CHABSS Alumni

Louis Adamsel 
Communication '18

• Served as ASI president while at CSUSM

• Now the Business Continuity Coordinator at CSUSM, works to ensure critical business functions will operate during and after an emergency or disaster

• Pursuing a Master's degree in Homeland Security at SDSU

Alfredo Aguilar
Literature & Writing Studies '13

• Currently a fellow at the Michener Center for Writers, UT Austin pursuing an MFA in poetry

• LTWR's Martha Stoddard Holmes says: “Alfredo’s sharp and lyrical enactments of complicated border experiences weave a powerful sense of family voices, identities, histories and relationships. His poetry is thrillingly evocative of place and body, but more of specific places and bodies that readers are changed by and will never forget.”

Erica Alfaro
Psychology '17

• Earned a Master's in Education, SDSU 2019

• Author of “Cosechando Sueños" (2019)

• Is a motivational speaker, addressing underrepresented students from jr high to college as well as domestic violence issues

• Entrepreneur: owns Jenel's Jewelry

Shaun Heard 
Theatre Arts '13

• In 2018, he served as a lecturer at CSUSM

• Teaches acting full-time at Duke University’s Department of Theater Studies

• He is also an online lecturer for CSUSM and Sacramento State while taking side gigs as a writer and actor in TV, film, and theater

Jonathan Henry
Visual & Performing Arts '19 

• Minored in Film Studies

• His short subject film, “PanoptiCo,” was officially selected for the SoCal Film Awards festival 2020

 Kristine Kirchmeier 
Visual & Performing Arts '11

• Worked as CSUSM's Visual Communications Specialist for 3 years

• Lives in Hollywood, pursuing her dream of working in television and post-production

• Works as an Encoder at Keep Me Posted in Burbank, managing shows like Bob's Burgers, Animal Kingdom, Speechless, and more

Liliane Lendvai
Literature & Writing Studies '16

• Serves as a Director for Blair Search Partners and has helped place leaders at numerous organizations including Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation, The San Diego Foundation, Girl Scouts of San Diego, and Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos

 

Kylie Maraj
Mass Media '11

• Associate Brand Manager at Suja Kombucha

• Works cross functionally on brand building projects like product innovation

• Previously interned at Warner Brothers Studios and marketing agencies

Laura Marquez
Criminology & Justice Studies '18 

• Double minored in Spanish and Psychological Studies

• As part of the founding team for a non-profit organization, Step Up Tutoring, she provides volunteer tutors to mentor and educate students from under resourced communities in the LAUSD area 

Jose Melo
Liberal Studies '12 

• Teaches Dual Language Social Sciences and English Language at Valley Center Middle School

 • Melo is one of 5 educators named San Diego County’s Educators of the Year

• Received his B.A., teaching credential, and M.A. all from CSUSM

Ashley Nelson
Communication '17

• Now a flight attendant, a long-held dream

• Lives in New York

• Favorite layovers: San Juan, Puerto Rico and Amsterdam

• Loves travel and getting paid for it!

Megan Newman
Political Science '12

• Began her legal career as in-house counsel at Vistage Worldwide, Inc. where she currently serves as Senior Staff Counsel in the Law Department

• Is in an executive membership organization providing peer advisory services and business coaching to over 23,000 CEOs and executives in 22 countries

Jake Northington
Visual & Performing Arts '19

• Double minored in WGSS and Ethnic Studies

• His moving photo exhibit, Chasing Andromeda, was featured in the Kellogg Library in Fall 2020

• Each year, he creates a photobook where he addresses and attempts to correct a social issue affecting Black people daily

Nicolas Pollino
Communication '18

• Started as an intern with KUSI Sports while at CSUSM & worked up to a full-time Sports Producer

• Currently the Sports Producer for Fox 5 San Diego

• Produces the 6 & 10 pm sportscast, from building the segment to sitting in the technical booth during broadcast

Yustina Said 
Criminology & Justice Studies '16

• Works as the Outreach Coordinator for the National Conflict Resolution Center

• Her favorite part of the job is getting to attend several community collaboratives and fun events such as World Refugee Day

Tiffany Teusch 
Sociology '18 

• Coming out of the foster system and being a young mother, Tiffany persevered to obtain her degree

• She is now working on her Master of Social Work through Arizona's online program

• Also serves as a peer mentor at San Pasqual Academy

Shanelle Watkins
Sociology '13

• Passionate advocate for underrepresented populations and doing work with an equity based mindset

• Was inspired by her work at the YMCA women's shelter and the Supportive Parents Information Network

• Currently the coordinator of Black student success initiatives at CSUSM: "I am very pleased to be working at the very same institution that helped me learn who I was, embrace where I had been, and be excited for where I am going!"

Hayden Weir
Environmental Studies '17

• While a student, he became an apprentice at Dos Desperados in San Marcos and became hooked to the craft

• Overtime, he became more involved in the brewing process and was then promoted to head brewer

Peery White
Medical Anthropology '17

• As an undergraduate, she was a researcher for Indian Health Council, a consortium of nine North County tribes dedicated to the betterment of Indian health

• She now works as an intermediary between San Diego County and tribes on a whole host of issues

Chad Williams
Political Science '17

• He now works for the Rainbow Municipal Water District in Fallbrook as the Capital Improvement Project Manager

• He manages all of the District’s construction from bidding to completion

Edwina Williams
Psychology '12

• Earned her Master's in Sociology from CSUSM in 2015

• Teaches at Palomar and MiraCosta Colleges

• Launched a global literacy program for at-risk youth called Project LIKE

• Edwina has been awarded the prestigious 2018 Hayward Award