Newsroom
- Students Gain Valuable Perspective From Callaway VisitEvery great pathway requires a beginning. For some, the chapter can be introduced during their educational journey. Last month, Cal State San Marcos’ Career Center partnered with the College of Business Administration and College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to take students to tour Callaway Golf headquarters in Carlsbad. Callaway doesn’t offer public tours, creating a unique opportunity. In addition to touring headquarters, students heard from professionals who shared advice and their experiences in the professional environment. Students also got exclusive early access to Callaway’s internship applications. “It was truly an eye-opening experience that exposed me to real-world insight and industry knowledge,” said Gia Poston, a fourth-year business marketing major. “It opened my eyes to what strong company culture looks like and it also provided me with networking opportunities with professionals.” Callaway Golf is the world's largest manufacturer of golf clubs. It also produces additional golf equipment, clothing and golf accessories. “My experience visiting Callaway was excellent,” said Hanna Silva Gomez, a third-year computer engineering student. “Through this experience I was able to learn a great amount of industry insights as well as getting the opportunity to hear about the journeys of certain Callaway team members that ultimately led them to join Callaway. “For me, the most fascinating part of the visit was getting to know about all the possibilities within various fields ranging from engineering to business. It was incredibly insightful to hear about the processes Callaway follows and how it all comes together to deliver an exceptional end result.” Other students who attended agreed about the benefits of the visit. “Hosting events like these opens the door for CSUSM students to engage in networking as well as learning industry insights, Silva Gomez said. “Events like this encourage students like me to develop skills by learning about innovative approaches used in the industry. “Familiarizing ourselves with the company allows us to learn about company culture and get to know about possible internship opportunities or programs offered by the company, which ultimately can allow us to stand out as a candidate in the near future.” Greg Zamora, a third-year finance student, shared the same perspective. “From this experience, I gained plenty of inspiration and career insights learning about the intern program and the career paths of speakers,” he said. “I also gained a deeper understanding of Callaway Golf itself as a company, specifically how it operates globally with its variety of golf lines.” The Career Center is planning to host more events like this in the future and represent a variety of careers and potential internships. “As a Career Center, our goal is to create meaningful opportunities for students to engage with industry leaders and gain real-world insights," said Yasmine Farley, the director of CSUSM's Career Center. "The visit to Callaway Golf exemplifies the power of partnerships in bridging the gap between academic learning and professional success. I look forward to organizing more opportunities like this for our CSUSM students.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- Campus Rec Sees Transformative Potential of Proposed FacilityTwo years ago, Alyssa Loschiavo decided to work for Campus Recreation because she needed a job to help support herself financially as a student at Cal State San Marcos. Loschiavo found so much more than a steady paycheck. She advanced to being the student coordinator of Outdoor Adventures. She developed skills that include leadership, communication and technical know-how. She even began to see potential career pathways that she never would have considered previously. “Before joining Campus Recreation, my career prospects felt limited,” said Loschiavo, a junior kinesiology major. “But this experience has greatly expanded my understanding of available opportunities.” Loschiavo is part of the small but mighty team at Campus Recreation, which features five full-time professional staff members and 35 student assistants. In the most recent academic year, the organization hosted 24 day and overnight trips through Outdoor Adventures, serving 221 students; ran 12 intramural leagues, serving 869 students; welcomed more than 2,000 participants in 290 group fitness classes and nine wellness events; and supported 425 members across a dozen sport clubs. Campus Rec, though, has long since run out of space while sharing Clarke Field House with CSUSM’s athletic department, limiting its ability to grow in line with the campus. To remedy that, the group for years has been advocating for a new wellness and recreation facility that would address its needs and benefit the student body holistically. Next week, Campus Rec hopes to take a big step toward making its vision a reality. From Oct. 21-23, a referendum will be held in which students can vote on whether they want to increase their student fees to fund the project. Voting will begin on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 a.m. and continue until Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Ballots will be sent to eligible students via their university-registered email addresses. All matriculated students who pay the recreation fee are eligible to vote. CSUSM is planning to lease space in a new mixed facility boasting 49,200 square feet for wellness, recreation and basic needs services, plus 530 new student housing beds. The building would feature, among other amenities, more than 10,000 square feet for cardio machines and strength training equipment; dedicated wellness areas; an outdoor rooftop deck with a synthetic turf field for fitness programs, intramurals and sport club workouts; two standard-sized indoor courts; multipurpose rooms for a variety of individual and group activities; and a commuter lounge and e-sports collaboration den. The wellness and recreation facility would be located across Barham Drive from University Village Apartments and directly next to The QUAD. Lisa Dickinson, director of Campus Rec, said CSUSM is one of the only California State University campuses that lacks such a facility for its students. “This is truly a now-or-never opportunity,” Dickinson said. “The traditional path to a building on campus is too expensive and therefore not possible. This facility can be transformative in young people’s lives and create waves of positive change for families and their communities.” CSUSM held a referendum on the same project in April that received a low response rate and failed to garner the requisite majority of the vote. Since then, Campus Rec has solicited feedback from students and modified its proposal accordingly. The three notable changes are: The increase to the recreation fee was reduced by $20, to $245 per semester (representing a $210 hike to the existing $35 fee). The referendum in the spring called for a fee of $265 per semester. The fee will not be charged until the year when the facility opens, which is projected to be 2026-27. Students objected to language in the previous proposal calling for them to start paying the higher fee in fall 2025, one year before the building’s opening. The facility will be able to support more diverse programming. Large spaces like the indoor courts, rooftop terrace and outdoor courtyard can be reserved for student organization, department or student life events, which will expand programs to promote recruitment, retention, community and student success. “I’m optimistic about this referendum vote because of the changes we made to it,” said Jacob Alvarez, a student assistant for Outdoor Adventures. “The biggest criticism we heard was about the fee for students who weren’t going to be here when the building opened. Now that we have deferred the payment until the opening of the facility, this will no longer be an issue.” Alvarez and Loschiavo are among the student assistants who double as Campus Rec ambassadors, fanning out across campus and social media to educate their fellow students about the referendum and the facility, and encourage them to make their voices heard. The ambassadors have given presentations on the upcoming vote in classes and to sports teams, even appearing at large events like the recent Cougar Madness. They mention aspects that could be appealing, like the 70-plus student employment positions and academic program partnerships. “We've received a great deal of positive feedback from the places where we have made presentations on the proposal,” Loschiavo said. “I feel that students are much more educated about the referendum this semester. The student ambassador and project team's goals are to be as transparent as possible to students, to allow them to fully understand what the referendum entails so that they can provide an accurately educated and informed vote.” Students who will graduate before the facility opens won't have to pay the fee, nor will they be able to enjoy the facility, but they can leave a legacy of supporting well-being and better spaces for future Cougars. “This referendum has to pass for the benefit of all future students and for the good of the campus,” said Davis Hancock, a fourth-year student who plays lacrosse at CSUSM. Loschiavo understands how important the vote next week is to Campus Rec and the university. “The proposed facility,” she said, “has the potential to transform the CSUSM student experience.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306
Student Announcements
- Parking and Commuter RemindersAs the fall semester kicks off, remember to set aside some additional time for your commute to campus. The first few weeks are always a busier period with students, staff and faculty getting back into the swing of things. Whether you are walking, driving or biking, expect a little extra hustle and bustle on the campus pathways and parking areas. Planning ahead can help ensure you arrive on time and stress-free for your classes or meetings. Avoid additional driving stress and parking fees by choosing one of the many free or highly discounted forms of sustainable transportation at CSUSM. Biking, transit, carpool and vanpool options are available here. Contact our sustainable transportation coordinator at 760-750-7029 or commuterprograms@csusm.edu for more information. Welcome back, Cougars, and have a great start to the semester!
- Academic Support Offered Through Learning & Tutoring ServicesWelcome to the new academic year! We hope you have enjoyed a restorative summer. We look forward to our work together in the year ahead in support students’ academic success. Learning & Tutoring Services for Fall 2024 The learning centers are at the heart of the direct academic support that 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 that 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 Courses 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 Courses containers. You also may want to provide this link to your students. When do we open to students? Students are welcome to visit Learning & Tutoring Services to see the space or study beginning Aug. 26. Tutoring begins Sept. 3 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. 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 the 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 likely will 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 fall semester. Dawn M. Formo Dean, Undergraduate Studies Adam Petersen Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Studies
News Release
- Students Gain Valuable Perspective From Callaway VisitEvery great pathway requires a beginning. For some, the chapter can be introduced during their educational journey. Last month, Cal State San Marcos’ Career Center partnered with the College of Business Administration and College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to take students to tour Callaway Golf headquarters in Carlsbad. Callaway doesn’t offer public tours, creating a unique opportunity. In addition to touring headquarters, students heard from professionals who shared advice and their experiences in the professional environment. Students also got exclusive early access to Callaway’s internship applications. “It was truly an eye-opening experience that exposed me to real-world insight and industry knowledge,” said Gia Poston, a fourth-year business marketing major. “It opened my eyes to what strong company culture looks like and it also provided me with networking opportunities with professionals.” Callaway Golf is the world's largest manufacturer of golf clubs. It also produces additional golf equipment, clothing and golf accessories. “My experience visiting Callaway was excellent,” said Hanna Silva Gomez, a third-year computer engineering student. “Through this experience I was able to learn a great amount of industry insights as well as getting the opportunity to hear about the journeys of certain Callaway team members that ultimately led them to join Callaway. “For me, the most fascinating part of the visit was getting to know about all the possibilities within various fields ranging from engineering to business. It was incredibly insightful to hear about the processes Callaway follows and how it all comes together to deliver an exceptional end result.” Other students who attended agreed about the benefits of the visit. “Hosting events like these opens the door for CSUSM students to engage in networking as well as learning industry insights, Silva Gomez said. “Events like this encourage students like me to develop skills by learning about innovative approaches used in the industry. “Familiarizing ourselves with the company allows us to learn about company culture and get to know about possible internship opportunities or programs offered by the company, which ultimately can allow us to stand out as a candidate in the near future.” Greg Zamora, a third-year finance student, shared the same perspective. “From this experience, I gained plenty of inspiration and career insights learning about the intern program and the career paths of speakers,” he said. “I also gained a deeper understanding of Callaway Golf itself as a company, specifically how it operates globally with its variety of golf lines.” The Career Center is planning to host more events like this in the future and represent a variety of careers and potential internships. “As a Career Center, our goal is to create meaningful opportunities for students to engage with industry leaders and gain real-world insights," said Yasmine Farley, the director of CSUSM's Career Center. "The visit to Callaway Golf exemplifies the power of partnerships in bridging the gap between academic learning and professional success. I look forward to organizing more opportunities like this for our CSUSM students.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- Campus Rec Sees Transformative Potential of Proposed FacilityTwo years ago, Alyssa Loschiavo decided to work for Campus Recreation because she needed a job to help support herself financially as a student at Cal State San Marcos. Loschiavo found so much more than a steady paycheck. She advanced to being the student coordinator of Outdoor Adventures. She developed skills that include leadership, communication and technical know-how. She even began to see potential career pathways that she never would have considered previously. “Before joining Campus Recreation, my career prospects felt limited,” said Loschiavo, a junior kinesiology major. “But this experience has greatly expanded my understanding of available opportunities.” Loschiavo is part of the small but mighty team at Campus Recreation, which features five full-time professional staff members and 35 student assistants. In the most recent academic year, the organization hosted 24 day and overnight trips through Outdoor Adventures, serving 221 students; ran 12 intramural leagues, serving 869 students; welcomed more than 2,000 participants in 290 group fitness classes and nine wellness events; and supported 425 members across a dozen sport clubs. Campus Rec, though, has long since run out of space while sharing Clarke Field House with CSUSM’s athletic department, limiting its ability to grow in line with the campus. To remedy that, the group for years has been advocating for a new wellness and recreation facility that would address its needs and benefit the student body holistically. Next week, Campus Rec hopes to take a big step toward making its vision a reality. From Oct. 21-23, a referendum will be held in which students can vote on whether they want to increase their student fees to fund the project. Voting will begin on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 a.m. and continue until Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Ballots will be sent to eligible students via their university-registered email addresses. All matriculated students who pay the recreation fee are eligible to vote. CSUSM is planning to lease space in a new mixed facility boasting 49,200 square feet for wellness, recreation and basic needs services, plus 530 new student housing beds. The building would feature, among other amenities, more than 10,000 square feet for cardio machines and strength training equipment; dedicated wellness areas; an outdoor rooftop deck with a synthetic turf field for fitness programs, intramurals and sport club workouts; two standard-sized indoor courts; multipurpose rooms for a variety of individual and group activities; and a commuter lounge and e-sports collaboration den. The wellness and recreation facility would be located across Barham Drive from University Village Apartments and directly next to The QUAD. Lisa Dickinson, director of Campus Rec, said CSUSM is one of the only California State University campuses that lacks such a facility for its students. “This is truly a now-or-never opportunity,” Dickinson said. “The traditional path to a building on campus is too expensive and therefore not possible. This facility can be transformative in young people’s lives and create waves of positive change for families and their communities.” CSUSM held a referendum on the same project in April that received a low response rate and failed to garner the requisite majority of the vote. Since then, Campus Rec has solicited feedback from students and modified its proposal accordingly. The three notable changes are: The increase to the recreation fee was reduced by $20, to $245 per semester (representing a $210 hike to the existing $35 fee). The referendum in the spring called for a fee of $265 per semester. The fee will not be charged until the year when the facility opens, which is projected to be 2026-27. Students objected to language in the previous proposal calling for them to start paying the higher fee in fall 2025, one year before the building’s opening. The facility will be able to support more diverse programming. Large spaces like the indoor courts, rooftop terrace and outdoor courtyard can be reserved for student organization, department or student life events, which will expand programs to promote recruitment, retention, community and student success. “I’m optimistic about this referendum vote because of the changes we made to it,” said Jacob Alvarez, a student assistant for Outdoor Adventures. “The biggest criticism we heard was about the fee for students who weren’t going to be here when the building opened. Now that we have deferred the payment until the opening of the facility, this will no longer be an issue.” Alvarez and Loschiavo are among the student assistants who double as Campus Rec ambassadors, fanning out across campus and social media to educate their fellow students about the referendum and the facility, and encourage them to make their voices heard. The ambassadors have given presentations on the upcoming vote in classes and to sports teams, even appearing at large events like the recent Cougar Madness. They mention aspects that could be appealing, like the 70-plus student employment positions and academic program partnerships. “We've received a great deal of positive feedback from the places where we have made presentations on the proposal,” Loschiavo said. “I feel that students are much more educated about the referendum this semester. The student ambassador and project team's goals are to be as transparent as possible to students, to allow them to fully understand what the referendum entails so that they can provide an accurately educated and informed vote.” Students who will graduate before the facility opens won't have to pay the fee, nor will they be able to enjoy the facility, but they can leave a legacy of supporting well-being and better spaces for future Cougars. “This referendum has to pass for the benefit of all future students and for the good of the campus,” said Davis Hancock, a fourth-year student who plays lacrosse at CSUSM. Loschiavo understands how important the vote next week is to Campus Rec and the university. “The proposed facility,” she said, “has the potential to transform the CSUSM student experience.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306
Steps Magazine
- Appreciating an Untraditional Path to DegreeI’m proud to be of American Indian, Guamanian and Mexican heritage. But I’m not going to lie – being from a multicultural background comes with more than its share of challenges. There are many days when you feel like you're never good enough, never enough for the population that you’re around that particular day. Some days, I'm not Native enough because I'm not fully Native or because I don't speak my Native language. Other days, I’m not as Mexican as others if I’m not speaking Spanish consistently. Or it could be my lack of a certain tattoo to represent my Pacific Islander heritage. I’ve learned over time to switch between those identities – usually without even thinking about it – depending on the circle of people I’m with in that moment. It’s like a light switch that I can turn on and off as needed. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Emphasizing one of my identities over the others can also bring about self-doubt and sadness because I’m doing it to be accepted by the person or group I’m with in that moment. I’m grateful that my time at Cal State San Marcos has helped me navigate those challenges. My journey in higher education been a windy road, from starting at the University of Hawaii-Manoa as a marine biology major to earning three associate degrees at Grossmont College to now finishing my bachelor’s in psychological science this spring at CSUSM. It’s certainly not a traditional path, and there were many days that I worried about not living up to some imaginary timeline of how long it was supposed to take me to get my degree. Today, I can appreciate an untraditional journey that has taken six years to complete. And I’m especially thankful that this path led me to CSUSM. It’s here that I reconnected with my American Indian heritage while also having the opportunity to fully appreciate and explore my Guamanian and Mexican identities. I am a descendant of Navajo Nation, and my clan spans the four corners of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Most of my family lives in Arizona, including half on the reservation. I spent much of my childhood growing up in Arizona near my Native family. But I lost touch with much of that part of my identity as a teenager when we moved to San Diego. Even though Southern California is home to a significant Native population, it’s always different when you’re coming from a different place and not used to the customs or practices. While different tribes have many shared experiences, I'm also cognizant of being a guest here because this is not my traditional homeland. There’s a responsibility to show respect for where you are, respect for the land and knowing that this isn't mine personally or my ancestors’. It's about finding the proper balance. That’s something I’ve strived to do at CSUSM. When I came here, I didn’t even know the university offered an American Indian studies major. My first American Indian studies course came when I saw it being offered to fulfill an upper division general education requirement. I was fortunate that my professor, Lara Aase, encouraged me to visit the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center on campus. That led me to meeting Joely Proudfit, the center’s director and the department chair of American Indian studies, and learning about the American Indian Student Alliance (AISA). I’ve had the privilege over the past year of serving as president of AISA, which was honored by CSUSM’s Student Leadership & Involvement Center as the Student Organization of the Year for 2021-22. I also joined Associated Students, Inc., as the representative for diversity and inclusion. In this role, I’ve worked to ease racial tensions and create a space where dialogue and conversation can occur. It has been rewarding to see so many different organizations, both cultural and religious, come together. We know that we won’t resolve every issue or problem, but acknowledging that we see one another and recognize one another is a step in the right direction. We try to focus on how we can help and uplift each other. My multiculturalism has been a tremendous asset in this work. It’s allowed me to be an ally for so many groups on campus. As AISA president, I’ve encouraged members of our organization to embrace and learn about other cultural and religious groups on campus. And doing so doesn’t invalidate our identity, it’s simply making space for others to also be recognized and seen, something that so many groups are fighting for on campus. One of the biggest opportunities we have is to continue fostering an environment where all groups have space to grow and be recognized. It’s something that’s a big part of where I am at now, too, as a person. I’ve learned through my higher education journey the importance of communicating your thoughts because, ultimately, we’re all trying to advocate for ourselves. And that’s an important lesson for everyone, because if you don't advocate for yourself, no one else is going to do it for you. Self-advocacy is a skill that takes practice, to be sure. But once learned, it allows you to better express your concerns, helps people hear you in a non-adversarial way and makes them more inclined to listen. And that's what will bring about that change that we all want to see. Media Contact Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- Alumna Paves Way as Palomar's First Latina PresidentIt’s been more than three decades, but Mary Gonzales still remembers the Friday meetings with Star Rivera-Lacey at an IHOP in Oceanside. Gonzales referred to these regular meetups as her “counseling sessions” because Rivera-Lacey always shared sound advice. The two friends would chat over a cup of coffee and, if they were lucky and had enough money, share a piece of pie. When Gonzales was struggling, Rivera-Lacey would ask, “On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being world poverty, where does this problem fall?” Gonzales would typically respond with a low number on the scale, but the exercise helped her see her problems from a different perspective. “It taught me to stop sweating the small stuff,” said Gonzales, who is now retired from the San Diego County Office of Education. “That was one of her biggest powers, because now I share it with my own kids and I've shared it with other students. And I've heard people give it back and tell me the same thing. She always had that optimism of looking ahead.” That optimism continues to this day as Rivera-Lacey has grown from poverty in childhood to earning a Ph.D. and today serving as the first Latina superintendent/president of Palomar College. It was that ability to remain optimistic during challenging times that helped her become the first in her family to graduate from college when she received a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at Cal State San Marcos. It seems Rivera-Lacey’s parents knew she had a bright future from the moment they named her. "My mom really wanted me to have aspirations and picked the highest thing in the sky,” Rivera-Lacey said. “That's why she named me Star.” Money was always tight for Rivera-Lacey as a child growing up in Oceanside. Her parents immigrated from El Salvador before she was born, and they always stressed the importance of a college degree to allow her to have a promising career and future. With her parents’ encouragement, Rivera-Lacey cultivated a passion for learning from a young age. She saw how they worked to improve their English by taking ESL classes at Palomar. Sometimes they even took Rivera-Lacey with them. Little could they have imagined that, almost four decades later, she would return to lead that very college. But Rivera-Lacey’s path to becoming a higher education professional wasn’t an easy one. Just as she was about to graduate from El Camino High School, she learned she was one class short. Her counselor recommended taking a physical education class at MiraCosta College to get the extra credits she needed to graduate on time. Rivera-Lacey signed up for a hip-hop dance course, but getting to class was always a challenge. She was constantly searching for a ride or scavenging for gas money to make it to MiraCosta. But once there, Rivera-Lacey was introduced to Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, or EOPS, which provides access to financial assistance and support services for low-income students. The program counselors reassured Rivera-Lacey that she could have a future pursuing a college education after she graduated from high school. Rivera-Lacey gathered a strong support system at MiraCosta. When she wasn’t sure how to navigate the complex college system, the counselors helped her every step of the way. She also had the endless encouragement of her parents. And when she met Gonzales, they formed a quick bond because they understood each other's struggles as first-generation college students. “I had a family, and she was single. But for some reason, when we met, we clicked really well,” Gonzales said. “We were both struggling financially. She had a car that she named Herman, and I had a truck. Sometimes Herman worked, and sometimes my truck worked. But my car had a hole at the bottom, and Star was always afraid that she would fall through when it was my turn to drive.” Car troubles weren’t the only obstacle. Rivera-Lacey was juggling her academic pursuits while working full-time to make ends meet. Sometimes that meant a second job. But Rivera-Lacey remembers the relief she felt when EOPS helped ease the expenses of her classes, including a grant to help pay for books. While trying to balance work and school, Rivera-Lacey needed five years to obtain enough credits to transfer to a four-year university. But MiraCosta’s EOPS counselors never wavered in their support. If she needed to take a semester off to focus on work, they would welcome her back every time with open arms. “There was no judgment,” Rivera-Lacey said. “They offered me complete acceptance, which made all the difference in the world. I never had to feel embarrassed, and that's so special.” Rivera-Lacey continued to receive that type of support when she transferred to CSUSM. She was also grateful to land an on-campus job. After working in retail throughout her time at MiraCosta and constantly battling to get the work schedule she needed to attend classes, it was a relief to be working on a college campus. “I have had a million careers,” Rivera-Lacey said. “But one of the best things that happened when I was at CSUSM is that I worked in a department that used to be called Student Affirmative Action and Outreach.” This job was nothing like the ones Rivera-Lacey had before. She would visit students from local elementary and high schools and get them excited about a future in higher education. Elementary school kids also visited CSUSM. Rivera-Lacey remembers the paper cutouts of graduation caps for kids to try on and fake checks to take to the bookstore to simulate the financial aid process. “CSUSM was so forward-thinking by doing that kind of community outreach,” Rivera-Lacey said. “I'm not surprised at all to see the success that Cal State has now. They've been investing in the community for so many years.” While Rivera-Lacey was helping other students get enthused about the possibility of attending college, she came to a realization as she watched people from similar backgrounds succeed in their jobs at CSUSM – she needed to continue her higher education journey and pursue a career in the field. Rivera-Lacey worked alongside her friend Sabrina Sanders in the Student Affirmative Action and Outreach program. Sanders, who received a bachelor’s and master’s from CSUSM, also decided to pursue a career in higher ed because she and Rivera-Lacey saw themselves in the students they were serving and the impact of reaching underserved communities. “The co-curricular experience as student assistants prepared and inspired us to our careers in higher education,” said Sanders, who also earned a doctorate from Alliant International University and is now the director of the Toro Reengagement Program at California State University Dominguez Hills. “As a first-generation Latina, Rivera-Lacey had an impact on the elementary, high school and community college students that was powerful. Her college journey, experiences and representation continue to inspire and exemplify the values and opportunities that education provides and her parents instilled in her. Promoting access, equity and student success is more than a job for President Rivera-Lacey – it’s a calling.” When Rivera-Lacey received her bachelor’s in liberal studies in 1995, it was a life-changing moment for her parents to watch the first person in their family graduate from college. “I think when you experience poverty and with every semester that I got under my belt, it was like one step closer to freedom,” Rivera-Lacey said. Rivera-Lacey saw how her financial situation started to improve after earning her bachelor’s, but there were still challenges. When she was pursuing a master’s in counseling at San Diego State University, Rivera-Lacey remembers driving to take her final knowing she wouldn’t have enough gas to get home nor the money to fill her tank. “I remember clearly walking on the freeway,” she said. “I do not recommend that anybody get on the freeway, but one of my friends came and rescued me. And to this day, it is one of the stories that we laugh about, right? “There are going to be obstacles in the way, doors that close, but there's always a window that's open. If you just put one foot forward, the road will rise to meet. There are so many people who are in education that love what they do and believe in students. You'll find the help.” Rivera-Lacey never let any of the obstacles she faced get in the way of her end goal. She received her master's in counseling at SDSU in 1997 and eventually returned to school to get her Ph.D. in education from Claremont Graduate University in 2016. Rivera-Lacey knew she wanted to center her career around what she loved: student success. And she stayed with her passion for higher education for 17 years, which led her to become the superintendent/president of Palomar College in 2021. Just as when she was a child, Rivera-Lacey still has the same passion for continuing to grow and learn – and she’s in a position to inspire others to do the same as she works to build on Palomar’s success. Rivera-Lacey knows firsthand the struggles that so many students face, and she serves as a shining example to those who may never have seen a Latina college president. “I'm very, very surprised at people's reaction,” Rivera-Lacey said. “I remember during commencement, a student wanted to hug me because they’ve never seen a Latina president. And another student thanked me because their parents were able to understand the ‘Superintendent/President’s Welcome’ because we did it both in English and Spanish, which shows that representation does matter. “I tell people all the time, ‘I might be the first Latina Palomar superintendent/president, but I won't be the last.’ ” Media Contact Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314