Teaching in a student population environment of around 2,500 and then moving to one with 17,000-plus is one of the many challenges that Roni Kay O’Dell, a new assistant professor of political science and global affairs, has signed up for this semester.
“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
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- Professor Blends Art, Science on Summer Trip to ArcticFor Judit Hersko, a two-week voyage to the Arctic Circle last summer was more than a bucket-list adventure. It was the continuation of a two-decade career turn toward venturing to – both physically and emotionally – some of the coldest, most remote places on Earth and exploring the fascinating ways that art and science intersect. Hersko, a longtime Cal State San Marcos professor who’s chair of the art, media and design (AMD) department, is back on campus this semester as she digests the discoveries she made on her summer sojourn to Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. How far-flung is it? After traveling the 5,400 miles from San Diego to Oslo, you’re still about 1,300 miles from your destination. In Svalbard, Hersko boarded a sailing ship called the Rembrandt van Rijn (named for the famous Dutch painter) that was chartered by The Arctic Circle, an annual expeditionary residency program for artists and scientists from around the world. With 29 other people – a mix of visual artists, writers, composers and science communicators – Hersko sailed down the west coast of Svalbard before the ship left the land behind and pointed northwest into the thick ice of the Arctic Ocean. “That was really exciting because it was a real North Pole feeling,” Hersko said. “The captain discovered this really large chunk of ice that was 20 kilometers. We moored to it, and it was sort of like mooring to land, except it moved.” During her time at sea and on the ice, Hersko gathered material that she will use for her unique brand of artwork that she calls performance lectures. These are tightly timed presentations of narratives grounded in historical and scientific research that are accompanied by visual images, including the artworks that she creates – her specialties are sculpture and installation that also incorporate photography and collage. “I build complex narratives that are basically true to life, except that I weave in a fictitious character who helps hold the story together,” she said. It’s an approach to art that was born of Hersko’s early years at CSUSM, and a life-changing trip to the globe’s opposite pole. In 2003, when she was hired at CSUSM, she sent a letter to colleagues on the science faculty telling them that she was interested in collaborating on projects. One of the most enthusiastic responses came from Victoria Fabry, a biological sciences professor whose scholarly work explored the effects of ocean acidification. Hersko and Fabry teamed up on an exhibit titled “Shifting Baselines” that translated the scientist’s research into visual art (it proved so impactful that it has been exhibited multiple times nationally, most recently last year in the San Diego Central Library). In 2006, Fabry went on a scientific trip to Antarctica and she came back raving about it, urging Hersko to apply for a program that brought artists there. Hersko did just that two years later. On a completely funded expedition as part of the extremely competitive National Science Foundation Antarctic Artists and Writers grant program, she spent six weeks in Antarctica, where she watched penguins hatching at her feet, studied planktonic snails and assembled the research material that guided her work for many years, exhibitions, presentations and book chapters to come. Specifically, she crafted narratives that centered around a fictitious, unknown female explorer, Anna Schwartz, who travels to Antarctica disguised as a man on the 1939 expedition led by American naval officer Richard E. Byrd. Though her protagonist is invented, Hersko said, “my work builds on meticulous research, and I place her in real historical events. These layered stories present the complex history of science highlighting the absence of women from the narratives of exploration as well as science.” Hersko isn’t the only School of Arts faculty member who has been to the frigid poles on a research excursion. In 2023, AMD professor Lucy HG Solomon received a prestigious Fulbright scholarship and did part of her research on Svalbard, where she furthered her ongoing studies of microorganisms and how they connect to the world. Solomon’s experience in the Arctic, in turn, led to a rare opportunity for one of her students. Last year, she connected AMD student Leobardo Moreno Villanueva with an ecologist at a Svalbard university, and Villanueva worked with the scientist on a graphic design project in which he helped make technical signage describing the scientific equipment used for research in the Arctic. Villanueva, a former foster youth from Mexico for whom English is his third language, graduated from CSUSM last spring. “Designing for the far north was an unforgettable challenge that expanded my perspective on how art and science meet in unexpected places," Villanueva said. As for Hersko, she knows several people in the small circle of polar researchers who have traveled with The Arctic Circle program, but she could never find the right time until this year. On July 4, she landed in Longyearbyen, a small town known for coal mining (though the last mine closed a few days before her arrival) and its views of the Northern Lights. After a few days to acclimate, she boarded the Rembrandt van Rijn to begin the two-week voyage. Among the highlights of her time at sea was up-close viewings of two polar bears, the tragic sight (and thunderous sound) of ice falling from stunning glaciers, and the discovery of tiny flowers and lichens that she thinks she will incorporate into her next output of art that results from this latest trip of a lifetime. “When I get fascinated by something, often it turns out that things come together in a weird, magical way where it has relevance,” Hersko said. “It’s all still percolating, and I think it’s probably a story that I will develop in the next year.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306
- Cougar Care Network Marks 10 Years as a Campus Hub for ConnectionBuilt on listening first and guiding without judgment, the Cougar Care Network enters its second decade as a trusted stop for students seeking practical help, community and a path forward. The Cougar Care Network (CCN) launched in fall 2015 as part of Cal State San Marcos’ Early Support Initiative within the Student Outreach and Referral (SOAR) program. Patty Diaz worked in Student Affairs and was the SOAR coordinator. Today, Diaz is the coordinator of CCN. “It’s an incredible feeling to witness something you’ve helped build flourish,” Diaz said. “I’m proud of what Cougar Care Network has become and the positive reputation it has gained among students, faculty and the entire campus community. Together we are making a real difference in the lives of students.” SOAR was the primary referral source for faculty teaching first-year and underserved students. It operated like a concierge: students visited the office, where they were routed to other campus support systems, such as counseling or academic services. In fall 2016, SOAR rebranded as part of CCN. Today, CCN is a trusted place for students to build community while at CSUSM. “It’s fantastic,” said Donna Davis, CCN director. “It’s wonderful that the university has embraced us so much. And students know enough about us to walk right in with anything on their minds, knowing they can get some help. So we are honored by that every day.” Davis joined CCN in 2022 and became the program's director in 2023. “This team, they care so deeply,” Davis said. “We have a very dedicated group of professionals here that are creative, energized and excited to help students. I am so beyond honored to work with this group, and that is what’s kept me here through it all.” As CCN has grown over the past decade, so has the number of students it serves. During the 2024 academic year, it managed 4,620 student cases, a 58% increase from the previous year, according to CCN. There were an average of 20 new cases each day, and students expressed appreciation for the ease of being able to drop into the office to get immediate help with their concerns. While CCN does not offer long-term therapy, a majority of the cases involve mental health. The staff can provide advice and resources for issues like day-to-day anxiety, the stress after failing a test, or the emotional rollercoaster of going through a breakup. The team also helps students take their first step toward visiting counseling services on campus. “We spend a lot of time walking beside students until they are ready to take that step,” Davis said. Visiting CCN is easy and accessible. Students can email or submit a referral form to schedule a visit, or drop in to Administrative Building 1200, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Professors can refer students and an assigned staff member will reach out to the student to check in and invite them to visit. “Once we connect with them, we’re always going to make that person feel as comfortable as they can,” Davis said. One way CCN helps students feel comfortable during their visits is by offering a treasure chest in the office. Filled with items like facial masks, notebooks, fidget toys and mugs, the treasure chest began as a form of staff appreciation and evolved into a fun activity for students to engage with during their visits. The treasure chest also offers students the opportunity to visit the office and become familiar with the staff while they’re still deciding if they’re ready to talk to someone. Another entry point is the Cougar Care Network cart, introduced in the fall of 2023. The cart is operated by service-learning students as an informal, peer-to-peer way for students to learn more about the program and build connections at CSUSM, so they know support is available. “We are students ourselves. We’re not faculty or staff,” said Fernando Vasquez Rendon, a fourth-year psychology major and service-learning student with CCN. “Knowing that we’re also students adds a sense of trust and relatability.” Vasquez Rendon said he understands why some students may feel nervous about approaching the cart, and encourages them to interact with it and see what it has to offer. He said students often express gratitude for the cart, those who work it, and the free items and resources it carries. “Please, come up to the cart. We’re always happy to chit-chat,” he said. “I’m always open and I really want students to know that I and the team are here to really listen and support.” “One of the best parts is seeing a student for the first time and their interaction with the cart. Those interactions are what make this role beautiful, and I think those moments are really important.” CCN also uses the cart as a tool to help students connect with the University Student Union centers. For example, Davis explained that for students curious about the Pride Center but hesitant to walk alone, the card serves as a bridge, as students might walk into the center when the cart is there. “We know that there needs to be this kindness movement right now,” Davis said. “We know students are isolated and lonely. And regardless of how much social media they have — and the people they can connect with online — they’re still feeling alone on the inside. So the cart was started as a way to go over to students who are sitting alone and introduce them to the cart, because sometimes that’s the only person that student may talk to all day.” Lizet Palestina, another service-learning student with the CCN and a criminology major in her final semester, shared how she uses the cart to start conversations with students sitting alone. “I think it’s easier for students to talk to us, rather than a staff member,” Palestina said. Once the conversation is underway, Palestina and other service-learning students take the opportunity to inform students about campus resources, such as the CCN, Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS), the Cougar Pantry and workshops. “There are a lot of students who are by themselves, and sometimes they’ll be nervous. But once you get the conversation going, they’re a lot more open,” she said. “It’s as simple as asking if they want a little duck, and then you keep the conversation going.” The mini ducks are one of the main reasons students approach the cart. Vasquez Rendon said it's common to see students visiting the cart to add more ducks to their collection. The ducks serve as a small symbol to remind students that they’re not alone. “Put it in your pocket, keep it in your book bag. But take it out and physically hold onto it as a reminder that we believe in you and know that you got this,” Davis said. Along with the standard mini ducks, CCN also releases special edition ducks for campus events. During a Commuter Breakfast event, the cart featured ducks in cars. In a previous collaboration with SHCS, a duck in a fry basket was offered in reference to the F.R.I.E.S. program on consent. F.R.I.E.S. describes consent as something freely given, reversible, Informed, enthusiastic and specific. CCN also rotates the cart's theme and available items based on cultural events and student feedback. Vasquez Rendon shared that the team is working to update the cart's theme for Dia de los Muertos and to provide cultural information about the holiday. “The cart is always changing as the student population changes,” he said. “I want students to know that the conversations we have don’t fall on deaf ears. If they bring up questions, comments or concerns, I always relay it back to the team.” Alongside the service-learning students, CCN also has a staff of Master of Social Work (MSW) interns who provide support to students. Vasquez Rendon plans to apply to the MSW program for the fall 2026 cohort. Davis shared that community donations and grant funding are crucial to ensuring that CCN can provide students the support they need. CCN is a part of the university's Community of Care program, an intentionally connected network to support students that was made possible by a generous grant from the Conrad Prebys Foundation. CCN also received philanthropic funding from a San Diego Foundation mental and behavioral health-focused grant to be able to staff MSW interns. “We’ve been very blessed with the grants, and they allow our MSW interns to dedicate their full attention to the students," Davis said. Community donations often help stock the treasure chest at the Cougar Care Network office. Davis said they are always welcoming new or gently used physical donations and added that students donate items like candles, facial masks and other small gifts they no longer need. Ten years in, CCN remains focused on simple ideas that matter, starting with a warm welcome and practical help that arrives when students need it. The aim is to walk beside each person until the next step feels possible and the path forward is clear. “We’re here to walk beside you,” Davis said. “And if you’re not ready today, no worries. Maybe you’ll chat with somebody at the cart or follow us on Instagram. Just in case you need us, we’re here.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- In Memoriam: Josh Pack (’97), a Life of Leadership, Generosity and HeartCal State San Marcos is mourning the passing of distinguished alumnus Joshua Pack ('97), who died on Sept. 29. A devoted husband and father, proud Cougar, and tireless advocate for veterans and students, Pack leaves behind a legacy defined not only by professional success but also by kindness, humility and a deep commitment to helping others. Pack’s path to CSUSM wasn’t straightforward. After beginning his higher-education journey at the U.S. Air Force Academy and transferring to another university, he eventually found his home at San Marcos, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1997. He often credited a CSUSM economics professor with transforming his academic trajectory and helping set the foundation for his career. Professionally, Pack rose to become co-CEO of Fortress Investment Group, one of the world’s leading investment firms. Over more than two decades, he built a reputation as a leader in credit and real estate investing, overseeing billions of dollars in assets and guiding teams through complex financial markets. Pack’s connection to CSUSM remained strong long after graduation. He gave his time and expertise as a member of the CSUSM Foundation Board from 2011-16, including service on the Fundraising Committee, where his vision helped strengthen the university’s philanthropic efforts. He also supported the Finance Society by offering real-world insights to students preparing for their own careers. Pack’s passion for serving veterans was rooted in his upbringing as the son of Lt. Col. A.J. Pack, a U.S. Marine Corps officer who served for 22 years. Like Josh, Lt. Col. Pack served as a director of the CSUSM Foundation Board (2015-21). In his father’s honor, Josh established the Lt. Col. A.J. Pack Veterans Scholarship at CSUSM, supporting military-affiliated students in pursuing their educational and career goals. He also championed the creation of a veterans and military center on campus, which broke ground in 2013, calling the work “enormously gratifying for me and my family.” In 2014, he partnered with the Veterans Center and Associated Students, Inc., to host the campus premiere of “The Hornet’s Nest,” a documentary about American troops in Afghanistan. The event included a post-screening Q&A with military units and filmmakers, underscoring his belief in the importance of recognizing and supporting student veterans. In 2021, Pack reflected on his connection to CSUSM in an article on the Fortress website, noting how meaningful it was to help create a leading center for veterans and active-duty service members at the university. “The CSUSM veterans community has earned not just our thanks, but our commitment to support their dreams,” he said. Pack will be remembered for the generosity he showed to his alma mater and to the veteran community that meant so much to him. Through the Lt. Col. A.J. Pack Veterans Scholarship, his support of campus programs and his advocacy for military-connected students, he built a legacy of service that will continue to impact lives for years to come. Pack is survived by his wife and their four children. “Josh was a true partner in our mission of student success,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said. “He had an unwavering belief in the power of education, and he never forgot where he came from. His impact on our students, and especially our student veterans, will endure for generations, and we will carry forward his spirit of service with gratitude.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- Biology Professor Researching Breast CancerCarlos Luna Lopez’s typical day in the lab looks a little different from others. Dark, cool and full of machinery like 3D bio printers, the lab is home to petri dishes full of cancerous cells. Inspired by one of his students, his lab cohort is studying breast cancer. “Being in Dr. Luna’s lab has been such a great experience. He’s not only an amazing PI, but also a really great mentor,” said Oscar Loyola Torres, a molecular and cellular biology student. Luna, a biology professor at Cal State San Marcos, received a bachelor’s degree in physics from Universidad de Sonora in Mexico and a Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Maryland. He decided to pursue postdoctoral research closer to his parents, who live in Mexico, which brought him to UC San Diego. Luna always knew he wanted to pursue a career in the STEM field, as his father is a mechanical engineer and his mother a nurse. During his Ph.D. studies, he joined the Summer Program in Neuroscience, Excellence and Success (SPINES), where he met a former CSUSM biology professor who further inspired his move to San Diego and his pursuit of a job at CSUSM. Luna believes that finding a good balance between research and teaching is important. He explained that one of his biophysics professors would play soccer with his students and invite them to important seminars, creating a meaningful relationship with the students beyond just research. So when he was told of the community between faculty and students at CSUSM, it felt like the right choice to apply. Luna has taught upper-division cellular and molecular biotechnology classes as well as biostatistics and bioengineering classes at CSUSM since 2017. He also occasionally teaches advanced molecular seminars, and currently he and his lab students are studying the effects of fat cells on breast cancer growth. The tests examine how lipid metabolism is driving parts of cancer growth. Lipid metabolism is the process of creating or breaking down lipids (fats) to help with energy storage, structural cell membrane support and cell signaling. Since breast tissue is full of lipids, it creates the perfect environment for cancer cells to thrive, utilizing these functions to their advantage. Luna and his students monitor the interactions between cancer cells and two different types of fat cells, white and brown adipocytes. These cells work to store energy, produce hormones and regulate body temperature, all basic functions crucial to the success of the human body. Utilizing his background in engineering, Luna and his students built a device that creates spheroids, 3D circular clusters of cells. The spheroid is made of biomaterials replicating human tissue, allowing the students to get the most accurate results from their cancer research. “There are so many things I get to learn from him and the lab that are helping me grow as both a student and a future physician,” Loyola Torres said. Luna said this is only a portion of what their research encapsulates. Every time a new discovery is made, it opens a door for further questioning, and the research continues. “When you have something in your mind and you get the chance and the resources to be able to put that into the world, it’s so exciting,” Luna said. Luna loves watching his students grow and be creative, as it reminds him of when he was a kid. Not only can he exercise his own creativity, but he gets to bring his students along for the journey. With him having watched some of them grow from first years to graduating Ph.D. students, the relationship Lopez has been able to create with his students makes his job all the more rewarding. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- Women's Soccer Team Finishes Nonconference Play With WinDanielle Paulson's goal in the 78th minute was the difference as the Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team beat visiting Cal State San Bernardino 1-0 in its final nonconference game of the season Sunday. Paulson scored on an assist from her sister, Natalie Paulson. The Cougars, who finished nonconference play with a 3-1-2 record, open the California Collegiate Athletic Association portion of their schedule on Friday at Cal Poly Humboldt. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- Professor Goes on Tour for 20th Anniversary of Acclaimed FilmWhen Jonathan Berman came to Cal State San Marcos as a film professor in 2004, he was close to finishing a documentary about a Northern California commune during the counterculture era. The documentary was released the following year. Now, 20 years later, Berman is marking the anniversary of the film with a new digital restoration and a national tour of screenings and interviews. “Commune” is about an intentional community called Black Bear Ranch formed in 1968 in remote Siskiyou County just south of the Oregon border. A dozen people were expected to live there, but the number eventually swelled to 100 in what was a utopian experiment that attracted anarchists, hippies and activists seeking to get away from America and create something new. The documentary includes prominent actor Peter Coyote, who once lived at Black Bear. At the time of its release, “Commune” received positive reviews from such outlets as the New York Times, Variety, the Village Voice and the San Francisco Chronicle. It boasts a rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Berman says he decided to restore the film so that it would be suitable to appear on streaming services and that he chose to embark on a nationwide tour to give fans “the communal experience of theatrical.” The tour began in May in upstate New York and will end this month back in New York. In September, it made four stops in California, including Los Angeles and the Bay Area town of San Rafael, where some former Black Bear denizens reside. “Twenty years later, it is a warm feeling to reunite with those folks,” Berman said. “They have almost all gone on to do work that helps people; some of this can be gleaned in the film. It was almost like reuniting with relatives after a long time. I felt a little guilty for not really being in touch more, but then happy to see them again.” In addition to the 16 theaters that have screened “Commune,” Berman has been interviewed on nearly 20 podcasts. He’s hoping to add a few more showings in Southern California, including at least one in the San Diego area. After making “Commune,” Berman focused on teaching and consulting on other films before the release in 2018 of “Calling All Earthlings,” which examines California’s UFO counterculture cult and the Integratron, a mysterious structure in the desert north of Joshua Tree National Park. He’s now working on the third documentary in what he calls his California trilogy; titled “Gondola,” it’s about the controversial plan to build an aerial tram from Union Station to Dodger Stadium in L.A. Berman says his film work over the years has benefited greatly from the contributions of CSUSM students and fellow faculty members, from serving internships to watching and giving feedback on test edits. “That’s part of our mission as a university, for students to work intimately with teachers who are active in their field,” he said. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306
