CSUN’s University Library has spearheaded a special video project in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to submit videos responding to questions about identity. Yi Ding, librarian at the University Library, says while the project is open to everyone, no matter what their race, there is a particular emphasis on collecting stories from people of mixed-race.
“For students and community members of mixed-race ethnicity, their stories don’t really get heard very often,” said Ding. “We want to highlight and make those stories visible.”
There is a Google form that participants can use to upload videos. The form includes questions participants can answer, such as “How do you describe your cultural and ethnic heritage and backgrounds?” “What parts of your identity do you choose for yourself?” “What parts of your identity are determined for you by other people or by society?” Participants can pick and choose among the questions. Ding says she contributed to a similar video project sponsored by the library in 2018, focusing on the importance of homemade food in celebrating heritage. She said it was a powerful experience.
“I felt that sense of belonging and that feeling of being connected to CSUN and to the other AAPI members on campus,” she said. “I felt the power of sharing my story.”
Videos will be accepted through May 22. Librarians plan to post them by the end of May on the library’s YouTube channel. Ding says organizers would like to expand this type of video project in the future to celebrations of Black History Month and Women’s History Month.
AS President Katie Karroum and Vice President Iman Khan sit ready to lead the ’24-’25 school year.
Photo courtesy of Associated Students Marketing.
Karroum and Khan getting sworn into office in June of 2024.
Photo courtesy of Associated Students Marketing.
Katie Karroum (Communication Studies) and Iman Khan ’24 (Health Care Administration) were sworn into office in June 2024, ready to take on their new roles as Associated Students president and vice president/chief operating officer, respectively.
Karroum, a rising senior, and Khan, a graduate student studying public health, spoke with CSUN Newsroom about their roles. The conversation shed light on how deeply personal experiences influence their approaches to leadership and the upcoming projects they are passionate about this academic year, such as unity among students.
Note: answers have been lightly edited for length, clarity and CSUN Newsroom style.
Q:What made you get involved in AS? Have you been in student government before?
Katie Karroum: From a young age, I sought out ways to get involved in my school and community, initially as a way to spend time outside the house. Over time, however, this evolved into a deep passion for interpersonal communication and building connections. In the summer of 2021, I attended a virtual “Meet the Clubs/Orgs” event and joined the Associated Students (AS) breakout room. That year, I joined Lobby Corps (a subcommittee of the AS Senate who work alongside the chair of Legislative Affairs) and ran for a seat on the AS Senate representing lower division students, securing the position. My involvement in leadership started in high school when I held officer positions in two of the largest clubs as well as being a part of ASB (Associated Student Body).
Iman Khan: I got involved, because I was super uninvolved. As a transfer student, my entire first year at CSUN was spent being your stereotypical commuter student. I realized I wasn’t happy with how I was choosing to treat my college experience, and made a commitment to myself to get involved. I found AS through an Instagram ad and just went for it and applied to be a senator for the College of Health and Human Development — which absolutely changed my college experience, and life, for the better. The ad brought me to AS, and the community is what kept me in AS.
Q:How does your personal background/identity influence your way of leadership?
KK: Growing up in a traditional household as the child of Syrian immigrants, I’ve often found myself navigating the disconnect between my parents’ views on education and my own aspirations. Additionally, being queer and non-gender conforming, I never quite fit into any particular crowd, especially since I attended smaller schools where differences were more pronounced. These experiences have fueled my passion for leadership, as I’ve learned that true leadership is about embracing who you are and refusing to conform to others’ expectations. I realized that being a leader isn’t about fitting in; it’s about standing up for what’s right, even if it means standing alone, and making a difference that challenges the status quo.
IK: As an Indian-Muslim-American woman, I take immense pride in my diverse background and heritage. I am deeply aware of the challenges and biases that people face based on their identity because I have experienced them myself. I strive to foster a culture where diversity is celebrated, and every individual’s voice is respected. By doing so, I hope to not only lead effectively but also inspire others to embrace justice and kindness in their interactions and leadership styles.
Q:Who or what has been your biggest inspiration and drive for success?
KK: My mother has been my greatest inspiration and driving force for success, though perhaps not in the most conventional way. Our relationship was often strained, and it was difficult to get her to understand the significance of my passions and the paths I wanted to pursue. She was the hardest person for me to reach, and because of the challenges in our relationship, I’ve grown into someone who listens more, judges less, and embraces new perspectives. Unfortunately, my mother passed away this past April, in the midst of the AS elections. Her passing made me realize that I owe my presidency to her, and I am committed to becoming the best person I can be in her honor.
IK: Recently, my biggest inspiration and drive for success is my niece. I want to be a role model for her, demonstrating that it’s possible to achieve great things and to always strive for excellence.
Q: What are some plans and ideas you are implementing this upcoming school year?
KK: My primary focus is on fostering unity, both within Associated Students and across the entire student body. I’m committed to elevating the voices of our student leaders in clubs and organizations at CSUN, as I believe they play a crucial role in driving student spirit, growth and character development. I also plan to work on making our organization more transparent to the student body, exploring ways to better inform students about what our board of directors is discussing and voting on.
IK: We plan to actively reach out to students in their own spaces and levels of comfort, whether that’s physically on campus or through virtual platforms, to provide them with the services and support we offer. We are also placing a strong emphasis on collaborating with identity-based clubs and organizations on campus. By fostering these partnerships, we aim to create a more inclusive environment where all students feel represented and supported, ensuring that AS is a resource and advocate for every student at CSUN.
Q:Does AS have any election year related event plans?
KK: We have these events in the making and are being headed on by our chair of Legislative Affairs. More details to come!
IK: Big P.A.R.T.Y (Political Awareness, Registration, Turnout, Youthquake) is going to take place the day before voting day, Nov. 4. This event aims to educate students about voter registration, current political issues, campaigns and propositions that directly affect them. We want to promote political engagement and awareness among students.
Q:What’s your favorite memory at CSUN so far?
KK: My favorite memory at CSUN is from my University 100 class during my freshman year. I took this class in the Fall of 2021, when COVID regulations were still in effect. The U100 course was my only fully in-person class at the time, and it offered a sense of intimacy and camaraderie that reminded me of high school. Beyond the valuable resources the class provided, the small, friendly setting allowed me to form friendships that were innocent and genuine. That class and the friendships I made showed me that it’s possible to build meaningful, close-knit relationships even on such a large campus.
IK: Graduating with my undergraduate degree! Knowing that I would be returning as a graduate students and as the AS VP made it all even better, knowing I would have the opportunity to create a culture that helps students get to graduation day with support, memories, and a fulfilling college experience.
Alumna Xochitl Hernandez stands proud as a bilingual reporter for NBC 6 while earning her master’s degree in vocal performance at the University of Miami — living the best of both worlds.
Alumna Xochitl Hernandez pours her heart into a Nahuatl song, breaking ground in classical music.
Xóchitl Hernández ’20 (Vocal Arts), a dynamic storyteller and CSUN legacy, is breaking new ground in the opera world by incorporating the indigenous Nahuatl language into her performances.
After learning to embrace her identity as a Mexican American musician and journalist under the guidance of professors such as Fermin Herrera, David Sannerud, Jose Luis Benavides and Ben Davis, she aspires to bring more diverse storytelling to the typically Eurocentric classical and opera worlds with the Uto-Aztecan indigenous language, Nahuatl — inspired by her Chicana roots.
“It’s really important to me to bring indigenous music to the forefront of classical music,” she said. “People of all races and backgrounds need to feel welcome and that they have a place at the table.”
At CSUN, she learned the basics of Nahuatl from longtime Chicana/o studies professor Fermin Herrera. For Hernández, it wasn’t just about picking up a new language — it was about connecting with her heritage and dreaming about how she could bring this beautiful, ancient language into her music.
Combining her culture and love for music, she decided to take Herrera’s class on Regional Mexican Music.
Xochitl Hernandez sings beautifully in her native language, inspired by her Chicana heritage.
“[The class] made me feel so proud to be Mexican and a musician,” she said.
Her first time performing in Nahuatl was at her master’s recital at the University of Miami in March, and it was an epiphany — inspiring her to do more to diversify classical music.
Trio of Mentors
Her first voice teacher in classical singing, Dr. Sannerud, whom she called one of her greatest mentors, bolstered her confidence to turn her talent into a career. “He changed my life,” she said of Dr. Sannerud. “I didn’t know if there was a place for me in classical music and opera.”
After Hernández added a minor in Spanish-language journalism, Dr. Benavides became another mentor. He introduced her to Davis, who ran the Department of Journalism’s Valley View News show. Although at first, she knew little about broadcast journalism, the three professors helped her bridge two key aspects of her identity.
“Singers are journalists too,” Davis said. He told her that singers, like journalists, are storytellers — which is exactly how she saw herself. A career in broadcast seemed like the perfect fit, she said.
Journalism and Blending Passions
She graduated from CSUN in May 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged and just as the Black Lives Matter movement would sweep the nation after the murder of George Floyd. Hernández started working as a bilingual reporter for Washington state’s Tri-Cities KNDU station.
She loved having the opportunity and trust to share people’s stories in their best and worst times, she said, which she continued to do even after she left KNDU.
In 2022, Hernández took another step toward elevating her opera career, enrolling in the Master of Music in Vocal Performance program at the University of Miami. While furthering her classical training, she got the opportunity to continue as a part-time news reporter for NBC 6 South Florida.
This past May, she completed her master’s at Miami and wrapped up her time at NBC. Her next stop? The Rocky Mountains, where she was accepted to the Central City Opera in Central City, Colorado, just west of Denver, where she’s performing as a contracted studio artist for the summer festival, through August. She will continue to apply for young artist programs to receive a two to three year residency.
In Colorado, she plans to continue building a space for her Chicana culture in classical music.
Family Roots
Hernández has been surrounded by music her whole life — her father plays the guitar in a mariachi band and her mother sings.
The singer and journalist is a third-generation Matador. Her parents’, Leo Hernandez ’97 and Isabel Xochitl Vazquez ’97, M.A ’12, were getting their teaching credentials from CSUN while Hernández was a little girl, riding her bicycle around campus. Both work as teachers for LAUSD. Her grandfather, Armando Vazquez, began attending what was then San Fernando Valley State College (now CSUN) in 1969, where he helped spearhead the Department of Mexican American Studies, now known as Chicana/o Studies. She credited her connection and appreciation of her culture to her family.
On May 18, after receiving her master’s, she returned to CSUN, where she gave a powerful performance at the Shigemi Matsumoto Recital Hall. She sang four Nahuatl songs, all by Mexican composer Salvador Moreno. Returning to her hometown and singing in her native language, celebrating Aztec culture, was a full-circle moment for Hernández, she said.
Looking Forward
After her summer of opera, Hernández said, she plans to audition for every performance she comes across — whether they’re gigs or opportunities through young artist programs. She also plans to continue her journalism career in some capacity. Her dream has been to work in both professions at the same time, and she will not give up on that, she said.
As she reminisced on her time as a Matador, Hernández remained grateful for everything she learned at CSUN, the campus where she discovered it was possible to embrace her two-part identity and make her dreams come true.
“A lot of people dream small because they feel like they don’t have the resources to do what they want,” she said, “but all you need is the courage and strength to go for it.”
For the month of May, CSUN celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, honoring the cultures, history and contributions of individuals from countries across the entire Asian continent, as well as the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
The observance occurs in May in honor of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, as well as the labor and contribution from Chinese immigrants for completing the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. This observance began as Asian American Heritage Week, signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. In 1990, the celebratory week was extended by Congress to a month. In recent years, it has been commonly referred to as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
As of fall 2023, 9% of students at CSUN identify as Asian American, including Pacific Islanders and Desi American students. CSUN provides many different organizations for these students, including student organizations such as the Asian American Christian Fellowship, CSUN Soon Movement and the Delta Lambda Chi Sorority, as well many other affinity groups on campus.
As part of an ongoing series celebrating the diverse backgrounds of Matador communities, CSUN Newsroom asked students to share their stories on growing up in Asian American culture.
Edel Evangelista, 23, Graduate Student. As a first generation Filipino American, Evangelista views this month as a time to honor the journeys and struggles of Asian Americans who were compelled to migrate to the United States, often due to economic, political and social issues from their home countries. “When I think of Asian American Heritage Month, I think of honoring our journeys, getting here, the reasons why we’re here and uplifting the struggles and issues of people that had [to migrate] to America,” Evangelista said. He expressed a strong admiration for the revolutionary spirit of Filipinos throughout history and their ongoing efforts to uplift the conditions of Filipino Americans today. Evangelista stays connected to his heritage through involvement with the Filipino Youth Collective and A18, focusing on education and community building to support those affected by issues such as lack of educational access and Asian hate.
Tyler Yamauchi, 21, Senior. This month is a significant time for Yamauchi, who identifies as biracial, to explore and connect with his Japanese heritage, which plays a crucial role in his identity. “What it means to me is since I’m biracial, it pretty much lets me experience a lot of different things. It lets me get closer to my Asian side of the family,” he said. A significant aspect of his Japanese culture that he cherishes is the food, reflecting fond memories of his father preparing traditional Japanese dishes like inari and tempura. To stay engaged with his cultural roots on campus, Tyler has been involved with the Glenn Omatsu House and the Asian American Studies Pathways Project.
Zainab Merchant, 23, Junior. Merchant, a second-generation Indian American, has traveled all over India and visited her family in Mumbai. “I think it’s a great way to highlight people from diverse backgrounds, but at the same time, I feel like we should be recognizing people outside of just this month as well,” Merchant said. Merchant mentioned her favorite Indian dishes like Dosa, and how they helped her connect with her roots. Merchant feels a distinct gap in how she relates to her heritage compared to her parents, illustrating the complex identity navigation faced by many.
Jason Ryan Ramando Castramero, 25, Senior. For Castramero, this month is a time to appreciate the familial bonds within the diverse AANHPI cultures, particularly within his own Filipino community. “To me, it means celebrating every individual culture of pretty much the entire Asian continent,” Castramero said. He stays connected to his roots through campus clubs, particularly the Filipino American Student Association.
Kelli Luu, 22, Junior. Coming from a Vietnamese background, Luu deeply values the traditions and lessons passed down by her immigrant parents. She enthusiastically participates in Vietnamese Lunar New Year and enjoys the vibrant community events in Garden Grove. “Asian American Heritage Month means a lot to me,” Luu said. “It’s really fun because it means a lot to the Asian community, for sure, because we get some kind of representation.” Her insights highlight the rich cultural pride and close familial ties that shape her identity and experiences.
Trisha Anas, 27, Senior. Anas deeply values her Filipino American heritage. “I think my favorite aspect of Filipino culture would probably have to be the sense of community that we have,” she said. “We are very community-centered.” Anas has been actively involved in the Filipino Youth Collective and the Asian American Journalists Association at CSUN, although her participation has waned recently due to a busy schedule. Her commitment to her culture and community exemplifies her pride and ongoing engagement with her heritage.
Members of the graduating class of 2024 found a home at California State University, Northridge. It was a place that empowered them and gave them the tools to break cultural and generational barriers, and to fulfill dreams first imagined decades earlier.
More than 10,900 students are eligible to take part in CSUN’s commencement exercises this week. Each student has a personal story of hard work, perseverance and success. Below are examples of just some of those stories:
Demi De La Vara, B.S. in Biochemistry & B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology
Demi De La Vara
Demi De La Vara’s original plan when she enrolled at CSUN seven years ago was to lay the educational foundation for becoming a veterinarian by obtaining a degree in biochemistry.
She changed her mind in 2021, when she miscarried during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The doctors she saw didn’t believe she had been pregnant and, attributing her symptoms to COVID, sent her home without proper treatment. Three weeks later, she went into hemorrhagic and septic shock due to the doctors not removing the placenta.
“I recovered, but it was a long process mentally and emotionally,” De La Vara, 25, said. “What happened to me shouldn’t have happened. I don’t know if it happened because I am a Latina, but they would not listen to me. I knew then that I needed to change my career goals. I want to become an OB/GYN. I want to make sure that what happened to me never happens to anyone again. The community deserves doctors who listen to their patients and advocate for them. I don’t want to be a doctor who sees everyone as a number.”
De La Vara kept her major in biochemistry and added two degrees in biology, completing both a bachelor’s of arts and a bachelor’s of science in biology. She also signed up for a trade school course in Riverside to become an emergency medical technician (EMT), just to be sure medicine was the right career choice for her, and it was.
“I love being an EMT, and I know that I can do medicine as a career,” she said.
Fall semester of 2021, De La Vara commuted from the home she shares with her father in West Covina two days a week to Riverside to do training as an EMT, and then three days a week to CSUN. She admitted the commute put a strain on her studies for a while, but she vowed not to give up.
She was given the opportunity in spring 2022 to do research in Ecuador as part of the Tropical Biology Semester, which gives science students a rare opportunity to study abroad; did research in the labs of two professors; and was president of the student group Women in Science this past semester. On the weekends, she works as an EMT. All this even though she and her father were homeless during the spring of 2023, when a Christmas morning fire in their apartment building left them displaced for most of that semester.
While her father has a college degree, no one else in De La Vara’s family does. She said she appreciates the struggles that first generation college students go through to obtain their degree. She shared some wisdom she recently got from her godmother.
“She said, ‘No one truly knows what you went through, the sacrifices you have made and how lonely it gets, but you did it!’” De La Vara said. “It’s a lonely road and sometimes it can seem very lonely. But we can do it as long as we believe we can do it. That’s all that matters. You just have to not listen to the outside noise.”
Upon graduation, she will work as an EMT full time, while she studies for the Medical College Admission Test.
De La Vara will receive her degrees on Friday, May 17, during the commencement ceremony for graduates of the College of Science and Mathematics.
Edna Garcia de la Torre, B.A. in Gender and Women’s Studies & B.A. in Psychology
Edna Garcia de la Torre
If there is any word that describes Edna Garcia de la Torre’s journey to get her college degrees, she said it is “perseverance.”
“I have always been a person who says ‘yes, this situation is tough,’ but instead of sitting down and crying about it, I want to try to figure out a solution,” said Garcia de la Torre, 50, of Santa Clarita.
Garcia de la Torre fled Mexico in 1992 at age 17 and five months pregnant. She was hoping for a fresh start for herself and her child in the United States. She was assaulted the first day she was in this country and, a year later, had to escape the home of an aunt, where she had sought refuge, because her uncle was abusive. Within a couple years, she was a single mother with two daughters to care for, including one with severe health problems.
Garcia de la Torre came up with a plan to survive: find a job that was close to where she lived because she didn’t have a car and arrange for after-school care so that she could work and still have time with her girls when she was done.
As her daughters grew up and became independent, and she became a legal U.S. resident, Garcia de la Torre decided it was time to focus on herself.
“My identity had been being a mother and taking care of my daughters,” she said. “I had to find a different way to live my life and figure out what was important to me.”
She enrolled at the College of the Canyons to study psychology and excelled in her classes. She became involved with a student group, My Gen My Fight, that works to draw attention to modern-day slavery and human trafficking. Impressed with her commitment to helping others, her professors encouraged her to apply to CSUN to get her bachelor’s degree.
“When I got accepted, I was so excited and my kids were so happy for me, but then I got scared,” Garcia de la Torre said. “I didn’t know the university or how it works. It was a little intimidating.”
She did what she always does when confronted with a problem — research. She familiarized herself with the university’s website and the campus, and reached out to potential advisors and faculty members who could help her.
Her first semester, she started with only six or eight units of classes, but realized that, if she wanted to graduate in four years, she’d have to increase her course load. By her third semester, she was taking 18 units while juggling work demands. Something had to give.
She reduced the number of units she was taking and took classes during the summer and winter sessions but kept her jobs. She worked as a housekeeper two days a week, caregiver for an elderly woman two days a week and manager of a Calabasas shopping center, which she also pressure cleans once a month. She also became a mentor with Community for Achievement in Psychological Sciences and added another major in addition to psychology — gender and women’s studies.
“Despite of all the experiences that I had, I really didn’t have a vocabulary to put into words all the things I went through,” she said. “Gender and women’s studies empowered me — gave me the words — and I met amazing women who are passionate about what they are doing, their futures and the things they want to do, and that empowers me as well.”
Garcia de la Torre will begin work on her master’s degree in social work at CSUN in the fall.
She will receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology on May 18 during the commencement ceremony for the graduates of the Departments of Africana Studies, Anthropology, History and Psychology in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She will receive her bachelor’s degree in gender and women’s studies on May 19 during the commencement ceremony for the graduates from the College of Humanities.
Keyly Sandoval, B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences, with a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies
Keyly Sandoval
Before she could read, Keyly Sandoval’s mother was encouraging her daughter to go to college. Her parents immigrated from Guatemala when her mother was pregnant with her to ensure better opportunities, especially educational opportunities, for their child.
“She’d say ‘I want you to be somebody,’” said Sandoval, 24, of Tarzana. “Every day, since I was in pre-K, she would tell me, ‘You are going to college.’”
The problem was, Sandoval wasn’t sure she was cut out for college. A high school counselor convinced her that she could succeed in college, so she applied. Her grades weren’t the best, but the counselor told her about CSUN’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the support it would offer students like her. She decided to give it a shot and was accepted.
“EOP gave me a chance,” she said. “They look at students who have potential but because of their community or life circumstances may not be able to reach that potential without a little bit of help. They create a community, a big family, that makes you feel supported and provides you with a mentor and people who you can trust and can relate to you. And I am forever grateful.”
Sandoval enrolled at CSUN in 2018 with an eye on getting a degree in criminology and justice studies but wasn’t sure if the major was the best fit, even though she hopes to one day practice law. She eventually switched majors to family and consumer sciences, with an emphasis on working with children and families.
“Families are essentially what helps a child develop to the best of their abilities,” she said. “I don’t come from a perfect family, no one really does. I wanted to be able to have the knowledge to help other families.”
It’s knowledge that she said that will carry over to her future family law practice. She recently completed an internship with a family court judge and found that her major provided her unique insight into some of the cases that appeared before the court.
“I have a deeper understanding of why things are the way they are, and why the child’s needs should always be placed before the parents’,” she said. “Most times, you’ll see the children are stuck in the crossfire of the parents. They kind of forget the child in the effort to get their point across. But the judge is so amazing and reminds them that we’re here because we want what’s best for the child.”
In addition to her internship, Sandoval has served as an EOP mentor, volunteered at CSUN’s Women’s Research and Resource Center providing support to fellow students in need and was president of The F Word (the Feminist Student Association for Community Learning in Intersectional Transnational Transfeminism), an all-inclusive feminist club. She also works part-time for an athleisure wear company, as a research assistant job on campus and has a side gig tutoring children in English and math. She joked that she sets aside Mondays for sleep.
Sandoval called her time at CSUN “eye opening.”
“I discovered things about myself that I didn’t know,” said Sandoval, who took some time off from her studies to deal with medical issues. “I was about to figure out my goals. I came in with a mentality that this is what I want to do. Then somewhere along the line it completely changed. I think being able to have that open-mindedness to accept that things won’t always go the way you planned is a good thing.”
Sandoval is scheduled to receive her degree during the commencement ceremony for the College of Health and Human Development on Sunday, May 19. In the meantime, she’s studying for the LSATs.
Jordan Washington, B.S. in Business Administration – Financial Analysis
Jordan Washington
Jordan Washington is determined to do all he can to eliminate the generational financial inequities that impact his family and other families of color.
“I’ve always been fascinated by finance and money and came to college with a goal of breaking down those generational barriers and making a difference,” said the 23-year-old Oakland native, who has a position waiting for him when he graduates in the San Francisco offices of the private wealth management division of the global investment firm Goldman Sachs.
Washington was a student athlete growing up. He played basketball all through elementary, middle and high school and at Merritt College, where he earned an associate degree in business. As he considered his choices for his bachelor’s degree, CSUN stood out. Not only for its athletics program, but also for the strong reputation of the David Nazarian College for Business and Economics and, in particular, its Department of Finance.
“I played basketball my whole life, and my first goal in life was to become a professional basketball player,” Washington said, adding that when he arrived at CSUN in 2022 he fully intended to try out for the school’s basketball team as a walk on.
But, as he settled into his apartment at the start of his first semester, he realized that he was more interested in his studies than playing basketball competitively.
“I took a hard look in the mirror and was going to church with my grandmother and praying, looking for a purpose because I had been playing basketball for so long and it had started to feel more like a job than a passion,” he said. “Growing up, the role models for success in my community were athletes and entertainers. I felt like there was big need in my community for representation in the corporate space. I realized that that was my journey.”
Washington said he has always loved business and money.
“I remember I wrote a letter to myself when I was seven,” he said. “I wrote that I wanted to own a business and I wanted to have a billion dollars.”
During the pandemic, Washington taught himself stock trading. “I wanted to learn a new skill, something to improve myself,” he said.
He learned how to read the stock market and started investing. He did some research, took $100 and bought some stock to see what would happen. “It turned out well,” he said.
Washington noted that generational wealth, which lends financial security for so many people, is often elusive in communities of color.
“Most of that wealth is based on real estate, but you can’t invest in real estate if you are too busy focusing on making ends, putting a roof over your family’s heads and food on the table,” Washington said. “My parents did better than most, were there to help us make the right decisions, and my sisters and I never wanted for anything. But in today’s market, real estate is really out of reach for so many people.”
While at Goldman Sachs, he hopes to start a financial literacy program that will teach young people of color in Oakland how to handle money, make financial decisions and how to save and invest in something like the stock market.
“I believe that in this world we are here to serve a purpose,” Washington said. “I feel as though helping young people learn how to manage credit, how to save their money, how to invest their money can ultimately lead to my community, and other communities of color, shrinking the wealth gap.”
Washington is scheduled to receive his degree during the commencement ceremony for the Nazarian College on Monday, May 20.
Stephanie Wilson, B.A. in Africana Studies
Stephanie Wilson
Stephanie Wilson has lived a rich life. The single mother of two, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of three has worked as an insurance agent for 10 years; in public relations for a hospital; did recruitment, fundraising and public relations for a Catholic charity; sat on a local board of the American Cancer Society; worked for a social marketing firm; and served as an AmeriCorps supervisor.
Along the way, while raising her children and fostering three of her grandchildren, she met with former U.S. Ambassador and social activist Sargent Shriver; attended a mass presided over by Pope John Paul; attended a celebration for the release of Nelson Mandela in Africa; served as a consultant for a collaboration with the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial and Father Greg Boyle’s Project Impact in Boyle Heights; trained as a volunteer facilitator for the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance; and managed a homework help center for marginalized students in northwest Pasadena.
Later this month, at age 73, the Altadena resident will become the first in her family to earn a college degree.
“My granddaughter started at CSUN in 2014, but she ended up dropping out and not finishing,” Wilson said. “I feel she dropped out, not because she couldn’t do the work, but because it was easier than continuing. I guess I really want to show her, and other people, that it’s possible.”
Wilson’s college journey started more than 50 years ago when she enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College immediately out of high school. She concedes that she was not a great student at the time and, when she became pregnant, she dropped out.
“I’ve actually attended several community colleges over the years,” she said. “But every time I would enroll, something very severe would happen and I would have to drop out. I became very shy about going to school, but it was always in the back of my mind that it was something I wanted to do.”
When the pandemic hit and her work moved virtually, Wilson decided it was time to go back to school. At first, she took just two classes from Pasadena City College, but before long she was taking a full course load. In 2022, she was awarded her associate degree and was one of two student commencement speakers. She then set out to earn a bachelor’s degree at CSUN.
Wilson wanted to assure older people who are considering going back to college that they can do it.
“They don’t realize that there is a lot of support for them on campus, if they look for it,” she said. “I may have been the oldest student in my classes, but I have made friendships with classmates who are old enough to be my grandchildren. They have been there for me, just as I am there for them.”
Wilson will begin work on a master’s degree in Pan-African studies this fall at Cal State LA with the goal of someday teaching at a community college and developing a curriculum for intergenerational community building.
“I love being Black, and I love all the contributions that people that look like me that are part of the diaspora have made that go unnoticed,” she said. “I also think about how we’re losing a lot of our identity because we are assimilating into a society that doesn’t honor our history and contributions, that don’t treasure us. I want to do something about that.”
A new study by a team of researchers in CSUN’s David Nazarian College of Business and Economics are documenting the experiences of women CSUN alumni who have graduated with degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Photo by Steve Babuljak.
When trying to affect change, information is power.
A team of California State University, Northridge business faculty and a graduate student have put together a 211-page report documenting the experiences of women CSUN alumni who have graduated with degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Their goal: to provide alumni, faculty, staff and students with insights into the women’s experience in STEM, information that can be used to improve the STEM programs and student success in the labor market after graduation.
“Our findings largely align with national studies of women college graduates’ earnings,” said CSUN management professor Richard Moore, who, along with his fellow researchers, works in the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. “Initially, women have similar earnings to men and, over time, a gap between men and women grows so that, after 10 to 15 years in the labor market, men earn more than women. We find this to be true in most STEM fields at CSUN, and at both the bachelor’s and master’s level.”
The researchers conducted their study using data from CalStatePays.org, an interactive website that tracks the longitudinal earnings and employment of approximately 670,000 students who entered any one of six Los Angeles-area CSU campuses — CSUN; California State University, Dominguez Hills; California State University, Channel Islands; California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Fullerton; and California Polytechnic University, Pomona, known as the CSU6 — over the last 20 year. Specifically, they looked at the experiences of graduates of the College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
They found that the College of Science and Mathematics graduates more women than the College of Engineering and Computer Science, but women who graduate from the College of Engineering and Computer Science earn more. Regardless of the college, most women STEM graduates earn more than the typical CSU6 graduate.
Women graduates with bachelor’s degrees from CSUN’s College of Science and Mathematics are more likely to go on to attain a postgraduate degree than women graduates with bachelor’s degrees from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Women graduates from the College of Engineering and Computer Science may be less likely to go to graduate school, as they can earn a high salary without a graduate degree, Chapman said.
“This is partially driven by the fact that many science and math graduates go into the field education, and teacher training in California is done at the postgraduate level,” he said.
According to the study, women earn more than men two years after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in most STEM fields but, by 10 years after graduation, men earn more than women in most STEM fields.
The researchers attributed the earnings decline to the lack of opportunities in certain career paths available to women, as well as the fact that women bear heavier responsibilities for their families.
“As much as we’ve like to think we’ve progressed, the reality is that women bear most, if not all, of the responsibility for childcare and housekeeping,” Moore said. “As such, it may very well be that women CSUN STEM graduates are avoiding the ‘greedy jobs’ — jobs that pay well but demand all your attention and time — to ensure they are available for caregiving responsibilities at home.”
The researchers pointed out that women’s biggest earning advantages are found in fields that still lack female representation, such as electrical engineering.
Chapman noted that the industries in which women graduates of the College of Engineering and Computer Science work largely reflects the structure of the metro-Los Angeles labor market. For example, a high proportion of engineering graduates work in the manufacturing industry, though men are more likely to work in manufacturing than women, he said.
Graduates of the College of Science and Mathematics with only a bachelor’s degree are more likely to work in healthcare, while those who go on to attain any graduate degrees are likely to work in the field of education. This is true for men and women, and likely because of California’s requirement that K-12 teacher training be done at the postgraduate level, the researchers said.
The report breaks down this data for each of the departments in both colleges, so faculty, staff and students can have access to information that applies to them, Moore said.
“Degrees of Success” is only the first phase of the WISE-commissioned study. Semnani Azad is also exploring what roles demographics, identity and personal experience play in the decisions made by CSUN women students and alumni studying and working in STEM.
“CSUN has a very diverse population,” Semnani Azad said. “We’re looking at how that intersects with gender identity and then how that influences degree choices and career choices. We’re also looking how one’s gender identity works with a STEM identity, since some folks in STEM strongly identify with being in STEM. We’re exploring how that identity works if you are woman. We’re also looking at the roles all these identities play in people wanting to stay in their careers, particularly STEM careers. Are they happy? Do they feel fulfilled?
“This is going to be a long-term study so we can get a clearer picture of what is going in in the thought processes of students at CSUN and other Cal States throughout their education and careers,” she said.
The data from the recent report and Semnani Azad’s continuing study provide valuable information for students, faculty staff and alumni as they develop programs to help the students achieve their academic and career goals, Moore said. He noted that faculty in the College of Engineering and Computer Science are already using information in the first report to inform their efforts to better support students in their programs.
A promotion poster titled ‘Breaking Boundaries’ developed for the Disability Studies Minor program with LGBTQ and disability rights activist, Annie Elainey, wearing a shirt that reads “The future is accessible.” Poster provided by CSUN Disability Studies.
California State University, Northridge has launched the first disability studies minor in the CSU system, with the first students being admitted to the program in fall 2024.
“CSUN has the largest population of self-identifying disabled students in the system,” said Jeffrey Reeder, dean in CSUN’s College of Humanities, where the program will be housed. “Additionally, our university is known for a strong tradition of advocacy and scholarly inquiry research into identity, standing as fourth in the nation in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in fields of ethnic studies, cultural studies, identity studies and gender studies.”
The newly developed minor in disability studies is an 18-unit program made up of three core classes and three electives drawn from more than 20 departments across the university. Many of the courses available to the students will also count for general education credit.
“Part of the work of the minor and, perhaps this is the earliest work that we must do, is to educate our students, faculty, and administration on the sociocultural history and multiplicity of meanings bound up in the disability identity,” said CSUN English professor Leilani Hall, director of the new program. “Disability Studies examines the social, cultural, historical, and political structures that inform disability. From a humanities perspective, of course, this means that we are interested in the lived experience of individuals with disabilities — studying disability as a social construct rather than a confining medical diagnosis.
“Furthermore, because disability is an identity which one may acquire at any point in life — whether at birth or later by disease, accident, or advanced age — it is the largest minority in the world, an identity which intersects with any other identity marker, such as race, gender, sexuality, or class,” she continued. “This is what makes disability studies so very necessary to the academy. We need to prepare graduates who are excited to build a more inclusive world.”
Reeder said the program, as a minor, serves as a “well-suited” supplementary program to a variety of major programs the university has to offer.
“I expect it to touch every and all aspects of campus,” he said. “We would love for a student to come to CSUN for whatever they’re interested in – for example, the construction management degree program – and then if they have an interest in making the most of their degree and having a big impact on the world in the future – to also minor in disability studies. Then taking their knowledge and applying it to their work in a way that could be meaningful.”
Hall said that she hopes students who minor in disability studies will leave the university with the knowledge and tools to effect change in the workplace and their communities.
“I’m talking about the benefits of an interdisciplinary minor that is built on personal interests and personal career choices,” she said. “But I’m also talking about the very real benefit of changing how we understand and treat those with a disability in the workplace and community. This is the kind of change that needs to happen everywhere. Inclusion is for everyone. “
Hall acknowledged the work of several CSUN professors who contributed to the development of the program, including retired special education professor Beth Lasky; philosophy professor Johnathan Flowers; English professor Charles Hatfield, who teaches a course on disability in literature and culture; special education professor Ellen Stohl and communication studies professor Kelly Opdycke, who both teach “Introduction to Disability Studies.”
The designation recognizes the “noteworthy engagement” that selected Hispanic-Serving Institutions have achieved with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Photo by David J. Hawkins.
California State University, Northridge has been named a Fulbright HSI Leader for the third year in a row by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
The designation recognizes the “noteworthy engagement” that selected Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) have achieved with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. The initiative encourages administrators, faculty and students at HSIs to engage with Fulbright and highlights the strength of HSIs as destinations for international students and scholars.
“It is an honor for CSUN to have received this nomination for the third year in a row,” Lopez said. “Fulbright presents a distinguished opportunity to the CSUN community. Having been selected as one of the 2023 Fulbright HSI Leaders highlights our achievements and contributions to the Fulbright program.”
The recognized colleges and universities include two associate degree level colleges, five baccalaureate degree awarding colleges and special focus institutions, 14 master’s degree level colleges and universities, and 25 doctoral degree awarding universities. Currently, there are 559 HSIs across the country. For an institution of higher education to be designated an HSI, it must have an undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 25 percent Hispanic.
CSUN will be representing master’s institutions at an upcoming interactive virtual workshop featuring representatives from Fulbright HSI Leaders. The workshop is open to the public and is specifically designed for faculty, staff, and stakeholders at HSIs.
“During this session, Fulbright’s role in campus internationalization efforts and experiences in promoting Fulbright opportunities and culture will be shared,” Lopez said. “We are honored to have been invited to be a part of this presentation representing master’s institutions.”
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Since its inception more than 75 years ago, the Fulbright Program has given more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad, exchanging ideas and contributing to finding solutions to complex international challenges.
Each year, the U.S. Congress appropriates funds to the U.S. Department of State to sponsor the Fulbright Program. Many foreign governments contribute substantially as well. Additional funding and in-kind funding is provided by U.S. and foreign host institutions, non-governmental organizations, private organizations, corporate partnerships and individual donors.
The Fulbright Program has designed and implemented a wide range of initiatives to increase participant diversity and inclusion. The program strives to ensure that its participants reflect the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. Fulbrighters come from all backgrounds and are selected through an open, merit-based competition, regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Information on the Fulbright Program’s diversity and inclusion initiatives is detailed on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website.
June is Pride Month, a time that’s dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community. The month commemorates June 28, 1969, the start of the Stonewall Uprising (also known as the Stonewall Riots), a series of clashes between New York City police and LGBTQIA+ protestors that stretched over six days. The uprising sparked the movement for LGBTQIA+ rights in the U.S.
CSUN stands behind and supports its students in the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly through the Pride Center in the University Student Union (USU). Since opening its doors in fall 2012, the center has been an integral part of campus, advocating for students and providing counseling resources, educational workshops and social events. As a campus, we remember and honor the struggles and sacrifices of those who fought to ensure equality, civil rights and inclusion, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. To celebrate Pride Month, we asked CSUN students who identify as LGBTQIA+ what it means to be out and proud.
Deli Zaragoza (she/they): A first-time freshman, Zaragoza was thrilled when she discovered the campus had a Pride Center. As an activist who came out to her brother as bisexual in her first year of high school, Zaragoza “feel[s] like everybody should be included,” she said. The path to acceptance and inclusion has been rocky, she said, coming from “a Hispanic household, and everything is super strict.”
As a member of her high school’s Gay Straight Alliance, Zaragoza proposed the idea of raising awareness of the Pride Center to her current Chicana/o studies class. Through exploring her identity, she felt that society was not very accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I was feeling super lost and all that. But when my brother got married to his husband, that’s when I [thought], you know what, I’m not going to let anybody affect me anymore,” Zaragoza said. “I like showing that I do not care about everybody else’s opinions.”
Michael Gonzalez (he/him): A third-year student, Gonzalez holds several leadership positions on campus. As president of CSUN’s Public Relations Student Society of America, president of CSUN Student Housing, and a student assistant on the university’s Strategic Communication and Brand Management social media team, Gonzalez has felt accepted on campus, he said.
Gonzalez attended a Catholic private school from elementary to high school. During those years, he struggled withhis true feelings, which he kept hidden — due to fears of not meeting his family’s standard of success. “I was afraid of letting my parents down,” he said. “In reality, I was letting myself down. I was trying to make myself be identified as somebody who really wasn’t me.”
In addition to his fear about what everyone else would say about him, Gonzalez struggled to explain what he was going through — even to those closest to him. When he was 18, he opened up to his parents. They were supportive of his identity and his relationship with his partner, he said. Now, Gonzalez encourages others to “be who you want to be. Don’t let other people tell you what you can and cannot do in your life,” he said. “At the end of the day, you make your story. Your life is a movie — you’re creating it.”
Chaya Rubinstein (they/them): A Los Angeles native, Rubinstein was homeschooled for five years before attending a public high school. Joining a public school and meeting a variety of new people allowed Rubinstein to discover a new sense of self they never knew possible.
Looking back, Rubinstein realized that gender never made sense to them, but they felt most comfortable around other queer kids in school. It wasn’t until their second year of high school that Rubinstein joined the school’s chapter of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA). “I think I mentioned it to my mom and she was like, ‘Oh, but you’re not queer,’ and I was like, ‘Ah, haha — but no, I am,” they said. The following year, they became a board member of the GSA and eventually realized they are asexual.
As an active member of the GSA, Rubinstein was thrilled to learn about CSUN’s Pride Center. By the end of their first year at CSUN, Rubinstein “felt right at home as a queer person,” they said. “There’s always going to be something you don’t understand in general, but we should just accept it anyways.”
Brian Zuniga (he/him): As a member of the graduating class of 2023, Brian Zuniga experienced numerous personal challenges during his childhood and teens. During middle school, Zuniga’s world shifted when his older sister was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. He often spent time alone and felt confused about his identity, while worrying about whether his sister would return home from the hospital. It took several years, but thankfully, Zuniga’s sister recovered by his junior year of high school.
His early life shaped the way he is today, by making him patient and empathetic with the circumstances in which he grew up in. “I put myself in others’ positions if I hear they’re going through [a rough time] and try to make them feel better because everyone deserves to be happy,” Zuniga said, and despite the hardships, he had a “great life” growing up. However, coming out to his parents was fraught. His father was accepting of his sexuality, but his mother was not. “[My mother made] it very clear when I was little that she didn’t like gay people, so I was always scared to come out to her,” Zuniga said. Recently, his biggest challenge has been dating. “Like, what if you do wanna get married one day and you have a wedding and your parents are like, against it?” he said.
Zuniga has stayed true to his identity. CSUN provided a supportive environment, as did his fraternity, he said. He has never felt unsafe and is overjoyed by the number of resources and clubs devoted to the LGBTQIA+ community on campus, he added.
Jayne Kuklin (they/them): Kuklin transferred to CSUN from Pierce College in their junior year, and they feel seen and included on campus.
“Before I came here and [before] Pierce, I didn’t know who I was,” Kuklin said. They described themself as someone who has been misunderstood their entire life, and college became their gateway to self-acceptance. Their family was not as ready to accept their identity as teachers and students at CSUN have been. “But now, at the age of 24, I am who I am and I’m not afraid to be it,” they said.
Kuklin wants others to accept each other “regardless of gender identity and expression of sexuality,” they said. “This cycle of transphobia and homophobia needs to stop because we’re all people who are here for our own reasons.
Minely Moradian (she/her): Moradian is a first-generation student who immigrated from Iran with her family in 2009. When she came out as gay in 2020, she found that her family wasn’t as supportive as many of her friends and the CSUN community, which she described as “very diverse and supportive.” She appreciates the Pride Center, but “more resources [could] be included on campus,” Moradian said.
One of the challenges that the LGBTQIA+ community faces is a lack of understanding, she said. “It’s not normalized, being gay,” she said. “It’s always that [others] tend to get personal and ask how gay relationship roles work. Such as, who plays the male or female role.”
She hopes the CSUN community at large keeps an open mind and continues to devote educational resources for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. “Just be a support system,” she said. “We’re all going through certain struggles, specifically with our sexual orientation, because of the education that’s not there.”
As for those who identify as LGBTQIA+ but may not have come out yet, Moradian said — find a safe space and I suggest being financially stable before coming out in case your family doesn’t show a positive reaction. You’ll be able to look after yourself if need be. “It’s okay to come out whenever [you] want to,” she said. “[You’re] not pressured to come out at a certain time, there’s no timeline.”
This series of stories on students’ identities was the brainchild of Habeba Mostafa, who just completed her master’s degree in mass communication/journalism and worked as a student assistant in CSUN’s Strategic Communication and Brand Management department. For more more about her project, check out the video that was recently shared on Instagram.
CSUN’s commencement ceremony in 2019. Photo by David J. Hawkins.
Natalie Castillo came to California State University, Northridge in 2018 as a first-generation college student and has since become a role model for young underrepresented students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). She will be graduating later this month from CSUN with bachelor’s degrees in biology and in Central American studies.
Castillo is one of nearly 3,700 graduates invited to take part in CSUN’s Honors Convocation at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. The ceremony will commemorate six individuals singled out for special recognition as outstanding graduating students.
Natalie Castillo, 2023 Wolfson Scholar
Among those is Castillo, 22, who has been named this year’s Wolfson Scholar, the top honor given to a graduating senior. It is presented each year in memory of CSUN’s first vice president, Leo Wolfson. Not only must the student have an exceptional academic record, but he or she must also have made significant contributions to CSUN or to the community through co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
“I thought back to all the struggles I went through in college, all the studying and all the things I had to sacrifice to get here,” Castillo said about when she found out about the honor. “It made me emotional just to reflect about my journey to this point.”
During her time at CSUN, Castillo was heavily involved in research on the invasive Brown Widow spider and presented her research at CSUN and at regional and international conferences. She was awarded the CSUN NSP Presidential Scholarship two years in a row, which supported her research. She spent last summer researching the potential effects of climate change on Andean pollinators in Colombia funded by the National Science Foundation
“My goal is to have a career where I can do research and apply my knowledge to real world problems,” Castillo said. “Right now, I’m really interested in studying vector borne diseases and finding solutions to combat them.”
Castillo also majored in Central American and transborder studies, an aspect of her identity, she said, that is important to her. She became an advocate for the undocumented community as she has witnessed the struggles and trauma that comes with that identity.
With her immigrant parents hailing from El Salvador, she came to understand the trauma her parents faced and became an advocate for the undocumented community.
In 2020, Castillo joined Dreams To Be Heard, an advocacy group on campus that supports the immigrant community and helped fundraise small grants for 21 CSUN students twice during the pandemic. She also has found time to support students seeking citizenship in the San Fernando Valley and become a champion for immigrant rights.
“Growing up and seeing my parents and other people struggle and not have the opportunity to go to school, motivated me to do this,” Castillo said. “Just knowing all this has helped me be more empathetic and understanding.”
Though she was a full-time student, Castillo helped support her family with work as a tutor and as an assisted living coach for adults with intellectual disabilities. Throughout this all, she held a 3.96 GPA in her double major, while also volunteering in the biology department.
“Ms. Castillo is a student leader and a role model for others to follow,” wrote Beatriz Cortez, professor and chair of the Department of Central American and Transborder Studies, supporting Castillo’s nomination as this year’s Wolfson Scholar. “She is a first-generation student who is an active, independent, resourceful learner and who has great regard for the knowledge that her family and her community can give her, even if outside academic circles.”
Castillo is graduating with hopes of entering a Ph.D. program in entomology, where she plans to further explore biological control of pests and vector-borne diseases.
“Hopefully I can do research in Central America and apply everything I’ve learned at CSUN to make a difference in communities where there is great need.” Castillo said.
The other students being recognized at Honors Convocation are:
Shanelle Wikramanayake, recipient of the 2023 Nathan O. Freedman Memorial Award for Outstanding Graduate Student
Growing up in Sri Lanka, Wikramanayake was exposed to and interacted with unique plants and animals. Set to graduate with a master’s degree in biology, she plans to pursue a career conservation genetics, with an expertise in the South Asian region.
Shanelle Wikramanayake 2023 Nathan O. Freedman Memorial Award for Outstanding Graduate Student
During her time at CSUN, Wikramanayake presented her thesis research at seven symposiums, wrote 10 grants to fund her thesis and eight grants to fund a collaborative research project on the conservation of Sri Lankan butterflies and lizards.
To date, Wikramanayake has co-authored five publications and is expected to publish three additional papers from her research. As an undergraduate at the University of Washington, she also carried out independent research on the conservation genetics of an endemic lizard from her native Sri Lanka.
Wikramanayake has been an active member of the CSUN Women in STEM (WiS) group and Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution Research (BEER) club, later becoming president. She also did weekly STEM outreach to K-12 students and worked at a local public school for one-and-a-half years. For many of these students, she said, it was the first time they had access to STEM enrichment.
Wikramanayake will start a Ph.D. program at Colorado State University, Fort Collins in fall 2023.
“I hope by sharing my story I can increase belongingness in herpetology, ecology, and field studies, and inspire other students from diverse backgrounds to pursue these fields,” she said.
Tania Parker, Outstanding Graduating Senior
Tania Parker, Outstanding Graduating Senior
After overcoming many obstacles as a youth, including entering the foster care system, Parker is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in childhood and adolescent development.
During her tenure at CSUN, she was part of the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP); the EOP Resilient Scholars Program, which is for current/former foster youth; Project Rebound, for formerly incarcerated people, and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) program.
Parker, who has a son, began her education at Moorpark Community College before transferring to CSUN in the fall of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parker said she hopes to pursue a master’s degree in social work and become an advocate for those in the foster care system.
A first-generation college student, Paez is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in deaf studies. At CSUN, Paez was heavily involved with M.E.C.H.A., the Deaf Studies Association and the Deaf CSUNians, a club for Deaf CSUN students.
While not deaf, Paez has become a leader in advocating for Deaf students and providing translation services throughout campus. During her time at CSUN, Paez was a common presence at events and fundraisers to offer support for Deaf students.
During her senior year, Paez interned at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. This allowed her to provide interpreting services among deaf educators, families and students.
Paez’s goal is to become a trilingual interpreter for those in the ASL community.
“I’ll soon start a career doing what makes me the happiest: interpreting and serving the community,” Paez said. “I am grateful that my journey led me to this point, because I am able to heal by giving back to the communities I cherish greatly.”
Eden Shashoua, Outstanding Graduating Senior
Shashoua is graduating with bachelor’s degrees in business law and business honors. During her tenure at CSUN, Shashoua served as the Associated Students (AS) Vice President and worked with the Student Senate and the university’s higher administration to advocate on the behalf of students.
Eden Shashoua, Outstanding Graduating Senior
She also collaborated with AS Sustainability to create a sustainable fashion series to educate students about the fashion industry’s environmental impact.
Her works goes beyond just academics. Shashoua was involved in Jewish and cultural organizations, including Chabad of CSUN, Hillel 818, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi.
Through the Business Honors Program, Shashoua volunteered two hours a week to peer tutoring for a variety of subjects such as business law, marketing, and in the Business Gateway lab. She also served as the tutor for the business law department, dedicating an additional four hours a week to tutor students in various introductory business law courses.
Last summer, Shashoua interned at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, where she was assigned to the asset forfeiture division and worked under a deputy district attorney. Her career goal is to be a prosecutor for the LA District Attorney’s Office.
Nidah Mohammed, Outstanding Graduating Senior
Mohammed came to CSUN with aspirations of a career in medicine. But, after getting involved on campus, she transitioned her focus to cognitive psychology and media use. She will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in literature.
Mohammed is the chair for public affairs and marketing for the Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity, a shadower for the Clinical Access Shadowing Experience (C.A.S.E.) at the Klotz Health Center and co-founded the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) on campus.
Nidah Mohammed, Outstanding Graduating Senior
She spent her final semester as a senior fellow in the Center for Achievement in Psychological Sciences (CAPS) program. Mohammed was selected from a pool of more than 1,500 applications for the prestigious Presidential Scholarship — not once, but twice — to support her research endeavors. She was also awarded the General Education Honors Research Fellowship.
From 2016 to 2021, Mohammed volunteered at West Hills Hospital. In 2020, she helped administer COVID-19 tests and vaccinations in low-income areas throughout Los Angeles.
Mohammed has received offers from five universities with numerous fellowships. She is leaning toward an offer from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania to study media use and neuroimaging.
“As a child of immigrants and a woman of color in academia, the idea of completing my doctoral training amongst the top communication scholars in the country excites me every day,” she said. “However, I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the endless support and opportunities provided by CSUN.”
ragoza (she/they): A first-time freshman, Zaragoza was thrilled when she discovered the campus had a Pride Center. As an activist who came out to her brother as bisexual in her first year of high school, Zaragoza “feel[s] like everybody should be included,” she said. The path to acceptance and inclusion has been rocky, she said, coming from “a Hispanic household, and everything is super strict.”
nzalez (he/him): A third-year student, Gonzalez holds several leadership positions on campus. As president of CSUN’s Public Relations Student Society of America, president of CSUN Student Housing, and a student assistant on the university’s Strategic Communication and Brand Management social media team, Gonzalez has felt accepted on campus, he said.
Chaya Rubinstein (they/them): A Los Angeles native, Rubinstein was homeschooled for five years before attending a public high school. Joining a public school and meeting a variety of new people allowed Rubinstein to discover a new sense of self they never knew possible.
Brian Zuniga (he/him): As a member of the graduating class of 2023, Brian Zuniga experienced numerous personal challenges during his childhood and teens. During middle school, Zuniga’s world shifted when his older sister was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. He often spent time alone and felt confused about his identity, while worrying about whether his sister would return home from the hospital. It took several years, but thankfully, Zuniga’s sister recovered by his junior year of high school.
Jayne Kuklin (they/them): Kuklin transferred to CSUN from Pierce College in their junior year, and they feel seen and included on campus.
ian (she/her): Moradian is a first-generation student who immigrated from Iran with her family in 2009. When she came out as gay in 2020, she found that her family wasn’t as supportive as many of her friends and the CSUN community, which she described as “very diverse and supportive.” She appreciates the Pride Center, but “more resources [could] be included on campus,” Moradian said.
