More than 4,000 students are expected to graduate from Cal State San Marcos this academic year, including six standouts from the Class of 2025 who are receiving special recognition for their achievements.  Honorees were nominated by faculty or staff and endorsed by their college’s dean. Here is a closer look at each award recipient:    Alexandria (Alli) Mulqueen, psychological science   President’s Outstanding Graduate   Dean’s Award, College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences  Mulqueen is engaged on campus and in the community, where she demonstrates unique commitment to her passion around disability inclusion, equity and justice. She serves as co-president of the Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance (also known as the CSUSM Best Buddies Chapter), which is aimed at empowering people to become advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to bringing awareness to the disability rights movement.   As the only student organization on campus focusing on neurodiversity and disability justice, Mulqueen’s leadership has provided a voice and place for community building, belonging, learning and advocacy for students with disabilities and allies.  Learn more about Mulqueen.    Tyler Glasser, business administration  Gerevas Family Dean’s Award, College of Business Administration  Glasser was selected for his collective leadership contributions to the college and the student community, including helping to advance the Cougar Fund. Through his leadership and knowledge, the Cougar Fund has enhanced its investment strategy and rebalanced the holdings of the fund’s portfolio.   The diversification has helped mitigate risk and established a foundation for the financial sustainability of the Cougar Fund. As important, the knowledge and techniques introduced by Glasser will move the Cougar Fund’s chief investment officer position forward, motivating future leadership to new levels of performance. It has also enhanced student hands-on learning, a cornerstone of CoBA degree programs, better preparing Cougar Fund students for their future investment careers.     Nathan Lenski, master's, public health  Dean’s Award, College of Education, Health and Human Services  Lenski has consistently demonstrated exceptional research skills and a deep commitment to improving public health, particularly among vulnerable populations. Additionally, he has taken up the mantel of the department’s student organization, Graduate Organization of Public Health. He has accomplished this over the course of CSUSM’s accelerated Master of Public Health degree program while still employed full time for the County of San Luis Obispo.   Lenski was lauded for his research capabilities and for being both intuitive and open to learning. His commitment to public health is not limited to his academic work but is also reflected in his actions. He seeks to leverage his research and leadership to create meaningful solutions.    Maya Qaddourah, biochemistry   Dean’s Award, College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics  Qaddourah has shown a remarkable commitment to leading efforts to support and encourage her peers and her community at a time when her peers were consumed by isolation, fear and self-doubt with all that is happening in the world. She did this all while balancing a heavy academic load and performing at an exceptionally high level in the classroom, demonstrating a deep commitment to interdisciplinary biochemical research that resulted in working in multiple labs across campus and bringing her research to the point of publication, almost unheard of at the undergraduate level.   She also served as a teaching assistant in several advanced courses where it is unusual to have even one of these experiences. Even with such extraordinary academic and research accomplishments, what set Qaddourah apart was her insight into the importance of community and sense of belonging and her exceptional persistence that led her to develop a personal mission of leaving an enduring impact that fosters inclusivity, innovation and career readiness in STEM at CSUSM.    Kate Carlson, master’s, kinesiology  Dean’s Award, Graduate Studies  Carlson’s work ethic, attention to detail, professionalism, communication, reliability, leadership and organization skills are impressive to her peers and professors.   These qualities were on full display during Carlson’s thesis defense on Feb. 20. Following the presentation, the committee unanimously agreed that it was the most exceptional master’s thesis project, defense and written document they had encountered in their academic careers. One committee member even noted that Carlson’s performance was on par with Ph.D. dissertation defenses from former students who now hold full or associate professor positions at top-tier research institutions.    Miyah Walker, psychological sciences  Dean of Students Leadership Award  Walker’s ability to provide a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for residents, while promoting wellness, has been a hallmark of her time as a resident adviser. Additionally, she has demonstrated exceptional counseling, mentorship and facilitation skills, leading educational conversations that center on personal development, cultural understanding and co-curricular programming in a diverse learning environment.  Walker is a rare student who has integrated her studies, co-curricular experiences and embodies a holistic student experience at CSUSM. She has taken what she has learned in psychology and applied it to her RA and peer educator roles. After graduation, in the near term, Miyah intends to become a registered behavioral technician to work with autistic children. Her long-term goal is to earn a doctoral degree and work in underserved communities as a psychologist.  Learn more about Walker.  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Cal State San Marcos President Ellen Neufeldt remains committed to doing her part to showcase student artists. Neufeldt hosted about 40 people at her house on April 27 for a reception to unveil the third exhibition of student art in her home gallery. The exhibit features 11 pieces of art and was curated by Sarah Bricke, a professional artist and CSUSM alumna. Bricke also curated the previous display, which had hung in Neufeldt’s home for the past year. The four student artists are Emma Dill, Adel Bautista, Kaia Pappas and Erin Wilmot. More than 800 CSUSM students have a major or minor in the arts. A priority of the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences and the School of Arts is to increase space to showcase student artists, and to teach, rehearse and perform. Here’s the language that Bricke used in describing the exhibit, followed by artist statements:   This exhibition brings together four emerging artists whose practices engage forms of portraiture as a site of experimentation. Though grounded in distinct mediums, each artist reimagines the portrait as more than likeness, exploring how it can function as a record of presence and experience.   Dill’s photographic work, while not traditional portraits, centers the experience of live music and the ephemeral intensity of performance. Her images in this exhibition can be read as a “portrait” of a moment in time and associated emotional experience. Bautista utilizes nature photography alongside self-portraiture to convey internal states over physical representation. Her compositions reflect an engagement with the landscape as an element of portraiture.  Pappas approaches the portrait through the labor-intensive process of woodblock printmaking. Her repeating images distort photographic clarity, reconfiguring familiar forms into graphic abstractions that invite multiple interpretations. Wilmot pushes the boundaries of the photographic portrait, layering found objects and expressive mark-making over photo substrates. Her tactile surfaces mirror the nonlinearity of childhood cognition, rendering portraiture as a fragmented, sensorial field of discovery.  Together, these artists challenge conventional boundaries of the portrait, privileging intuition, memory and material play over realism. Their works collectively demonstrate how portraiture can serve as a flexible and generative framework for exploring identity, environment and the ever-shifting relationship between self and other.   Emma Dill Music has been a constant presence for Dill – from singing pop and punk with a sibling to listening to alt-rock in the car with her parents – ultimately inspiring an eclectic taste that continues to evolve through college. With over a decade of experience in photography, she focuses her work on both live performance and conceptual image-making. By photographing concerts, she aims to capture the joy of shared musical experiences, offering fans the chance to relive the energy of their favorite artists. Her experimental and creative projects seek to introduce reflection and variation within an increasingly saturated visual culture. Whether through the thrill of live music or the stillness of constructed imagery, her practice explores the emotional and aesthetic dimensions of sound, performance and visual storytelling.    Adel Bautista Baustista is a photographer and digital media artist based in Vista. Her work draws from travels across the United States and internationally. These journeys serve as emotional outlets, offering opportunities for reflection, clarity and well-being. Her practice is rooted in emotional awareness and the pursuit of balance – socially, emotionally, spiritually, environmentally, intellectually and physically. The resulting images are shared with the intention of encouraging positive ways to manage the stresses and challenges of daily life. As a survivor of physical and emotional abuse, she makes art that’s a declaration of resilience and strength. Bautista’s work champions emotional mindfulness as a foundation for personal health and communal empowerment.   Kaia Pappas Pappas is a woodblock printmaker based in East Los Angeles. Her work explores photographic, posterized imagery translated through the tactile and deliberate process of hand carving. Influenced by artists like Shepard Fairey and Barbara Kruger, Pappas draws inspiration from portraiture, everyday life and the subtleties found in seemingly ordinary moments. Her compositions – often rendered in black and white – embrace ambiguity and interpretation, inviting viewers to engage with the image beyond surface clarity. Some works intentionally obscure their subject matter, reflecting the artist’s belief that little in life is ever truly black and white. Her work challenges perception while celebrating the emotional and visual power of contrast, process and reinterpretation.    Erin Wilmot Wilmot is a mixed media artist whose recent work explores the emotional landscape and imaginative depth of childhood, inspired by a single moment captured at a family celebration. A spontaneous encounter with a child’s uninhibited play – particularly in the aftermath of a piñata explosion – served as the catalyst. Photographic prints from that day were later translated into hand-painted compositions. To foreground the painted medium, Wilmot first converted the photographs to black and white, creating a quiet visual pause for color, shape and texture to speak more vividly. Working intuitively, she incorporated found and local materials – spray-painted feathers, broken ornaments, string beads – to construct layered, tactile surfaces. With no strict blueprint, the process unfolds organically, reflecting the way children assign meaning to even the most ordinary objects.  Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Karli Llorens aspires to work for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Saba Wali wants to go to law school and become an international lawyer. Both Cal State San Marcos students took considerable steps toward their career ambitions this spring by participating in semester-long internships in Washington, D.C. Llorens and Wali were CSUSM’s representatives in Cal State DC Scholars, a program offered through Cal State Fullerton that gives students opportunities to earn academic credit while interning in the nation’s capital. Llorens, a second-year student who’s majoring in criminology and justice studies, worked for the U.S. Department of Labor. Wali, a third-year who’s a double major in political science and computer science, interned for the Washington International Trade Association, or WITA. “What I like best about my internship is gaining more research experience,” Llorens said. “Having the skills that come with doing thorough research will make it easier for me to be successful in my future career.” Said Wali: “The most valuable aspect of this internship is the network it provides. Each month, we’ve had the opportunity to attend lunches with board members representing diverse backgrounds in trade. Additionally, we can research event attendees and speakers to identify professionals whose careers align with our interests, allowing us to reach out and arrange coffee meetings for deeper insights.” Llorens chose to intern for the Department of Labor because she wanted to gain insight into working for the federal government. She worked with the head of the Employee Ownership Initiative, a new program that encourages business ownership by America’s workers. She also assisted with inquiries regarding the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans. Outside of her internship and schoolwork (classes were Mondays and Wednesdays), Llorens lived in an apartment provided by an organization called Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH) and enjoyed exploring the city with other interns, including Wali. Because of her interest in international relations, Wali gravitated toward WITA, a nonprofit dedicated to providing a neutral forum for discussion of international trade policy and related issues. Her daily duties included communicating with WITA members and trade professionals, designing graphics, promoting events, conducting research, and expanding knowledge of international trade and trade policy. One of the particular benefits of Wali’s time in Washington was the chance, as a Pashtun Muslim, to connect with the robust Muslim and Afghan communities in the surrounding states of Maryland and Virginia. She too lived in WISH housing. “Living in a building filled with student interns has been an incredible experience,” Wali said. “Most of us share similar goals, and since we come from all over the world, there’s so much to learn and enjoy from each other.” An added bonus of both students’ Washington experience: the opportunity to meet with CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt, who was in the capital last month as part of the CSU system’s annual Hill Week.   “Meeting President Neufeldt really put it into perspective that I am doing something great for my community at CSUSM by being a representative for our university within the DC Scholars program,” Llorens said. “During my time on the Hill, I aim to showcase the strengths and greatness that are taught at CSUSM.”  Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Adam Heppner didn’t speak his first words until he was 3 1/2 years old. He was diagnosed with autism at 18 months, and doctors were unsure of what his functioning level would be as an adult.  But on May 16, Heppner will walk the commencement stage at Cal State San Marcos, the proud recipient of a bachelor’s degree in business administration.  “I owe my family my life for the work they put in to help me become who I am today,” Heppner said.  Heppner, who also was diagnosed with ADHD, said middle school and high school were a time of discovery – learning how he functions best and how to navigate the world around him. Certain sounds that most people naturally tune out can be overwhelming, and he's particularly sensitive to specific foods and textures. Condiments like ketchup and ranch dressing cause him to gag and make himself vomit.  Through the Individualized Education Program in middle school and high school, Heppner had classes with peers who also were on the spectrum. Though attending speech therapy wasn’t always easy, he said it helped change his perspective.  “It really made me stop caring about what people think,” he said. “I’m going in there and still socializing with people when I come out, and I’m still just like everybody else.”  Learning social cues was one of the biggest challenges for Heppner.  “I’d be in public and there’d be a larger set lady and out loud I’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, that lady’s butt is huge,’ ” Heppner said.   While he can laugh about incidents like that now, he didn’t understand at the time how his words might be construed.  Heppner’s mom quit her full-time office job to educate herself on Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, and other family members also pitched in to support Heppner. His mom helped him to recognize and understand behavior through using picture association and studying patterns. Eye contact, listening and comprehension are skills that Heppner had to learn.   “Eventually I just kind of overcame the hurdle,” he said. “Now I’m running the race.”  As Heppner got older, he found himself becoming more independent and confident. He attended Mt. San Jacinto College before transferring to CSUSM, drawn to its location and strong business program.   Heppner has known since he was 12 years old that he wanted to pursue business. He still remembers telling his dad about Nintendo and Electronic Arts’ new game drops, encouraging his dad to invest.   “He made money off it,” Heppner said. “I’ve always loved the aspect of business.”  Heppner felt at home at CSUSM through Campus Recreation activities and the College of Business Administration. He also credits professors like Olaf Hansen, Jeffrey Kohles, Mark Monahan, Shane Thompson and Michael Winter for helping to make his time at CSUSM memorable.   “They’re here to teach, to actually help people,” he said. “That’s the best kind of professor you could have.”  Heppner has been working at Costco while attending school, and he’s looking toward getting his MBA at CSUSM Temecula.  While having autism and ADHD have caused challenges, Heppner hopes that he can use his experiences to be a voice for others with similar struggles.   “They have to have hope,” Heppner said. “That’s my goal – telling my story and inspiring people in general.”  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

After giving a presentation at a local conference about equity in education in 2023, Eric Tippeconnic was approached by a middle school teacher from Bonsall. Tippeconnic, an artist and American Indian studies professor at Cal State San Marcos, had spoken to the audience about one of his specialties: the use of murals to portray land acknowledgements visually. And having been inspired by the talk, the teacher, Domingo Anguiano, wanted Tippeconnic to bring a visual land acknowledgement to his school, Sullivan Middle in Bonsall. Two years later, the vision that was born that day has become a reality. On April 23, Tippeconnic was among a crowd of about 250 people who watched the unveiling of his mural – which doubles as a land acknowledgment – in the courtyard between Sullivan Middle and Bonsall High School. Among the others in attendance were two CSUSM administrators, Provost Carl Kemnitz and Chief Community Engagement Officer Patricia Prado-Olmos; Joely Proudfit, chair of the American Indian studies department and director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center; Brandon Johnson, vice chair of the Pala Band of Mission Indians; Heather Golly, superintendent of Bonsall Unified School District; Joseph Clevenger, assistant superintendent of the San Diego County Office of Education; and guests from various Native communities in Southern California. “This mural represents a school district making a significant step by centering the first peoples of this land,” Tippeconnic said. “A visual land acknowledgment is a more tangible and permanent step to include the original peoples of this land in the historical narrative.” After Anguiano met Tippeconnic at the conference, he invited him to Bonsall to talk to school officials and teachers about the project. Once it had been approved, Anguiano introduced Tippeconnic to Native students from the district who had expressed a desire to be involved in the mural. Last May, 10 students (five boys and five girls) participated in a photo shoot during which they sang Native bird songs and danced. Tippeconnic took those photos and rendered a composite drawing, which he then used as a guide for the mural. During the unveiling event, those same students depicted in the mural danced in front of their own images on the wall. “That was the absolute highlight for me,” Tippeconnic said. “It truly captured the spirit of the day. The positive feelings and vibrations were palpable.” Since the partnership with Bonsall began, Tippeconnic said, more than 30 Native students from the district who are considering college have visited CSUSM to tour campus and the CICSC. An enrolled member of the Comanche Nation, Tippeconnic is no stranger to visual land acknowledgements. Three years ago, he created an exhibit titled “Our Existence Is Our Resistance” in the CSUSM library that was entirely dedicated to the subject. “Native peoples, including those indigenous to California, have been systematically erased from U.S. history and are conspicuously absent from mainstream educational curriculum,” said Tippeconnic, who has been a tenure-track professor at CSUSM since 2020. “The Bonsall mural is a significant gesture to convey that inclusion and representation matter.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

When Cal State San Marcos students were asked how they'd spend the money saved by not having to buy textbooks, many said rent, food and even life-saving medication. Their responses showed that textbook costs are a financial burden for students struggling to afford basic necessities.  The Cougars Affordable Learning Materials (CALM) program, managed by the University Library, has a solution. The CALM team works with faculty to adopt the use of low- and no-cost textbooks. This year alone, the CALM program saved students more than $4.6 million.    The CALM team and CSUSM faculty across campus have reduced or eliminated the costs of textbooks for over 1,000 courses.   To recognize participating faculty, the University Library hosted a CALM Faculty Awardees event on April 24. The 2024-25 CALM Faculty Awardees are Christopher Hardnack, George Brusch, Heather Cook, Kathy Fuller, Shannon Baker, Shannon Nolan-Arañez and Suzanna Krivulskaya. To see how much money each of these faculty helped students save, visit the CALM Faculty Awardees webpage.   Fuller, a human development faculty member, is a CALM Hero. She CALMed five courses and saved students over $16,000 this academic year.   Brusch CALMed five courses in the biology department, saving students almost $13,000. Asked what motivated him to use Open Educational Resources (OER) or low-cost textbooks, he said: "My major motivation for using an open-source textbook is because it is free. This alleviates the financial burden on students, making education more accessible and equitable.”  CALM is part of the CSU Affordable Learning Solutions initiative started in 2010. The library’s CALM team – led by Kelly Ann Sam, interim head of user services and textbook affordability lead – aids faculty in replacing costly textbooks with lower-cost alternatives. This is accomplished by using high-quality OER, library materials, digital or customized textbooks, and/or faculty-authored materials.   To address the high cost of textbooks, California Senate Bill 1359 aims to ensure that students have access to affordable course materials. It requires courses to be listed as zero cost in the schedule if students are not required to purchase any materials. Students actively can search for courses with the Zero Cost Course Material (ZCCM) logo when selecting classes.  “It is essential that faculty confirm their ZCCM courses with the CALM team," Sam said. "By designating ZCCM courses in the class schedule before student registration, students are empowered to make informed decisions based on financial considerations. This allows them to save significantly on education costs each semester, potentially amounting to hundreds of dollars.”   For more information, visit the CALM website or contact calm@csusm.edu. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Ashley Lizarraga didn’t have the typical college move-in experience. In August 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lizarraga was coming from Rosarito, Mexico, where she lived with her parents and two younger brothers, to Cal State San Marcos' University Village Apartments. Born in the United States and raised in Mexico, Lizarraga has always prioritized her education. In high school, she crossed the border every day to attend high school in Chula Vista, drawn to the learning environment and opportunities in the U.S. It meant early mornings and long days, but she remained committed, and that drive continued when she enrolled at CSUSM. Lizarraga embraced life on campus, even in a time when many classes were still virtual. But her college experience soon expanded beyond academics. At 19, she became the legal guardian of her younger brother, Evaristo, to help him pursue a high school education in the U.S., an opportunity she knew could open doors for him just as it had for her. A few years later, she welcomed her youngest brother, Esteban, who is now thriving as a high school junior at San Marcos High. In a few weeks, Evaristo and Esteban will join their parents at Mangrum Track & Field to watch their sister cross the CSUSM commencement stage and become the first family member to earn a college degree. “I feel like my professors and the friends I have made at school have all helped me so much,” said Lizarraga, who is double majoring in finance and political science. “I really felt that this is my community, and I felt so supported by everyone. All of that has made my journey here so much easier.” It hasn’t always been an easy journey. Lizarraga was working three jobs before an internship with the San Diego Diplomacy Council ended. She still works at a local restaurant and on campus for Associated Students, Inc., as the vice president of finance and operations where she manages a $2.1 million student-driven budget and leads initiatives that directly support students. Caring for her brothers, working multiple jobs and studying doesn’t leave much free time, but Lizarraga is grateful to mentors like Ashley Fennell, ASI’s associate executive director, for providing a strong support system. “She’s been a caring supervisor who looks out for me not just as a student, but as a person,” Lizarraga said.  As Lizarraga’s undergraduate career winds down, she is looking ahead to the next chapter. She has been accepted to several master's programs in finance and hopes to stay close to San Marcos to continue supporting her family while advancing her academic and career goals. As the first in her family to graduate from college, she’s proud to be setting an example and grateful for the support that helped her get to this point. “I’m deeply grateful to my family and to everyone who supported me along the way,” Lizarraga said. “I truly couldn’t have done it without them. This is just the beginning.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Miyah Walker has had a passion for listening and offering a hand to hold since she was just 13. Being a middle child among three sisters, Walker was often the person who would help and listen to her siblings, cousins and close friends when they needed someone to discuss their feelings or mental health challenges. Without even realizing it at the time, Walker was already heading down the path of psychological sciences. Coming to Cal State San Marcos, Walker felt introverted and nervous to talk to others, but that did not stop her from pushing herself to step outside her comfort zone. Walker has been inspiring her peers and helping create a safe space on campus through her work as a residential adviser; as a collections, delivery and access student assistant in Kellogg Library; and by educating and advocating for BIPOC mental health awareness at Student Health & Counseling Services as a HOPE peer health educator. Walker’s efforts led her to be selected as the recipient of the 2025 Dean of Students Award for Outstanding Leadership. “I was just watching true crime and crocheting when Dean of Students Jason Schreiber called and told me that I won the award,” Walker said. “I was shocked. After I talked to him during the candidacy process, I felt really good about our conversation. I was kind of thinking, ‘Wow, I just finished talking to the Dean of Students.’ ” Walker first knew that she wanted to work in the psychological sciences at 13 after experiencing her best friend going through a challenging time. Walker was a constant advocate for her best friend by being there for meetings with social workers and comforting her when others were dismissing the friend’s mental health struggles. Walker was able to separate herself from the situation and truly just be there for her best friend. The experience opened Walker’s eyes to the need for mental health advocacy, specifically for BIPOC communities when she would hear people dismiss the mental health experiences faced by young individuals. Walker reflected on the rhetoric used during her experience advocating for her best friend. “People would say, ‘You're too young to be depressed. You don't have anything to be depressed about. You don’t have anything to be stressed about,’ ” Walker said. “There were a lot of things that were happening in her life and happening to her that people were dismissing, and that was taking a toll on her mental health as well. Just seeing how big of an effect it was having on her, I was shocked by the lack of support. It made me aware that people in communities of color do not care as much as they should.” Walker is from Los Angeles and a first-generation college student, so coming to San Marcos was a big transition. But being so active on campus helped her thrive, leading her to believe that you always end up where you need to be. After she graduates next month with her bachelor’s in psychological science and a minor in Spanish, Walker has big plans for the future. She plans to return to L.A. and work as a mental health counselor specializing in underserved communities and communities of color. Her educational and career goals, however, do not end there. Walker intends to obtain her doctorate to work as a psychologist, along with continuing her advocacy and educational work for BIPOC communities, which is similar to her focus at CSUSM. Walker’s hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. “Miyah’s commitment to excellence in leadership, scholarship and service is clear, both as an RA and as a HOPE peer educator,” Stephanie Burga, a residential director, wrote in her nomination of Walker for the Dean of Students Award. “In all of her roles at CSUSM, she has challenged herself to think creatively and communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals. She has also played a significant role in developing programs and initiatives that advance the university’s mission, and each of the programs she’s hosted has contributed to enriching student life at CSUSM.” There’s little doubt that Walker’s legacy at CSUSM will live on as she moves forward with her education and career goals of being a pillar for mental health awareness in BIPOC communities. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314