FALL/WINTER 2020 Monterey Bay THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY

Campus Living During COVID-19 CSUMB provides housing for students in need

Dear friends of Cal State Monterey Bay,

I am consistently impressed by our students’ determination and resilience, the ingenuity and commitment of our faculty, and the dedication and professionalism of our staff. A hallmark of our university is that CSUMB Otters care for one another in difficult times, “Raft Up” and help each other succeed. This is a special place of learning and support within an inclusive community. Now, more than ever, the region needs more college-educated people in the workforce. Our graduates leave us having acquired critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills with which they will contribute toward social and economic progress on the Central Coast, across California, and beyond. When we emerge from our current state, today’s students will be more flexible, adaptable, and prepared for unforeseen circumstances. Their resourcefulness will carry them forward to boosting industry, reinventing services, and providing new ways of engaging disadvantaged populations. Throughout 2020 we leveraged our culture of creativity and innovation to continue delivering on our mission. Our faculty and staff’s accomplishments in this extraordinary time are a testament to their dedication to our students. Over the summer and winter breaks, faculty rolled up their sleeves and mastered the skills necessary to continue delivering effective learning opportunities. Faculty provided context about issues of social justice and created new programs that will contribute to a thriving region. Our staff devised innovative ways to provide student support, and fostered opportunities to keep us connected. I am proud that our students and alumni continue to create, contribute, and thrive in the spirit of service they learned while at CSU Monterey Bay. I am humbled by the outpouring of support from our community through generous donations that meet student needs. That support makes the dream of a college education a reality for so many in our area, improving their lives and the lives of their families. I am hopeful we will return soon to a vibrant, immersive, in-person educational experience. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus.

Sincerely,

Eduardo M. Ochoa, President PHOTO BY RANDY TUNNELL

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 3 Psychology major Jennifer Hernandez-Araujo at Fort Ord Dunes State Park. CSUMB is the closest CSU campus to the beach. PHOTO BY SCOTT CAMPBELL

4 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE Features Departments

6 JOURNEY TO JUSTICE Otter Cross Cultural Center celebrates 10 years Vol. XIII, No. II as social activism incubator. Fall/Winter 2020

Published twice yearly for 12 AGRICULTURE INNOVATORS alumni, donors and friends New plant and soil science degree program of CSU Monterey Bay by trains future industry leaders. University Communications.

Send letters to the editor 16 BLACK LIVES MATTER and address changes to Professors recommend books to learn about [email protected]. social justice movement. 28 SNAPSHOT President CSUMB launches new interactive 360-degree Eduardo M. Ochoa 20 GUARDIAN SCHOLARS virtual campus tour. Program helps foster youth achieve education Vice President dream of earning college degree. for University Advancement 32 & 34 STUDENTS Barbara Zappas Darchelle Burnett and Jasmine Bardwaj lead 24 CAMPUS LIVING DURING COVID-19 student groups to help others. Director of Communications CSUMB continues to provide housing for and Marketing students in need. Aaron Bryant 36 STAFF Editor New provost dedicated to university’s mission Sophia Huang McKenzie and student success.

Art Director Joan Iguban Galiguis ’06 38 FACULTY Humanities & Communication professor uses Writers poetry to inspire and teach. Ivan Garcia Liz MacDonald Sophia Huang McKenzie 40 ATHLETICS Tatiana Olivera MB United committee forms to fight racism and Walter Ryce help create social change. Joanna Snawder-Manzo

On the Cover 42 NEWS BRIEFS An aerial photo of an empty campus taken in September from the main quad looking 44 ALUMNI north. CSUMB has limited on- CART grad’s career includes work on top TV campus activities to critical shows and blockbuster horror films. business operations only since March because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 46 CLASS NOTES COVER PHOTO BY PEEKPEEK, TOC PHOTOS BY SCOTT CAMPBELL AND PEEKPEEK AND CAMPBELL SCOTT BY PHOTOS PEEKPEEK, TOC BY PHOTO COVER

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 5 6 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE On Pages 6-10: highlights from Otter Cross Cultural Center activities and events over the years including concerts, cultural celebrations and Affinity Graduation ceremonies.

Journey to Justice Otter Cross Cultural Center celebrates 10 years of impact

BY WALTER RYCE

The Otter Cross Cultural Center began life in a vacuum with few resources. It has since grown into an activism incubator and familial second home for many students.

The impact of the Otter Cross Cultural Center, aka OC3, is easy to discern. It’s in the passionate way people talk about it; it’s in a webpage full of appealing programming; it’s in cool T-shirts and swag sported by supporters. The historical record is harder to pin down. The story flows through many people — across gaps of attrition and changes —

PHOTO BY PHOTO CSUMB BY PHOTOS and few of those people are still here.

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 7 PHOTOS BY CSUMB BY PHOTOS

8 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE One of them is Ronnie Higgs, served as a pipeline to student clubs of change in eliminating inequality; vice president of Student Affairs and and organizations, and taught social fostering dialogue, activism, empathy Enrollment Services. When he arrived justice, identity and activism. and social justice; and highlighting the at CSUMB, he saw a need for a space “There was a lot of momentum,” importance of storytelling and owning for the diverse student population zhang said. “People were really down one’s story. to gain insight into identity, embrace to support the OC3.” There’s also an unofficial tagline: empathy, and foster inclusiveness. Money was still scarce and she “Chisme [Spanish for “gossip”] saves After conversations among students was the only paid staff, but that lives.” and members of the CSUMB allowed her more freedom to shape OC3 signature events have community, the idea of the Otter Cross the center and the conversation emerged that demonstrate the Cultural Center was born. around equity and inclusion. She mission. The Social Justice Dialogues helped create the Safe Zone training brings students, faculty, staff and The Origin Story program on campus LGBTQ+ issues, community leaders together to talk established retreats for training about urgent issues. There are eight “There was no extra money laying activists, and steered the focus toward Affinity Graduation Celebrations for around,” Higgs said. “I scraped intersectionality — foundational roots historically underrepresented groups enough funds together from different that would later bear more fruit. including Black, Native American, sources within the Student Affairs “It’s interesting working at radical and students with disabilities. The division to start a one-person office.” spaces like OC3 because I feel like I’m Otter Days OC3 Block Party welcomes Early on, that one person was rita the bridge between students’ dreams, back new and returning students, zhang (she lowercases her name), a visions and demands — which are connecting them to cultural and student activist who became OC3’s often progressive, radical and forward identity-based student clubs and first coordinator. She inherited thinking — and the administrators.” resources, replacing anxiety with campus goodwill, a peer mentorship The homebase of OC3 was the camaraderie. (This year, all of those program, some grant funding, and Student Center, Building 12, a busy activities have been virtual.) space in the student union. hub of activity surrounded by student The three core colleagues have “But for all intents and purposes it clubs, campus groups, a lounge, kept OC3’s evolution moving was like a brand new center,” she said. study spaces, and games. It was a forward. They brought back a focus “Not a lot of groundwork but a great space for students to gather and build on knowledge and scholarship, desire to make it a vision.” community — and OC3 has been an connecting students with mentors, She started by listening to and important part of that. offering graduate and postgraduate talking with different campus school test prep, building bridges constituents. Then she shifted the peer The New Guard with local community colleges, and mentorship model to one of student taking students to conferences like coordinators with different areas The 2017-18 academic year was a the National Conference on Race and of responsibility in a flatter, more big year for the center. A new team of Ethnicity in Higher Education. grassroots approach. professional staff — Shantel Martinez, “We walk the talk,” said Martinez. “Once we had the first set of Bianca Zamora and Allymyr Atrero — “We present at national conferences. student coordinators, my role was to began to assemble and usher OC3 to We’re also in the trenches — teaching, facilitate their learning, growth and its present form. publishing, presenting.” agency in creating what they wanted,” “We’re the little engine that could,” Martinez holds a doctorate in zhang said. said Martinez, OSU assistant director. communications and media, with One student coordinator created There were times before Martinez a focus on ethnic studies. Atrero a program on racism and cultural arrived when the center was without studied molecular and cellular biology appropriation in Halloween; another professional staff. During those times, and has a master’s degree in higher created dialogues around issues that she said, “Students kept it alive. They education. were vital to students. were so dedicated to having this on “I really value curriculum, seeing Hiring student employees was a campus. I don’t take it lightly.” how it can lead to change,” Zamora good early step because as minority OSU Director Chelsea Buffington said. She has a degree in women enrollment increased, more students said, “Shantel’s been able to hone in on and gender studies and a master’s in started streaming in to gather together the mission.” student affairs. “We’ve come together through word of mouth. That includes heightening critical to offer a beautiful curriculum that’s Another layer was the Ignite consciousness through education, always changing every year.” internship program. It expanded leadership development, academics The three women sit on many student leadership in the center, and experience; cultivating leaders committees — more than 30 combined

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 9 PHOTOS BY CSUMB BY PHOTOS

10 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE — including those that revolve around “In our trainings, we create Atrero adds: “I don’t know how we equity and inclusion, assessment, monologues, improv theater,” Zamora would survive without each other. We evaluation, ethnic studies and said. “It’s important to be able to do carry these stories with us.” sustainability. They also find students that. My family talked about the sense seats at those committee tables, of oppression at the dinner table, Know Your Future affording them access to how the without the language of gentrification system works. or redlining. We felt them.” OC3 is doing what was envisioned They concur that there is never a a decade ago, only better. It’s About Students day that repeats, that every morning After COVID-19 and its related is a new challenge, and they wear lockdown has passed, OC3’s home One of Atrero’s favorite aspects many hats including counselor, will be in the new Otter Student Union of what they do is the Ignite Social administrator, programmer, mentor, building. This year, OC3’s 10th year, it Justice retreat, a collaboration with ambassador and workshop facilitator. lives online. campus partners, faculty, and student Martinez said that she has role-played “It’s so great to see the strong team coordinators to help build the with students getting ready to talk to of three women of color running the curriculum. their parents about changing majors, center,” zhang said. “What’s really amazing is these and has gone to dinner with students’ After putting in years on the social students co-facilitate, create their families. justice front, she started a business own curriculum and present on this “We’ve had grown men cry on our called Community Roots Financials, weekend,” Atrero said. “We see them shoulders about how to talk about helping activists understand and shine in their knowledge.” toxic masculinity with their parents,” manage their money. She’s been Jenelle Borja, who uses the she said. “We deeply understand that invited to return to OC3 to lead pronouns “they, them, theirs,” for our students, this isn’t just their “Money Moves Monday” financial graduated from CSUMB in 2018. education, but is also their families’ empowerment workshops. Borja credits OC3 and mentorship by and communities’ education, as they “I can’t believe it’s been 10 years Martinez for inspiring them to pursue never leave these important people at already,” zhang said. “That’s really a master of arts in Asian American the university’s doorstep.” cool that I get to reconnect in this Studies at San Francisco State. And because OC3 embraces the special way, because OC3 has a very “I want to be an agent of change messy, raw, political or painful parts of special place in my heart.” and dismantle institutions that are life, friendship and laughter becomes “What we do really well is rooted in white supremacy,” Borja even more essential, starting from centering the power of storytelling,” said. the self-described “sisterhood” at the Zamora said. “People’s stories, the Martinez tells the story of one center. power of them.” transfer student from Hartnell College. “The three of us can finish each “This is a space that continues He helped create the Undocu-Otters other’s sentences,” Martinez said. to see trials and tribulations, and it Affinity Graduation Celebration, and “We’ve spent Thanksgiving together, blooms into something awesome,” wrote a brilliant speech for a Deferred we vacation together, we host each Martinez said. Action for Childhood Arrivals other’s birthdays. I consider them my Going forward, staff has been (DACA) march — but he was so shy he family, like legit. They feel the same.” tasked to capture and document the wouldn’t read it. People are sometimes surprised work that OC3 does in photos, oral However, after working at how much mirth and fun they histories and data. Students have with professional staff, he built encounter in OC3, like at the annual pieced together scrapbooks, but the relationships with faculty, secured a Werk Witch Drag Show in October paper trail is still incomplete. position in a research lab, and decided near Halloween, or through student The lack of physical artifacts of to apply to grad school. He was coordinator programming like OC3’s previous 10 years is not that accepted into a competitive Chicanx Thursday Night Trivia or Monte’s distressing, the staff says. It is, after studies program at UC Santa Barbara, Music jams. all, a program that lives in the hearts and is starting on his Ph.D. this fall. “We have to laugh through some and minds of the many people it has “We love to put into action ways in of the things we experience because touched and changed. Its impact, which students can secure their voices we’re like ‘Wow,” Martinez said. carried by the students, is felt out in and dreams,” said Martinez. “Why is everyone laughing so much? the world. MB It’s not all academics, activism Because the ability to cultivate joy and development. Human traits like is a way to reclaim our power and creativity, emotions and friendship are not be stripped down to stories of embraced. victimhood.”

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 11 12 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE New faculty member Elizabeth Mosqueda is the Bob and Sue Johnson Professor of Crop Management in the Department of Biology and Chemistry. She describes herself as the “proud daughter” of immigrant farmworkers.

Agriculture Innovators New plant and soil science degree prepares students for leadership in Monterey County’s top industry

BY SOPHIA HUANG MCKENZIE

“It is a long narrow swale between two ranges of mountains, and the Salinas River winds and twists up the center until it falls at last into Monterey Bay.” — John Steinbeck, “East of Eden” PHOTO PROVIDED BY ELIZABETH MOSQUEDA

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 13 John Steinbeck grew up in the Hartnell, the program will incorporate better jobs in the industry.” Salinas Valley and famously wrote practical, hands-on learning and The first member of his family about the region he loved. The fertile industry or research internship to go to college, Johnson attended farmland later came to be known as placements to provide college-to- Stanford University to study “the Salad Bowl of the World” with career pathways. economics. He considered a career Monterey County farmers supplying outside of farming, but at the time, more than 60 percent of the nation’s the vacuum cooling system for lettuces alone. We are excited to transporting produce was invented. In fact, agriculture is Monterey provide our students a He realized it could revolutionize County’s leading industry, pumping “ farming, so he completed his $11.7 billion into the economy and degree pathway that will education and went home to work in supporting more than 64,000 jobs, the family business. according to the 2019 Crop Report prepare them for great Johnson’s career spanned decades, from the California Agricultural careers in our region’s and he became known as a strong Commissioner. supporter of sustainability and an Community leaders and educators largest industry.” outstanding contributor to agriculture founded California State University, – Dean Andrew and land management. Monterey Bay in 1994, and from “I’ve found it really a privilege to the beginning, CSUMB focused Lawson know Bob over the years. He’s a leader on innovation and service to the in the community and has been a very region. It’s no wonder then that the Visionary Philanthropist generous supporter of the university,” intersection of these three — the Lawson said. “He’s been visionary valley, the industry and the university Born into a farming family in in understanding the importance of — has led to the creation of the newest the Salinas Valley, Bob Johnson is a agriculture and what it takes to start degree program in CSUMB’s College lifelong agriculture industry leader an ag program at the university.” of Science: the Bachelor of Science in and higher education supporter. Agricultural Plant and Soil Sciences. His latest philanthropic donation to Proud Daughter of Immigrants “We are excited to provide our CSUMB, one of many, established Elizabeth Mosqueda has joined students a degree pathway that will the Bob and Sue Johnson Endowed CSUMB’s faculty as the Bob and prepare them for great careers in Professorship in Agricultural Science. Sue Johnson Professor of Crop our region’s largest industry,” Dean Named for him and his late wife, the Management in the Department of Andrew Lawson said. professorship is a key component of Biology and Chemistry. She grew up Graduates will help support the the new degree program. Johnson’s in Soledad, California, and describes long-term economic viability and desire to help the industry and the herself as the “proud daughter” sustainability of California’s fresh people of the region motivates his of immigrant farmworkers from produce and horticulture industries. philanthropy. Guanajuato, Mexico. The program is distinctive from other “Our agriculture here is so unique. “Like many others in this industry, California agriculture programs I thought, ‘Boy, we got a university I became interested in agricultural because it focuses on specialty fruit here now. Let’s see how we can serve sciences by riding around in my and vegetable crops grown in our the industry,’ ” Johnson said. “It father’s pickup as he managed fields region, he said. amazes me the things they’re doing for the local grower he worked for,” The curriculum will develop there now that we could only dream Mosqueda said. “I have always been cross-cutting skills such as strong of.” fascinated by the immense amount quantitative and communication “We have a lot of farm workers of time, investment and thought skills, as well as expertise in plant who want to get into the industry, but that goes into growing crops and science, and integrated soil, water, they want to get in at a higher level,” knew early on I wanted to somehow nutrient and pest management. he said. “We have a large percentage contribute to improving these In close partnership with local going to school here, and it’s going to dynamic systems.” community colleges including give them an opportunity to get the

14 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE Mosqueda became the first in her family to attend college. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in plant science from California State University, Fresno, where she researched how automated lettuce thinners can protect grower investment during labor shortages. She received a doctorate degree from the University of Wyoming, while studying how varying integrated pest management programs impact the evolution of herbicide resistance in weeds. As a researcher, Mosqueda aims to help find long-term solutions for “sustainable and economically viable crop and pest management practice.“ “Developing management practices that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable for our growers will ensure long term success of our communities’ agriculture industry,” Mosqueda said. As a professor, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to ... inspire the next generation of agricultural stewards in the Salinas Valley and beyond.” MB

Assistant Professor Elizabeth Mosqueda works with colleagues in a Salinas Valley field. She hopes to inspire the next generation of agricultural stewards. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ELIZABETH MOSQUEDA

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 15 PHOTO BY PHOTO

16 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE Books recommended by CSUMB professors who are social justice scholars.

Black Lives Matter Reading List Professors recommend books to learn more about racism, social justice

BY SOPHIA HUANG MCKENZIE

When the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others re-energized the Black Lives Matter racial justice movement in Spring 2020, President Eduardo M. Ochoa and other CSUMB leaders decried racism and committed to do more to fight it.

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 17 As part of the university’s response, María Joaquina Villaseñor CSUMB hosted a virtual event in Villaseñor is a professor of Chicanx/ Latinx studies in the School of Humanities and September with Ibram X. Kendi, Communication and a faculty associate for the author of the acclaimed “How to Be Office of Inclusive Excellence. She holds a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley and an Antiracist” and held discussions her research, teaching and creative interests are Latinx creative nonfiction and memoir. She co- of the book. In addition, the authored “The Historical Dictionary of U.S. Latino university published a Q&A series Literature” published in 2017, and has published numerous essays. In 2015, the National Resource with three professors who are social Center for the First-Year Experience and Students justice scholars. They offered the in Transition named her an Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate. Villaseñor is a Chicana, a lifelong following book recommendations. Californian, a twin and a mother of twins.

“Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Daniel B. Summerhill Cafeteria? and Other Conversations About Race” by Beverly Daniel Tatum An assistant professor in the School of This classic work explores the psychology of race Humanities & Communication, Summerhill teaches and particularly how it manifests in educational poetry, social action, and composition studies. He settings. Tatum notes that because the K-12 is the author of “Divine, Divine, Divine,” a book of educational system is increasingly segregated, poetry to be published in Spring 2021 by Nomadic colleges and universities might be the first time Press of Oakland, California, and a semifinalist for young people are meaningfully immersed in the Charles B. Wheeler Poetry Prize. Summerhill diverse, multiracial environments, yet they may received the Sharon Olds Fellowship for Poetry and lack the skills and vocabulary to engage across lines was nominated for “30 Under 30” by the online of racial difference. Readers of this book will learn encyclopedia, Everipedia. His poems have been about the psychological impact of racism and will published widely, including in multiple literary gain new insights about interacting with people of journals. different races, along with gaining concepts and vocabulary for engaging in frank conversations “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin about race. A collection of two essays in which Baldwin, deposition style, describes the ongoing and historic “Sister Outsider” by Audre Lorde nature of racial injustice. Lorde’s book of essays and speeches was published in 1984 before “intersectionality” was a term. “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson Lorde’s life as a Black woman, a feminist and a This book chronicles The Great Migration and lesbian, among other identities, and the ideas all of the tragedy, triumph and in-depth detail of and perspectives she shared as a result of her the Black exodus to places in the northern United positionality, revolutionized Black literature and States and west coast. Wilkerson weaves between Black thought, as well as feminist studies and many narrative and research to deliver a vivid and other fields. Lorde showed the meaning of having compelling read. these multiple, intersecting identities through her powerful writings on her lived experience. Lorde Bonus: “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander conceptualized freedom in a radical and visionary and anything by Toni Morrison. way that meant attending to all the parts of ourselves.

18 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE Phuong Nguyen From top: professors Daniel B. Summerhill, María Joaquina Villaseñor and Phuong Nguyen. An assistant professor in the School of Humanities & Communication, Ngyuen teaches U.S. history and ethnic studies courses including Histories of Democracy, California at the Crossroads, Asian American History, and History According to the Movies. He is the author of “Becoming Refugee American: The Politics of Rescue in Little Saigon,” a history of Vietnamese in Southern California, published by the University of Illinois Press in 2017. Before coming to CSUMB, Nguyen taught at Ithaca College in upstate New York, where he directed the minor in Asian American Studies. He grew up in the Central Coast and attended Monterey public schools from grades K-12.

“The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander This is one of the most important books in the 21st century because Alexander diagrams with precision the legal history behind mass incarceration and the War on Drugs. She makes the bold argument that these movements are part of a historical pattern of “white backlash politics” following a period of civil rights reforms.

“The Color of Law” by Richard Rothstein This excellent book details the history of government-sanctioned housing discrimination in 20th-century America. With all the mainstream chatter about systemic racism, books like these help us understand clearly what that term means, and how it’s perpetuated by people merely following laws and policies. For example, the Federal Housing Administration’s 40-year refusal to subsidize developments open to Black residents helps explain why suburbs were so white for so long. Homeownership in America is often the key to building wealth, and Blacks being systematically left behind only exacerbated the racial wealth gap. MB

To read the entire Black Lives Matter Q&A series, go to csumb.edu/news/black-lives-matter-1. For additional book recommendations from the CSUMB library, go to csumb.edu/antiracist. PHOTOS PROVIDED PHOTOS

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 19 Emerald McColey is one of a record number of Guardian Scholar program participants who graduated from CSUMB last spring. PHOTO BY TATIANA OLIVERA

20 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE Guardian Scholars Program helps foster youth make education dreams come true

BY SOPHIA HUANG MCKENZIE

Statistically speaking, Emerald McColey shouldn’t be a college graduate. She describes her critical early childhood years as “spent living on and off the streets” in the outskirts of Merced, California.

“Not an easy tale to tell or, for foster youth, McColey defied the much in their life, and they have used most, to hear, but my mother was odds and graduated in Spring 2020 those same skills to navigate and battling addictions and trauma as we with a business degree. She was successfully complete college. They survived by couch surfing, showering also honored with the university’s believed they could do it and didn’t with yard hoses, and rationing meals annual Future Outstanding Alumni give up,” Ritchey said. until the next move,” McColey said. award for her academic performance By age 5, she was placed in foster and contributions to the CSUMB A Model Program care, where she remained through community. most of her teen years. But McColey A shining example of what foster Businessman Ron Davis, a refused to be a statistic. youth have the ability to achieve, California State University, Fullerton “I could’ve ended up in so many McColey was one of a record-breaking alumnus, founded Guardian Scholars stigmatic situations many former 20 Guardian Scholars who graduated in 1998 at that campus. He wanted to foster youth unfortunately experience, in 2020 from CSUMB. make educational dreams come true such as homelessness, abusive “It’s a huge accomplishment for for foster youth. relationships, young pregnancies, our students,” said Keyiona Ritchey, The program design offers a no education, and self-abandonment the program’s retention advisor. comprehensive model that has since — to never allow the true self to be Nationwide, only 10% of foster youth become nationally recognized as revealed,” McColey said. enter college nationwide and just 3% a highly successful, life-changing Instead, with the help of graduate. program for challenged foster youth, CSUMB’s Guardian Scholars “Our students are resilient. They according to the CSUF website. program for current and former have persevered and overcome so Guardian Scholars has served

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 21 thousands of aspiring student scholars trauma to connect.” McColey’s love for music began and is utilized nationally as a model. Despite the coronavirus, the while living as a foster child with her In California, it has expanded to more program continues to provide a grandparents. It was thought to be than 30 colleges and universities. majority of its services online via an ideal situation, but sadly turned Guardian Scholars launched at Zoom videoconferencing, and every out to be a “hostile and abusive home CSUMB in 2012, and 116 participants Guardian Scholar who needs on environment.” have graduated since then. Ritchey campus housing has access to it, She lived with her grandparents believes the record number of Ritchey said. for nine years. graduates last year occurred largely “It’s been a transition to being “There would be times I’d stay because most of them happened completely virtual, but students are in my room to rewrite the lyrics of to complete their graduation making the most out of the situation.” songs just to avoid triggering rage or requirements. However, increased frustration from my grandparents. support and services from the The abuse would go as far as mental, program also played an important verbal, emotional and physical,” she part. Our students are said. In recent years, Guardian resilient. They “I maintained resiliency and focus Scholars added its first interns and “ by attending the music programs at started a laptop loan program. have persevered school since fifth grade. That was my They collaborated with Hartnell and overcome daily escape — music.” College on events to help establish communication and build a better so much in their First Choice for College pipeline for transfer students. The program also held faculty and staff life, and they have In high school, McColey found mentor trainings and welcomed used those same friends who were motivated to pursue several new mentors to help support higher education, and she “took the participants. skills to navigate leap with them.” “Often my students tell me they and successfully “I did not want to continue the feel invisible on campus, because you generational poverty in my family. I can’t look at someone and tell they complete college." exposed myself to different lifestyles have been in the foster care system and saw life with the lens of an artist or experienced homelessness, so – Keyiona Ritchey — design your path,” she said. their issues, needs and success get She discovered CSUMB while researching affordable universities. It overlooked,” Ritchey said. Love for Music Guardian Scholars has created was her first choice and became the first to accept her. positive change by providing a A music minor at CSUMB, “Orientation day was the first time community-based support system. McColey started Tree Star Music I’d seen the campus because I didn’t “Knowing that they have a sub- Management last January to aid up- have resources to tour any campuses. community on campus where they and-coming artists seeking services I was afraid to even look too far into can trust and build rapport with to boost their brand development, it because my confidence was so the retention advisor, have access to increase social media interactions, low about getting accepted. Getting the different services the program create a website, or prepare for record accepted into CSUMB, my first choice, provides, and meet other students label interactions and copyright was a huge deal for me.” who come from similar backgrounds processes. McColey learned about Guardian has assisted in persistence and “Music has greatly impacted my Scholars at orientation and at first retention,” Ritchey said. life. I wouldn’t be here without it, and resisted getting involved. But a Prior to COVID-19, participants in I proudly serve those who feel the persistent retention advisor at the time a focus group shared that the program same,” she said. changed her mind. gave them an environment where they “I am seeking to grow my music “She wanted to get to know me. “had an inherent understanding of the community wherever I go. I wish to Who I was. Who I wanted to be. weight of each other’s experiences,” someday become a program director Conversations rarely conducted said intern Jaquelyn Martinez, who focusing on youth development using throughout my life,” McColey said. facilitated the group. music. I hope to inspire those who The program also offered job “It was an opportunity to rejoice in know what it’s like to feel abandoned, opportunities. McColey hired their resilience, strength and power, alone, or worthless. Music helps bring on to help plan cultural events, instead of having to revisit past the pieces back together.”

22 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE Guardian Scholars staff and students visited San Francisco on a cultural exploration trip. The trips are one of the many benefits and services the program provides to students who are current and former foster youth.

workshops and weekly activities, She credits the Guardian Scholars provide community outreach and Higher education program for its contributions to the mentorship, and conduct social media was the catalyst of outstanding success of her graduating marketing. The experience helped her “ class. She knows that foster youth who grow quickly as a professional and understanding my finish college are still the minority, increased her interest in pursuing a identity beyond trauma but she’s hopeful the numbers will business degree. CSUMB also allowed improve as the years go by. her to continue cultivating her passion and depression." “This is what fuels me to keep for music. doing better,” she said. “To keep “The CSUMB music department – Emerald McColey challenging myself and others.” MB was my oasis. A place where I could — including her own eight younger jive with the coolest people I know. I For more information about the Guardian siblings — to rise above it and pursue fell in love a few times, jammed out Scholars program at CSUMB, visit college. to the best songs, observed incredible csumb.edu/guardianscholars. “Higher education was the catalyst performances, and experienced music of understanding my identity beyond in a variety of cultures.” trauma and depression which pre- McColey hopes her story inspires occupied the better parts of me,” she foster youth and anyone else said. struggling in difficult circumstances PROVIDED PHOTO PROVIDED

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 23 24 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE Kim McKinney, resident assistant, and Robyn DoCanto, coordinator of housing operations, are among the staff who remained on campus to serve students.

Life on Campus Amid COVID-19 Student Housing provides security, support for those with nowhere else to go

BY LIZ MACDONALD

When the CSU announced most instruction would be delivered remotely for the remainder of 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of the roughly 3,600 CSUMB students who usually live on campus left. But a subset of the student population had no place else to go. PHOTO BY RANDY TUNNELL

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 25 Student Housing and Residential Life staff welcome students to campus in August during housing check-in. Approximately 350 students were able to live on campus in Fall 2020.

Some lived in the family units available on East Campus Prevention protocols while also trying to accommodate with their young children. International students faced student needs. For instance, WiFi is provided on Main travel restrictions and were unable to return to their Campus, but those moved to East Campus would have countries of origin. Others were former foster youth who had to purchase their own routers for nearly $100. With all counted on the campus to provide housing. Still others, just instruction online, living without internet access wasn’t an months away from earning their degrees, would have had option. So Cooper’s team purchased a dozen routers and their graduation jeopardized by losing their housing. made them available for students to check out. Fifteen percent of CSUMB students self-identify as Over the summer, about 250 students remained on housing insecure for a number of complex reasons. The campus. For fall semester, the number of students was university staff in the Department of Student Housing and about 350. Almost everyone was assigned (one student Residential Life wanted to make sure that those students per apartment) to individual units on East Campus, and had access to safe and secure housing. supported by a skeleton crew of nine resident advisors. “Even in the most dire situations, we have to find a way “We’re still here trying to create a community and to support those students,” Director Jeff Cooper said. “It was serve the students on campus,” said Shanae Vaifanua, the important that we stay open, but we had to figure out how associate director of Residential Life, who oversees the to do that and maintain safety.” live-in staff. “Our team rallied together, moved and shifted as the waves came. We’re all here because we want to help Finding a Way meet the needs of students who have no safe place to go elsewhere.” As students who could moved off campus, the university began to consolidate the locations where the roughly 1,000 Riding the Waves students who remained on campus were housed. They brought students into the residence halls on Main Campus There have been a lot of waves to contend with: the and to the Frederick Park apartment-style housing on East global pandemic and the shelter-in-place order; the Campus. transition to complete distance learning; the Black Lives “We had to make a lot of fast decisions with information Matter movement taking to the streets; and record wildfires about the pandemic changing daily,” Cooper said. “Our all across California and the western U.S., including three first priority was keeping our live-in staff — our resident in Monterey County. Smoke was so thick the sky turned an advisors and Residential Life coordinators — protected eerie red and air quality bordered on hazardous. so they could continue their work with PPE [Personal “Our mission is to provide a sense of connectedness and Protective Equipment] and physical distance.” belonging,” Cooper said. “We’ve doubled our efforts to find

The team followed Centers for Disease Control and new ways to engage so that students know we’re here for CLEMANN SYDNEY BY PHOTOS

26 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE them.” schoolwork and socializing online. “Our job is still to help the students grow and develop Because she’s studying to be a social worker, Zamara as young adults,” added Vaifanua. Her team puts together brings that perspective to her work as an RA. She pays weekly digital programs to help the students connect with attention to the student who consistently emails her about one another and explore topics such as academic success, little things, an indicator they may be struggling with a financial wellness, conflict management and self-care. larger issue — such as food insecurity — and works to find “We’re really focused on mental health,” she said. “We’re that student extra support. doing daily Zoom office hours and individual check-ins with students. Our [resident advisors] are rock stars.” Long Days and Hard Work Above and Beyond “There’s an added level of stress. But as a student staff member, I’m in a unique position to understand their Amy Zamara has been a resident advisor (RA) for four needs,” she said. “I understand what it is like to have all years. A non-traditional student, she transferred to CSUMB your classes online. I know what it feels like to be stuck. I and lives in family housing on East Campus with her can help them know they aren’t alone in the struggle, and daughter. On top of homeschooling her 11-year-old, she’s I play an important role to get their voices and concerns currently pursuing her master’s degree in social work, heard further up the ladder.” working as an intern for a student support team at UC Santa “Our student leaders are so resilient and have such a Cruz, and because of staffing cuts and her seniority as an commitment to service and leadership,” Vaifanua said. RA, supporting the students who live on her street and a “People talk about unprecedented times, and it is definitely second street. The usual assignment is one street per RA. that for us. It’s been a lot of long days and a lot of hard “I’ve definitely been asked to do more this year,” she work.” said. “I’m willing to do it. The need from students is greater. The level of care and commitment from the staff is At the same time, I’m grateful to have this role. It’s the only evident as they navigate a constantly shifting landscape. way I can afford to be here and attend grad school.” The CSU announced in September that Spring 2021 will In addition to helping students with the usual issues also be entirely online. Students continue to find themselves of residential life, Zamara is helping her peers navigate homeless and reach out for help. loneliness and disconnection. Normally a first-year student “I’ve got a good team working with me,” Cooper said. would be living with roommates, walking down shared “We have to hold on to that strength to continue to support hallways, cooking in common kitchens and attending our students and their educational experience.” MB classes and events in person. Now, there are 18-year-olds on

PHOTOS BY SYDNEY CLEMANN SYDNEY BY PHOTOS their own for the first time, living alone and doing all their

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 27 CSUMB launches virtual tour

The pandemic has created a paradigm shift — a “new normal” — in which everyone is learning to conduct their business and continue their education online. To better help prospective students during this unprecedented time, CSUMB released a new virtual campus tour in November. Studies have shown that a campus tour is the most vital part of student recruitment, as it allows students to check the “vibe” of a university to see if it is a good fit for them. “Prospective students fall in love with our university once they step on campus,” said Jasmine Alcones, associate director of admissions and recruitment. “Since we can’t have in-person tours due to COVID-19, we knew having a robust virtual tour would be the next best way to show students how special we are and to explore our campus.” University Communications, with the help and guidance of Admissions, facilitated the creation of the new tour, which was made by virtual tour provider PeekPeek. “We decided to go with PeekPeek instead of another tour provider because of the fantastic aerial shots, and the quality of the 360-degree photos that make you feel as if you are standing on campus,” said Sydney Clemann, project coordinator. And while the tour will surely help prospective students in the short-run, Clemann believes it will be a beneficial recruitment tool long after the pandemic. To experience the virtual tour, go online to csumb.edu/tour.

– Tatiana Olivera PEEKPEEK BY PHOTOS

28 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE SNAPSHOT

The new $55 million Otter Student Union building.

Third floor of the Tanimura and Antle Family Memorial Library.

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 29 PHOTOS BY PEEKPEEK BY PHOTOS

30 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE SNAPSHOT

An interior lounge area inside the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences building with a view of the RND Amphitheater.

The rear exterior of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social

PHOTOS BY PEEKPEEK BY PHOTOS Sciences building.

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 31 Making Positive Change President of Black, Native American student groups works to serve others PHOTO BY RANDY TUNNELL

Darchelle Burnett

32 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE STUDENTS

You may have seen her in the Black Portrait Project. A black-and-white photo captured her in a pensive moment. You may have noted her at the CSUMB Day of Racial Justice Teach-in. She was the student facilitator. Maybe you recall interacting with her at the Otter Cross Cultural Center. She works as the Signature Programs student coordinator.

She is a presence at CSUMB. President of two racial culture at CSUMB. We have experienced student organizations: Black Students United (BSU) different things as individuals, but together we can and Native American Students United. She’s a see the similarities.” member of the President’s Committee on Equity and The goals for BSU this year are collaboration Inclusion, the CSUMB Dance Team, the board of and education. The group will partner with the new directors for the Otter Student Union, and more. She Center for Black Student Success and the Monterey is a person working to make positive change in the County Youth Summit on Race, for which Burnett world. She is Darchelle Burnett. is one of the planners. BSU will still offer signature Burnett is originally from Corona, California, programs for Black History Month in February, but down south in Riverside County. The youngest of the focus will be less social and more educational. five, her sister and brother-in-law both attended She lamented that many Black students are CSUMB. She fondly remembers visiting the campus “highly educated” on the subjects of systemic racism as a child and “seeing this big university”! and racial injustice “prior to George Floyd, prior Burnett felt drawn to CSUMB. She liked the to COVID, prior to all of these injustices that we smaller classes, the idea of being part of a growing are now seeing,” she said. The BSU’s responsibility university, and the proximity to the ocean. She “is to forward the education to neighboring laughed and said, “I don’t go to the beach, but I love counterparts: our white students, our Latinx looking at the water. My brother went to UCSC. students, our Asian Pacific Islander students.” We’re all water people, so that gene just passed Her sense of service extends to the Native down.” American population as well. She is a registered She chose social and behavioral sciences as member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. her major. She wasn’t initially certain of what When she first arrived at CSUMB, she joined Native that entailed, but once she began her studies, she American Students United as a way to learn more embraced it fully. She is set to graduate in May 2021 about that aspect of her identity. The group became with a concentration in anthropology and a minor inactive for a year. in peace studies. She then volunteered to be president, adding Her heart set on graduate school, Burnett is yet another critical leadership role to her very full eyeing dual-study programs focused on educational plate. The fact that students of indigenous descent policy, higher education leadership, ethnic studies are only 1% of the student population motivated her and indigenous studies. She is a self-described to revive the group and maintain a space for their “people-person” who loves studying cultures. Her cultural relevance, she said. ultimate goal: to become a chief diversity officer at To those aspiring to higher education, Burnett an institution or a non-profit organization. advises: “Don’t let anything hold you back from With all of her commitments, Burnett’s education. At CSUMB I have found that the framework is something she picked up from her educational community has many opportunities for training as a resident assistant. She is working in you to thrive and prosper. The one major thing that the service of others, she said. Even though much is I would say is, just ask. Don’t wait for someone to do asked of her, her service reaps tremendous benefits something for you or provide the resources for you. for herself personally and her communities. You gotta step forward and do it yourself.” As BSU president, she wants to help students find their voices and build community. “We are – Joanna Snawder-Manzo a small community here, only 4% of the campus. Black culture here is very different than any other

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 33 Jasmine Bhardwaj PHOTO BY RANDY TUNNELL

34 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE STUDENTS

Lessons on Leadership AS president strives to help fellow students despite challenges

College seniors usually develop resources for students within the CSUMB community.” needing support during the pandemic. As a senator, she advocated for expect a challenging year. Some of her current ambitions students by developing a panel event For Associated Students include strengthening the agency offering guidance on concentrations of students by appointing them to pursue, and supporting efforts to (AS) President Jasmine to various university committees, create positive learning environments collaborating to develop a textbook in classroom settings. Bhardwaj was Bhardwaj, her senior scholarship open to all students, and then elected vice president of financial year comes with distinct urging civic engagement amidst a affairs and relished finding out that, in national election year. her words, “each budget has a story.” obstacles because of Her aspirations as AS president Bhardwaj found a space and COVID-19. are reminiscent of some of the lessons role where her passions and talents she learned growing up in Gonzales, could be utilized to help her campus California, and working at her family’s community. But nobody could predict “I just really miss being in person,” store. Bhardwaj’s father, who migrated the events that followed. After the Bhardwaj said after months of shelter- from India in the 1990s, consistently campus closed, she was selected in-place and distance learning. “It gets found ways to help others in the president by the senate and outgoing tiring being behind a computer.” small rural community. For example, president through an appointment In addition to adjusting to a new her family prepared free lunches for process, instead of an election. college experience, Bhardwaj and store regulars who largely consist of These may not be normal her family have suffered hardships migrant workers. conditions for becoming a leader, in recent months. Her family’s Her experiences in her family’s but not much is normal about being convenience store was the target of store sparked her interest in business. a student in 2020. The challenge of a fraud scheme, her car broke down, From an early age, she had a range of serving fellow students in uncertain and her uncle passed away. responsibilities that developed over times is one Bhardwaj was ready to Despite the difficulties in the world time. She bagged groceries, greeted accept. and at home, Bhardwaj evokes hope customers in different languages, and With all the change in the world, that has followed her throughout her maintained the inventory. it’s understandable how Bhardwaj’s life. Because she would commute goals as a student have shifted in “We’re living in strange times,” she to campus and work at the store, the years from being a freshman to a said. “But some of the greatest change Bhardwaj at first felt distant from the senior and current AS president. is happening now.” campus community as a freshman. “When I first got to CSUMB, I For Bhardwaj, those positive She wanted to get involved on a focused on myself,” she said. “But as I changes came in the form of CSUMB deeper level, and the opportunity figured college out, my focus changed rapidly addressing and adapting to arrived with her appointment as AS to helping others find their own ways the COVID-19 pandemic, responding Senator for the College of Business. to succeed.” to widespread actions against racism, “I wanted to find ways to make and revisioning the educational memorable experiences for business – Ivan Garcia experience. As AS president, Bhardwaj students,” she said. “I also wanted aspires to channel that change to students to find a sense of belonging

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 35 Ready to Tackle Challenges New provost dedicated to CSUMB mission, student success

Katherine Kantardjieff

Katherine Kantardjieff joined CSU Monterey Bay in July 2020 as provost and vice president of academic affairs. She previously served as the founding dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at California State University, San Marcos, and the chair of the Department of Chemistry at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Prior to those positions, she taught at CSU Fullerton for 20 years. She holds a doctorate degree in physical chemistry from the University of

California, Los Angeles. PHOTO BY TATIANA OLIVERA

36 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE STAFF

How did you become interested in and civic life of our region and the community. After my first 90 days a career in higher education? state. The region then believes in the as provost, if I could distill some importance of the university in the initial goals they would be focused My interest in higher education region’s success. on resources, communication, and developed over several years, managing change. the combined result of merging As chief academic officer, what experiences, interests and passions. are your goals for the university? We’re in a time of extreme My original goal upon graduating challenges caused by the from college was to become a zoo If you’d asked me this question pandemic. How can we still veterinarian, and I worked for two a year ago, some of the answer years at the Los Angeles Zoo as a would be the same, but much has achieve our goals? zookeeper. changed. In his address eight years COVID-19 has challenged the My interest in education came ago, President Ochoa talked about purpose of our academic work, in the months following my college the conditions for a perfect storm and coping with COVID-19 will graduation. I was tapped to teach of disruptive technical innovation be complicated. In serving both high school algebra and geometry at upending higher education. In 2020, a internal and external stakeholders, my alma mater, Immaculate Heart disruptor most of us had not seriously our university serves a wide variety High School. I went on to teach considered — COVID-19 — exposed of functions, and our business physical science, chemistry, biology and magnified the challenges facing model is complex. Faculty, staff and and physics at Daniel Murphy High higher education. students are worried about the future School, where I also chaired the Moving to remote instruction and — research projects, admissions, science department. This experience work in the face of a global pandemic hiring, degree progress, cost of really solidified my love of teaching. has fragmented campus life. This attendance, visas. The provost still I realized I would have potential extends beyond the classroom, has many decisions to make and to to choose where I could contribute disproportionately affecting the lives communicate, but the framework to the quality of education if I had an of low-income students and students in which these decisions are made advanced degree, and I left teaching of color. As people adjust and try to needs to change to be more effective to pursue my Ph.D. I discovered my cope with current events, we shift our and strategic in these uncertain and true passion to blend the best of both expectations and adapt to dynamic increasingly turbulent times. worlds, teaching and research. As I circumstances. Still, the pandemic Although the job for which I was completing my degree, I sought presents an opportunity to connect had prepared is not exactly the job faculty positions at predominantly with our students in new ways, I have in a pandemic, I have an undergraduate institutions, mainly in because we are now at the center of opportunity as provost to work with the California State University system. their virtual campus experience. In a university leadership to examine I believed in the mission of the CSU time when higher education is being the new educational landscape and then, and still do today. scrutinized, and the purpose of our not only initiate reforms, but also work is being challenged, we must innovation and creativity. This is an Why did you decide to join the look to our mission as a university and opportunity for us to reimagine the remain invested in student success. leadership team at CSUMB? academy and what it can look like The role of the provost is as the after this fundamental disruption. I My experience as a founding dean chief academic, and increasingly enjoy connecting the dots, working at CSU San Marcos was exceptionally operations officer, with responsibility collaboratively with faculty, staff rewarding, but I wanted to do more for the university’s academic and and administration, to provide to advance the educational mission budgetary affairs. My success opportunities for our students to of a university as a provost, which will depend on building solid be successful and to realize their has brought me to CSUMB. I enjoy relationships with and the trust professional aspirations, even in this being an enabler and facilitator, of campus constituencies and the unprecedented pandemic world. developing and guiding successful cabinet. For a new provost, building partnerships with the community for these relationships is challenging in – Sophia Huang McKenzie the public good, so that we prepare normal times. Working remotely has reflective thinkers, innovative leaders added a significant level of complexity, Answers edited for length. To read the full and thriving citizens who enhance requiring new ways and greater version, go to csumb.edu/magazine. the intellectual, economic, cultural frequency of communication to build

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 37 Daniel Summerhill PHOTO PROVIDED PHOTO

38 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE FACULTY Poetry with Purpose Professor aims to inspire students to ‘see the possibilities’

Professor Daniel from the University of KwaZulu- “It takes a little more work to foster Natal in South Africa and the U.S. empathy, connection and natural Summerhill has wanted to Embassy to teach and perform at the conversation on Zoom,” he said. teach at the college level International Poetry Africa Festival. One of the silver linings is seeing his His first book, “Divine, Divine, students take more ownership of their since he was in junior Divine,” will be published in January, learning. and his second book is in the works. “I had planned these Zoom high. “A professor of what, Summerhill joined the CSUMB workshop times to break out, but I didn’t know, but I was faculty in Fall 2019 as an assistant when the time came, it didn’t work. professor in the School of Humanities Several of the students emailed me enthralled by college and and Communication. He was drawn and told me they’d figured it out the idea of the academy,” to the social action component of the and were workshopping now using creative writing program. Inspired by FaceTime. That was an exciting he said. the work of James Baldwin and other moment to see the students take novelists and poets, Summerhill said: agency for their education. “Poetry is a political thing. It involves “In writing, you think about it Though he always loved writing, telling the truth.” as trusting that the reader will do Summerhill struggled in school as a Summerhill works to have the the work to understand. Now in my young person growing up in Oakland. same impact on his own students teaching, I’m trusting my students When he reached eighth grade, two that Mr. Ross had on him. “A lot of to be diligent, focused … and to events set him on the course that educators have a one-track mind about troubleshoot.” would lead him to his dreams. the way people learn. A one-size-fits- So far, most students are rising First, he found a notebook of his all model for teaching. That’s not true. to the challenge, Summerhill said. older sister’s poetry. Inspired by her I learned in different ways, and it He was especially proud to see one writing, Summerhill turned in a poem made me interested in better ways of of his students, Nick Meadows, have to his English teacher, Mr. Ross. Ross teaching.” an essay they had worked on in class urged Summerhill to keep writing, One of his favorite methods published in the literary journal going out of his way to buy him a was inspired by another teacher of Quirk. journal for his poems. his, Nicole Terez Dutton. It’s called “It was his first time submitting, “It meant so much to me — him “Borrowed Tools.” and when it was selected for taking the time, spending a few bucks “It’s borrowing from other forms publication he was so excited. And on that journal, and offering that of media to talk about poetry,” he so was I. Equally, if not more,” encouragement,” Summerhill said. explained. He uses pop culture Summerhill said. He spent high school writing references such as a film to illustrate “Professorship is being a vehicle poems, and began performing in a point of view, or a popular song for folks — seeing the growth and poetry slams in college. He went on to to discuss tension and syntax. It’s helping students see the possibilities earn his Master of Fine Arts in creative figuring out how to translate poetry to and have those lightbulb moments.” writing from the Solstice program at students in a way they connect with. Pine Manor College in Massachusetts. Now, in his second year as a – Liz MacDonald Summerhill has toured nationally faculty member, Summerhill is and internationally as a performance adapting his teaching techniques for poet. In 2018 he received an invitation distance learning.

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 39 Camille Parker PHOTO BY OTTER ATHLETICS

40 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE ATHLETICS

United for Social Justice Otter Athletics committee pledges to fight racism, advocate change

Otter student-athletes, coaches through love, respect and empathy. We will use the urgency of the movement to MB United Priorities and staff came together over develop our ability to become advocates for • Mental health and the summer to form MB change.” Several Otter student-athletes were counseling support United, a new committee that proactively involved in the creation of MB services for Black student- United. Their voices have been important athletes will strategize, organize and in helping bring awareness, change and • Education and tools to lead the athletics department’s growth through these turbulent times. address matters of racism, The acts of violence against innocent prejudice, diversity and efforts against racism and Black people have angered and frustrated inclusion • Expand implicit bias and social injustice. Not only will Black student-athletes, said Camille Parker, women’s basketball player. microaggression training MB United keep an open, “We want to spearhead a future of to all coaches, staff and open dialogue and unquestioned support student-athletes active dialogue between from leadership. We have tangible ideas • Participate in student-athletes and Otter and actions that should be put into place. civic engagement We want to see an actual collective effort programming in coaches and administrators, for change, … that this movement we are partnership with campus it will provide a platform for creating has the momentum and backing it organizations deserves and is long overdue,” she said. • Voter education and action to address issues and “We are using our tools to fix the registration among CSUMB student-athletes affect positive change. disconnect and dismantle as much racism as we can reach,” said Nia Howard, track • Advance efforts to and field team member. “We want to recruit and retain a “Through active conversations with our reprogram our community to see equality diverse student-athlete Black student-athletes, coaches and staff, as a necessity and to use our leadership to population in all sports it was clear we need to activate a working lead and be the change we want to see in • Advance efforts to group committed to listen, learn and unite the world.” hire a diverse athletics our department against racism and social administration and injustice,” said Director of Athletics Kirby – Otter Athletics Staff coaching staff Garry. • Use our collective voices “We are proud of all student-athletes, To learn more about MB United, its to positively impact the alumni and coaches for using their voices goals and projects, visit the university, the California to influence change. We are committed MB United home page at Collegiate Athletic to unite Otter Athletics and build trust OtterAthletics.com/MBUnited. Association and the NCAA in areas related to social justice

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 41 CSUMB, Monterey County partner Campus gives vital help to create internship program to wildfire first responders

CSU Monterey Bay and the County of Monterey When lightning strikes ignited major wildfires in launched an internship program in February 2020 to CSUMB’s tri-county region in August, the university promote student career readiness and ”to help shape provided vital resources for firefighters and first responders the county’s workforce,” officials said. Hartnell College battling the blazes. and Monterey Peninsula College are also involved in the CSUMB served as an ideal staging area for ground program. support because of its central location and large parking “The benefits of CSUMB’s partnership with the Monterey lots, according to Ken Folsom, CSUMB’s emergency County Internship Program will pay significant dividends manager. for years to come for our students, our employers and our Every vehicle assigned to the River and Carmel fires community. We are investing in our future,” said Rhonda came to CSUMB to be repaired and demobilized. Sleeping Mercadal-Evans, associate director of CSUMB’s Center for trailers, tents and portable showers were set up on Parking Advising, Career and Student Success and a member of the Lot 59. program’s development team. CSUMB also housed firefighters in the Pinnacles The County of Monterey is the largest employer in residence hall in single and four-bed units. Starr Lee and the county with 800 job classifications in 25 departments. Cece Chavez, senior facilities coordinators for Student They believe student interns will bring new cutting-edge Housing and Residential Life, said that the numbers ranged approaches to its teams, because students are learning from 50 to 115 firefighters per night, for over 14 days. Lee current approaches to solve systemic challenges. Interns also worked with local Target stores to procure donations of can help the county better serve the community through linens, pillows, shower curtains and toiletries. collaborating on projects with county staff. In accordance with their priorities of life, property and Go to the county website at co.monterey.ca.us for more environment, CAL FIRE ordered mandatory evacuations. information, including a listing of available Internships CSUMB’s University Police were enlisted in the effort to by department, resources for students about resume notify residents in danger from the River, Carmel and Dolan writing and interviewing, and testimonials by interns and fires. supervisors. “We’ve assisted CAL FIRE before,” Folsom said, referring to the Soberanes Fire in 2016 when CSUMB supported Pictured above, from left: internship program development team the efforts of 5,000 firefighters and support crew. “We’re members Arturo Roque, Rhonda Mercadal-Evans, Yvonne Walker, partnered with first responders in a way that’s special.” Irma Ramirez-Bough, Rene Casas and Michael Rosales. Not pictured: Alyssa Leadingham. PROVIDED PHOTOS

42 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE NEWS BRIEFS

YOU@CSUMB online portal Center for Black Student Success promotes student wellness provides central home, support

CSU Monterey Bay joined 14 California State University CSUMB opened its new Center for Black Student campuses last spring in piloting an online portal to support Success (CBSS) in Fall 2020 to engage and empower African students’ personal growth, academic success and overall Diaspora students by providing academic, professional, and well-being. personal/cultural support and enrichment programming. YOU@CSUMB is available 24 hours a day, seven days a CBSS serves as the central hub and campus home week, to provide resources and content to enhance academic for Black student life, working with campus and local success, career preparedness, physical and mental health, community members to ensure Black collegiate success and connection to campus. Students create a completely at CSUMB. It will operate under faculty director Umi confidential account with their campus credentials to use Vaughn, an associate professor in the School of Humanities the portal. and Communication. Vaughn teaches Africana studies, While not meant to replace one-on-one services, the anthropology, music and performance, and visual and portal can be a great resource for students as they navigate public art. their academic journey, said Jessica López, outreach lead for The center will also have an advisory body to President CSUMB’s Personal Growth & Counseling Center. Eduardo M. Ochoa and Brian Corpening, associate vice “Students can find resources to support their well-being president for inclusive excellence. The body is composed of and address new challenges created by COVID-19, including representatives across campus strategically aligned with articles on social distancing, student loans, getting the most the CBSS goal of increasing the number of Black students from remote learning, and how to cope with anxiety,” López enrolled at and graduating from CSUMB. said. The primary responsibility of the committee is to align Content can be customized based on students’ personal the on-going programs and initiatives across campus and interests and needs. Students take quizzes, called reality provide campus leadership and feedback on how to support checks, to assess how they are doing academically, Black student success at CSUMB. emotionally and socially. Once they complete the reality The center will also partner directly with the Africana check they are given feedback and directed to campus Heritage Scholars Living-Learning Program, African resources for additional support. American Faculty & Staff Alliance, African Heritage The portal is primarily a resource for students, but staff Research Collaborative, Men of Color Alliance, Harambee and faculty may also log in and encourage their students African Heritage Men’s Community Gathering, the Otter to use the portal to cope with stress and enhance personal Cross Cultural Center, as well as the varied student growth, López said. organizations that support Black students. PHOTOS PROVIDED PHOTOS

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 43 Through the Lens Alum’s Hollywood success story led to work on blockbuster horror films

Ram Paul Silbey on location while filming the horror movie, "Us." PHOTO PROVIDED BY RAM PAUL SILBEY

44 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE ALUMNI

Asked about his first professional experience in broadcast, TV and film, filmmaker Ram (pronounced “rom”) Paul Silbey goes back. Way back.

“I had a radio show in Marin County, where I It grossed $176 million from a $4.5 million budget. grew up, when I was 10 years old,” he said. “We But he knew it could be something special “because used to play music, chit-chat. Through high school you’re working with a storyteller like Jordan Peele,” I had a public access TV show with a bunch of he said. Alum’s Hollywood success story friends. We taped 60 half-hour sketch comedy That success allowed “Us” to ramp up to an even shows.” bigger scale which seems to imply that the logistics led to work on blockbuster horror films His “real first job” was working as a grip, — including a $35 million budget and taking over helping shape light, on an ad shoot at the Monterey Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for six nights — Bay Aquarium. That was during his senior year in becomes harder. But not necessarily. 2006 as a Cinematic Arts and Technology major at “In some ways it is harder because it’s bigger. CSUMB. He said he didn’t have a specific goal when But you have a bigger budget and a bigger crew and he entered the film program, but that it helped him more support.” hone in on his strengths. The next project the public can see that Silbey “I chose the program because it was hands-on worked on is “Bruised.” It’s Halle Berry’s directorial [and not] all theory and reading and not practicing,” debut about a female mixed martial artist, which he said. “I just liked making projects that were has landed a $20 million distribution deal from creative. Through collaboration, I found myself Netflix. good at logistics, coordinating, thinking about story In September he was about to embark on a phase and how it makes sense, and not so much some of of his career that he and the industry have never the more detailed levels of directing or lighting.” been on before: filmmaking during COVID-19. Silbey spoke to current Cinematic Arts students “If you take what you know, a rule book, take via videoconference last May about his life and that whole thing and throw it in a fire,” he said. career after college. Chris Carpenter, Media “I haven’t done it yet. It’s just opening up now. It’s Production Specialist and lecturer, remembers forced everything to slow down.” Silbey as being a “solid, organized student who In a way, that’s an extreme example of the thing was very serious about taking his skills to the next that he loves most about filmmaking: its freshness. level.” His work has taken him from Los Angeles That next level, according to Silbey’s Internet to Louisiana to overseas. He is currently line Movie Database profile, included jobs as line producing two films, working as an assistant producer, production supervisor, unit manager, director on a pilot, and producing two other films to locations assistant, utility assistant, production get them off the ground. He works with a revolving coordinator and more. crew of people, some familiar and some new. The projects have ranged from TV shows like “Every project teaches you something. “Homecoming,” “Sid the Science Kid,” “Monk,” Everything you do, you meet somebody that brings “Kitchen Nightmares,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” you somewhere else. Your journey is constantly and “Big Little Lies” to films including “Insidious: evolving,” he said. “I think that’s healthy. There’s Chapter 2,” “The Purge,” and both of Jordan Peele’s always another way to tell a story. Every project is hit movies, “Get Out” and “Us.” unique, the challenges and rewarding moments. Silbey worked as assistant director on Peele’s Nothing is the same. That’s why I like what I do — movies, meaning he was the “nerve center” of you never get bored.” information: coordinating shooting schedules; communicating what was needed to all – Walter Ryce departments, actors and crew; making sure scripts, sides and visuals were ready when needed; booking and casting extras. He couldn’t predict the cultural, critical and box office phenomenon that “Get Out” would become.

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 45 CLASS NOTES

1998 2003 2006 Water Management. As part of the Community Amy Marbach (B.A., Floodplains Solutions Liberal Studies) recently program, she helps hit her 20-year mark as a assess watersheds to staff member at CSUMB. try to create win-win She is currently a user solutions for agriculture services specialist in viability, salmon habitat Technology Support restoration and floodplain Services. mitigation. She works with local tribes, farmers, Joel Alexander landowners and a variety (B.S., Management Jason Mansour (B.S., Earth Samuel Lopez-Downum of stakeholders. She is also and International Systems Science and Policy) (B.A., Teledramatic the project manager for Entrepreneurship) has hunts tropical cyclones that Arts and Technology) the countywide shellfish owned and operated two threaten the United States is currently working as program and pollution insurance and vehicle and its territories. During an actor in Los Angeles. identification correction registration offices for the the peak of hurricane Lopez-Downum writes program. These programs last 10 years. He employs season, he was in the and performs improv from go hand-in-hand, dealing 10 bilingual employees. Atlantic Basin. three short films and has with water quality issues shot a number of sketches. — particularly bacterial He has also performed in issues and the operations many short films and some of commercial shellfish 2001 2004 television. Lopez-Downum beds in Puget Sound. Driscoll says she loves her Mack Smith (M.A., Angelica Leon (B.A., backpacked through job and is so fortunate to Special Education-Liberal Collaborative Health Europe in 2018 and 2019, be an alumna of CSUMB. Studies) has been teaching and Human Services) is including Spain, Portugal, She went back to school special education ever currently living in Gilroy the UK and Morocco. and completed a master’s since graduating and with her 6-year-old son. degree in organizational is navigating distance Leon received her licensed leadership from Brandman learning with the skills he clinical social worker 2009 University in 2018. On learned in Tech Tools. certification in December Sept. 2, 2020, Driscoll gave 2020. Ashley Williams (B.A., birth to her first baby Liberal Studies) started boy, William. She and her her eighth year teaching husband are ecstatic about 2002 in August. Although this 2005 this next adventure in their Jeffrey Woolery (B.A., year looks very different, life. Visual & Public Arts) has James Green (B.S., she is amazed at how been working remotely as Telecommunications, well everyone is coming a single father with one Multimedia and Applied together to support one son. Woolery is a property Computing) is currently another. Williams and her and casualty claims in the CSUMB Teaching husband have an almost adjuster. Credential Program after 3-year-old, Zeke, and a five years of substitute 6-year-old, Jax. teaching. He is co-teaching a third-grade class in the Alisal Elementary School 2011 District. Green has a total of 12 degrees: one bachelor Danielle Driscoll (B.S., of science and 11 associate Environmental Science, degrees. He has seven pets Technology and Policy) and cared for his father for is a senior planner for 15 years until he passed in Snohomish County 2015 at the age of 88. Public Works Surface

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2012 2013 currently pursuing a support of many amazing master’s degree in social people at CSUMB. work at San Jose State University. Kyle Dalton Lipscombe (B.A., World Languages Ness Ruvalcaba (B.A., and Culture) moved to Psychology) moved to the Japan six years ago after Bay Area after graduating graduating from CSU and obtained her master’s Monterey Bay. Lipscombe degree in counseling. has worked in various She recently became a companies and schools licensed marriage and as an English as a second Robyn DoCanto (B.A., Carmine Lepiane (B.S., family therapist and now language teacher. While Visual and Public Arts) Business Administration) works for a non-profit working full time, he is just recently celebrated obtained his CPA license agency in a program that currently studying at a her four-year anniversary after graduating and has provides mental health Japanese university to get with Student Housing and worked at a local tax and treatment to youths at his second degree and an Residential Life at CSUMB. accounting firm, Vanderbilt risk of commercial sexual English teacher’s license to DoCanto married a fellow CPAs, for seven years. He exploitation. Ruvalcaba be able to teach in Japanese alum, Gio, in 2015 and prepares individual, trust also went from having one public schools. moved back to Marina. and business tax returns. betta fish in the dorms to The couple welcomed their He has also worked with having a 40-gallon tank son, Wolfe, in 2017 and had various non-profits in with 15 fish. their daughter, Domino, in the area, including the 2015 April 2020. Monterey Public Library Samantha Ramirez and the Carmel Public (B.S., Marine Science) is Library Foundation, and 2014 Steven Macias (B.S., a research scientist for served on multiple boards Business Administration) one of the newest and and committees, while currently serves as most awarded antibody providing professional executive director at development companies guidance where needed. The Blind and Visually in the U.S. Located in When he is not working, Impaired Center of Temecula, California, the Lepiane spends time with Monterey County. He is company mainly works on his wife, Ashley Stockton, the youngest executive antibody development for who is also an Otter director in the center’s cancer research purposes alum. They are expecting 49-year history. Macias but has also tacked on their first child. Lepiane is also the founder of antibody development said he’s grateful for the for COVID-19. Ramirez the Monterey County Nick Rodrigues (B.S., wisdom and experience said she loves her job Camaros Car Club. He Computer Science) was that the staff at CSUMB and all of the people she belongs to the Mission recently promoted to shared with him and his has met along the way. Trail Lions Club and serves Interim Associate Director wife, and they both hope to In September 2020, she on the Monterey-Salinas of Network Services further the ever-expanding married her boyfriend Transit Mobility Advisory at CSU Monterey Bay. success of CSUMB. of 12 years, and they Committee. In his Rodrigues credits CSUMB bought their first home downtime, he manages his for not only allowing together. Ramirez credits multiple stock portfolios Griselda Aguirre (B.A., him to get an excellent it all to CSUMB because and provides pro-bono Social and Behavioral education, but also setting if it weren’t for all of her start-up consultation. Sciences) enjoys traveling him up with networking professors and friends and hopes to someday opportunities, which has at the university, she travel the world. She is led him to where he is now. wouldn’t be the woman an active community He says an alumni group she is today. volunteer and regularly has enabled him to build gives back to her stronger connections and community. Aguirre is grow his career with the

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 47 CLASS NOTES

Kristen Peterson (B.A., Bettina Canuto (B.A., group facilitator for a local to advance to working in Integrated Studies Special Psychology) recently chapter of Depression the emergency department. Major) won a seat on the married and has been Bipolar Support Alliance Capitola City Council employed at Stanford (DBSA). Schwerdtfeger’s Claudia Cardoso (B.A., after graduating from University for two years. passion for helping others Collaborative Health CSUMB in 2015. She is in and investing her time and Human Services) the final year of her first with the group home Drew Stuck (B.S., is currently employed term and is running for re- subsequently landed Kinesiology) works for the with the Salinas Union election while also serving her a facility manager California Life Sciences High School District as as Capitola’s mayor. position. A year later, Association, which helped a paraeducator. She is Additionally, Peterson she was accepted into coordinate delivery also in her last year of continued her education at a master’s program at of Personal Protective graduate school to obtain California State University, Capella University and Equipment (PPE) including a master’s degree in school Northridge and earned is now in a marriage six million free masks to counseling. Cardoso’s her master’s in public and family therapist 450 essential California life goal is to become a school administration with program. Balancing work, sciences companies during counselor in her hometown an emphasis in public volunteering and school the COVID-19 pandemic. of Salinas. She also had sector management and life has been a challenge, her second baby in 2019, leadership in 2018. She but she makes time making her a mother is also working full time Lauren Stokes (B.A., for traveling, self-care, of two boys, Xavier and as a senior associate of Sociology) landed “an and hobbies including Joseph. government relations amazing job” at a small painting, reading and for the Silicon Valley accounting firm, and has hiking. Because of recent Leadership Group. been busy volunteering events, she has devoted Laila Richardson (B.A., for fundraisers in her time to advocating for Human Communication) hometown. She was Black Lives Matter, has explored various recently accepted to joining peaceful protests, career opportunities 2016 Lincoln Law School and and educating herself, since graduating from plans to pursue a law her family and her CSUMB. She worked at degree. community. Furthermore, California Health and Schwerdtfeger has Wellness, a managed care participated in community plan for Medi-Cal, and is cleanup and recycling now employed at Claire’s 2017 events. Montessori International Academy. Richardson is currently attending a local Michelle Meissner (B.S., community college to earn Psychology) earned her early childhood education master’s degree in nursing units while working as Megan Parayno (B.S., at Columbia University an assistant kindergarten Kinesiology) recently in New York. Throughout teacher. graduated with her nursing school, Meissner master’s in sports volunteered around administration from the city with homeless Fresno Pacific University. populations and the New She works full time as a Emily Schwerdtfeger York City Marathon. She program director for First (B.A., Psychology) began began her career at Mount Tee of Fresno, a non-profit working in a day program Sinai Morningside hospital youth golf organization. for adults with disabilities as an inpatient clinical She is also a graduate after graduating. She then nurse just as COVID-19 assistant for Fresno State transitioned to a group cases surged. She was Athletics. home for at-risk female forced to learn very youth in the foster care quickly and efficiently. She system. Schwerdtfeger plans to work in New York also volunteered as a for the next few years and

48 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE CLASS NOTES

consulting on special girlfriend of eight years. has been a student at projects for the company. Prior to joining the police CSUMB since 2013 and She completed her four- department, Villaneda was credits a great deal to year term as a board a trainer for the Montage the experiences and of trustees member for Wellness Center and led relationships that he has Salinas Valley Memorial numerous presentations formed throughout the Healthcare System and regarding health and years. Ultimately, his time was hired to work in longevity. at CSUMB has helped lead the communications him to where he is today department. She joined the and prepared him to be an Molly Machado (B.A., board of the Food Bank influential member of the Ryan Sigala (B.A., Human Psychology) works at The for Monterey County, community and beyond. Communication) started Coalition of Homeless serves as a steering partner an internship at Mann’s Services Providers, the lead for Bright Futures, and Fresh Vegetables in 2017. continuum of care agency Meriel Glysson (B.A., handed over the leadership When he graduated that for Monterey and San Psychology) is a mother of IMPOWER, Inc. (an December, Sigala was Benito counties. Machado to a 1-year-old boy and organization she co- offered a full-time job as manages the nonprofit’s engaged to be married. founded) to a new board a marketing assistant. coordinated entry system She graduated as a Master of strong female leaders. He was later promoted to for housing referrals, Certified Health Coach D’Arrigo also resigned marketing coordinator. which attempts to match from Dr. Sears Wellness from many boards and Sigala took his current job approximately 3,000 Institute with a specialty task forces that no longer at Scheid Family Wines unsheltered individuals in families. She is currently align with her passions. in March and recently and families with housing studying pregnancy Her jobs now allow her the purchased his first house interventions. Machado as well as adults and flexibility to spend more in Soledad, California. is also studying to earn a seniors. Glysson is also a time with her teenage twin master’s degree in public certified therapeutic art boys. In addition, she was administration through coach studying to obtain elected to the Hartnell Rutgers University. a mindfulness certificate College Board of Trustees, 2018 while beginning her own District 3, and is still an health coach practice from active community leader Chad Nichols (B.A., home. in the fields of women’s Psychology) is currently empowerment, education, a graduate student health and wellness. completing his third D’Arrigo completed and final year in the 2019 an online course and M.S. School Psychology received a certificate in program at CSUMB as psychological first aid. an intern. Nichols was Currently, she is enrolled hired in Spring 2020 as in an online course on a school psychologist in Margaret D’Arrigo racial equity and inclusion. the Monterey Peninsula (Master of Business In addition, D’Arrigo is Unified School District. Administration) made writing her first book, The school district some major career shifts a memoir, and plans to assigned him to an after she earned her degree publish it in 2021. D’Arrigo elementary school as a full- in the Executive MBA says her MBA increased time school psychologist Program at CSUMB. She her confidence and her with full responsibilities Olivia Quadros (B.S., became CEO of D’Arrigo courage and has improved and a supportive role at Business Administration) Consulting with a vision to her overall life experience. a kindergarten through says she felt empowered empower women through eighth-grade school site. to enter the world of leadership development, He says his experience business with curiosity Steven Villaneda (B.S., education and community working in the field of and ambition upon Kinesiology) was hired as engagement. An employee education so far has graduating from CSUMB. a police officer for the City of Taylor Farms, she been exhilarating and Quadros was accepted into of Salinas and married his resigned and began informative. Nichols an internship program

THE MAGAZINE OF CSU MONTEREY BAY | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE 49 CLASS NOTES

in Madrid, Spain, in Fall Guadalupe Espinoza (B.S., Adrian Rocha (B.A., 2019. She discovered her Human Development and Psychology) is pursuing passion for copywriting Family Studies) is working a Master of Business SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE! and launched a freelance from home as a preschool Administration degree at Share news of your copywriting business. teacher while school CSUMB. Rocha was also activities and achievements. Then a dear friend in campuses are closed recently promoted from Go to csumb.edu/alumni Monterey sent her a job because of COVID-19. She a program specialist to a application for a position loves what she does and case manager. Select News, then Submit a and fill out the form. at Monterey Premier, a thanks CSUMB for helping Class Note local web development her become an even better Corey Tinay (B.A., Social and design company. She teacher. and Behavioral Sciences) was hired as the executive joined the U.S. Army right assistant and in-house Stephanie Madrid (B.A., after graduation. After copywriter. In addition, Collaborative Health returning from training, he Quadros also writes for and Human Services) started a graduate program the Marina Chamber of moved to Marin County in international studies Commerce and plans to to live with her fiancé and at the University of San continue copywriting for stepson after graduating Francisco. He is currently her own clients. from CSUMB. Madrid a research intern for the is currently working for county of San Mateo. After Marie Alonzo (B.A., Center Point, Inc. as a graduation this spring, he Collaborative Health and client service assistant, will go on to be an officer Human Services) is in her offering services to those in the Army. Tinay’s goals second year of the Master with drug and alcohol are to pursue a doctorate of Social Work program addiction. She plans during or after his at CSUMB. Alonzo also on attending Sonoma service commitment and holds a part-time position State University for her to continue conducting with the Cooperative master’s degree in public research related to post- Learning Center as a administration and is colonial theory studies and graduate writing tutor also seeking employment teaching. and serves as the College through the county to of Health Sciences and obtain further experience. Human Services Senator. She is also a student board Angel Ortiz Medina member on the Otter (B.S., Computer Science) Student Union Board. has been a label designer at biomedical company Jonathan Velasquez Stryker Endoscopy for (B.S., Kinesiology) earned over a year and loves it. entry into nursing schools Ortiz Medina has taken all over California, but on many more hobbies because of the pandemic, outside of work like Eunice Latu (B.S., will delay starting until biking, landscaping and Sustainable Hospitality Fall 2021. He says he’s dog training. He says Management) is enrolled excited to be a future CSUMB taught him how to in a one-year master’s registered nurse and plans survive in the real world degree and teaching to further his education and face challenges. He is credential program. Latu and become a nurse currently working from will graduate in June and practitioner. Velasquez home and has “opened up start working as a teacher credits CSUMB as just the to the possibilities that are in August. beginning of a successful out there.” career in the medical field.

50 Fall/Winter 2020 | CSUMB.EDU/MAGAZINE

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