Five years ago, when Christopher Greely first acquired a leadership position at the San Diego biotech where he works and was charged with expanding his team by almost tenfold, he knew just the profile he was looking for. Scientists who had the proper academic underpinning. Scientists who were passionate and driven. Scientists who weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and work hard. And it certainly didn’t hurt if they were, like him, scientists who had graduated from Cal State San Marcos. “I brought on board some of my previous classmates and really kept an eye out for any fresh grads from CSUSM who were just looking for an opportunity,” Greely said. “Because I know the educational basis that they're operating with and their scientific expertise. But on top of that, one of the things that I've noticed about the CSUSM community is really the push to strive for more.” Greely would know, since he is one of those strivers. One of two children of a single mother who was a victim of domestic abuse, the North County native embarked on a decade-long journey (interrupted multiple times at multiple schools) in higher education that ended in a single academic year at CSUSM, from which he graduated with a degree in biology in 2017. What a year it was, however. It helped propel Greely into a job at Carlsbad’s Trinity Biotech, which he then parlayed into a position at TriLink BioTechnologies by May 2018. Almost seven years later, he’s still there, having been promoted six times, most recently in 2023 to associate director of nucleic acid products manufacturing. TriLink has about 200 employees, and Greely estimates that up to 10% of them are CSUSM alumni. Included in that group are a couple of others who are high in the company’s hierarchy: Justin Barbosa, vice president and general manager of discovery; and Evan Myers, associate director of process development. “CSUSM provides a high-level education that prepares us for the future,” said Myers, a 2016 graduate who tutored Greely through the STEM Success Center when they were both students and now works with him closely at TriLink. “Chris is an exceptional worker who brings huge value to the company.” At no time was that more clear than in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the virus was beginning to rage out of control, BioNTech, the German biopharma giant and an existing client of TriLink’s, approached the company asking for its assistance in producing a vaccine that would combat COVID. TriLink, which specializes in the synthesis of nucleic acids and mRNA capping analogs, possesses a proprietary technology called CleanCap that simplifies mRNA manufacturing by removing additional enzymatic steps, resulting in higher efficiency and better yields. BioNTech wanted as much CleanCap as it could get its hands on. There was just one problem: TriLink had recently moved into a new building in Sorrento Valley, and its GMP (an industry term that stands for “good manufacturing practices”) lab wasn’t operational yet. So while Greely was building out his team from five people to 45 to prepare for the heightened demand from BioNTech, he also had to devise a solution that would bridge the gap from where TriLink was in its manufacturing capacity to where it was going. That involved doing some of their work in a standard chemistry lab like the ones Greely utilized back at CSUSM and the rest in a temporary GMP lab. “It enabled us to partner with BioNTech and Pfizer and say, ‘Hey, we understand we’re not equipped right now to satisfy your needs, but we’ll make it happen,’ ” Greely said. By the time the state-of-the-art lab facility was completed, Greely and his team were ready to hit the ground running. Starting on Valentine’s Day in 2021, they worked around the clock every day for about eight months to ensure that BioNTech had enough CleanCap to produce the vast amounts of COVID vaccine necessary to inoculate millions of people around the globe. “It was an enormous satisfaction knowing that you were helping your community, the overall population, the whole world,” Greely said. “During the pandemic, some of my lead engineers would say things like, ‘I’m coming in at 2 a.m. because you called me, because the equipment is down, and at the end of the day, I want my daughter to be able to go back to school.’ That was huge.” Greely was prepared for such a period of growth, both personal and professional, because of the training he received at CSUSM. He vividly remembers a biochemistry course with professor Kambiz Hamadani that was three units but seemed like twice that. At the time, Greely felt overwhelmed by the volume of work, but once he was a new employee at TriLink, he suddenly found himself grateful for the grueling experience. “The principles that Hamadani taught and the ground that his virtual lab covered prepared me for some of the standard operating procedures I would see in the lab within my first three months of starting my job,” he said. “That was eye-opening for me, the real-world application of what’s being taught at CSUSM.” After growing like gangbusters during the pandemic, TriLink contracted in 2023 as the demand for the COVID vaccine decreased. But the company is coming off a prosperous year fueled by the development of a new iteration of CleanCap that’s being used by industry partners for cell and gene therapy that could help cure diseases. “Whenever I interview anyone, they always ask me, ‘What do you love about TriLink?’ ” Greely said. “And my response always stays the same: I am never bored. It’s all about pushing to that new benchmark, clearing that next hurdle, seeing how far we can take our intellectual property for the betterment of the human experience.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Cal State San Marcos is one of 12 schools in the California State University system to receive a new designation known as “Research Colleges and Universities” (RCU), it was announced on Feb. 13 by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The new RCU category recognizes institutions that typically do not offer many or any doctoral degrees and spend at least $2.5 million on research on average in a single year. There are an additional eight CSUs included in the R2 category, which is assigned to universities that spend at least $5 million on research and development and award at least 20 research doctorates on average in a single year. The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States.  The new classifications created multi-dimensional groupings of institutions that now go beyond a single label and reflect significant changes to how research is recognized, including the methodology that determines whether an institution is classified. “Congratulations to all of the CSU institutions recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education,” CSU Chancellor Mildred García said. “These classifications underscore the CSU’s commitment to engaging our undergraduate students in applied research that lifts communities and addresses our state's most pressing challenges across fields of study – and they wonderfully reflect the CSU’s mission and core values.”

Elinne Becket and Robert Iafe can’t quite agree on what sparked her interest in him. Ask Iafe and he’ll say the crack he made about Becket’s beloved Croatian soccer team did the trick. Not so, says Becket. “At first, I actually disliked him for weeks,” Becket said. “Once he finally started being nice to me, then I started liking him. But he's like, ‘No, that's what caused interest.’ This is one of those agree to disagree moments.” But there’s no such controversy when it comes to their engagement in 2022. “It was perfect,” they both said, nearly in unison. Becket, a biology professor, and Iafe, a chemistry professor and department chair, tied the knot two years later, exchanging vows last Oct. 5 at the place that has become a second home for them – Cal State San Marcos. If getting married at one’s place of employment seems unconventional, it shouldn’t to those who know Becket and Iafe. The passion they have for their students is the same passion they have for the university. And CSUSM’s Event and Conference Services (ECS) team ensured there wasn’t a moment of doubt about having their wedding at the McMahan House on campus. “Everyone at ECS literally brought me to tears in a good way multiple times because they were just so helpful and so thoughtful,” said Becket, noting the tireless work and attention to detail of event planners Lizette Alvarado and Zayla Paschall. “It went perfectly because of them. I'm just so, so grateful for the fact that they made it even more special than I thought it was going to be.” It was a day that was 16 years in the making. Becket and Iafe met in 2008 at UCLA where each was working on their Ph.D. (Becket in molecular biology and Iafe in organic chemistry). Though they were in different departments, they met through one of Becket’s former teacher assistants who was lab mates with Iafe. They were friends for about six months before they started dating, though the friendship could have been derailed by Iafe poking fun at Croatia’s painful exit from the 2008 Euro Cup when Turkey tied a quarterfinal match as time was winding down before advancing on penalty kicks. “It was just enough of a bite for her to be annoyed but have that interest,” Iafe said. Becket remembers it a bit differently. Born in Los Angeles, she traveled between the U.S. and Croatia frequently as a child during the Croatian War of Independence, spending time with her grandparents while her mom helped guide humanitarian aid to the front lines. Needless to say, her ties to Croatia – and its soccer team – run deep. “Oh, he knew what he was doing,” she said. Iafe rebounded from the faux pas and their friendship evolved as they regularly hung out in UCLA’s grad lounge while waiting on results from their respective research experiments. Both play piano, leading to battles in the grad lounge pitting Becket’s classical music against Iafe’s penchant for Elton John (Becket’s wedding processional was to John’s “Your Song,” which Iafe often played for her). The piano duels led to another talent they share – dancing. Becket has danced a variety of styles throughout her life and Iafe competed in ballroom in college. Their friendship blossomed, and, on Dec. 16, 2008, they had their first official date, even marking the occasion with a photo. The 16-year wait from that first date to their wedding day wasn’t intentional so much a product of juggling a relationship with the challenges of establishing their respective careers. “Marriage was always what we wanted to work toward, but we were just enjoying what we had,” Becket said. “It was less important about the legal thing and more important about saying vows in front of our loved ones.” And it was those vows that remain a highlight from their wedding day, particularly Iafe’s words. He took to heart an early conversation they had when they were dating – though, much like the soccer joke he made, they don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye on the way that conversation went. “So, 16 years ago, she had a couple of demands for me,” Iafe said. “She said, ‘You are not allowed to read your vows. You have to say it from the heart.' ” “This was when I was 20, when we first started dating,” Becket interjected. “And it wasn't a command, it was an off-the-cuff cuff remark where I was like, ‘I don't understand how people can just read their vows.’ It was one of those things of, ‘If you really mean it, you should be able to say it, blah, blah, blah.’ ” “And I listened to every word that she said,” Iafe said. Fast forward 16 years and Becket jotted down some bullet points to ensure that she would hit on the topics that were most meaningful. Iafe, on the other hand, decided to wing it. While there is friendly disagreement over whether it was truly off-the-cuff or well-rehearsed, they agree that Iafe nailed it. “Of course, this guy has the best vows ever memorized and completely showed me up,” Becket said. “And what's really annoying was that when we were talking about who goes first, he's like, ‘You know what? I'll let you go first.’ He said he didn't want to repeat something I said. “And, no, it was because he wanted to show me up,” she added, laughing. “The video shows me saying, ‘Oh, now I know why you wanted to go second.’ ” Similar to how he lectures, Iafe said he had major points he wanted to hit and just let it flow from there. His groomsmen, Becket said, tell it differently. “They were telling me, ‘He was practicing all day,’ ” Becket said. “Just the major points,” Iafe said. “How we get there, I don’t know. It’s a journey. Live on the edge.” As they approach their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple this week, there aren’t any special plans in the works. They’ll mark the occasion in the low-key way they normally do. And before Becket can give details on what they normally do, Iafe jumps in. “We don’t actually celebrate Valentine’s Day,” he said, “because every day is Valentine’s Day.” Less than five months into marriage, spoken like someone who already knows the key to wedded bliss. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Cal State San Marcos software engineering professor Simon Fan will be honored as the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Engineering Educator at the San Diego Engineers Week Awards Banquet on Feb. 18.  The banquet, hosted by the San Diego County Engineering Council, brings together community leaders to celebrate those who are advancing engineering and technology.  Fan is a founding faculty member of CSUSM’s software engineering program, helping it develop a unique curriculum and achieve ABET accreditation, which shows that a university program meets established educational standards.  Among Fan’s accomplishments was the creation of a yearlong capstone program that emphasizes engaged learning with industrial mentors and targets the specific needs in the region. Fan also works to build a supportive engineering community on campus and helped bring the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers student chapter to CSUSM. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

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. The wildfires that devastated the L.A. area, and even caused minor damage in pockets of San Diego County, have been contained. But the significant problem of grappling with ever larger and more dangerous fires fueled by climate change is only growing worse, and Rahn can be found permanently stationed on the front lines of that fight.   Question: What was the nature of the work you were doing during the L.A. fires last month? Matt Rahn: I and my team at the Wildfire Conservancy have been doing research related to firefighter health and safety. Specifically, we have been conducting an exposure study related to the toxic, hazardous and carcinogenic materials firefighters are exposed to in a wildland urban interface fire. We are collecting data on exposures using silicon wrist bands (as a passive sampling device that is extremely good at absorbing all the contaminants firefighters are exposed to). We compare these to urine and blood samples taken from firefighters to track exposure to substances like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (or PAHs), volatile organic compounds (or VOCs), heavy metals and other compounds. We use a variety of techniques, including micro RNA analysis that can measure the change in gene expression, particularly those responsible for either causing (or suppressing) cancer.    Q: What was your reaction when you first heard about the fires? Could you have imagined that it would ever get that bad in the nation’s second-most-populous city? MR: Sadly, I wasn’t shocked. For over 10 years now, we have been saying what is now common vernacular: We no longer have a “fire season,” we have a year-round fire risk. And we no longer have “wildfires” but rather fires in the wildland urban interface (or WUI), which is the area where human development and infrastructure meet undeveloped wildland or natural areas. But this change began much longer ago.  In 1991, in a remarkable and singularly cataclysmic event, the Oakland Hills became engulfed by a devastating fire that resulted in 3,280 homes lost, 25 fatalities and 1,520 acres burned. At that time, the loss was unthinkable; by today’s standards, the Oakland Hills fire, while still tragic, is certainly not the largest of its kind. That resulted in renewed recognition of the dangers posed by fires in the WUI and prompted new research and development into improved prevention and suppression methods, policy, and procedure of these kinds of fires. Unfortunately, that focus was short-lived, and over a decade would pass until California experienced another devastating wildfire, this time in San Diego County, that would grab national attention.  Engulfing more than 280,000 acres, destroying 3,241 homes and causing the loss of 16 lives, the 2003 Cedar fire surpassed all records and became the most devastating fire in California’s history. With a total economic loss of nearly $2.5 billion, we realized that the devastation was not contained to acres burned; the fiscal impacts to our communities far outweighed the actual cost of fighting this megafire. Even with a peak of 6,635 firefighters battling the blaze, suppression was less than 2% of the total cost of that wildfire incident. For more context, since 1970, the U.S. has witnessed a roughly 300% increase in acres burned each year. Fifty years ago, wildfires would burn about 3 million acres per year across the entire U.S.; today, a single fire in California can consume one-third of that historic national acreage. So, fast forward to the fires in Paradise, California in 2018 and the 2023 fires in Maui, where over 100 people lost their lives. Sadly, we all should have seen this coming.   Q: Do you think there’s any merit to the criticism that city officials could have done more to keep the fires from getting so out of control? Or was this strictly a scenario of worst-case environmental conditions? MR: Persistent drought, hot and dry temperatures, and extremely high winds in a community not built to modern standards for wildfire-prone areas were dangerous starting conditions for any fire event. The high winds provided an extremely short opportunity to prevent a conflagration. These winds also prevented the use of aerial attacks in the early stages of the fire. Fire agencies were left with ground resources, battling one of the most difficult and hazardous fire storms in U.S. history. Given the extreme fire behavior and conditions, the ultimate suppression and containment of the fires and prevention of additional losses was due in large part to the remarkable firefighter staffing and surge capacity that was mobilized.  It’s easy, if not dangerous, for folks so quickly to criticize agencies and municipalities, and make a tragic incident like this a political talking point. Organizations like Cal Fire, L.A. City and County Fire, and even the National Institute of Standards and Technology are all working to recreate the mobilization of resources and try to understand how response impacted outcomes. This is a very complicated and labor-intensive process that needs to be completed.    Q: If I’m remembering correctly, the worst fires in the state over the last decade or so have been in Northern California, including the Camp fire in 2018. Do you think Southern Californians had acquired a false sense of security and complacency? MR: Unfortunately, many communities acquire a false sense of security and complacency. We see this year after year. When there is smoke in the air and a major incident that galvanizes our communities, state and nation, all the attention is given to that fire, with a collective promise that we will not forget and will work to keep our communities safe. But as time passes (and in some cases, not much time can pass), communities become lax in their collective efforts for fuel reduction programs, maintaining defensible space or other factors that can significantly contribute to community resilience. We cannot allow this to occur.  In fact, the Wildfire Conservancy along with some of our instructors in the Wildfire Science and the Urban Interface degree at CSUSM have teamed up to address this exact issue. We were awarded a grant from the FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety program in support of community resilience and advanced training support for Maui. Together with the County of Maui and Maui’s fire department, emergency operations and community associations, the Wildfire Conservancy will build on existing programs with the Responding to the Interface (RTI) program (from Cal Fire and the International Association of Fire Fighters) as the foundation for working with high-risk communities to develop a comprehensive and customized WUI firefighter training tailored to Maui and its communities, and create an annual event that is designed to improve community resilience, awareness, outreach and education. We are working to bring this effort to a national stage starting with Maui and continuing to California and beyond.    Q: What have you heard from the fire crews that were battling the blazes in L.A.? MR: We have so far connected with hundreds of firefighters from Cal Fire, L.A. Fire Department, L.A. County Fire Department and other departments like Santa Barbara, Ventura, Fillmore, Oxnard and Pasadena. They are just now beginning to catch their collective breath and recover from these incidents. They are keenly aware of the exposures they have experienced in these fires. The success won by those “boots on the ground” may come at a significant personal and societal cost. The fires resulted in extreme high-level exposures for responding firefighters, at a scale not seen since Sept. 11, 2001. Many of us in the scientific community are speculating that these fires may well constitute an exposure incident that far exceeds that momentous day. The full impact has yet to be realized.    Q: How long have you been a scholar and researcher of wildfire science? How did you first get involved in it as a discipline? MR: I began working on wildfire issues shortly after the Cedar fire in 2003 and became more fully engaged in research after the Witch and Guejito fires in 2007. My first projects were focused on things like fire sensors to provide early detection of wildfires in remote areas and economic impact studies related to the Cedar fire. I then moved quickly into research on attack effectiveness, completing the seminal study on wildland firefighter staffing that is still used to this day as the standard for helping advocate for proper state firefighter staffing. We then moved quickly into firefighter health and safety, given the impacts we were seeing related to cardiac events, dehydration and heat illness, and cancer. Since then, my time and effort on wildfire and urban interface fires has increased dramatically, culminating in the new degree program at CSUSM in 2019 and the launch the same year of the Wildfire Conservancy.     Q: How has the field evolved over the years as wildfires have gotten bigger and more destructive? MR: We have been ringing the bell on wildfires and the WUI since the early 2000s. Back then, we were using terms like “the new normal.” Today, everyone is keenly aware of the risks, and the number of agencies, organizations and individuals involved in answering the call has increased significantly. Our first symposium on these issues was held a little over a decade ago in Sacramento, in partnership with Cal Fire and Cal Fire Local 2881. Experts from around California and the nation gathered and agreed that wildland firefighting was easily a decade behind structural/urban firefighting. The recommendation was to increase research and education programs in response to this. CSUSM has helped lead that effort with the new degree program, and organizations like the Wildfire Conservancy have formed to prioritize some of the most pressing issues facing our communities and first responders.    Q: How would you describe CSUSM’s wildfire science program and what it does? MR: The degree program is unique. It’s focused on the WUI as its primary mission, educating our next generation of firefighters to deal with the unique issues related to these kinds of incidents. Clearly there is a need, and that need is growing. It is no longer just a California issue or something that is particular to the western U.S. Nearly every community in the nation has some kind of risk related to WUI fires. Providing the training and education for that growing risk is critically important.  What makes this program unique is that it was designed with firefighters and key agencies, including Cal Fire, the fire departments of San Diego and L.A., the U.S. Forest Service, NIST, and many other departments from around the country. We designed our curriculum based on their input, and it includes coursework in community planning and resilience, firefighter health and safety, wildfire law and economics, kinesiology and fitness, and even emerging tools and technologies. Our program also offers a course in firefighter mental and behavioral health, the first of its kind in the nation. The program is designed for working professionals, is fully online and has the ability to put a pause on coursework for students who may be deployed to major incidents during the semester. And yes, several of our own students were working on the L.A. fires.  We are lucky to have some of the foremost experts as instructors for some of the more specialized courses, and several remarkable faculty members at CSUSM also are teaching in this program. One last thing I should mention is that each student, at the end of their last semester, works with us to conduct their own “senior thesis” and research project focused on WUI issues. I’m happy to say that three of our former students will publish their research papers in the new Journal of the Wildfire Conservancy, a new science journal produced through the CSU system.   Q: CalMatters did an award-winning investigative series called “Trial by Fire” in 2022 about the traumatic toll of wildfires on firefighters, almost akin to being in war. How concerned are you about that, and what are some steps you’d recommend to deal with it? MR: Modern firefighters are responding to some of the most horrific, toxic, hazardous and carcinogenic incidents ever imagined, working in environments where the human body was never meant to be. They are sleep-deprived and regularly experience potentially traumatic events that can affect their mental health. We are seeing the results of this today through rising rates of cancer (far higher than the general population), increased rates of suicide and suicidal ideations, and high rates of heart attack and stroke. We can and must do better for those who are sacrificing themselves (and their families) in service to our communities. This is why we started the degree program and launched the research foundation. I know this is the thing that motivates so many of our fantastic researchers, faculty, instructors and students who have dedicated their careers to helping.    Q: I know funding, and the lack thereof, is a big part of this, but how would you like to see firefighting improve to confront the threat posed by bigger wildfires fueled by climate change? MR: We need to give our fire agencies the resources, staffing and technology they need to respond to these events. We absolutely do need more boots on the ground, air attack resources and access to new tools and technologies. We also need a significant investment in personal protective equipment and advanced technologies that can reduce occupational exposures and risk. Fire prevention is also a big piece of the puzzle. We need to take the commitment to fuel management and defensible space seriously, and dedicate the resources needed to create long-term, large-scale sustainable efforts. We also need to rethink our laws, codes and regulations related to housing, businesses and infrastructure, and invest in programs that can better inform future decision-making, land-use planning and community-wide wildfire protection plans.    Q: What lessons are you taking away from the L.A. fires? Should we be rebuilding in these fire-devastated areas? How can we make such communities more resilient? MR: We as humans tend to build in high-risk areas, whether they are fire-prone or at risk from floods, earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricanes. We have made remarkable strides in addressing community resilience and facility-hardening across many of these high-risk areas, including wildfires. We know what can and does work, and considerable investments are being made to develop new materials, designs and strategies to increase protection. However, none of this works if we continue to allow for poor planning and fail to provide for programs to help improve and retrofit existing communities. It will continue to fail if we don’t take our commitment to fuel management and defensible space seriously. And it will fail if we don’t take immediate action finally to fund a full-time, year-round fire service through Cal Fire and provide our struggling fire agencies the staffing and resources they need to do their job. In addition, we desperately need a significant overhaul to California’s insurance laws and regulations. Each of these issues by itself is not a solution and can easily fail when handled alone. However, if we think of each issue as a separate stick, when they are bundled together, they form a stronger and more resilient unit. We are all in this together.  Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

The third Arts & Lectures event of the spring semester features a panel of scientific and artistic thinkers for a deep look at the roles of fungi on the planet and microscopic elements within complex systems.  “From Fungi to the Planet: Complex Systems in Science and Art” starts at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 17 in the USU Ballroom. Reserve tickets online via the Arts & Lectures website.  Scientists from the Treseder Lab at UC Irvine will examine fungi’s layered relationship to planetary life and discuss how fungi mediate and connect distant ecosystems. David Familian, also from UC Irvine, will introduce life webs and AI as complex systems, a topic that comes to focus in the art exhibition “Future Tense: Art, Complexity and Uncertainty.” Moving across perspectives in art and science, the panelists will reframe how we picture the planet. The lecture will be preceded by a workshop from 10:30-11:30 a.m.  Scientists from the Treseder Lab include Kathleen Treseder and researchers Eduardo Misael Choreno Parra and Melanie Taleen Hacopian. CSUSM arts, media and design professor Lucy HG Solomon and Cesar Baio, a Brazil-based professor at UNICAMP, also will be featured at the event.   CSUSM’s Arts & Lectures series offers a diverse lineup of artistic, cultural and scholarly events every semester based on input and proposals from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.    What: Arts & Lectures event “From Fungi to the Planet: Complex Systems in Science and Art”  Who: Scientists from the Treseder Lab include Kathleen Treseder and researchers Eduardo Misael Choreno Parra and Melanie Taleen Hacopian; David Familian, artistic director of the Beall Center for Art + Technology at UC Irvine; CSUSM arts, media and design professor Lucy HG Solomon; and Cesar Baio, Brazil-based professor at UNICAMP   When: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17  Where: USU Ballroom  Cost: Free for CSUSM students, faculty, staff and alumni; $5 for community members  Tickets: Visit the Arts and Lectures ticket webpage  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

When Geraldine (Gerri) Frances Brooks earned a degree in biology in the 1950s, the acronym we now know as STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – had yet to be coined, but it would become an indelible part of her legacy.     As president and one of the founding members of the Lawrence E. and Neva B. Fenstermaker Foundation, Brooks has been instrumental in supporting STEM at CSUSM for nearly 30 years. While the Fenstermaker Foundation is now sunsetting, its legacy will live on through a $1.3 million endowment in perpetual support of STEM students at CSUSM. This transformative gift will be further amplified by a $1 million matching contribution from the Epstein Family Foundation. “Supporting STEM has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life,” Brooks said. “Three decades ago, we chose CSUSM because it was new and so full of potential. This university is exactly what we needed in North County San Diego, and it has been wonderful to watch it grow.” Over the years, in addition to the recent endowment, the Fenstermaker Foundation has donated $1.9 million to STEM initiatives at CSUSM, providing more than 130 STEM students with scholarships and establishing a $40,000 library endowment for science resources. “We are deeply grateful to the Fenstermaker Foundation board of directors,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said. “Their generosity has transformed countless lives, creating a ripple effect of innovation and opportunity that will benefit our community for generations to come.”   From first gen to multi-gen impact As a first-generation college student, Brooks put herself through school at Adelphi University in Brooklyn. At the time, it was rare for women to pursue higher education or build careers in fields such as biology, making Brooks' achievements both groundbreaking and inspiring. Notably, she worked alongside pioneering scientist George Nicholas Papanicolaou, whose development of the Pap smear revolutionized cervical cancer detection. The Fenstermaker Foundation was founded in 1995 by Lawrence Fenstermaker, who served in the 11^th Naval District in San Diego. While Fenstermaker did not attend college, he was passionate about learning and helping others obtain an education. Along with Brooks as one of the original five board members, the Fenstermaker Foundation started giving to CSUSM in 1996 and has remained a steadfast supporter ever since.     “The Fenstermaker Foundation’s endowment will allow CSUSM Summer Scholars students to get paid, hands-on research experiences in STEM,” said Julie Jameson, director of CSUSM's graduate program in biology. “This type of opportunity truly changes lives and fulfills the university’s mission of student success.” CSUSM proudly honors Brooks, a remarkable champion of STEM education. Through her visionary leadership, the Fenstermaker Foundation has made an enduring impact on CSUSM, fostering innovation and creating opportunities that will empower students and transform lives for years to come. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Following the end of Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 regulations today, the requirements for reporting positive cases and notifying exposures in the workplace will cease. As a result, CSUSM will no longer report positive cases, conduct contact tracing, maintain the COVID-19 website or send exposure notifications. Effective today, individuals who test positive for, have been exposed to or show symptoms of COVID-19 will no longer be required to submit a report. If you feel unwell with flu- or cold-like symptoms, please stay home, take necessary precautions and seek guidance from a health care provider. Applicable policies and guidelines will be updated based on the latest public health recommendations to ensure the safety of our campus community. We appreciate your continued cooperation and flexibility throughout this time and thank you for helping us prioritize the health and safety of everyone on campus. Visit the Safety, Health and Sustainability website for health and safety reminders or contact us with questions at shs@csusm.edu.

The second Arts & Lectures event of the spring semester will feature “Songs of the Wayfarer,” a reading of select poems of Rabindranath Tagore, India’s Nobel laureate.   Translations from Bengali to English were created by Jayanta Acharya, original music was composed by CSUSM music professor Mtafiti Imara and dances were choreographed by Anusree Bonnerjee and Cherie Hill. Each step in this collaborative process involved reflections on the central theme: one who goes on a spiritual journey. It’s both an ancient and modern theme found in many disciplines, including literature, religion and mythology. These songs ask questions of what defines us as individuals and as connected humans.  The event is at 7 p.m. on Feb. 15 in Arts 111. Reserve tickets online via the Arts & Lectures website.  CSUSM’s Arts & Lectures series offers a diverse lineup of artistic, cultural and scholarly events every semester based on input and proposals from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.    What: Arts & Lectures event “Songs of the Wayfarer”   When: 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 15   Where: Arts 111  Cost: Free for CSUSM students, $5 for faculty, staff and alumni; $10 for community members  Tickets: Arts and Lectures website  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

A mandatory campuswide building evacuation drill will be held on Feb. 12 at 9 a.m. The drill complies with a California State University policy that requires each campus in the system to conduct a building evacuation drill at least once annually. On Feb. 12 at 9 a.m., a message will be sent via the emergency notification system to start the evacuation drill. Multiple modalities may be utilized, including desktop alerts, digital signage, library PA, Cougar Central PA and text messages. Your building’s fire alarm also may activate. The drill is expected to last 20-30 minutes. Please evacuate the building, report to the nearest evacuation zone and wait for the “all clear” before re-entering. You can review the building evacuation zone assignments at https://www.csusm.edu/em/documents/csusmevaczones24.pdf. Contact Emergency Management at em@csusm.edu with any questions.

In honor of Black Excellence Month, Cal State San Marcos’ Black Student Center is hosting a series of events to celebrate and foster empowerment among the CSUSM Black community through the arts, education, student engagement and community initiatives.  The festivities will conclude with the annual Black Excellence Awards Gala on Feb. 27. In addition to the listed events, plans are in the works for events that include a meet-and-greet with the Black Faculty & Staff Association, and Networking with Excellence through the Career Center. Black Excellence Month events are open to all students and the campus community.   Black Excellence Month Flag-Raising Ceremony and Lunch Feb. 4, 11:30 a.m., Chavez Circle flagpole/USU Ballroom Start the month of celebration with words of welcome, encouragement and reflections from members of the campus community followed by a celebratory lunch. This event serves as a powerful reminder of the rich cultural heritage and the ongoing pursuit of equity and justice. All are welcome to attend and engage with the BSC community, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Black excellence.   Black Brilliance In Motion: A Workshop for Black-Identifying Males With Hip-Hop Artist Quentin Robinson Feb. 4, noon, Arts Building 101/Black Student Center (USU 4200) In collaboration with Arts & Lectures, this workshop will help Black men use movement to connect with who they are and create their own path. Following the workshop, at 1 p.m., attendees are invited to an Q&A session with Robinson in the Black Student Center. The event is open to students, staff and faculty.   Creating Our Excellence: A Keynote With Kevon Lee Feb. 11, noon, Black Student Center (USU 4200) Lee, a motivational speaker, will deliver a speech empowering students to chart their path with excellence. Attendees will leave with a greater skill set to navigate the societal context in which we exist.   Divine Nine Panel Feb. 13, noon, Black Student Center (USU 4200) All are invited to learn about the National Pan-Hellenic Council and expand their network through the Divine Nine, which represents all nine member NPHC organizations.   Carnaval Feb. 13, 5 p.m., USU Ballroom Join this annual collaboration with the Latinx Center to celebrate with cultural games, food and entertainment.    Black Student Center Birthday Hour Feb. 18, noon, Black Student Center (USU 4200) Come celebrate the Black Student Center’s eighth birthday! This event is intended to honor the history of the center while continuing to push for progress in the years ahead.   Black Excellence Awards Gala Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m., USU Ballroom The Black Student Center is hosting this inaugural event in collaboration with Tukwut Life to celebrate and highlight the Black community. The evening will be a showcase of achievements and inspiring stories from our vibrant community. Guests are encouraged to dress in their finest attire to honor the occasion and the remarkable accomplishments being celebrated. Please RSVP using this form by Feb. 17 Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Suzanna Krivulskaya is a Cal State San Marcos history professor who specializes in the history of religion and sexuality. It’s only natural, then, that her first book is about one particular way that those two topics have intersected in American life.  Jan. 17 was the publication date of Krivulskaya’s debut book, titled “Disgraced: How Sex Scandals Transformed American Protestantism.” The book is described by its publisher, Oxford University Press, as a “sweeping religious and cultural history of Protestant sex scandals in 19th- and 20th-century America” as Krivulskaya “investigates the cultural consequences of scandal, what demands the public made of religion in response to revelations of pastoral misdeeds and how Protestantism itself changed in the process.” Krivulskaya, who has worked at CSUSM since 2019, says she’s thrilled that the book is out in the world. “The project is the culmination of years of research, draft workshops in communities of deep thinkers, and revisions,” she said. “I hope that the topic will attract a broad readership, and I hope that they learn from the many fascinating stories I tell in the book.” “Disgraced” originated as Krivulskaya’s dissertation during her time as a Ph.D. student at the University of Notre Dame from 2015 to 2019. In the course of her research for the project, she combed newspaper archives from the first half of the 1800s, which witnessed the emergence of human interest journalism. She then traced how the U.S. press covered the stories of ministerial downfalls through the late 1900s.  “It turns out that sex scandals have not been mere aberrations in the history of American religion. In fact, they have plagued churches since the birth of the modern press in the 1830s,” Krivulskaya said. “Initially, newspapers were hesitant to report on stories of ministers’ sexual transgressions because they wanted to protect the sanctity of Protestantism, which was the faith of the majority. But ministers kept getting caught up in scandals.  “By the end of the century, the press was on a crusade to expose all manner of hypocrisy among the nation’s leaders. Churches and religious institutions, in turn, strategized about addressing the crisis in their midst – to varying degrees of success. Scandals continued to propel newspaper sales and excite public sentiment, ultimately compelling Protestant institutions to attempt to handle matters internally to protect their reputations.  “By the late 20th century, a culture of secrecy and the rise of charismatic religious celebrities enabled tremendous abuses of power, as the scandals of multiple televangelists demonstrate. And, at the same time, scandal ceased to shock the public, thereby losing some of its generative potency.” Krivulskaya says her goal is for readers to come away from the book with a deep understanding of the major developments in journalism, religion and sexuality since the 19th century. She also wants readers to feel inspired to hold religious institutions accountable in the wake of scandals.  “Finally, I hope readers have fun,” she said. “The stories I tell in this book are fascinating, and the characters are colorful and compelling. I hope my narrative does them justice, and I hope my readers get to know these historical figures in all their messiness and complexity.” “Disgraced” is available for purchase on Amazon. It also can be bought at Oxford University Press for 30% off using the discount code AUFLY30. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Cal State San Marcos College of Business Administration alumnus A.J. van de Ven is one of 24 business school graduates honored by AACSB International, the world’s largest business education alliance, as part of the 2025 Class of Influential Leaders. This is the 10th year that AACSB’s Influential Leaders member spotlight program highlights the value that business schools bring to business and society. Van de Ven, who graduated from CSUSM in 2004, is the CEO of Calsense, an irrigation smart system provider. Calsense has designed irrigation control systems for a diverse array of applications for over 30 years. While working there, van de Ven has driven significant impact through innovative ventures like Irrigation Managementas a Service (IMaaS), which has expanded access to smart irrigation technology.  Van de Ven has proven how he is deeply committed to water conservation and sustainability. With the introduction of IMaaS, the company was able to address financial barriers faced by organizations when adopting smart irrigation technology. Because of his efforts, different organizations such as school districts and universities can access these solutions without having to face financial difficulties. In addition to his work at Calsense, van de Ven has volunteered as a chairperson for ECOLIFE Conservation, contributing to projects that protect wildlife and support underserved communities.  “Van de Ven’s work demonstrates how business schools can fuel solution-minded leaders to create new business ventures and solve complex challenges,” said Lily Bi, AACSB president and CEO. “Through entrepreneurial approaches and visionary thinking, van de Ven is creating meaningful change in the world.” AACSB’s Influential Leaders have all earned an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree from one of the more than 950 AACSB-accredited business schools worldwide. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

The spring Arts & Lectures series will open with a day-long cypher and battle led by two notable hip-hop artists, Johnny Lopez (Johnny 5) and Quentin Robinson (SpecialFX).  Born in Oakland, Johnny5 is a Latino professional turf dancer and the founder of TURFinc, a Bay Area company that instills positive changes in the community through dance. SpecialFX is a father of two, a Marine Corps veteran and the founder of Movements 4 Movements. At CSUSM, they will share hip-hop dance and culture during an event that includes guest lectures, dance workshops and a cypher featuring authentic hip-hop dancers, performances, competitions and classes.  The event is from 1-10 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the USU Ballroom. Reserve tickets online via the Arts & Lectures website.  CSUSM’s Arts & Lectures series offers a diverse lineup of artistic, cultural and scholarly events every semester based on input and proposals from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.     What: Arts & Lectures event “All-Out Turf & Popping Hip-Hop Cypher and Battle”  Who: Johnny Lopez (Johnny 5) and Quentin Robinson (SpecialFX), two notable hip-hop artists  When: 1-10 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5  Where: USU Ballroom  Cost: Free for CSUSM students; $5 for faculty, staff and alumni; $10 for community members  Tickets: Visit the Arts and Lectures ticket webpage  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

The Cal State San Marcos University Library has received the 2025 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award from the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.  This marks the second year that Insight Into Diversity magazine has presented the LEAD Award, which honors academic libraries’ programs and initiatives that encourage and support DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) across their campus. These include, but are not limited to, research, technology, accessibility, exhibitions and community outreach.   The CSUSM library was honored for the second year in a row and will be featured, along with 33 other recipients, in the March 2025 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine.  “The University Library is deeply honored to receive this recognition again because we believe that libraries are more than just places to access information – they are vital hubs where every member of our community feels seen, valued and empowered,” said Toni Olivas, the library’s interim co-dean for faculty and system affairs. “This acknowledgment reflects our ongoing efforts to celebrate diverse voices, foster inclusivity and create a welcoming space for everyone. Whether it’s through our multilingual collections, culturally rich programming or partnerships with community organizations, we are dedicated to breaking barriers and building connections.” Insight Into Diversity magazine selected the CSUSM library because of its many diversity initiatives, including the infusion of DEI in its recently completed strategic plan; hiring a bilingual (Spanish and English) librarian to work with student families and the larger community; its support of underrepresented authors and researchers; art installations with DEI themes; and mandatory and valued DEI work in the librarian tenure process.  “We know that many academic libraries are not always recognized for their dedication to diversity, inclusion and access” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine. “We are proud to honor these college and university libraries as role models for other institutions of higher education.”  A call for nominations for this award was announced in October.  Insight Into Diversity also annually hands out the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, which recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. CSUSM last fall received the HEED Award for the 11^th consecutive year.   For more information about the 2025 LEAD Award, visit insightintodiversity.com. 

For most of her life, Patrice Amon has bristled at the popular notion that Latino people vote as one monolithic bloc. So when she came across a script last year that delves into that very subject, she knew she had to make it her next stage production. The result is “The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote,” a play that will be performed at Cal State San Marcos on Wednesday night. Directed by Amon, the chair of CSUSM’s theater department, the show will take place at 7 p.m. in Room 111 of the Arts Building. Tickets are free. “There’s often an assumption that different parts of the Latino community will all act the same,” Amon said. “There is an abundance of diversity within the community. There’s a variety of languages that are spoken, a wide array of racial identities that we hold, a diversity of religions we practice. In that way, it is overly simplistic to imagine that all Latinos vote in a single bloc. There’s such diversity within the community that our voting practices are often just as diverse as we are.” “The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote” centers on Paola Aguilar, a university professor who’s an expert in Latinx studies and who’s in debt from years of fertility treatments. Facing financial strain, she accepts a lucrative offer from a political party seeking to decode and capture the titular vote ahead of an impending election. As Paola navigates the party’s often superficial understanding of her community, the play satirizes the oversimplification of Latino identities. The script was written by Bernardo Cubria, a Mexican playwright who lives in Los Angeles. Cubria based the story on his own experiences of volunteering for the Democratic Party and going through in vitro fertilization with his wife. Amon saw an early reading last January at The Old Globe’s Powers New Voices Festival and decided to produce it through TuYo Theatre, a San Diego company that specializes in Latinx narratives and for which she is co-artistic director. The play opened on Jan. 3 at a high school in Chula Vista, and after the show at CSUSM, it also will be staged at High Tech High and San Diego State. The 90-minute comedy features a cast of six, including Kevane Coleman, the administrative coordinator for the CSUSM art, media and design department who’s also a professional actor, singer and dancer. Coleman plays the role of Bernard, a political adviser who works with three other advisers to recruit Paola to help bolster the party's share of the Latino vote. Bernard and his partner have been on their own IVF journey, and he uses that as a way to befriend Paola after she has a miscarriage.  “When audiences, especially our students, come to see this play, I know many of them will see themselves reflected on stage,” Coleman said. “That representation is powerful and vital to the work we do as artists, but also the work that we do within each of our communities. As the president of the Black Faculty and Staff Association on campus, this production has also been an extraordinary learning experience for me. To be immersed in the Latin community by doing this show, it has broadened my understanding of critical issues facing this community.” Besides faculty in Amon and staff in Coleman, “The Hispanic Vote” also has CSUSM representation in the crew from Abby Chacon, a senior theater major who’s serving as assistant stage manager. About 40 tickets for the show are available. To reserve a seat, email info@tuyotheatre.org. “I think this play will resonate with our students and the larger campus community,” Amon said, “because we all want to live in a world where we spend more time thinking about the nuances of our world.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Welcome to the spring semester! We hope you have enjoyed a restorative winter break. We look forward to our work together this spring in support students’ academic success. Learning & Tutoring Services for Spring 2025 The learning centers are at the heart of the direct academic support the Office of Undergraduate Studies (OUGS) provides CSUSM students. Virtual and in-person academic support is available. For a list of specific courses supported, visit our website. We look forward to working with you to ensure students have access to available academic resources.    STEM Success Center supports courses in these disciplines: Biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics Writing Center: Supports writing in all courses Supplemental Instruction supports courses in these disciplines: Biology, chemistry, economics, physics, psychology and speech-language pathology NetTutor supports courses in these disciplines: Business, economics, finance, history, psychology, political science, philosophy, Spanish, statistics for human development, and statistics for psychology Language for your Syllabi/Cougar Course Container Faculty are our most powerful partners in engaging students with academic support resources on our campus. To assist you in directing students to campus academic support resources, we have drafted language to include on your syllabi/Cougar Course Containers. We encourage you to share this link with your students. When do we open to students? Students are welcome to visit Learning & Tutoring Services to see the space or study beginning Jan. 21. Tutoring begins Jan. 27 and is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Where? The second floor of the Extended Learning Building. The STEM Success Center is in ELB 250. The Writing Center is in ELB 201 for in-person tutoring (see our website for virtual support options). Do students visit the academic learning centers? Yes. Supported by roughly 120 trained peer educators, the STEM Success Center, Writing Center, Supplemental Instruction (SI) program, and NetTutor supported more than 19,000 student visits during the 2023-24 academic year. This includes an 8.8% increase in unique visits from the 2022-23 academic year.  Nearly 7,000 students visited Learning & Tutoring Services in Fall 2024. Thank you, faculty and staff, for directing students to these learning centers and for your key role in recommending students to serve as peer educators in Learning & Tutoring Services. We can support many more students, so please continue to direct them to us. To what effect? Data suggest that students who make at least five visits to a single learning center per semester in support of a specific course tend to earn higher grades. Visiting the learning centers early and often is sage advice. In the words of one of our peer educators, “The more you go, the more you know.”  Friendly Suggestions: Add this language to your syllabi and Canvas course containers. Encourage students to stop by LTS during the first week of the semester to get acquainted. They can simply come by to look around. Encourage students to make use of the free tutoring at least once during weeks 1-3. Remind your students that LTS is a safe space to learn. Encourage them to bring a friend with them when they visit LTS. Remind your students that with regular visits to LTS early and often throughout the semester, their learning will be deeper, and their GPA will likely be higher.  Feel free to reach out to us with your questions and suggestions.  In his role as assistant dean, Adam Petersen supervises Learning & Tutoring Services. You can reach him at apetersen@csusm.edu. For Learning & Tutoring Services questions, contact Evan Smith (esmith@csusm.edu), Learning & Tutoring Services Director. For Writing Center questions, contact Allison Reyes (ajreyes@csusm.edu), Associate Director of LTS for Writing Support. For STEM Success Center questions, contact Paulina Coronado (pcoronado@csusm.edu),  Associate Director of LTS for STEM Support. For Supplemental Instruction (SI) questions, contact Alex Picasso (apicasso@csusm.edu), SI Coordinator.  We know that the more students believe they belong, the better they do academically.  Thank you for all you do to enrich this vibrant learning community. Best wishes for a wonderful spring semester. Dawn M. Formo Dean, Undergraduate Studies Adam Petersen Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Studies

Cal State San Marcos will host a special event in March to showcase an oral history film project dedicated to preserving the powerful stories of military veterans. The event, titled “Veterans History Project: An Unveiling of the Journey,” will take place March 19 in the ballroom of the University Student Union on CSUSM’s campus. Directed by Jason Beyer (a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CSUSM alumnus) and Marilyn Huerta (a CSUSM alumna and employee), the event will provide an intimate and poignant look into the personal experiences of veterans who served across multiple wars and branches of the U.S. military. The Veterans History Project is a collaborative effort among CSUSM, the Library of Congress in Washington and the university’s Kellogg Library, with the veterans’ interviews being archived both at the Library of Congress and the CSUSM library’s special collections department. The project’s purpose is to ensure that the stories of U.S. veterans are preserved for future generations, honoring their sacrifices and contributions. The March 19 program, which begins at 6 p.m., will feature powerful snippets from filmed interviews with six local veterans: Elmer Royce Williams, a 99-year-old who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War Dora Beachman, Marines (and CSUSM alumna) Michael Lacea, Navy (and CSUSM alumnus) Albert Toro, Army Thomas Galyean, Army James Forester, Air Force The event also includes a keynote address by Amy Forsythe, a Marine veteran, Navy reservist and CSUSM alumna who will reflect on the importance of preserving veteran stories and the ongoing impact of military service on communities. The formal program will be preceded at 5 p.m. by a veteran/military resource fair and reception, offering attendees an opportunity to learn more about veteran resources and services. The Veterans History Project is the result of months of dedicated work by Beyer, who connected with and interviewed the veterans and also ensured that all interviews met the criteria for archiving with the Library of Congress. Huerta, who spearheaded the initiative on the CSUSM campus, helped bring the project to fruition and is leading the coordination of the March 19 event. CSUSM student Adel Bautista also played a key role by filming the interviews, and history lecturer Shad Thielman will be helping to create video transcriptions for the project archives. The resulting footage will be shared with the Library of Congress and archived for future generations. Additionally, Sean Visintainer and Jennifer Ho from the CSUSM library are responsible for archiving the filmed interviews, ensuring their preservation for future research and study. These interviews will be included in the Voices of North County collection, a digital archive hosted by the CSUSM Library. “These veterans’ stories are not just part of history; they are part of our community's fabric,” Huerta said. “By archiving these oral histories, we are making sure future generations can connect with the courage, resilience and sacrifice of those who served our country.” The event is open to the public. CSUSM students and the military-affiliated community can attend for free, while tickets cost $5 for CSUSM faculty, staff and alumni, and $10 for the general public. The Veterans History Project is sponsored by multiple CSUSM organizations: Veterans Services; the College of Business Administration; the College of Education, Health and Human Services; the departments of history and social work; Student Health & Counseling Services; and Kappa Sigma Tau-Omicron. “We are incredibly grateful for our partners and supporters,” Beyer said. “Together, we are ensuring that the voices of our veterans are not forgotten and that their legacies continue to inspire future generations.” Event tickets can be reserved online. Anyone interested in participating in the resource fair can email Huerta at mhuerta@csusm.edu or Beyer at beyer005@csusm.edu.   Veterans History Project: An Unveiling of the Journey Date: March 19 Time: 6 p.m. (resource fair and reception at 5) Location: CSUSM’s University Student Union Ballroom Tickets: CSUSM students: Free Military-affiliated community and resource fair guests: Free CSUSM faculty/staff/alumni: Free Community: $10

Cal State San Marcos President Dr. Ellen J. Neufeldt has been named the recipient of the 2025 NASPA President’s Award, a prestigious national recognition honoring college and university presidents or chancellors who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to advancing student success.  NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, is the leading association for student affairs professionals in higher education. NASPA presents the President’s Award annually to a leader who exemplifies extraordinary dedication to student life and engagement. Neufeldt’s selection highlights her remarkable contributions to student success initiatives, advocacy for equity in and access to higher education, and her unwavering commitment to advancing social mobility.  “It is an incredible honor and truly humbling to receive the NASPA President’s Award,” Neufeldt said. “Throughout my entire career, I’ve been able to work alongside some amazing colleagues who tirelessly support student success and foster inclusive educational pathways. This work is deeply personal to me, and I feel so lucky to wake up each day in a profession that is driven by such purpose.”  Since assuming the presidency of CSUSM in 2019, Neufeldt has positioned the university as a national leader in social mobility. CSUSM hosts the National Social Mobility Symposium each year and in 2022 was ranked the nation’s No. 1 institution for social mobility by CollegeNET. Under her leadership, CSUSM has launched innovative programs that integrate research and experiential learning, securing more than $20 million in grant awards and $26 million in donor funding to support initiatives that prepare students for career success. Her dedication to access and equity in education has reshaped student success strategies at CSUSM and beyond.  “President Neufeldt has achieved something rare among university presidents: She has created a space where students can freely express their candid emotions and pursue their passions, no matter the situation,” student leaders from Associated Students, Inc., wrote in their support letter. “President Neufeldt’s commitment to meeting students where they are has redefined what it means to lead with empathy and intentionality.”  Colleagues in student affairs and enrollment management who supported Neufeldt’s nomination emphasized her far-reaching impact in higher education leadership. In their letter of support, they wrote: “Beyond her student-centered approach, President Neufeldt has inspired and mentored hundreds of NASPA student affairs professionals who continue to follow her example. Her tireless leadership has had a profound impact on students, faculty and the broader community. She is a woman of action who engages stakeholders with thoughtful consideration and delivers real results.”  Neufeldt has long been recognized as a national leader in student affairs, previously earning NASPA’s Pillar of the Profession Award (2017) and the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Senior Student Affairs Officer (2014). Before leading CSUSM, she held key leadership roles at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Salisbury University in Maryland and Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she spearheaded transformative student success and social mobility initiatives. 

Did you know there are three ways to check the working status of CSUSM’s 40 elevators and five wheelchair lifts? 1. Facilities Development and Management tracks the working status of our elevators with this interactive map.  https://workrequest.csusm.edu/elevator/status.php 2. You can also sign up for email notifications that automatically alert you when our elevators are taken out of service or returned to service here. https://m.csusm.edu/default/kurogo_message_center/channels?feed=messages_channel_eac8ab41-0a30-45fd-aa4b-e1bca1ec9644 3. You can also receive automatic notifications on your phone through the CSUSM App. To sign up do the following steps: • Sign in to the CSUSM App • Go to “Maps” • Click on “Elevator Status” • Click on the “Opt In” button