Cal State San Marcos President Ellen Neufeldt has won an award that celebrates leaders driving innovation and positive change in the San Diego region. Neufeldt on Wednesday received the Innovation & Economic Opportunity Award from LEAD San Diego, the leadership development arm of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. She was one of six individuals honored at the 23^rd annual Visionary Awards in San Diego. “Thank you to LEAD San Diego for this honor," Neufeldt said. "This award is really the campus' award. It's the work we do together for the success and social mobility of our students. I'm so grateful to work alongside so many scholars, innovators and partners to advance what higher education should and must become.” Neufeldt was nominated for the award for her visionary leadership in a time of rapid change across higher education and for implementing initiatives that expand access, accelerate economic opportunities and redefine how universities prepare students to succeed and lead. Among other accomplishments, she was specifically recognized for launching multiple buildings and programs at CSUSM: the Integrated Science and Engineering Building (ground broken this summer), the University Village Student Success Housing and Dining Project (set to open next fall), the Innovation Hub, and the Scholars in Wellness and Innovation Fast-Track (SWIFT) Health Programs. LEAD San Diego is dedicated to cultivating and empowering civic and business leaders in the San Diego region. Through comprehensive leadership development programs, LEAD San Diego provides participants with the tools, insights and connections needed to address the region’s most pressing issues. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Anahi Martinez Mendez has known since she was a teenager that she wanted to pursue a career helping children with mental health challenges. Martinez Mendez contended with social anxiety herself as a teen, and she was eager to ensure that her younger siblings knew there were resources and support systems to help if they faced similar challenges. “I was like their second mother, especially with my sister,” Martinez Mendez said. “It made me think, ‘How can I implement and help with mental health and related issues?’ Because growing up, I never really had the support system.” Martinez Mendez arrived at Cal State San Marcos initially planning to major in psychology to work toward becoming a clinical psychologist or family therapist. But working at Student Health and Counseling Services inspired her to pursue a slightly different path. Martinez Mendez spent two years during her undergraduate studies working in CSUSM’s HOPE & Wellness Center as a peer educator. The experience was life-changing, inspiring Martinez Mendez to pursue her Master of Social Work at CSUSM after graduating last May as a double major in child and adolescent development and Spanish. “I realized that I love doing more community outreach than working one on one,” she said. The HOPE & Wellness Center is among several groups on campus devoted to providing mental health services for CSUSM students. Last year, the university received a $250,000 grant from the Conrad Prebys Foundation to advance those services, part of a larger $6 million investment by the Prebys Foundation in grants to 23 local organizations.  The Prebys Foundation’s funding helped CSUSM launch a mental health intervention program called the Community of Care that brings together the Cougar Care Network, Student Health and Counseling Services, and the Crisis Response Team. The grant also served as a catalyst for additional philanthropic support, including funding from the San Diego Foundation’s mental health program for Master of Social Work interns and a matching contribution from the Epstein Family Foundation.  The Community of Care’s efforts to decrease mental health challenges and crises for students include the following strategies:  Providing counseling through Student Health and Counseling Services for students seeking mental health support.  Providing basic needs resources and expanding mental health referral support through Cougar Care Network and its mobile Care Cart.  Providing response to time-sensitive mental health crises on campus.  Martinez Mendez is part of those efforts as a Master of Social Work graduate assistant this year for the HOPE & Wellness Center. She will be working closely with Cathy Nguyen, who is the coordinator of health promotion and a senior health educator, and Rosa Hunt, who is a health educator. Martinez Mendez became more interested in social work through her undergraduate work with psychology professor Aleksandria Grabow. It was Grabow who taught her about the many different areas social work touches. A self-described introvert, Martinez Mendez also credits psychology professor Kimberly Vanderbilt for helping her grow and become more comfortable working with families. As a Master of Social Work student, Martinez Mendez attends classes two days a week while working 20 hours a week at schools in San Marcos Unified School District to earn her pupil personnel services credential, which authorizes individuals to work as school counselors, school psychologists or school social workers. It’s all part of her goal to become a school social worker or therapist to continue advocating for mental health for school-aged children.   Visit the Student Health and Counseling Services website to learn about free mental health first aid trainings. SHCS will host a “Suicide Awareness Walk and Candlelight Vigil”  at 5 p.m. on Sept. 25. Learn more about other upcoming events to support mental health on the SHCS events calendar. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Cal State San Marcos has received the 2025 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia magazine.   As a recipient of the annual HEED Award – a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community-building across all levels of campus life – CSUSM will be featured along with 61 other recipients in the October issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.   This marks the 12th consecutive year that CSUSM has received the HEED Award, placing the university among those with the longest-running streaks of recognition nationwide. “I am deeply honored that Cal State San Marcos has received the HEED Award for the 12th consecutive year,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said. “This recognition affirms our steadfast commitment to inclusive excellence – where access to a high-quality education and opportunity for talented students from all backgrounds are central to our mission.” CSUSM is one of just four CSU schools to win the HEED Award this year.  "CSUSM is proud to be recognized as a leader in inclusive higher education,” said Aswad Allen, CSUSM’s chief diversity officer. “I want to congratulate our faculty, front-line staff, our deans, directors and department heads. Their dedication is what makes this award of excellence and distinction possible.” For more information about the 2025 HEED Award, visit insightintoacademia.com. For more information about diversity and inclusion at CSUSM, visit the Office of Inclusive Excellence at www.csusm.edu/equity or email diversity@csusm.edu. 

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Cal State San Marcos is expanding its reach beyond the classroom thanks to a new partnership with Interfaith Community Services, made possible by an incentive grant for engaged scholarship. The initiative – led by Laura Coca, director of clinical education – is designed to give students hands-on experience while providing much-needed speech-language pathology (SLP) services to the local community. “This project is a win-win,” Coca said. “Our students get to apply what they’re learning in a real-world setting, and Interfaith gains access to services that support families and caregivers in meaningful ways.” Through the partnership, students will collaborate with community members and allied health professionals, offering screenings, support and educational resources. The goal is to strengthen student learning while promoting community well-being. Alison Scheer-Cohen, chair of the SLP department, said the initiative reflects the department’s commitment to community-engaged scholarship. “We’re proud to be part of a university that values service and connection,” Scheer-Cohen said. “This partnership bridges academic knowledge with practical service, and it’s a great example of how our students are making a difference even before they graduate.” The collaboration with Interfaith is expected to enhance access to care for underserved populations while giving students a deeper understanding of the social and cultural factors that shape health outcomes. “This is about more than clinical skills,” Coca said. “It’s about empathy, communication and building trust with the people we serve.” The department plans to share outcomes from the project with the campus community, highlighting how engaged scholarship can create lasting impact. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Cal State San Marcos professor and award-winning pianist Ching-Ming Cheng will take the stage on campus as part of her fall concert series. The concert will be held at noon on Oct. 23 in Arts 111. Cheng will perform with cellist Paul Tseng, music director of the San Diego Music Society. The performance unites two internationally acclaimed musicians and will feature pieces from Mendelssohn and Schumann. “These are the two representative romantic composers,” Cheng said. “I would like to point out that, especially in the Mendelssohn piece, even though it's called ‘Cello Sonata,’ the piano part has maybe 50 times more notes than the cello. It's very lively and fun yet challenging.” Cheng joined CSUSM as an assistant professor of music in 2011; she is now the chair of the Music Department. Her work at CSUSM has helped her achieve the Top Music Teacher Award from Steinway & Sons every year since 2016. In 2021, she received the CSUSM President’s Outstanding Faculty Award in Service and Leadership. In 2023, Cheng was inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame. The concert is a preview of Cheng’s upcoming concert at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, on Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. “It’s a chamber concert with piano, cello and harp. The theme of the concert is ‘248 Strings,’ the total number of strings of the three instruments combined,” Cheng said. The full list of Cheng’s performances includes: 1 p.m., Oct. 9: Palomar College, Howard Brubeck Theatre Noon, Oct. 23: Cal State San Marcos, Arts 111 2 p.m., Oct. 28: Grossmont College, Performing and Visual Arts Center 4 p.m., Nov. 2: California Center for the Arts, Escondido 2 p.m., Nov. 9: Point Loma Community Center Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Cal State San Marcos’ Master of Social Work program is celebrating a milestone year, with students benefiting from unprecedented financial support and expanded opportunities to serve the community. For the 2025-26 academic year, the MSW program has secured or is finalizing six major grants totaling more than $3.5 million. The funding will provide 125 full tuition and fee scholarships or training stipends, covering 60% of the program’s 210 students. Many recipients will receive additional financial support for living expenses, making graduate education more accessible than ever. “This support is about more than just lowering financial barriers – it’s about assisting students to graduate without the heavy burden of debt, so they can build their lives and careers in the very communities they’re dedicated to serving,” said Blake Beecher, chair of the social work department. In addition to the grant-funded scholarships and stipends, the MSW program also entered a new partnership with the San Diego Pay It Forward Loan Program this fall. This program offers zero-interest, no-fee loans to CSUSM MSW students, with loan forgiveness after five years of service in public behavioral health settings. Graduates who remain in these roles also earn retention-based loan credits, further incentivizing long-term community impact. Another area in which the MSW program is supporting students is through employment-based internships. Due to a change in the most recent social work accreditation standards, the MSW program has developed a process in which select students can complete their required internships in qualifying employment settings. This year, 33 MSW students have been approved to participate in the employment-based internship program. "This is a game-changer for social mobility," said Jennifer Ostergren, dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services. "Our MSW students are not only gaining access to graduate education, but they’re also being positioned to thrive in the workforce and make lasting contributions to the health and well-being of our region." The MSW program also continues to deepen its community engagement. Students complete 16 to 20 hours per week in field internships across San Diego and Riverside counties, with expansion underway in Orange, San Bernardino and Imperial counties. These placements allow students to work with diverse populations and provide essential services in real-world settings. During the 2024-25 academic year, MSW students contributed more than 70,000 hours of pro bono social work services to local organizations and agencies serving at-risk populations. "Our students are embedded in the community in meaningful ways," Beecher said. "They’re not just learning - they’re leading, advocating, and making a difference in people’s lives." Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306