change agent.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

Learning whether she would get to do the internship in person was another story.

“They were hoping that it was going to be in person, but we didn't really get a guaranteed answer until probably a month or so before we went in August,” said Smith, who graduated in December with a bachelor’s in political science. “They didn't know how it was going to go due to COVID. But I'm glad they were like, ‘We're going to hold out hope.’ And it turned out to be in person. I got to go, and it was a great experience.”

The Panetta Congressional Internship Program annually selects one student from each California State University campus, Dominican University of California, Saint Mary’s College and Santa Clara University. The internship started with an intensive two-week prep period in Monterey at the Panetta Institute, which was founded in 1997 by former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and his wife, Sylvia. Interns then went to Washington, D.C., to work on Capitol Hill for 2½ months. The Panetta Institute covers all program costs, and interns receive 20 semester units.

The 2022 application process is underway, with applications due by 5 p.m. April 1. Interested students are also invited to attend one of the upcoming informational Zoom sessions:

• March 7, 6-7 p.m.
• March 14, 6-7 p.m.
• March 15, noon-1 p.m.

Having successfully navigated the application process herself, Smith encourages interested students to simply give it a shot.

“The advice I would give is just trust yourself,” she said. “The worst that can happen is that it's a no, but why not take the chance of applying? You may be the person who’s nominated for our school.”

Smith had the opportunity to work in the office of Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a Democrat in California’s 34^th district, which includes downtown Los Angeles.

“The highlight of the internship for me was getting that in-house experience, actually being able to walk down the halls of the Capitol and seeing congressmen and congresswomen walking down the halls,” Smith said. “It was a professional environment, and I was so excited to dress up every day and get that experience. I had so much fun.

“I was offered so many tasks. They entrusted me to do very important things. But I think I really proved how hard working I was, and I came every day with hard work, dedication, willing to do anything that I could to help the congressman and his policy push forward.”

Smith’s longtime goal has been to attend law school, and she is studying for the LSAT with hopes to start this fall. Georgetown, UCLA and USD are among the schools she is considering.

Smith said the internship experience helped solidify her desire to practice public interest law and remain connected to politics in some fashion.

“The internship is just such a great opportunity,” she said. “I'm grateful. I got a lot of experience working in Congress and working with a congressman in his office. I had fun times on the weekends and made good, lifelong friends. It was such a great experience.”

Information about the Panetta internship is available online or by emailing Cynthia Chávez Metoyer, faculty director of the Office of Internships, at cmetoyer@csusm.edu.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

So when she decided to write and produce a film for her final project assignment for a world cinema course, she accessed the creative side of her brain, the part that produced many a drawing and painting while growing up in nearby Oceanside.

The result was the film “The Routine,” which looked at the struggles associated with the pandemic in general, but specifically the struggles associated with being a college student during this time. Her creativity and technical abilities earned her a 2020-21 CSUSM University Library Award for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity.

Glorioso was one of 12 students to win the award, which came with a $600 prize.

“I just really wanted to convey the struggles that college students are going through right now with a pandemic and being virtual and just being stuck at home and that type of environment,” said Glorioso, who is the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences representative to Associated Students, Inc. “I wanted to do a film that touched on the COVID-19 pandemic, and kind of this social commentary type of film that's really relevant with what we're all experiencing right now; and touching on how it is being a college student and doing things virtually. So that was my inspiration on my film and making it using the neorealist conventions to get my story across.”

Glorioso’s film inspirations were Italian filmmakers Roberto Rossellini and brothers Vittorio and Paolo Taviani, some of the neorealist directors she was introduced to in her world cinema course. Not a veteran of foreign films by any means, she was able to view many of their films through the library database.

She filmed most of it with a DSLR camera inside her house because of the pandemic. At the end, she wound up at the beach “because that's something I would have been daydreaming about.”

Her theme of escapism came across to show how it was unclear whether the end was a dream in the middle of the pandemic or the hopeful reality ending of being at the beach when the pandemic's over.

In a little less than two years, Glorioso has made the most of her opportunities on campus, including working at the library last year before the pandemic.

In addition to being the CHABSS representative to ASI, she is an ambassador to The Alliance to Accelerate Excellence in Education.

“I really want to get the most out of my time here,” she said. “In my first year, my main goal was just to get involved on campus as much as I could and take advantage of as many opportunities as I could. While I'm here, whatever opportunity comes across to try to apply for something I definitely want to take that opportunity.”

As for her post undergraduate plans, she’s interested in a career in either law or the public policy side of government. Whether it means writing public policy, being an advocate or being a practicing attorney, she knows she wants to make a positive impact on her community.

And perhaps one day pursue a career as a filmmaker?

“Maybe,” said Glorioso, with a laugh.

Visit the library website for a complete list of winners.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

Alexa Loera was hoping for that experience when she applied to be Cal State San Marcos’ representative in February 2020.

Needless to say, those plans were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean the program was any less valuable for Loera.

“It has definitely opened a lot of doors for me,” said Loera, who graduated in December with a bachelor’s in political science.

The Panetta Congressional Internship Program annually selects one student from each California State University campus, Dominican University of California, Saint Mary’s College and Santa Clara University. The internship usually starts with an intensive two-week prep period in Monterey at the Panetta Institute, which was founded in 1997 by former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and his wife, Sylvia. Interns then go to Washington to work on Capitol Hill for 2½ months. The Panetta Institute covers all program costs, and interns receive 20 semester units.

The application window for the 2021 Panetta Congressional Internship Program is open until 1 p.m. Feb. 26.

By the time Loera learned last May that she had been selected as CSUSM’s representative, she knew the typical internship experience was in jeopardy.

“They didn't tell us anything for sure in May, but they weren't sure if Congress would be open, so they just told us to be mindful,” she said. “So it wasn't a shock when they told us that we weren't going to go.”

Loera was still able to participate in the two-week academic session, which was held virtually and included more than three dozen sessions covering an array of topics from well-known experts. One of the highlights for Loera was a session titled “California’s Law Enforcement Role and the Attorney General’s Office,” presented by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

Law has long been a passion for Loera. She was inspired to pursue it from her grandfather, who was a lawyer. She worked at the courthouse for three years and is now working at a family law firm in North County while she prepares for the LSAT and completes law school applications. A lifelong Vista resident, she is hoping to stay close to home and attend USD or California Western School of Law in fall 2022.

Loera’s experience with family law has her considering that as a career, but the Panetta internship also opened her eyes to potentially pursuing cyber law.

And, while Loera found the Panetta program’s academic sessions invaluable in shaping the direction of her law studies, she also is grateful for her time with other interns.

“Even though we didn't get to meet each other in person, we still would talk outside of the internship and talk about our assignments and everything,” she said. “We created such a bond. It's really nice to have because when you have people who have similar values and goals, it's so much easier to accomplish things.”

Information about the Panetta internship is available online or by emailing Dr. Cynthia Chávez Metoyer, faculty director of the Office of Internships, at cmetoyer@csusm.edu.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

“She said to me, ‘You're always telling these stories and you seem to enjoy it. You should start writing some of them down,’ ” Griffin said. “At some point, I just started putting it in the voice of another character in another time and place, and one thing led to another.”

In Griffin’s case, it has led to a new career as a crime-fiction novelist.

Griffin, who graduated from Cal State San Marcos with a bachelor’s in political science in 1994, retired four years ago after a 27-year career with the Escondido Police Department to devote his full attention to his burgeoning writing career. His fourth novel, “The Burden of Truth,” hits bookstores and online book sellers on July 14.

Griffin’s first three books – “Benefit of the Doubt,” “A Voice from the Field” and “By His Own Hand” – are part of a series called the “Newberg Novels,” named after the fictional Wisconsin town in which they are set. But retiring from the Escondido Police Department helped Griffin feel the freedom to write a story set in North County with a plot that had long been gestating in his mind.

“I just decided that it had to be one or the other – I’m either a writer who's going to be, at some level, critical of the police out in the public talking about things that go right and wrong or I’m going to be a lieutenant who toes the party line and represents the organization every time he stands up in front of an audience,” Griffin said. “It’s probably the old Marine in me, but that's how I felt, that you're a cop 24 hours a day. So 27 years in, I just decided I'd leave a little early. And once I did that, I knew I could write the book that I really wanted to write.”

Taking place in Vista, “The Burden of Truth” tells the story of Omar Ortega, an 18-year-old graduating at the top of his high school class and preparing to join the Army to help his mother and siblings escape the dangerous living situation that has been part of their lives since Omar’s father was deported. Those plans – and Omar’s life – change in an instant when he is falsely accused of being a cop killer.

While the book is fictional, it was inspired by events Griffin observed during his police career.

“This book has always been in the back of my head as a story I wanted to tell because it's really based on a real story,” he said. “I obviously changed it a lot, but the whole premise of a really nice young man making a really tiny mistake and winding up in the crosshairs of the criminal justice system and not knowing what to do, that's true. It's true in a lot of cases that cops work on, but it was particularly true in a case where a young man got in a car and somebody got killed – it wasn't a cop, but somebody got killed. And he got sucked into it.”

Griffin grew up in Wisconsin reading Joseph Wambaugh, a bestselling author and former police officer whose books focus on police work, and Griffin’s goal was always a career in law enforcement. He joined the Marines after high school with the hope that it would put him on the path to becoming a police officer. He served in the Marines for eight years and, the very week that he got out, started at the police academy.

Griffin’s wife, Escondido Councilwoman Olga Diaz, graduated from Santa Clara University in 3½ years. Griffin jokes that he also graduated a semester early – it just took him 15 years to do it. He had attended community college over the years and was working for the Escondido Police Department when he decided to complete his bachelor’s at CSUSM, which had then only recently opened.

Griffin still fondly remembers taking a class from Therese Baker-Degler, a founding faculty member and emeritus professor of sociology.

“She was this really amazing sociology professor who came down from Stanford where she’d worked,” he said. “But she wanted to be part of starting a new university. So there I was with a Stanford professor in a course she wrote specifically on the subject of inequality, and there were 12 of us in the classroom. It didn't get any better than that. It was just this really great learning experience. I can still think back on some of her positions and the things she made us think about.”

Griffin never lost his enthusiasm for reading and telling stories, and Diaz’s encouragement eventually led him to try his hand at writing. But he mostly kept this newfound passion to himself.

Griffin began attending writers’ conferences and eventually signed with an agent, who sold his debut novel, “Benefit of the Doubt,” within weeks.

“That came out of nowhere, really,” he said. “I went from thinking, ‘OK, now I'm starting the fight’ to standing in what amounts to the victory circle. So I had to go back and tell everybody at work, ‘Oh, by the way …’ Everybody was a little bit taken aback, but then again, that was kind of my rep anyway, doing something crazy like that.”

The book landed on the Los Angeles Times’ bestseller list and led to two more “Newberg Novels.”

The publication of “The Burden of Truth” caps what has been a three-year process and, while promotion efforts for the book are just underway, Griffin is already working on his next novel, which will be a return to the Newberg series. Currently untitled, it is a prequel that focuses on a retired police officer from “Benefit of the Doubt” as he is beginning his police career in the early 1970s.

Griffin is at the computer working by 5:30 most mornings and typically writes until about 1 p.m. He’s simply following the advice he gives to other aspiring writers.

“I think what almost any writer would tell you is you get better at it by practice,” he said. “If you're going to commit yourself to either a career or real strong hobby in writing, you need to write every day and you need to recognize that it involves a level of commitment, like anything else. Each page you write, you're trying to drive people toward the next page in a coherent story that will mean something to them.”

Read an excerpt from Neal Griffin's latest novel, "The Burden of Truth," at this link.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

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

Lauren Tafla, applied physics

President's Outstanding Graduate

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

Tafla has demonstrated excellence academically and through her research experiences, including her selection as a Summer Scholar in 2018. An enthusiastic learner with an impeccable work ethic, Tafla quickly mastered the experiments in CSUSM’s Astrophysics and Isotope Geochemistry Lab.

Tafla also has impressed with her leadership skills and deep commitment to sustainability, diversity and inclusion. As a member and president of the campus’ Sustainability Club, Tafla represented student interests on the smoke- and tobacco-free campus task force. She wrote letters to congressional representatives about needed environmental policy changes related to climate change and organized a “sustainable speaker series” to host documentary screenings and speakers.

Among her many accomplishments, Tafla has served as president of the Society of Physics Students, worked as a program facilitator for the San Diego-based nonprofit Treobytes and helped start a Women in Physics group at CSUSM.

Read more about Tafla here.

Margaret Morumbasi, special education credential

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

In a competitive field of CEHHS candidates that included undergraduate, credential, graduate and doctoral students, Morumbasi stood out for her combination of academic excellence, service and leadership.

Drawing on her personal experiences in Kenya, Morumbasi has participated in numerous regional and national initiatives in support of individuals with disabilities in her country. Her work has contributed to the national discourse on disability awareness in Kenya.

Morumbasi is working full-time as a special educator while simultaneously completing her credential coursework at CSUSM. She has maintained a 3.9 grade-point average and has been invaluable in sharing her knowledge gleaned through her international research on disability awareness.

Nasdira Romero Saravia, child and adolescent development

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

An active researcher and community activist, Romero Saravia overcame numerous challenges to earn her bachelor’s last December. Romero Saravia persisted despite contending with challenges that included domestic violence, homelessness and being the single parent of a child with special needs. She made the dean’s list every semester at CSUSM and obtained a coveted research position in the psychology department.

Having her own child with special needs turned her interest toward a degree in child and adolescent development, and she has performed valuable work as a research assistant in a cultural perinatal mental health study.

The first in her family to graduate from high school and pursue a college education, Romero Saravia is applying to Ph.D. programs in health policy.

Erika Venegas, marketing

Dean’s Award, College of Business Administration

Venegas has achieved an overall grade-point average of 3.75 and has made the dean’s list every semester since arriving at CSUSM in 2016.

As president of the Latino Business Student Association (LBSA), Venegas expanded the organization’s reach beyond the business discipline to bring professional development opportunities to students of all majors throughout the university. Venegas has made it a priority to reach out across campus to collaborate with the Career Center and the Latin@ Center to extend the impact of LBSA beyond CoBA.

Venegas’ achievements also include founding Lean In CSUSM, a women’s empowerment program offered by the Gender Equity Center; volunteering at CoBA’s Senior Experience Trade Show two straight years; and leading CoBA’s student organization retreat.

Jessica Atencio, kinesiology

Dean’s Award, Graduate Studies

Atencio has excelled academically (she will graduate with a 3.95 grade-point average) and in her research endeavors.

As part of her master’s program requirements, Atencio did her thesis based on her research investigating fluid balance during aquatic exercise. Atencio collected data locally and in Costa Rica on more than 300 research subjects, and she has presented her research at multiple regional and national conferences.

Atencio will continue her education this fall at the University of Oregon, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in human physiology.

Read more about Atencio here.

Ashley Persson, political science

Dean of Students Outstanding Leadership Award

Persson has made lasting contributions to student life at CSUSM through her involvement with Fraternity & Sorority Life and Residential Education.

With an unwavering commitment to excellence in leadership, Persson has held roles that include serving as Order of Omega Chi Lambda chapter president, Delta Zeta Pi Psi chapter global ambassador (former chapter president), and a senior resident adviser in Housing and Residential Education.

Persson has excelled in myriad other ways, including through officer roles with Delta Zeta, earning Order of Omega Honor and Leadership Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and dean’s list recognition for several semesters. A cancer survivor, Persson also volunteers with the National Children’s Cancer Society.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

Loeb had an opportunity to return to Washington last fall, this time for a nearly three-month stint as a participant in the Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program. It was an experience that affirmed Loeb’s desire to pursue a career in law or politics.

“I’ve had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do for a while,” Loeb said. “But I think this experience just gave me the confidence to be able to know that it is something that I can achieve, and it also laid out the path that I think I need to take to get there.”

Loeb, who is majoring in political science with a minor in history, spent her first two years of college at Cal State San Marcos and was the university’s representative for the Panetta internship last fall. Though she transferred to Cal State Fullerton this spring to cut down on living expenses, she returned to CSUSM earlier this month to sit on the interview committee that will select a candidate for the program next fall.

Loeb was among 26 students who participated in the program, which annually selects one student from each California State University campus, Dominican University of California, Saint Mary’s College and Santa Clara University.

The internship began with a two-week prep period in Monterey at the Panetta Institute, which was founded in 1997 by former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and his wife, Sylvia. Then it was off to Washington for a 2½-month assignment working on Capitol Hill. The Panetta Institute covers all program costs, and interns receive 20 semester units.

Loeb worked in the Washington office of Rep. Paul Cook, a Republican in California’s 8th District, which covers the eastern part of the state, including Mono and Inyo counties and much of San Bernardino County.

For Loeb, it was a unique opportunity to work for the congressman who represents her home district.

“It was cool getting to correspond with constituents from where I live,” said Loeb, who is from Highland, a small city near Redlands. “The 8^th District is the largest district in California, so it’s really spread out. The population is very diverse and there’s a lot of different political views, so that was really cool to see. It was interesting to see that there’s just so many different ideas coming out of it.”

Loeb plans to attend law school after graduating in spring 2021. She also is eyeing work in politics, whether it’s running for office or assisting with a campaign. The Panetta internship experience only deepened her interest in pursuing both possibilities while also instilling the importance of listening to all perspectives.

“It just gives you insight into the fact that a lot of people feel certain ways because of things that have happened in their life,” she said. “So you kind of have to take a step back and try to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes, which has been really helpful for me. It’s made me become more understanding, and I think that will help me a ton down the road.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

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

Jessica, a human development major at Cal State San Marcos, knew she would be surrounded by political science students and was concerned about being behind in her knowledge of the political landscape.

She quickly learned there was no need to worry.

The internship started with an intensive two-week prep period at the Panetta Institute, which was founded in 1997 by former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and his wife Sylvia. Then it was off to Washington, D.C., for a 2½-month stint working on Capitol Hill.

Panetta interns are assigned to work in the office of a member of the California congressional delegation while also attending weekly seminars on policy issues and various aspects of government.

“This experience got me even more interested in politics,” said Jessica, who was assigned to the office of Rep. Steve Knight of California’s 25^th district, which includes parts of northern Los Angeles County and Ventura County.

Jessica and the other 25 students who participated in the program, including one from each California State University school, were exposed to a wide array of speakers, including former Vice President Dan Quayle.

However, it was Panetta himself who really resonated with Jessica.

“We had a lot of exposure with him,” she said. “We know what a big deal he is, but he’s such a down-to-earth person. He’s so knowledgeable on so many different things, and I think that’s why we had so much time with him because he could talk to us about everything from foreign affairs to how a bill gets passed.”

Jessica went through a rigorous process to obtain the internship. It first piqued her interest when she read about it in one of CSUSM’s campus announcements. She then made an appointment with Joshua Galea’i, a counselor in CSUSM’s career center, to work on her resume and interviewing skills.

Jessica said Galea’i and Shannon Nolan-Aranez, coordinator of student involvement in Student Life & Leadership, were instrumental in helping her land the internship.

“Jessica’s persistence and follow-through is what allowed her to maximize our services and resources at CSUSM,” Galea’i said. “And I am sure those are qualities she brought to the internship.”

In addition to the application, Jessica had to make it through an intensive interview process to earn CSUSM’s recommendation to the Panetta Institute. Even after passing those hurdles, she had one final interview at the Institute with a panel that included Sylvia Panetta.

“That was really nerve-racking,” she said. “I just tried to be myself.”

It worked.

Not only are all costs associated with the internship covered by the Institute, but students each earn 20 semester credits. Jessica is in the process of completing a 20-page policy paper – she chose to focus on campaign finance reform and the impact of Citizens United – and will also submit a 20-page journal about her daily experiences.

The experience also changed Jessica’s future path. Though she had been interested in attending law school before the internship, she now plans to pursue a double master’s after she graduates from CSUSM in May – one in peace and conflict studies and another in public policy.

“I’ve always tried to stand up for the underdog,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to figure out how to solve problems and how to fix things. And I like to be able to make sense of things.”

Jessica is also planning to begin another internship, this time in the San Diego office of Rep. Susan Davis. She said the internship with Davis wouldn’t have been possible without the connections she made through her Panetta internship.

Jessica said there weren’t a lot of applicants at CSUSM for the Panetta internship when she went through the process and she’s hoping more students pursue it in the future, especially after seeing the impact it has had on her own life.

“It’s such a great opportunity,” she said. “It’s such a huge steppingstone. The connections I made there are going to last a lifetime.”

It is also an opportunity to hear the thoughts of college students regarding many of the propositions on this year’s ballot.

Potential propositions for discussion include:

• Proposition 58, which would preserve the requirement that public schools ensure students obtain English language proficiency.

• Proposition 62, which would repeal the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment without possibility of parole.

• Proposition 63, which would require background check and Department of Justice authorization to purchase ammunition and would prohibit possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines.

• Proposition 64, which would legalize marijuana under state law for use by adults 21 or older.

A complete listing of propositions will be provided for participants even if the discussion does not cover all of the topics.

The League of Women Voters is a citizens’ organization founded in 1920 that aims to improve government and engage all citizens in the decisions that impact their lives.

What: Civility Dialogues - Politics and Policies. The League of Women Voters will discuss select California ballot initiatives in the upcoming election with Cal State San Marcos students.

When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 1

Where: Cross-Cultural Center, USU 3400, on campus of Cal State San Marcos

About California State University San Marcos

Building on an innovative 26-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 over 15,000 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.

Laiq will be among the CSUSM students graduating on May 16. It will be tough to leave.

“My whole experience at Cal State San Marcos has been wonderful,” Laiq said. “It’s a tight community and not that big of a campus. You’re not lost among 30,000 students so you’re always running into people you know and you’re meeting people with different interests and studying different subjects than you. Plus, the professors here truly care about their students’ education.”

Benjamin Nienass, an assistant professor of Political Science, is among the instructors who care. Nienass had no hesitation when Laiq asked him for a letter of recommendation while applying to graduate school at San Diego State University.

“I have absolutely no doubt about his dedication and I am certain he will have a wonderful future,” Nienass said. “Aimal has a strong sense of curiosity and brings an eagerness to learn to the classroom.”

Just getting to CSUSM was an adventure.

Laiq’s father was a speechwriter for the then-president of Afghanistan, Mohammad Najibullah, when Laiq was born in February of 1988. But Najibullah was backed by the former Soviet Union and reigned as Soviet troops were withdrawing from the country. The Mujahedeen ousted his Russian-backed government in 1992, and Laiq’s family fled to Pakistan with the help of the United Nations.

(Najibullah took refuge at United Nations’ headquarters in Kabul and the Taliban publicly hanged him several years later.)

“When my parents left Afghanistan, my parents left with nothing,” said Laiq.

Pakistan was safer—at least for a while. But Laiq’s family spent the first few years in their new country living in a converted stable.

“I wouldn’t say they were horrible conditions, but they were pretty bad conditions, at least when we first got there,” he remembered.

Still, Laiq’s parents sent him to a private British school, where he learned English. And Laiq’s father put his entrepreneurial skills to work in opening a carpet factory.

As political upheaval continued roiling the region, though, the Laiq family had to flee once more. Laiq’s father was put on a hit list because of his work with Najibullah.

The United Nations again helped the family flee, this time to San Diego, where an uncle was living.

That was in 1999. For the second time in seven years, Laiq found himself adjusting to life in a foreign land with no friends.

“As you could imagine, I didn’t fit in right away," Laiq said. "I always played sports, but the sports I played in Pakistan they don’t play here—I was really into cricket.”

Adjusting to the American education system wasn’t easy, either.

“I wasn’t a great student to begin with, so I had my challenges,” he reflected.

Meanwhile, the family was trying to survive. His father worked as a cashier at a gas station and a 7-Eleven while studying at nearby Miramar College to improve his English. His mother, who had a master’s degree, was working at a McDonald’s to help the family make ends meet. Ultimately, their fortunes turned. Laiq’s father, who also had a master’s degree from Rostov State University in the former Soviet Union, found a job teaching at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. It was hard on the family, as Laiq’s father was gone during the week, but Laiq was adjusting well to school, even playing on the football and basketball teams at Westview High School.

His sights set on becoming a paramedic or EMT, Laiq enrolled at Palomar College after graduating from Westview High School. But after an internship with an ambulance company, he soured on that career choice.

Then he found his calling.

“I really, really liked political science,” Laiq said. “Everything kind of clicked. I started taking school more seriously. I finished my studies at Palomar, transferred to Cal State San Marcos, and I declared a major in political science. It was the best decision I made.”

Laiq wasted no time in getting involved. He was a charter member of the Model U.N. club at CSUSM. Less than a year after it was founded, CSUSM’s Model United Nations went to international competitions in Washington, D.C., and New York, returning with coveted honors for Outstanding Delegation and Outstanding Committee Delegates.

“I originally became involved in the Model U.N. program to get connected with the campus, but also because the U.N. was close to my heart because it gave us refuge and helped bring us to the United States.”

Nienass said Laiq’s background experiences have served him well.

“Living in a few different countries has enabled him to reflect a little more critically at different political systems,” he said. “He’s open to different ideas.”

Now he’s off to SDSU. While he’ll be earning a master’s degree in city planning, Laiq wants to focus on transportation. Eventually, perhaps, he’d like to serve on a city council.

“I want to have a positive impact in my community.”

That’s what many are wondering about CSUSM’s Model United Nations program, which recently returned from an international competition in Washington, D.C., with coveted honors for `Outstanding Delegation’ and `Outstanding Position Paper.’

The CSUSM program was founded less than a year ago.

“We’re quickly developing a reputation for excellence,” said Dr. Dino Bozonelos, a lecturer in the Political Science Department who also serves as the University’s Model United Nations program adviser.

“It is definitely humbling,” said Craig Lavernz, a junior and former U.S. Marine sergeant who serves as president of the Model United Nations club. “This is only our second semester. The people who took part in this competition were the brightest of the bright. That made it pretty intense, but we did very well and I see no reason why it won’t continue.”

Model United Nations is a program in which students hone their research, debating, critical thinking, diplomacy and public speaking skills while also studying the role the United Nations plays on an increasingly complex world stage. Because the skills are so valuable in the workforce, Model United Nations programs attracts students from a variety of academic disciplines.

Bozonelos ran a successful Model United Nations Program at Victor Valley College before he came to CSUSM in 2013. Shortly after Bozonelos arrived, CSUSM’s Political Science Department chair, Dr. Cyrus Masroori, asked him to help establish a Model United Nations Program at CSUSM.

“We started slowly, taking baby steps,” Bozonelos said. The team entered small, regional competitions, with members such as Lavernz coming home with individual awards.

The turning point came when Bozonelos successfully applied for an Instructional Related Activities (IRA) grant from Student Affairs, which administers the student fee that funds IRA, to register for next spring’s National Model United Nations event in New York – the largest competition of its kind with some 6,000 participants.

“It’s a huge conference, it was a generous grant, and I thought if we’re going to compete on that kind of a level, we’d better be prepared,” Bozonelos said. So he secured another grant from the Dean’s Discretionary Fund to take eight students to the Washington, D.C. competition this fall. Students at Princeton, Syracuse and Washington and Lee universities are among the more than 1,000 competitors from around the world taking part in the Washington, D.C., event.

Lavernz said CSUSM’s financial backing motivated the Model United Nations team.

“Seeing the support we get from the school was amazing,” he said. “And that support and generosity made us determined to do well. We weren’t going to throw away this opportunity.”

The CSUSM team was tasked with representing Kuwait. After arriving in the nation’s capital, students met with officials at the Kuwait Embassy for a briefing on the Persian Gulf nation’s geopolitical views, then later consulted with former U.S. Ambassador Sally Shelton-Colby. Lavernz arranged the meeting with the diplomat, whom he got to know during an internship last summer.

The preparation paid off. The team’s Delegation Award means it ranked in the top 10 percent among participating schools, which included the graduate Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. The Outstanding Position Paper Award came for effectively articulating Kuwait’s views on emerging weapon systems, and collaborating and forming alliances with other

At the competition’s conclusion, advisers from several universities congratulated CSUSM not only for its results, but also for the professionalism and courtesy of its students, Masroori said.

“Our students really shined,” said Masroori. “I cannot express how impressed I am over what they did and how they performed. For them to be able to prepare and collaborate as a team, and then compete against students with far greater experience, and represent a country that does not play a major role in international politics is very impressive.”

Masroori and Bozonelos plan to build on the success and create a Model United Nations powerhouse that collaborates with North County high schools and community colleges in promoting workshops, tutorials and competitions.

“Model United Nations is so valuable in so many ways,” Masroori said. “Students learn about the dynamics of strategic thinking when it comes to global collaboration and diplomacy. They learn how to organize, how to engage in effective research, how to become good public speakers, how to negotiate. You are learning about world politics and how countries deal with each other. It is a wonderful program and it is wonderful that we are building a solid foundation for continued success.”

CSUSM Associate Professor Scott Greenwood has a different concern. Water.

“The challenges that growing water scarcity and climate change pose to Jordan and other Arab states are significant,” Greenwood wrote in a recent essay published in the Journal of the Middle East Policy Council. “The most important is the potential for both (water scarcity and climate change) to disrupt the delicate balance that helps maintain stable political regimes in many Arab states. In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, access to reliable and adequate supplies of clean water is not only essential for every citizen's survival; it is also an indispensable part of the political bargain with rural Jordanians that has helped sustain the monarchical regime.

“Water is an indispensable element of ruling bargains in many other Arab countries as well, including Yemen, Morocco and Syria prior to the outbreak of its civil war,” Greenwood wrote in the essay, an abridged version of which was published July 3 as an op-ed piece in the Washington Post.

So why the lack of attention in the American news media’s coverage of the Middle East?

“The issue of water scarcity is complex and can involve a great deal of science that is difficult to explain in 30 second or one minute news reports,” said Greenwood, who also serves as CSUSM’s associate dean in the College of Humanities Arts Behavioral and Social Sciences. “In contrast, terrorism, conflict and violence are much easier to report on and don't involve talking with geologists and hydrologists, both of whom are likely to lead media consumers to change the channel out of boredom or disinterest.”

But Greenwood’s research is helping focus attention on the issue. “Water Insecurity, Climate Change and Governance in the Arab World” looks at Jordan as a test case for a region with a bleak future when it comes to quenching the thirst of a growing population. He notes that climate change could reduce water supplies in the strategically important Arab country by more than 50 percent.

Making matters worse is that Jordan has failed miserably in managing its vital groundwater basins.

“The government’s failure to enforce limits on groundwater abstraction has led many Jordanian farmers to adopt the view that water for agricultural use is a `free resource’ and that the government should not regulate groundwater pumping,” he wrote in his essay.

The results can be seen in the gradual destruction of the once bountiful Azraq oasis in eastern Jordan, an oasis that increasingly is being sucked dry to make up for water shortages in major population centers such as Amman and Zarqa.

Solutions should include desalination, recycling, conservation and better water management, Greenwood says. Failure to act will almost certainly lead to a variety of environmental, economic and political problems.

“I’m hopeful,” Greenwood said. “The water policy folks in Jordan get it. They are working on the problem. They are addressing it. They are moving ahead with desalination. Jordan is kind of the leader in the Arab world in treating their wastewater properly. But there are challenges.”

He is not so hopeful about other areas in the Arab world. In the Gaza Strip, for example, “thousands of illegal wells have been drilled and groundwater has been pumped to unsustainable rates, leading to the contamination of underground aquifers with seawater.”

Within as little as two years, some scientists say, Gaza could run out of usable water supplies due to pollution from seawater intrusion and the seepage of improperly treated sewage into the area’s main aquifer.

“There are so many other issues going on, nobody is paying the proper amount of attention to water,” Greenwood said.

Arab nations are not the only ones that can learn from what is happening in Jordan.

“California in particular needs to look at a place like Jordan because that could be us in the not-too-distant future,” Greenwood said. “We are heading in a direction that shares similarities with Jordan, including the failure to regulate groundwater extraction.”

Said Greenwood: “When it comes to California water rights, people here are like, `you’re going to have to take my water from my cold, dead hands.’”

Greenwood plans on returning to Jordan in two years on a fellowship to do research for a book on the politics of water in Jordan and Syria.

Dr. Nichols’ opinion is that the United States’ political system has become dysfunctional to such a degree that the country has arrived at a federal government shutdown over healthcare reform. Professor Nichols studies American political behavior and institutions. His research and teaching interests include political participation, public opinion, political parties, political psychology, and research methodology.

To schedule interviews, please contact Margaret Lutz-Chantung at 760-750-4011 or mlutz@csusm.edu.