Unlike most children, Quetzalli Johnson wasn’t afraid of visiting the dentist. Growing up, her mother always made visiting the dentist a positive experience for Johnson and her brothers by offering them rewards for doing well in the office. Those positive childhood moments led Johnson to dream of working in healthcare and dentistry, and today, Johnson is one step closer to fulfilling that dream. “I’m so excited. I feel like the finish line is right there,” said Johnson, a fifth-year general bio major and pre-dental student graduating from Cal State San Marcos this fall. “I’m really excited to navigate the world outside of school, spend time with my family and husband, and start working as a dental assistant during my gap year.” Along with her gap year to gain experience, Johnson plans to move to North Carolina with her family. She hopes to attend her top choice, the University of North Carolina, to study dentistry and become a dentist. Johnson was an active member of the Pre-Dental Society at CSUSM. She first joined the campus organization as a general member in spring 2024 and was the social media officer during the 2024-25 academic year. Her efforts in the club helped her achieve the role of senior president for fall 2025. “Being a part of that club taught me a lot about confidence and allowed me to be really comfortable speaking with other students,” Johnson said. “I loved the leadership roles because of what they brought out in myself, and I loved being able to help and support others.” Not only did the Pre-Dental Society give Johnson a place where she felt she belonged, but it also helped her understand the path to dental school. As president of the Pre-Dental Society, Johnson has tried to make clear to newer members that they should take their educational journey at their own pace. She often talks about her experience as a fifth-year student and how having that extra time has benefited her academics. “I feel like a lot of members think they need to graduate within a certain time, because in high school that’s what we’re told,” Johnson said. “We’re told, ‘You have to graduate college in four years,’ and sometimes that can be a little discouraging. I think it's nice for the members to hear that I’m a fifth-year and see that I’m not defeated by it. I’m enjoying the ride.” Johnson also works hard to ensure the Pre-Dental Society is a welcoming place for students. She encourages members to ask questions, informs them about volunteer opportunities, helps them connect with academic resources and see what lies ahead on the path to dentistry. Her passion for creating and fostering a loving environment is evident not only to her peers but also to her professors. James Kezos, an assistant professor of biology at CSUSM, has worked closely with Johnson both in the classroom and in the lab. “She is a very determined, hard-working and compassionate individual who has set high goals for herself,” Kezos said. “She is willing to learn and help with any task, showing exceptional levels of initiative and dedication. She excels at whatever responsibilities she undertakes, including her classwork, her research and her extracurriculars such as being president of the Pre-Dental Society.” In the Fly Lab with Kezos, Johnson began studying the physiological adaptations to chronic high-sugar diets in Drosophila (fruit flies) and how these diets affect their heart health and lifespan. Johnson explained that because Drosophila share many genetic traits with humans and have such a short lifespan, they’re ideal subjects for biological study. Alongside the study on high-sugar diets, Johnson has analyzed the Hedgehog signaling pathway in Drosophila heart function. “If we’re discovering new things that could help someone else’s future research, if it could be applied in any way and help the human population, I think that’s really neat,” Johnson said. “I love that we’re taking steps forward to potentially help people. That’s what I want to do in my future, help people.” As the Fly Lab’s sole data analyst, Johnson works closely with the flies’ heartbeats, noting that in some cases the flies have a fluorescent heart, by watching videos and turning that information into data through programs like Microsoft Excel. “The biggest impact she has made has been her efforts in implementing a large statistical code (2,000+ lines) to process and analyze our fly cardiac videos,” Kezos said. “Without her help, we would not be able to analyze any of our data, and probably would be struggling with fixing the code.” Kezos added that through her extracurriculars and her dedication, it's easy to see how Johnson cares about her peers' success as individuals in the community.  Creating the code was a challenge Johnson felt confident in tackling. She had prior data analysis experience at EOS Fitness, where she worked as a data coordinator. She also took BIOL 532: Biological Data Analysis II - Multivariate Analysis, so when Kezos mentioned he had a large R code that needed fixing, Johnson was quick to tackle the project. It took Johnson roughly two months to go through the nearly 3,000 lines of code. She watched thousands of videos, quantified the data and made it possible for the lab to analyze all of their hard work. Johnson referred to the project as the ultimate puzzle. “It was so frustrating but also really rewarding,” she said. “That went beyond what I thought I was capable of, and just having the belief in myself that I could achieve that, it was such a rewarding feeling. It also strengthened my confidence in myself; I am capable of doing something like that. That was super empowering for me.” Johnson has also used these new skills to teach other students in the lab how to use the code to analyze data. “Quetzalli has been an integral member of my lab, and has been a tremendous help in establishing the data analysis process,” Kezos said. “Without her efforts, initiative and care, we would not be as productive as we are today.” When looking back on her time at CSUSM, Johnson said her biggest advice for future students is to get involved. Transferring from Palomar College, Johnson said she thought she could handle everything on her own at CSUSM. She wasn’t thinking about joining clubs or finding community. But as she delved deeper into her coursework, she realized there was much she still needed to learn about the path ahead. She first heard about the Pre-Dental Society in her BIO 101 class, and the timing felt right. She decided to check out a meeting and it ended up giving her the guidance and support she hadn’t realized she was missing. “I attended a meeting and thought ‘This is so helpful,’ ” Johnson said. “Then, while I was at these meetings, I saw this community and the relationship between officers and members. I was like, ‘I really want to be a part of this,’ which was new for me. I had never felt like that before.” Being a member of the Pre-Dental Society and volunteering with the Fly Lab helped Johnson grow as a student. She said that the knowledge she gained from both, combined with community support, helped her see how she could give back. Johnson’s newfound desire to get involved led her to participate in events such as the Student Poster Showcase. Her poster was on the physiological responses to chronic high-sugar diets in Drosophila, the research she had done in the Fly Lab. “Get involved, because it doesn’t hurt; it only helps. You build such a great community, and you learn so much. You’re able to meet like-minded people and grow as a human being,” she said. “Enjoy the ride. Enjoy where you’re at in the moment. Enjoy the people around you. Slow down, and just enjoy where you’re at.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

For Jon Spenard, the start of this school year was hectic beyond the typical reasons – and beyond his wildest imagination. Spenard, you see, is an archaeology professor at Cal State San Marcos, and it was in about late August that archaeologists from around the world suddenly found themselves being bombarded with attention. As Spenard can attest, that’s not the normal reality for a scholar in his field. The reason for the surprising interest in archaeology? In August, the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League Challenge – an international competition for elementary and middle school students that attracts almost 700,000 kids – released its annual theme: “Unearthed.” As the website states: “Every artifact we uncover holds a story. Each tool, each innovation, each work of art connects us to the people and ideas that came before us. Using STEM skills and teamwork, today we can dig deeper into discoveries than ever before.” Almost overnight, Spenard was on speed dial. “No one was expecting this,” Spenard said. “Every archaeologist and museum I know was suddenly flooded with calls and messages requesting meetings.” So it was that on the afternoon of Nov. 24, Spenard met with a FIRST Lego League team named Bikini Bottom Brick Builders – three middle school girls from Temecula and their parents – in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building. The team was trying to build a LiDAR scanner – an acronym for “Light Detection and Ranging,” LiDAR is a remote sensing method for creating 3D models of the real world – and Spenard talked to them about how the technology works, how it relates to archaeology and how they could use their newfound knowledge to make better scans. That consulting session was the latest of about a dozen that Spenard has conducted this semester – some on campus, some by email, some at a public archaeology event that he attended in October (Arch in the Park in San Diego). “The groups and their parents do deep research,” he said. “I think many found me through our departmental website.” Each year, the FIRST Lego League introduces schoolkids to a scientific and real-world challenge that will be the focus of their research. The competition involves designing and programming robot prototypes with Legos to complete tasks, and working out a solution to a problem related to the theme. The students meet for regional, national and international tournaments to compete, compare ideas and display their robots. Spenard’s assistance to teams in the region has run the gamut, from conveying the general nature of archaeology – hint: as he says, “it’s not dinosaurs!” – to listening to presentations to providing feedback on early design prototypes. Though wholly out of the blue, the experience has been a rewarding one for him. “My hope, more than anything, is that these kids have walked away with a much better understanding of what archaeology is and how it is done,” Spenard said. “My impression is that, collectively, these kids are doing amazing engineering work that will revolutionize the field of archaeology and many others someday.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

 Cal State San Marcos celebrated another record-breaking Giving Day this year, raising $828,397 from 2,444 gifts in just 24 hours. The total raised on Dec. 2 was $80,000 more than the previous record set last year. Giving Day is part of Giving Tuesday, an international day focused on philanthropy. The Giving Day highlights included: A number of matches were met, including $200,000 from the Epstein family, $10,000 from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, $5,000 from North City and more than $100,000 in individual area frontline matches, benefiting 132 campus programs. 56 ambassadors brought in 329 gifts. Students made 318 gifts. Nearly one in five gifts came from alumni, who supported 119 programs, departments, colleges or scholarships. Every gift counts toward the university’s “Blueprint for the Future” fundraising campaign, the largest in CSUSM’s history. The campaign’s theme reflects both the physical growth on campus and the forward momentum building at CSUSM as one of the CSU system’s fastest-growing campuses. Founded in 1989, CSUSM serves 17,000 students and is proud to be ranked No. 1 in the nation for advancing social mobility. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

For education professor Rebecca Brooks, receiving $2.5 million in grants to expand the Aspiring Scholars program is a dream come true.   “It’s incredibly meaningful to give students with intellectual disabilities an inclusive college experience,” Brooks said. “My greatest hope was to obtain funding to expand our cohort size and ensure the long-term sustainability of this program. These grants make that vision a reality.”  Funding at this level is highly competitive nationwide, yet faculty and staff at CSUSM like Brooks continue to stand out, securing awards that support innovative projects and create transformational experiences for students.  “Our faculty and staff are pursuing some of the most-sought-after grants in the nation, alongside leading institutions,” said Charles De Leone, dean of graduate studies and research. “It’s exciting to see their ideas recognized and to watch how their work enriches our students’ experiences, strengthens our campus and serves our broader community.”  Examples of projects funded this academic year include:  Supporting chemistry and biochemistry students: A $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation will fund student scholarships in chemistry and biochemistry as well as a Vertical Mentoring Learning Community (VMLC). Led by Robert Iafe, Afra Panahi and Aswad Allen, the program blends mentoring, research opportunities and priority enrollment for up to 30 students each year, with eight first-year students eligible for renewable $15,000 scholarships. Making exercise more accessible: Kinesiology professor Todd Astorino received a $442,590 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore how reduced exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT) – two short 20-second sprints within a 10-minute workout – can improve health and make exercise more attainable for inactive adults. Expanding mobile making in local schools: Funded by the National Science Foundation, this project led by Edward Price, April Nelson and Sinem Siyahhan of the Center for Research and Engagement in STEM Education (CRESE) expands the university’s Mobile Making program. Through after-school “making” clubs across North County, undergraduate STEM ambassadors bring hands-on activities and equipment to schools, libraries and community centers. Helping students with intellectual disabilities experience college: Brooks and psychology professor Allison Jobin received $2.5 million in grants to expand Aspiring Scholars with full-time staff, a dedicated campus space and additional peer mentors. Adding water refill stations: A grant from CalRecycle will enable CSUSM to reach its goal to have a water refill station on every floor of every building. Led by Juliana Goodlaw-Morris, director of sustainability and climate justice, in partnership with Facilities Development & Management, this grant will fund 10 new water refill stations and replace five older stations across campus. The project’s progress will be measured through station usage, recycling volumes and waste audits.  “Each of these projects reflect the spirit of innovation and collaboration at CSUSM,” De Leone said. “They also give students meaningful opportunities to engage in hands-on research that prepares them for their future careers.”  Research funding is an integral part of CSUSM’s “Blueprint for the Future” campaign, helping advance the university’s $200 million goal through both philanthropy and grants. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Students from Cal State San Marcos had the chance to connect with students from Ohio University during a collaborative class session that highlighted shared experience, leadership and cross-campus engagement. The Center for Leadership Innovation and Mentorship Building (CLIMB) hosted the students from Ohio as part of its signature In the Executive’s Chair (ITEC) series. Rajnandini “Raj” Pillai, director of CLIMB and a professor of management, explained that the course brings students into direct conversation with influential leaders and creates meaningful opportunities for interaction with peers worldwide. “CLIMB always believes in collaborating with other entities on campus as well as other universities, both domestic and international, especially when it pertains to our speaker series for the community or our signature In the Executive’s Chair class,” Pillai said. The Nov. 4 visit included a joint class session featuring Jordan Marks, San Diego County assessor, as well as an informal conversation and lunch on campus. The Ohio University students spent the afternoon exchanging insights with CSUSM students about academics, career plans and student life. CLIMB was established in 2004 by CSUSM’s College of Business Administration, with the mission of fostering the development of effective leaders at the individual, team, organizational and community levels. The center focuses on promoting innovative leadership and research through educational programs and mentoring opportunities. The ITEC series brings high-level leaders from diverse industries to speak with students about topics such as communication, decision-making, ethics and professional development. Previous cohorts have included international participants, such as master’s students from Sweden who joined ITEC via Zoom. Ohio University students also visited CLIMB over the summer. During this visit, the Raymond A. Lancaster Executive Leadership Fellow, Dan Squiller, said the experience exceeded expectations. “The feedback from our students was uniformly positive,” Squiller said. “This first engagement and eating lunch on a sun-soaked CSUSM campus was the perfect way to kick off their week of sessions in San Diego. So, thank you for orchestrating our inclusion, handling the logistics and making us feel so welcome.” Pillai said she hopes to continue the partnership and host the leadership fellows annually, noting that opportunities like these enrich the classroom experience and strengthen CLIMB’s commitment to developing leaders through connection, conversation and community. CSUSM students also reflected on the value of the exchange. “Talking with the Ohio University students during class was a really interesting experience because it showed me how, even though we go to different schools, we share a lot of the same goals and challenges,” Lysandra Lyman said. “The main difference I noticed was in the size and culture of their school, which gave them different kinds of opportunities. But overall, it made me realize how much we all relate to each other when it comes to learning, growing and preparing for the future.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Until recently, Darci Strother’s acting career consisted entirely of playing the lead role of a hippopotamus in one play. This was in third grade. So imagine her surprise when director Antonio Muñoz de Mesa approached Strother – a Spanish professor in the Cal State San Marcos modern language studies department – about playing a significant role in his international revenge action film, “Santa Zeta.” “He wanted someone who looked fairly innocuous, kind of like a soccer mom,” said the 59-year-old Strother, who has taught at CSUSM since 1993. “He wanted someone to surprise the audience who looked like your everyday innocuous person who would actually be a villain.” The Spanish film wrapped in 2024 and recently hit the film festival circuit, which included winning the Award of Excellence in the feature film category at the third annual Santa Barbara Indie Film Festival in September. The film made its U.S. debut at the festival. CSUSM’s Global Commitment Committee will screen it as its featured film March 9 in the University Student Union. De Mesa has agreed to join the discussion for the screening, either in person or via Zoom. “Santa Zeta” was filmed in Spain and South Korea, with Strother’s scenes shot in San Marcos. Her scenes are listed as being filmed in Escondido because Escondido means “hidden” in Spanish, and it’s a play on words for the many hidden meanings within the movie. The film’s synopsis (from IMDb): “A super famous travel influencer, Santa Zeta, uses her social media as a cover to travel the world hunting pedophiles, obsessed with finding her little sister’s killer.” Strother plays the role of Amelia, a seemingly innocent woman with a sinister side. “I caught the bug of embracing other new challenges,” Strother said. “I think when you’re asked to do something difficult, you’re not sure if you can do it. And then you do it, and it turns out well. That gives you the confidence of, ‘Well, I wonder what’s next.’ ” Strother spoke on the panel after the Santa Barbara screening, which was attended by her family along with de Mesa, the production manager and other cast members. The film was the feature event Friday night for the weekend’s festivities. In addition to teaching and service, every CSUSM tenure-track faculty member must perform research and creative activity as part of their duties. For Strother, before 2024 that consisted of writing academic articles and books about 17th-century Spanish theater. What the film experience gave her was a new perspective on viewing the creative process of cinema. She said she was thrilled to be on the panel for a Q&A session after the debut screening so the audience could see her true personality. “I play a very unflattering character,” she said. “I play a character who does something evil, despicable things. It was kind of exhilarating. I was able to step outside of myself and say, ‘Oh wow, I really did that.’ It’s an accomplishment I achieved in life that lives there forever.” De Mesa has 48 credits to his name on IMDb, including actor, director, producer, writer and editor. As the director of “Santa Zeta," he knew immediately that he wanted Strother for the role despite her lack of acting experience. They had connected many times when Strother was presenting research in her area of expertise. “Although Darci didn't have experience as an actress working in films, I knew her for many years and was totally sure that she could perform this role with the help of an acting coach,” said de Mesa, who was born in Madrid. “I needed an actress for the role of Amelia with a calm, intelligent energy. That's why I thought of Darci right away. Her sensibility and closeness to the acting community made it super easy to work with her in her sequence.” The request from De Mesa came at what can only be called an inopportune time. Strother had just begun caring for her daughter, who was recovering from what Strother described as a serious surgery. In the same week, she also had been asked to moderate the Global Commitment Committee’s informal conversation with students leading up to the 2024 presidential election. She was acting as GCC’s interim chair. And she had been asked to substitute teach for a class of a subject she “really didn’t know.” “All of these things that came together made me actually feel weirdly relaxed because it felt like, OK, life is throwing me all these curveballs and opportunities, and I'm not expecting of myself to do anything more than what I can do,” Strother said. “I think if I had only done the film that week, I would have just been obsessing and worrying about it. Because there were so many things going on, I was taking things one step at a time – 'I'm going to do it,' and everyone in the cast and crew made me feel really relaxed.” Faculty in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences are often looking for new avenues to create and innovate – to go beyond the classroom to share experiences that inspire and introduce career paths beyond a straight line. Earlier this semester, Strother showed some still photographs from the film and pictures from the festival to her classes. She presented the images from the perspective of doing big things when you’re not expected to. Particularly when it comes to art, she wanted her students to understand that it’s never too late to take risks. Even a faculty member with decades of experience in academia can become a screen actor.   “It was very unexpected, but I’m kind of at that point in my life where if someone asks me to do something and I don’t think I can do it, I say, ‘Sure, why not? I’ll try it anyway,' ” Strother said. “I might succeed, I might not succeed. I have the luxury of being at a point in my career where I can try new things and take risks.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314