Illeana Carmona Chavez arrived at Cal State San Marcos certain she was headed for law school. But after she graduates with her bachelor’s in criminology and justice studies this spring, she will embark on a far different course, one that has taken her from student government to the governor’s office. The change in focus was shaped by her deep involvement in Associated Students, Inc., where she serves as the chair and chief of staff of CSUSM’s student government. Through ASI, Chavez joined Lobby Corps, an advocacy-focused volunteer group, and later traveled to Sacramento for the California Higher Education Student Summit, where she met with state legislators alongside students from across the CSU system. But the final realization of where her career was headed came from an internship opportunity. It was through ASI that Chavez met Zach Bunshaft, CSUSM’s director of government relations at the time. “Interning with Zach and seeing how higher education policies at the state level affected our campus was so impactful,” Chavez said. “These opportunities, being part of ASI and interning with Zach, changed the trajectory of my life and what I want to do.” CSUSM’s emphasis on internships proved transformational for Chavez. It not only prepared her for the professional world, it helped her discover the type of work that she’s truly passionate about. During her time as a government relations intern last spring, Chavez researched legislative officials to strengthen CSUSM’s advocacy efforts, engaged with policymakers at key events and explored ways to enhance student support across the region. As the internship was nearing its end, Bunshaft met with Chavez to review the experience. When Bunshaft asked about Chavez’s future goals, she told him how much she enjoyed the internship and how the experiences she had were the types of spaces she wanted to be in. The timing was perfect. Bunshaft had just learned about another internship opportunity with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. Bunshaft mentored Chavez throughout the hiring process, and she was hired as an external affairs intern for Newsom’s San Diego regional office. Her responsibilities included everything from supporting outreach efforts to drafting briefs and assisting with newsletters. “Illeana is a thoughtful, driven and reliable leader with an incredibly bright future,” said Bunshaft, who left CSUSM in December to become Newsom’s Southern California regional director of external affairs. “She has the innate ability to see the big picture and work together with others to inspire and achieve common goals. “I’ve had the pleasure of watching her confidence and skills grow with each new opportunity she enthusiastically embraces. I’m excited to see all that she will continue to accomplish in her academics, career and public service journey.” Chavez completed the internship with Newsom’s office in December. As she begins her final semester at CSUSM, she’s already looking ahead to the fall. She’s in the process of applying for graduate school to pursue a master’s in public policy or public administration (Cal State Fullerton, Sacramento State and San Diego State are her top choices). She’ll take the lessons she learned in her internships with her to grad school and beyond. She knows the internship process can be intimidating for students, but she has seen firsthand how it pays off. “The connections that we make in these internships, you never know where they're going to lead you,” she said. “I never imagined that doing an unpaid internship with Zach was going to lead me to the governor's office. “Whether it's paid or unpaid, there are so many opportunities. No matter what, even if it seems like you are the most unqualified person in the room to do that job, just go for it. You never know what can come of that opportunity.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Healthy adults ages 18 - 60 years old are needed to take part in a 12 week exercise training study taking place on main campus at CSUSM. Exercise training consists of two 10 minute sessions per week for 12 weeks. Study completion provides an incentive equal to $250. For more information, contact Dr. Todd A. Astorino, Professor, Department of Kinesiology at astorino@csusm.edu.

A celebration of life for CSUSM professor Dustin Cavillo will be held 2-4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, at the Faculty Center Suite   Sometimes we get lost in life between that blurry area of who we are as workers vs. who we are as humans. We often are seen by others — even self-identify — by our career. Dustin Calvillo didn’t subscribe to this philosophy. Oh, to be clear he loved his job as professor of cognitive psychology in the psychology department at Cal State San Marcos. There are no doubts about this. He was dedicated to his research, unselfishly helpful to his colleagues and shared his love for the topics he found fascinating with his students. But he was the type of person to keep his professional passions just slightly but clearly on a rung below his true loves — family and connecting with life. Calvillo lost a battle with oral cancer in August. He was 49. After nearly 18 years at CSUSM, his loss has loomed heavy over one of the most populous departments on campus. But his legacy lives on. The psychology department will host a celebration of life for Calvillo on Friday, Jan. 16, at the Faculty Center Suite. The gathering runs 2-4 p.m. and will include coffee and light appetizers. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside Dustin in many roles during our years at CSUSM,” said Elisa Grant-Vallone, who worked with Calvillo as a faculty colleague as well as in a collaborative position in her role as the CHABSS associate dean of operations & budget. “He was one of the kindest, most compassionate and thoughtful colleagues I have ever known. We team-taught Introduction to Psychology for several years, and although he was earlier in his career than I was, I often found myself learning from him. Dustin was an exceptional instructor. He challenged his students to work hard while, as a cognitive psychologist, thoughtfully designing a framework that gave them the support they needed to succeed.” Calvillo served as a professor of cognitive psychology who dedicated his work to advancing our understanding of memory, reasoning, decision-making and the ways biases and misinformation shape our thinking. A product of the California State University system, he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Cal State Bakersfield. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology (cognitive and perceptual sciences) from the University of California, Santa Barbara.  Michelle Vogel Trautt is a lecturer in psychology at CSUSM. She knew Calvillo not only as a colleague but also as a mentor during her time on campus in the master’s program. “Dustin was kind and welcoming,” Trautt said. “He genuinely cared about others. Over time, as our relationship as colleagues evolved, Dustin became a trusted confidant that I could come to for advice, guidance and encouragement. He was dependable, steady and consistent. He was a great leader without ever having to speak of his own accolades. We just knew we were in good hands with him at the helm. His sense of humor and occasional ‘zingers’ made Dustin approachable and relatable.” What Trautt remembers most as his student in the graduate seminar was how much he “lit up” when talking about cognitive psychology. Calvillo was universally seen as being reserved outside of the classroom, a persona that changed when a class or seminar started. “I found it magical to see him become animated and excited about topics we discussed in our course,” said Trautt, who shared what she referred to as “passing-by hellos” on campus. “Even more so, when he would tell a good cognitive psychology joke and see who would chuckle as a measure of who was understanding our very dense, detailed and rigorous content. If you could laugh at the contextualized joke, he knew you were following along and retaining content enough to appreciate it from a humorous lens. It was really special.” His academic legacy included more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles-research that will continue to resonate in classrooms, conferences and public discussions about issues that include truth, trust and critical thinking. Emeritus Professor of Psychology Nancy Caine was already in the department when Calvillo was hired here nearly two decades ago. Caine was coordinator of the graduate program at the same time Calvillo served as department chair so they had overlapping administrative roles, not always easy for a faculty member so dedicated to research and teaching. Caine noted how his organization and instinct in handling difficult situations made her feel like she had a true friend and partner. “Dustin epitomized what is, in my opinion, the ideal faculty member at a place like CSUSM,” Caine said. “I really mean that. He was committed to CSUSM as a community, which meant engaging with students, colleagues, and staff on a daily basis. He understood how lucky we all are to have a job that allows us to be part of an academic community where we can be scholars, teachers and contributors to the overall mission of the university — and he did all of those very well. “He was devoted to the cause of providing opportunities to students from under-represented groups. He set a standard to which every faculty member at CSUSM should aspire.” Although he was often described as quiet, even shy around campus, Calvillo had an infectious positive demeanor behind a warm smile. Haylee DeLuca Bishop, the program director for child and adolescent development, interviewed for a faculty position at CSUSM in early 2018. She crossed paths with Calvillo during the search process as he served on the university’s Institutional Review Board. She recalled that shyness as a first impression that didn’t stick once some time working together passed. That quiet exterior melted to form a professional bond that eventually had DeLuca Bishop and her husband spending time playing bar trivia while also going to the movies and San Diego Padres and Waves games with Calvillo, his wife Angelica Rocha (a former research associate and assistant director for student support in CSUSM’s Office for Training, Research, and Education in the Sciences) and their daughter Vivian. “He was the exact colleague I wanted to be,” DeLuca Bishop said. “He was around. He was present. He was available to his students, available to his colleagues. He was a hard worker, incredibly prolific, amazing scholar, but also a great teacher. Students loved him. He was just the whole package. So when I looked at Dustin, I was like, that's pretty much where I want to be if I can.” Calvillo spent time as department chair, which took him away from some of his scholarly work to be replaced by leading a diverse group of faculty. He was a natural leader, but both DeLuca Bishop and Caine made it clear it wasn’t his first choice for a career move. “It was no secret,” DeLuca Bishop said. “He didn't really want to be a department chair. But he stepped into it because he knew he needed to. It was what the department needed at the time, and he was great at it. You couldn't tell him he was great at it. He couldn't hear that positive feedback very much. But he was great at it.” Said Caine: “Dustin didn’t like being chair. He loved doing research and teaching, both of which had to take a back seat while he served his term.  But he recognized his obligation to take his turn ‘at the helm,’ and as is true of Dustin in every way, he did the job very well.” He may not have loved his time as department chair, but there was no hiding his true passions. He enjoyed traveling, playing golf, sailing, camping and watching sports, especially soccer and baseball. But his love for those activities increased tenfold when he could do them with loved ones. Beyond his professional achievements, Calvillo was a devoted family man who was happiest when he was with his loved ones. “One of my fondest memories of Dustin was seeing him as a dad,” Grant-Vallone said. “One time (Vivian) had an unexpected day off from preschool, so he brought her along to a search committee meeting. He set up her lunch box and toys, patiently answered her quiet questions, and the love between them lit up the room. Dustin will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.” Now 7, Vivian no longer has her father around, but she has his academic work that hopefully will help her understand his career passions that went beyond showing up to an office 8-5. “He accomplished a lot, and that's something I've been thinking about in general,” DeLuca Bishop said. “That's one thing I'm happy about. Viv, when she gets old enough, she can go read everything he's ever published. His legacy can live on in that work as well.” And when she wants to learn about the legacy he left behind beyond campus, the family, friends and colleagues he left behind will have plenty of stories to share. “It's just a huge loss,” DeLuca Bishop said. “And I feel it every day. I think about him every day still. He’s such a huge loss and he was my go-to person whenever something happened in the department or something I just wanted to vent about. He got it because he did the same job. And so he would know what I was feeling in a way that a lot of other people couldn't, including my partner. So, he was my go-to guy.” Jennier Lozano is a psychological science graduate student at CSUSM who works in both the MBARC and Misinformation and Memory labs, led by Assistant Professor Lisa Graves and Calvillo, respectively. As an undergraduate transfer student, she took Calvillo’s cognitive processes course. It was a transformative moment in her life to witness his enthusiasm with understanding human cognitive processes. Being mentored by Calvillo, which included attending the Western Psychological Association Convention in Riverside in 2023 with his lab, helped her discover her own research interests while solidifying her desire to pursue graduate school. “As his graduate student, his support, guidance and mentorship have had a profound and long-lasting impact on my life,” Lozano said. “I remember sitting in the back of the class thinking about how fortunate I would be to have an academic mentor like Dr. Calvillo, who was so caring and kind toward all his students. Three years later, I had the privilege to be co-mentored by him and Dr. Graves as a graduate student. I will forever be grateful for his unwavering and invaluable support, encouragement, guidance, and dedication.” The ironic part of living a full and meaningful life is that we don’t get to pick what people remember about us. So we build our legacy through showing up. Some days we show up and inspire with our work and through our relationships, while other days we’re simply lucky to show up at all. Dustin Calvillo showed up. He showed up for his colleagues and his students. He showed up for people he cared about. And that’s enough. “He was just the guy you wanted around,” DeLuca Bishop said. “He was considerate of other people. He would volunteer to make sure someone else didn't have to. He was careful with his words. He cared about his students. He cared about everyone. He was just a thoughtful individual but also a deep, intelligent, bright human being. He was really trying to address problems he saw in the world and trying to improve things, trying to make things better. He saw things going in a direction he fundamentally disagreed with, and he was trying to do research around that. He’s just one of the most thoughtful people I've ever met and in every sense of the word.”

Cal State San Marcos has received the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification, an elective designation that highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement. The CE Classification, which is awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has been the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education for the past 19 years. CSUSM is one of 237 institutions that earned the CE Classification in the 2026 cycle. This marks the third time that CSUSM has received the classification, with the first occurring in 2006 when the university was one of the elite institutions that received initial classification. Along with the 40 that were classified in 2024, a total of 277 schools currently hold the designation. “I want to thank Chief Community Engagement Officer Dr. Patricia Prado-Olmos on leading this effort and congratulate all CSUSM faculty, staff, students and community partners on their contributions to this prestigious designation,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said. “At CSUSM, community engagement is not a single initiative or program. It is a defining characteristic of who we are, and it is essential to ensuring that opportunities, accountability and progress are shared by all, empowering students to transform their lives and uplift their entire communities.” CSUSM received the CE Classification for a host of programs, including: Senior Experience, which connects undergraduate business students with local organizations to address real-world challenges. Super STEM Saturday, a partnership with The Classical Academies that fosters early STEM engagement among K-12 students while also strengthening pathways to higher education. Democracy in Action, which connects students and faculty with local city governments to address real-world civic challenges. Center for Research and Engagement in STEM Education (CRESE), which fosters K-16 partnerships, advances STEM education and promotes workforce development through research, outreach and community collaborations. Mobile Wellness Initiative, a partnership with TrueCare that brings essential health care services to underserved communities in North County. Scholars in Wellness and Innovation Fast-Track (SWIFT) Health Programs, an accelerated degree pathway in the behavioral and mental health field. CSUSM’s CE Classification is valid until 2032. “CSUSM welcomes community partners into our work, and we are invited into communities because we listen and learn from the regional communities,” Prado-Olmos said. “We’ve always worked hard to maintain mutual benefit and to build trust with community partners. This designation acknowledges that CSUSM creates unique opportunities for CSUSM students that advance their learning in powerful ways.” The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

More than 1,000 students graduated as Cal State San Marcos held its third annual fall commencement on Monday – this time in a new venue to accommodate the growing ceremonies. A total of 1,040 graduates crossed the commencement stage as the event moved from the Sports Center on campus to Frontwave Arena in Oceanside. Fall commencement has doubled in size since it debuted in 2023, as CSUSM remains the only public university in San Diego County to hold graduation at the midpoint of the academic year. The event Monday was divided into two ceremonies. The afternoon ceremony featured 604 graduates from the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences, and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The evening ceremony included 436 graduates from the College of Education, Health and Human Services, and the College of Business Administration. “I always say that I learn from our students more than I could ever teach them,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt told the graduates. “I know without a doubt that our world needs your perspectives, your ideas, your passion and intellect, and your spirit of resilience. As you move forward, know that you are equipped and destined for greatness. Hold on to the feeling of this moment and take it with you wherever you go next.” CSUSM holds fall commencement to offer students who are graduating in December the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments with their families without having to wait until spring. Commencement is an especially important milestone for the more than half of graduates at CSUSM who are the very first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree. The new graduates join a distinguished group of more than 72,000 CSUSM alumni and more than 4 million California State University alumni. Nearly half of all bachelor’s degrees in California are awarded by the CSU. At CSUSM, students are prepared for in-demand careers in health care, education, business, biotechnology and public service – fields that power the region and state. Learn more about CSUSM’s economic impact.

As the end of the year approaches, many are already looking ahead to 2026. But before putting the finishing touches on your list of New Year’s resolutions, let’s take a look back at some of the most-talked-about stories of 2025.   Hunter Industries Gives Transformational $10M Donation for ISE Building In September, CSUSM announced a transformational $10 million philanthropic investment from Hunter Industries, one of the largest gifts in university history. The donation is supporting the construction of CSUSM’s new Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering, a cornerstone of the university’s commitment to preparing the next generation of engineers and scientists.   Perfect Chemistry: Campus Wedding 16 Years in the Making If getting married at one’s place of employment seems unconventional, it shouldn’t to those who know biology professor Elinne Becket and chemistry professor Robert Iafe. The passion they have for their students is the same passion they have for the university, so it makes sense that the tied the knot on campus at the McMahan House on campus.   CSUSM Kicks Off Historic $200 Million Fundraising Campaign Through the largest fundraising campaign in university history, CSUSM is aiming to raise $200 million to support student success and power the region’s future. The university officially launched its “Blueprint for the Future” campaign on Sept. 19. It’s an effort that combines philanthropy with grants and research funding. The campaign’s theme reflects both the physical growth on campus and the forward momentum building at CSUSM.    Professor Elevates Samoan Language, Culture as Consultant for "Moana 2" Professor Grant Muāgututiʻa never could have dreamed that linguistics would take him to the shores of Oʻahu as he rubbed elbows with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and other stars of the Disney glitterati before the world premiere of the animated film “Moana 2” in 2024. Indeed, Muāgututiʻa was more than a little caught off guard when the filmmaking team behind the sequel to the wildly popular movie “Moana” from 2016 contacted him out of the blue two years ago.   Construction of New Wellness and Rec Center Underway CSUSM held a Construction Kickoff on Nov. 12 to celebrate construction being underway for the Student Wellness and Recreation Center (SWRC), which is expected to open by summer 2027. CSUSM is partnering with Sea Breeze Properties – developers of North City, which includes CSUSM’s North Commons, The QUAD and the Extended Learning Building – on the SWRC, which will be the latest addition to campus life.   Faith, Resilience Help Athlete Through Life-Threatening Crisis It all started with a headache. A seemingly normal ailment, but Malachi Wright doesn’t get headaches. And he definitely doesn’t get headaches that force him to leave work early or have him confined to the couch and throwing up for three straight days. That's when his mom, Ivonne Mancilla, knew this was something more. Wright spent the next 40 days in the hospital, undergoing three brain surgeries with no idea what the future would bring. But Wright defied all odds.    Alumna Finds Purpose in Advocacy for Native Children and Families As Maya Goodblanket reflects on her time as a student, she vividly remembers the day she found the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center at Cal State San Marcos. Little did she know that she was meeting mentors that day who would help her achieve the career she has today. Goodblanket, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, serves as an Indian Child Welfare Act court advocate for the Valley Center-based Indian Health Council, which provides health and wellness services for American Indian communities in north San Diego County.    Ask the Expert: A Scientific Perspective on the L.A. Fires When the hills above Los Angeles exploded in flames early last month, Matt Rahn snapped into action. Rahn, though, isn’t a firefighter who was called into duty to help battle what became one of the biggest and most destructive fires in California history. Rather, he’s a wildfire researcher at Cal State San Marcos who, in 2019, created a unique degree program called Wildfire Science and the Urban Interface. He’s also the executive director of the Wildfire Conservancy, a nonprofit research foundation dedicated to serving the state’s firefighters and protecting its communities.   Cougar Care Network Marks 10 Years as a Campus Hub for Connection Built 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.    Chronic Illness a Journey of Strength, Self-Discovery ... and Salt The first time Emmi van Zoest rode in an ambulance was in May 2024. She was in the middle of her 10:30 a.m. Communication 200 class when she realized her vision and hearing were failing. She couldn't keep her legs or arms straight and she couldn’t speak. The full memory is hazy, but she found herself sitting outside of Crash’s Market in the University Student Union with a handful of salt packets and on a Facetime call with her parents, who live in Tennessee. This experience didn’t come out of nowhere. She has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, a chronic condition that she has lived with since her junior year of high school.   Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314