Every great pathway requires a beginning. For some, the chapter can be introduced during their educational journey.  Last month, Cal State San Marcos’ Career Center partnered with the College of Business Administration and College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to take students to tour Callaway Golf headquarters in Carlsbad. Callaway doesn’t offer public tours, creating a unique opportunity.  In addition to touring headquarters, students heard from professionals who shared advice and their experiences in the professional environment. Students also got exclusive early access to Callaway’s internship applications. “It was truly an eye-opening experience that exposed me to real-world insight and industry knowledge,” said Gia Poston, a fourth-year business marketing major. “It opened my eyes to what strong company culture looks like and it also provided me with networking opportunities with professionals.” Callaway Golf is the world's largest manufacturer of golf clubs. It also produces additional golf equipment, clothing and golf accessories.   “My experience visiting Callaway was excellent,” said Hanna Silva Gomez, a third-year computer engineering student. “Through this experience I was able to learn a great amount of industry insights as well as getting the opportunity to hear about the journeys of certain Callaway team members that ultimately led them to join Callaway.  “For me, the most fascinating part of the visit was getting to know about all the possibilities within various fields ranging from engineering to business. It was incredibly insightful to hear about the processes Callaway follows and how it all comes together to deliver an exceptional end result.”  Other students who attended agreed about the benefits of the visit.  “Hosting events like these opens the door for CSUSM students to engage in networking as well as learning industry insights, Silva Gomez said. “Events like this encourage students like me to develop skills by learning about innovative approaches used in the industry.  “Familiarizing ourselves with the company allows us to learn about company culture and get to know about possible internship opportunities or programs offered by the company, which ultimately can allow us to stand out as a candidate in the near future.” Greg Zamora, a third-year finance student, shared the same perspective. “From this experience, I gained plenty of inspiration and career insights learning about the intern program and the career paths of speakers,” he said. “I also gained a deeper understanding of Callaway Golf itself as a company, specifically how it operates globally with its variety of golf lines.” The Career Center is planning to host more events like this in the future and represent a variety of careers and potential internships. “As a Career Center, our goal is to create meaningful opportunities for students to engage with industry leaders and gain real-world insights," said Yasmine Farley, the director of CSUSM's Career Center. "The visit to Callaway Golf exemplifies the power of partnerships in bridging the gap between academic learning and professional success. I look forward to organizing more opportunities like this for our CSUSM students.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Two years ago, Alyssa Loschiavo decided to work for Campus Recreation because she needed a job to help support herself financially as a student at Cal State San Marcos. Loschiavo found so much more than a steady paycheck. She advanced to being the student coordinator of Outdoor Adventures. She developed skills that include leadership, communication and technical know-how. She even began to see potential career pathways that she never would have considered previously. “Before joining Campus Recreation, my career prospects felt limited,” said Loschiavo, a junior kinesiology major. “But this experience has greatly expanded my understanding of available opportunities.” Loschiavo is part of the small but mighty team at Campus Recreation, which features five full-time professional staff members and 35 student assistants. In the most recent academic year, the organization hosted 24 day and overnight trips through Outdoor Adventures, serving 221 students; ran 12 intramural leagues, serving 869 students; welcomed more than 2,000 participants in 290 group fitness classes and nine wellness events; and supported 425 members across a dozen sport clubs. Campus Rec, though, has long since run out of space while sharing Clarke Field House with CSUSM’s athletic department, limiting its ability to grow in line with the campus. To remedy that, the group for years has been advocating for a new wellness and recreation facility that would address its needs and benefit the student body holistically. Next week, Campus Rec hopes to take a big step toward making its vision a reality. From Oct. 21-23, a referendum will be held in which students can vote on whether they want to increase their student fees to fund the project. Voting will begin on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 a.m. and continue until Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Ballots will be sent to eligible students via their university-registered email addresses. All matriculated students who pay the recreation fee are eligible to vote.  CSUSM is planning to lease space in a new mixed facility boasting 49,200 square feet for wellness, recreation and basic needs services, plus 530 new student housing beds. The building would feature, among other amenities, more than 10,000 square feet for cardio machines and strength training equipment; dedicated wellness areas; an outdoor rooftop deck with a synthetic turf field for fitness programs, intramurals and sport club workouts; two standard-sized indoor courts; multipurpose rooms for a variety of individual and group activities; and a commuter lounge and e-sports collaboration den. The wellness and recreation facility would be located across Barham Drive from University Village Apartments and directly next to The QUAD. Lisa Dickinson, director of Campus Rec, said CSUSM is one of the only California State University campuses that lacks such a facility for its students. “This is truly a now-or-never opportunity,” Dickinson said. “The traditional path to a building on campus is too expensive and therefore not possible. This facility can be transformative in young people’s lives and create waves of positive change for families and their communities.” CSUSM held a referendum on the same project in April that received a low response rate and failed to garner the requisite majority of the vote. Since then, Campus Rec has solicited feedback from students and modified its proposal accordingly. The three notable changes are: The increase to the recreation fee was reduced by $20, to $245 per semester (representing a $210 hike to the existing $35 fee). The referendum in the spring called for a fee of $265 per semester. The fee will not be charged until the year when the facility opens, which is projected to be 2026-27. Students objected to language in the previous proposal calling for them to start paying the higher fee in fall 2025, one year before the building’s opening. The facility will be able to support more diverse programming. Large spaces like the indoor courts, rooftop terrace and outdoor courtyard can be reserved for student organization, department or student life events, which will expand programs to promote recruitment, retention, community and student success.  “I’m optimistic about this referendum vote because of the changes we made to it,” said Jacob Alvarez, a student assistant for Outdoor Adventures. “The biggest criticism we heard was about the fee for students who weren’t going to be here when the building opened. Now that we have deferred the payment until the opening of the facility, this will no longer be an issue.” Alvarez and Loschiavo are among the student assistants who double as Campus Rec ambassadors, fanning out across campus and social media to educate their fellow students about the referendum and the facility, and encourage them to make their voices heard. The ambassadors have given presentations on the upcoming vote in classes and to sports teams, even appearing at large events like the recent Cougar Madness. They mention aspects that could be appealing, like the 70-plus student employment positions and academic program partnerships.  “We've received a great deal of positive feedback from the places where we have made presentations on the proposal,” Loschiavo said. “I feel that students are much more educated about the referendum this semester. The student ambassador and project team's goals are to be as transparent as possible to students, to allow them to fully understand what the referendum entails so that they can provide an accurately educated and informed vote.” Students who will graduate before the facility opens won't have to pay the fee, nor will they be able to enjoy the facility, but they can leave a legacy of supporting well-being and better spaces for future Cougars. “This referendum has to pass for the benefit of all future students and for the good of the campus,” said Davis Hancock, a fourth-year student who plays lacrosse at CSUSM. Loschiavo understands how important the vote next week is to Campus Rec and the university. “The proposed facility,” she said, “has the potential to transform the CSUSM student experience.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

When another car ran a red light and slammed into her side door, Carolina Valdivia feared that more than her vehicle would be destroyed.   Valdivia was in her second year at Cal State San Marcos, and she was thriving both in and out of the classroom. But she was also an undocumented student whose academic career was a fragile thing, always at risk of being thrown off course by seemingly endless dangers and challenges.   It wasn’t built to withstand incidents like the crash Valdivia was the victim of while driving to campus in 2009. She was unconscious for a short period, and when she came to, the police were on the scene, tending to her and asking for her driver’s license. One problem: Because of her undocumented status, she didn’t have a driver’s license.  Officers asked if she wanted to be taken to a hospital. No, she said. She didn’t have health insurance, and the prospect of the emergency room fees was terrifying.   Valdivia came away from the accident with a fine for driving without a license, a hefty bill for recovering her car from the impound lot – and a belief that she had reached the end of the road in her quest to graduate from college.  “It was a reminder of how vulnerable I was in my pursuit of an education,” Valdivia said. “At the time, I was struggling to pay for school in the first place. When that crash happened, I was like, ‘I guess this is as far along as I can go.’ ”  In the end, Valdivia greatly underestimated her individual fortitude, the support of her family and the kindness of the community. After receiving a scholarship from a couple she calls her guardian angels, she graduated from CSUSM with a degree in sociology in 2011.   But she didn’t stop there. She went on to earn a master’s from San Diego State and a Ph.D. from Harvard University, then received a UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship. She's now a professor at UC Irvine, where she teaches courses on immigration, and law and society, and also mentors undergraduate and graduate students through the qualitative research process.  Though she has gained more security in her immigration status, Valdivia remains passionate about issues affecting undocumented immigrants. At 35, she has emerged as one of the nation’s foremost young voices on the plight of undocumented students in America, determined to prevent future Carolinas from being waylaid before they have a chance to succeed – as she very nearly was.  “She has a pretty deep moral compass in terms of what’s right and what’s just,” said Marisol Clark-Ibáñez, the associate chair of CSUSM’s sociology department and one of Valdivia’s mentors during her time at the university. “And what she does isn’t just for herself – it’s for her larger community. She’s very invested in the idea of the collective.”  Valdivia has the collective in mind with every scholarly pursuit. She’s writing a book that examines how immigration enforcement impacts young adults and their families. She’s continuing to oversee the My Undocumented Life online platform, which she launched in 2011 and features up-to-date information and resources for undocumented students, their families and allies.  As if that weren’t enough, Valdivia also led – with Clark-Ibáñez – a two-year research initiative that explored the experiences and needs of undocumented high school students in the county and the school personnel who work with them. Building on work that Valdivia did with Clark-Ibáñez when she was a student at CSUSM, the UndocuResearch Project – billed as by, for and about undocumented students – involves a team of about 35 researchers who have fanned out to dozens of high schools in the region to talk to students and educators about what it’s like to attend school during this era of stronger enforcement and anti-immigrant sentiment.  The third and final phase of the project was an independent study sociology course that Valdivia taught with Clark-Ibáñez at CSUSM in which students were embedded in local high schools and took detailed field notes about the daily lives of undocumented students and educators. The team is continuing to disseminate the results through a research report, academic articles and presentations.  “We knew from our own connection with students and their families that they were experiencing heightened levels of fear and stress and depression,” said Valdivia, adding that only a small percentage of undocumented students is able to enroll in college. “We wanted to be able to capture it so we could then tell the story of what’s happening and what needs to be done.”  Born in Mexicali, Valdivia migrated to the United States with her family when she was 12. She was a Dreamer, the term for undocumented immigrants who were brought to America as children. That designation deeply shaped her educational trajectory, including her time at Orange Glen High School in Escondido. She was motivated to follow in her sister’s footsteps and pursue a college education, and to repay her parents for the endless sacrifices they had made.  She applied to several universities in the state and liked the idea of following some of her friends to a school in Northern California, so she could escape her Escondido bubble. Her ineligibility for financial aid wasn’t the only hurdle, however, nor was her lack of a driver’s license. There was also the matter of Border Patrol checkpoints and the ever-present fear of deportation.   Even to people who she knew and trusted, Valdivia didn’t exactly advertise her immigration status.  “I remember feeling like there was this cloud hanging over her,” said Rita Guerra, who was a counselor at Orange Glen at the time. “It’s not that she was giving up, but it seemed that there was something worrying her and she didn’t want to talk about it.”  Valdivia found her voice at CSUSM. She joined and later became president of an organization for undocumented students, the name of which the group later changed to STAND (Standing Together As oNe Dream) to sound more assertive. She became an intern for the National Latino Research Center, which fostered a fondness for research and activism that has only blossomed over the years.   “I love learning. I love reading. I love writing,” Valdivia said. “In college, that’s when it hit me, and I was able to nurture it. My time at CSUSM provided the starting point for what I’m doing now.”  Clark-Ibáñez encouraged Valdivia to carry her education into graduate school – “I had no idea what that was,” she said – but she remained undocumented, which meant barriers still blocked her path. To afford the exorbitant fees for grad school applications, she and a friend organized fundraisers, selling anything they could think of – T-shirts, bracelets, tamales. She was accepted to and wanted to attend Loyola University in Chicago, but she couldn’t afford the cost of out-of-state tuition. She also feared being questioned at the airport about her immigration status.    Valdivia ended up at SDSU due to the proximity to home. In retrospect, she’s glad she did, as that’s where she gained invaluable research and teaching experience. By the time she was looking into options for her doctorate, she had acquired protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allowed her to obtain a driver’s license and work permit. She chose Harvard because of the presence of Roberto Gonzales, a leading immigration scholar who was Valdivia’s internship adviser after she was named a Sally Casanova Scholar through the California Pre-Doctoral Program for underrepresented students.  With a Ph.D. from an Ivy League university in hand and a career as a professor, Valdivia is now in demand as a public speaker, telling the inspiring story of her educational journey. Guerra saw her give a keynote address at a counselors’ conference several years ago and was reduced to tears by pride for her former student.  Despite all she has overcome and accomplished, Valdivia has no desire to sit back and take a breath. But her relentless drive takes a toll. In the course of dozens of interviews for her book and related projects, she has heard countless stories about people being detained and deported, causing her greater stress and costing her sleep.  It reminds her of how far she has come. It reminds her of how far so many others still have to go.   “Whenever I speak about what I went through, I’m always sure to emphasize how much support I had from my family, friends, mentors and the broader community, and how much I want to be able to help others in that sense,” she said. “Yes, I worked hard and had determination, but this is something millions of others are experiencing and they also need to have a community there to support them. I want to be part of that community.”   Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Cal State San Marcos recently opened the Climate Action and Sustainability Center (CASC) to provide opportunities for students related to climate change, climate justice and sustainability.  CASC plans to work with faculty and staff to prepare students with practical solution-oriented approaches to climate crises and provide hands-on learning experiences within sustainability. One example is a student podcast being produced called “Climate to Action.” Juliana Goodlaw-Morris, director of sustainability and climate justice and the administrative director of the CASC, is excited for the possibilities the center will provide for the campus community as is Dr. Kim Knowles-Yánez, professor in the Liberal Studies Department and faculty director of CASC.  “The CASC is an opportunity to build upon the tremendous work that faculty, students and staff have already invested in climate, sustainability and justice over many years, and to build stronger relationships with our wider community,” Goodlaw-Morris said. “This center is also a perfect example of how we, as an institution, are putting into action the core value of sustainability and climate justice, which is a part of our CSUSM strategic plan.”  Said Knowles-Yánez: “I welcome this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of establishing a new center charged with taking action and problem-solving for climate change. Please look forward to hearing more about our work on climate change curriculum and research, as well as the on- and off-campus collaborations we will facilitate to help our region meet the needs of climate change and climate justice mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.” The center will engage campus community members and external stakeholders on climate change, climate justice and sustainability initiatives for the region.  The mission of the CASC is to provide ”interconnectedness among societies, all living beings and ecosystems by ensuring socially just, ecologically sound, and resilient communities that value diversity, innovation, fiscal stewardship, health and well-being for all by creating a positive local to global impact for current and future generations."  The genesis of the center is the Climate Change Faculty Working Group, which faculty founded in 2020, and for which Knowles-Yánez was chair of the steering committee. “The Climate Action and Sustainability Center provides recognition and structure for efforts that have been occurring across all disciplines and units,” said Dr. Charles De Leone, dean of Graduate Studies and Research, who is responsible for oversight of all centers and institutes on campus, had this to say about the new center. "And the new center could not be in better hands with Kim Knowles-Yánez and Juliana Goodlaw-Morris as its inaugural leaders."   CASC will also serve as a resource for faculty seeking to develop research. The center is hoping to collaborate on fundraising opportunities to expand activities and sustainability efforts. Biology professor Dr. Darcy Taniguchi drafted the proposal for the center and geography professor Dr. Elizabeth Ridder shepherded the proposal through the campus approval process.   Taniguchi is hopeful the CASC will raise awareness toward climate issues. “The CASC is an important establishment that will focus on some of the most pressing issues of our time,” Taniguchi said. “Its proposed efforts in the areas of climate change, climate justice and sustainability are important and timely for our campus community and beyond.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Most people give up when they’re faced with rejection.   Andrew Minjares stayed persistent toward his goals after many setbacks, and that has earned him a gold medal.   Minjares’ barbershop quartet, Rest Assured, placed in the top 20 in the nation last summer. In addition, the a cappella group he’s a member of – internationally renowned The Westminster Chorus in La Mirada – captured first in the nation and scored a perfect 100 in the 2024 BHS International Chorus Championships.   Minjares is a fifth-year communication major on track to graduate this year.  “Never in barbershop conventions has a score of 100 been achieved,” Minjares said. “It was a very surreal experience.”   Minjares describes his high school singing experience as always being the one to win “the most improved” award in his chorus. Although this hurt his confidence, it never destroyed it. His many setbacks have led to an incredible comeback as a Cal State San Marcos student.   A barbershop quartet is four people singing a cappella and each adding certain elements to the song. A chorus is essentially a larger version of a barbershop quartet in that it can be 90 people singing the different positions.   Minjares' position in both is the melody, which he describes as “the lead and the storyteller.”  Since Minjares joined his high school chorus, he dreamed of being a part of the Westminster Chorus.   “I never thought I'd ever be good enough to be in that chorus because they won Choir of the World in 2009, which is the most prestigious choir World Award that can be achieved,” he said. “So, I thought, 'There's no way that I could ever be in that chorus. I'm not good enough to be in that chorus.' ”   In his first audition for Westminster Chorus, he felt that familiar pang of rejection. He didn’t earn a spot but instead received some much-needed criticism on what to work on for the next time he’d audition.  “They were testing my ability to be coached, to be persistent and to apply the concepts that they're telling me to,” Minjares said. “The next week I came back and I auditioned, and I got in. It only took me two attempts.”   Minjares’ resilience and openness to being coached allowed him to get into the prestigious choir of his dreams.   Juggling school and his singing responsibilities have been a bit challenging at times.   Minjares stresses the importance of fitting the choir and quartet into his schedule, despite these challenges.  “I do homework in the car on the way there, and then I do homework on the way back,” he said. “I've even taken some exams in the car. I've tried to fit this choir into my schedule because it's what I need for my self-fulfillment needs and my psychological needs. There are 90 guys up there, and we really have to battle the topic of toxic masculinity because we're all trying to be the best brothers we can be, the best fathers.   “How can I be the best version of myself?”   Despite the challenge of balancing his choir/quartet and his schoolwork, Minjares was on the Dean’s List last spring and is on track to graduate this year. He is looking forward to finding a job in the communications field, while also prioritizing his barbershop quartet and chorus.   Minjares credits communication professor Robert Gutierrez with making him excited to show up to class.  “He made the subject matter interesting,” Minjares said. “I could relate it to my life. Everything he said stayed in my memory, which is rare for me in my classes. I think this was due to the fact that it was very interactive.”   Gutierrez not only worked with Minjares in class, he attended his performances.   It seems Minjares made an impact on his professor in more ways than one.   “I remember watching him perform on stage and being so proud of him,” Gutierrez said. “As a student, Andrew always asked great questions and contributed to class conversations with meaningful personal narratives and impressive insights on the assigned readings. I always felt like Andrew and I shared a love for our Latino cultures and a love for the power of performance to transform lives.  “I am proud of his accomplishments, and I know that this is just the beginning for this bright star.”  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Having the first name Symphony, a career in music might seem predestined. You might expect them to be participating in an orchestra or entertaining large crowds when learning of their name.  However, for Symphony Rutkowski, a junior biological sciences major at Cal State San Marcos, the name was more of a spontaneous decision. “My mom always tells me she was just driving and thought, ‘What about the name Symphony?’ ” Rutkowski said. Despite her name's connection to the arts,  Rutkowski is fully invested in her scientific strengths. She was accepted to Cal State San Marcos’ BEARS program, which stands for Building Early Awareness and Research in Science, during her freshman year and participated for the two-year duration offered. BEARS, the school’s first bioengineering training program, is in its second year and co-directed by biology professors Tracey Brown and Carlos Luna Lopez. It is a scholarship-based program that is federally funded by the ESTEEMED (Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Educations Diversity) program at the National Institutes of Health. The program selects a cohort of first-year undergraduate students who are interested in bioengineering and biomedical research. Each cohort of students completes a two-year paid program that has activities and research at CSUSM and UCSD. Students participate in the program from the summer before starting at CSUSM through the summer after their second academic year. The goal of the program is to enhance the diversity of the biomedical research workforce. During their first academic year, students are connected with faculty and advanced students to learn about campus research projects. During that summer, they will do an extended group research project with their cohort to help introduce them to bioengineering research. The summer after their second academic year, they join a professor at CSUSM or UCSD for an individual research opportunity. During the final summer, students are paid $2,000 to conduct their own research projects with faculty from CSUSM or UCSD and present in the CSUSM Summer Poster Showcase. “We did a lot in the program,” Rutkowski said. “Usually every week, we dedicated a certain amount of time to learn some kind of practical techniques and applications in the lab that you might see. “We did fluorescent imaging of breast cells and we gained familiarity with techniques such as pipetting. We also did welding, which was something I'd never experienced before.” Students also attended the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists. While attending the conference, students get to hear presentations from a variety of other students and professionals in the field.  “The conference essentially gave me a lot of exposure to what you should be seeing as a scientist,” Rutkowski said. “Overall, I would say it was a very good experience to see what a scientist can become and the introduction to it.” Exposure and opening opportunities are top priorities for the BEARS program. “It definitely gears you toward getting into another program, especially if you have ambitions of a master's or a Ph.D.” said Rutkowski, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. after graduation. “It sets you up for that trajectory, just getting to know the people in the CTREE (Center for Training, Research, and Educational Excellence) community that was like my gateway.” Following her involvement in the BEARS program, Rutkowski is a part of the U-RISE, which is intended to prepare talented and motivated minority undergraduate students majoring in the sciences to enter and succeed in doctoral studies.  “I'm very grateful for the opportunity and the community itself,” Rutkowski said, "Everyone is extremely supportive. All of the coordinators, Dr. Luna and Dr. Brown, are very open to talk to you and get you the help and support you need as are the people I met there. So you start to develop friendships with these people and you see them in your classes. There's people I still talk to from that cohort.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314