myCSUSM
TOM
California State University, San Marcos is immensely proud of the contributions of
TOM (or Tikkun Olam Makers). TOM was created in conjunction with the Electrical Engineering
Department to create a student-led space to examine social issues and create meaningful
solutions. From its Hebrew origins, Tikkun Olam or "to heal the tears in the souls
of the world," students embrace knowledge acquired from the classroom and can critically
apply those skills to aiding underserved communities.
Meetings
TOM at CSUSM hosts weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 12:00pm. We are located in the Hunters Design of VEP building.
Contact
Students interested in joining or learning more about TOM are encouraged to contact the TOM Faculty Advisor, Reza Kamali or the TOM Fellows, Brayam Hernandez and Emily DeLaCruz .
SDCEC: President's Citation Award
Jazmine Pantoja with the SDCEC President, after winning the President's Citation Award.
Jazmine Pantoja, an exemplary electrical engineering student, has been honored with the prestigious President's Citation Award by the San Diego County Engineering Council at their annual award ceremony on February 19th, 2024. This recognition is a testament to her outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the advancement of the Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) Club, Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). Through her dedication and initiative, Ms. Pantoja has played a pivotal role in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for aspiring engineers, thereby enriching the engineering community. Her efforts have not only facilitated greater engagement among her peers, but have also served to inspire and empower the next generation of engineering leaders.
Teri Campus of Life Project
The Teri Campus of Life is a dedicated organization providing housing and education for individuals with disabilities, ranging from 6 to 60 years of age. Their mission is to change the way the world sees, helps, and empowers individuals with special needs. Teri’s goal is to improve the quality of life for children and adults with developmental and learning disabilities, and to change the way the world sees them, allowing for inclusion within the community. Through support, advocacy, dedication, innovation, and resolve, TERI has brought opportunity and hope to countless individuals and families.
The Tikkun Olam Makers were excited to work on a project with the team at Teri to help one of their students learn to surf. Recognizing the challenges associated with learning to surf, the TOM group introduced an innovative solution: a motorized surfboard. This modification not only enhances the overall enjoyment of the surfing experience but also makes the learning process more accessible. The motorized surfboard addresses the inherent difficulty of surfing, providing a fun and simplified approach to overcoming this obstacle. Moreover, it aids instructors in teaching individuals with disabilities more effectively before transitioning to a traditional surfboard. This solution stands as an enjoyable and user-friendly alternative, contributing to a more inclusive and enriching surfing experience for individuals with disabilities.
TOM Faculty Advisor
Dr. Reza Kamali, California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) associate professor of Electrical Engineering. An Electrical Engineering educator since 1996, before joining CSUSM, Dr. Kamali was a member of the Electrical Engineering program at Utah Valley University, where he was PI on a $703,000 NSF grant to develop a hands-on Virtual Reality course in nanotechnology. His project was featured in the 2019 NSF-ATE report as one of the most successful projects in Advanced Technology Education. Dr. Kamali holds three US patents. A member of IEEE, he was a founding member and chair of the Special Task Group for Flexible Electronics (CASS-Flexible) in the Circuits and Systems Society. He is also a member of the American Society of Engineering Education and actively publishes papers about new techniques in teaching electrical and computer engineering courses. In 2015 and 2016, two of his projects were awarded first place in IEEE’s Sustainable Technology poster competition. Dr. Kamali received in 2023 the Distinguished Engineering Leadership Award of San Diego County by the San Diego Engineering Council. His research interests are in engineering education and microelectronics systems and circuits such as the fabrication of transparent electronic circuits. He is the funding faculty adviser of several clubs at CSUSM including TOM@CSUSM and the CSUSM chapter of NBSE.
