Student and Alumni News

Alumni Spotlight - Tori Bennett

by Dr. Erika Daniels

Tori enrolled in the Reading, Language, and Literacy  (RLL) program because she is passionate about literacy and wanted to make sure she was giving her students the best educational experience she could. Throughout her time in the RLL program, Tori was able to immediately implement her learning through action research and experimentation in the classroom. The impact she saw on her students was meaningful, and she has been able to transform her classroom routines and curriculum to meet student needs. Tori felt that her professors were helpful and insightful, taking the time to listen and offer relevant suggestions that impacted her practice. We are excited that Tori is using what she learned from the RLL program to lead a year-long professional development course for the lower elementary teachers at her school (1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade) on implementing and refining small group reading instruction to improve fluency, prosody, and comprehension strategy instruction. We love this focus on the fundamentals of literacy! She is also coordinating with the Assessment Manager at her school to streamline assessment practices and progress monitoring in language arts. Her project was published in the American Montessori Society Fall 2022 Research Digest. Go Tori!

Take a look at Tori's project on ScholarWorks!
Reading Comprehension Strategy Instruction as Part of a Balanced Literacy Approach in Montessori

MA Reading, Language and Literacy (RLL)

RLL Monthly Newsletters

Alumna Lives Olympic Dream as Softball Umpire

CEHHS Recognizes Student Honor Students and Awardees 

Visit our blog to learn more.

Pushup Challenge a Nonstop Cause for CSUSM Student, Marine Vet

Twenty-two days of pushups soon became 50, then 100, then 500. He still hasn’t stopped. On Wednesday, William, now a second-year Master of Social Work student at Cal State San Marcos, did 22 pushups for the 745th consecutive day.

“I plan to do it until I see the suicide numbers start to fall,” he said. “And even then I think I’ll still do it.”

Alma Detten is recognized as a 2017-2018 County of San Diego Volunteers of the Year

Alma Detten, CSUSM’s Public Health alumna, was one of few to represent the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’s (HHSA) North County Regions as a 2017-2018 Volunteer of the Year, and she has also been offered a new position with HHSA Aging & Independence Services (AIS) which she will begin this summer.

 Learn More about Alma Detten

Mom and Son Share Commencement at CSUSM

“It’s pretty cool to graduate with your son,” said Arevalo, 39.

“No question,” agreed Angel, 22. “I’m really proud of what we’ve both done.”

Read More about Mom and Son Commencement

Overcoming Adversity to Earn Degree

Riley Bender grew up in Orange County, but it’s difficult for her to pinpoint a specific city.

There was Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Irvine, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Tustin, the list is seemingly endless.

There were periods of being homeless when her mom would park their station wagon near the Newport Harbor docks. The longest stay she had anywhere was living on a 42-foot boat in Newport Harbor.

Spring 2018 Democracy in Action launched by CSUSM and City of San Marcos

On Tuesday, February 13, Democracy in Action (DIA) was launched by CSUSM and the City of San Marcos at the local community center.  This collaboration provides opportunities for CSUSM students to engage with their community while learning about city government.

City officials offer their expertise and students gather research and data for city projects that haven’t yet been addressed or completed.

Finding Purpose From Difficult Times

Erika Martinez had been through these kinds of nights before.  Her father high or drunk, throwing whatever he could get his hands on, waking up the neighbors in the middle of the night with his yelling.

But something changed for Erika on this particular August night in 2016.

COMMITMENT TO SERVE Student Veteran Juggles Busy Schedule While Giving Back

Catalina Melendez isn’t fazed by a daunting schedule.  “It’s challenging, but it’s not unbearable,” said Catalina, who will graduate from Cal State San Marcos in May with a bachelor’s in speech-language pathology.  Being a full-time student is just one aspect of Catalina’s busy life. She is raising three children – 16- and 11-year-old daughters and a 9-year-old son.  She is in the Navy Reserves, eligible to be called to active duty any time now that the three-year exemption since her last active tour in Afghanistan ended in 2014.

Tomas T. Simunovic Jr. awarded 2018 CEHHS Outstanding Graduate Award

Tomas T. Simunovic Jr. received his undergraduate degree here at CSUSM in 2013, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development, followed by completing a Multiple Subject and Mild/Moderate Education Specialist Teaching credentials this year.  This month, Tomas will be joining graduates walking across the Commencement stage when he graduates with a Master’s of Arts in Education Program (Special Education Option.)
Learn more about Tomas...

CEHHS Dean's Award 2016-2017

Edith Méndez, B.A. Human Development
Dean’s Award, College of Education, Health and Human Services

A first-generation college student whose parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico, Edith wants to pursue a career that will allow her to provide guidance to underprivileged college students.

Edith said CSUSM’s Human Development program allowed her to have a well-rounded understanding of how individuals develop throughout their life and how that knowledge can be applied in a human-service setting.

Among Edith’s notable accomplishments was a trip to Australia in January for a study-abroad program in which she helped create hand-made toys for Syrian refugee children.  Her work on behalf of Syrian refugees also included participation in a mural painting project.

Edith was one of six outstanding graduates honored by President Haynes in 2017 at a special awards dinner.

CEHHS Dean's Award 2015-2016

Six standout graduates from the Class of 2016 were honored at a special awards dinner for their academic achievements and service to the community while overcoming sometimes seemingly overwhelming challenges.

Jamaela Johnson, B.A. Human Development
President’s Outstanding Graduate
CEHHS Dean's Award

Honorees were nominated by faculty or staff and endorsed by their college’s dean.  Read more about Class of 2016

Nineteen years old and new to Mexico City, Ingrid De Alba became an English teacher because it was one of the few jobs that she could find.  Very quickly, the work became much more than a way of earning a paycheck.  The joy of seeing a student’s face light up with understanding and the realization that she could make a long-lasting impact on lives eventually led De Alba to CSUSM’s School of Education (SoE).

“Teaching is really a passion for me.  It’s about being a participant in your students’ development. It’s about nurturing their inquisitive minds,” said De Alba, who grew up in Calexico.  “You are an influential person in their lives.”

A bilingual authorization and middle level/multiple subject credential candidate at SoE, Ingrid has won the California Bilingual Education Association’s (CABE) 2015 Teachership.  The award recognizes outstanding bilingual teacher candidates in California and comes with a $2,000 scholarship.  De Alba will be recognized at the Educator and Parent of the Year Awards Luncheon on March 5 at the CABE Conference in San Diego.  She is one of five credential students in the state to receive the Teachership this year.

It was Ana Hernandez, professor of Bilingual Education at SoE, who encouraged De Alba to apply for the CABE award.

“Although Ingrid is an outstanding teacher candidate in the School of Education at CSUSM, she is also very accomplished in the area of bilingual education,” Hernandez said.  “She has lived and worked in several Spanish-speaking countries and these experiences have provided her with opportunities to use her bilingual skills professionally and in her personal life.  These rich linguistic and cultural global perspectives are the ideals she wants to instill in her future students.”

While on a visit to Washington D.C. last year, Sayuri Fujita was a little disappointed when she didn’t get to see the magical spring time display of cherry blossoms in the city.  However, it was not a wasted trip. Back in her hotel room, as Fujita gazed at the Capitol dome from her window, an idea began to take root. What would it be like to work in the iconic building?

That idea has now come to fruition.  Fujita, a Human Development major and Political Science minor at CSUSM, will travel to the nation’s capital in January to spend a semester as a Cal State DC scholar.  She will be an intern at the office of Congressman Jared Huffman who represents California’s 2nd District. Fujita will also have the opportunity to earn up to 15 credits while she attends a lecture series, takes a nonfiction writing class and learns about the workings of the city.

“I am really excited,” Fujita said. “I hope to build on my knowledge on how the government works. I want to network, get to know people.  I will be gaining some great work experience.”

Fujita, who is the only CSUSM student chosen for the spring Cal State DC program, plans to explore the Smithsonian museums, the Library of Congress, Kennedy Center and other cultural attractions in the city. Her goal is to continue living and working in the nation’s capital after her May graduation from CSUSM. She is also preparing to apply to graduate school to study public health.

The Cal State DC program, administered by Cal State Fullerton, was established a decade ago to support students from all 23 Cal State campuses who choose to do internships in the government agencies, think tanks and non-profits in the nation’s capital.  The program assists students in finding housing and internships, and provides the information they need to make the best use of their time in D.C.

Leo Melena, Student Services Professional at the CSUSM College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS), advises CSUSM students on the Cal State DC program.

“Washington is a great metropolis,” Melena said.  “Students experience life in the East Coast, learn how to get around in a big city, network and explore the cultural richness of D.C.”

The Cal State DC program is open to upper division and graduate students across all majors. For more information about applications and requirements, contact Melena at lmelena@csusm.edu.