April 25 was DNA Day, when the world commemorates the date in 1953 when scientists including James Watson and Francis Crick published papers in the journal Nature on one of the building blocks of life. The day is celebrated annually by biologists, science teachers and anyone who’s interested in genetics. This year, the occasion has been made more memorable at elementary schools across the region thanks to a group of students at Cal State San Marcos. About two weeks before DNA Day, more than two dozen students gathered in a classroom on the fourth floor of Academic Hall for the culmination of months of work to prepare a creative and thought-provoking lesson on DNA for local K-6 classrooms. Six STEAM ambassadors – arts and liberal studies majors who also have a passion for STEM disciplines – presented the kits they have been compiling to a class, taught by Ingrid Flores, of pre-service teachers pursuing their multiple-subject credential. The ambassadors showed the student teachers how to extract DNA from a strawberry. They engaged them in an activity that involves a paint-covered marble creating twisted lines on paper to resemble strands of DNA. They read the children’s book “The Smallest Spot of a Dot,” which explains how genetics makes each person unique. And they did all this so that the teachers, as well as the ambassadors themselves, would be equipped to turn around and give the same lesson to classes full of schoolchildren. The activity was expected to be presented in 70 classrooms during the ensuing month, reaching more than 2,000 kids. “We think and hope that kids can see that science experiments can be done with simple ingredients that you can find at home,” said Melanie Wollrabe, a third-year liberal studies major (with a focus in art) who’s the coordinator of the other STEAM ambassadors. “Additionally, we hope it is evident that anyone can be a scientist, as well as an artist.” During the event at University Hall, the CSUSM students listened to a talk about genomics by Manuel Martinez, a scientist at Illumina, a San Diego-based biotech company that develops DNA sequencing technology to enable research and improve health. Illumina, along with the Coastal Community Foundation, provided funding this academic year to support the STEAM ambassadors program. “I was impressed with the depth and engagement the students had regarding genetic topics,” Martinez said. “I say I was impressed because when I was a student, these topics were not being discussed much outside of the scientific circles, so seeing this level of knowledge and awareness in just a decade was very pleasant.” The STEAM initiative started four years ago, when music professor Merryl Goldberg allowed several of her students to become arts ambassadors as part of an independent study assignment through her Art=Opportunity program. One day a week, the students would report to a school in Vista either to help teachers with their art classes or teach a lesson on their own. Goldberg recruited professors Lucy HG Solomon and Christiane Wood to incorporate STEM concepts into the arts curriculum, and the arts ambassadors became STEAM ambassadors. The program was run then, and is still run now, by  Solomon and Wood, who have developed a strong partnership as faculty from the School of Arts and the School of Education, respectively. Solomon has an expertise for fusing art with science. Wood not only has brought teaching credential students into the program (to implement the lessons that the ambassadors conjure up), but she also has incorporated the core concept of literacy. In addition to funding the DNA activity that’s central to its mission as a company, Illumina also is supporting the use of podcasting technology and audio storytelling to enhance student learning. “Podcasting offers students a dynamic way to document and share their scientific discoveries,” Wood said. “By using words, tone, pace and creative audio techniques, they can effectively communicate their ideas and findings.” Wollrabe has been a STEAM ambassador since the spring semester of her freshman year in 2022, when she learned about the opportunity in her art education course. She thought it would be the perfect job for her since it combines two things that she loves: being creative and organizing. She did both so well that last fall she was promoted to STEAM coordinator, which involves orchestrating meetings with the ambassadors and communicating with the faculty in charge. When Wollrabe graduates in May 2025, she hopes to become an elementary school teacher, with an inclination toward art as her subject. She knows that her time as a STEAM ambassador will aid her cause considerably. “I have gained extensive experience with creating projects that combine art, reading and STEM,” she said. “So it has given me the proper tools to come up with ideas to carry out in the classroom.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Cal State San Marcos psychology master’s student Jessica Orea won first place at the CSU Student Research Competition at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for her presentation, "Association Between Distress Tolerance and Cannabis Dependence Stronger for Under-Represented Minorities Among U.S. Young Adults.”  “I am incredibly grateful to have received the opportunity to present my research and represent CSUSM at the CSU Student Research Competition,” Orea said. “The experience of presenting at this conference was really special. My family was present throughout the conference and this was their first time seeing me present my research. Additionally, as someone who struggles with public speaking, winning first place for my session feels surreal. It makes me realize how far I have come from my first presentations as an undergraduate student.”  Through Orea’s internship with the CSUSM/UCSD Smoke and Vape Free Scholars Program, she has worked alongside psychology professor Kim Pulvers to conduct research.  Orea and Pulvers plan to continue working together throughout the summer to expand the analysis. They hope to study whether using cannabis to cope with negative experiences explains the relationship between distress tolerance and cannabis dependence. The goal is to submit both projects for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. “Jessica is delightful to work with,” said Pulvers, who serves as the director of CSUSM’s Smoke and Vape Free Scholars Program. “She has strong research skills, is a great writer, and is very hardworking and dependable. Jessica conceptualized an original analysis identifying a modifiable behavioral health risk factor for cannabis dependence, which was even stronger for young adults from racial and ethnic minoritized groups.” The CSU Student Research Competition showcases undergraduate and graduate research, scholarship and creative works by recognizing outstanding student accomplishments across the 23 campuses. Each year, over 200 students submit written papers and make oral presentations before juries of professional experts from major corporations, foundations, public agencies and universities in California. Competitors win $500 for first place and $250 for second. “Competing made me realize how far I have come from my first presentations as an undergraduate student,” Orea said. “I credit this achievement to the incredible mentorship and support that I have received throughout my higher education journey. I am especially thankful to my principal investigators, the TRIO McNair Scholars Program, CTREE, the Smoke and Vape Free Scholars program and my family and friends.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Active men and women will receive complementary testing of body fat and aerobic fitness in a study testing the effects of exercise on fat and carbohydrate burning. This research study requires three separate sessions of exercise of about 45 minutes per day. Participants must be physically active in the last year, healthy, non-smoking, and free of joint injury. Please contact Dr. Todd Astorino, Professor, Dept. of Kinesiology, at astorino@csusm.edu for more information.

Like many kids, Natalie Ludwig was asked in kindergarten what she wanted to be when she grew up. Some of the common answers – astronaut, musician, veterinarian – never crossed Ludwig’s mind. And it’s safe to say that her answer probably didn’t cross the mind of her classmates. She wanted to work at McDonald’s because of her love for their chicken nuggets.  At 16, the moment Ludwig was legally allowed to work, she turned that dream into a reality and worked at McDonald’s for nearly two years. Ludwig likes to say that her dreams haven’t changed much since then because, years later, her career path is still centered around her passion for food.   Ludwig is graduating from Cal State San Marcos this spring with a bachelor’s in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. A first-generation student, she has flourished academically while simultaneously growing her popular foodie TikTok account @eatsbynat to nearly 270,000 followers. Ludwig grew up in Hampshire, Ill., a small rural town of about 7,600 people an hour northwest of Chicago. She and her twin sister Nicole always had their hearts set on one day moving to California. Their father grew up in Huntington Beach and always talked highly about living on the West Coast.  After both sisters completed their associate degrees at Elgin Community College near their hometown, Ludwig and Nicole began researching California universities to see if it was possible to make the move. The first university to show up in their search? Cal State San Marcos. Ludwig took it as a sign. Over the next four months, she and Nicole applied to CSUSM, flew to California for four days and found an apartment. They didn’t even get a chance to tour campus, but they were ready for a new start. “After getting my associate's degree in Illinois, I had no idea what I wanted to do, absolutely no clue,” said Ludwig, whose sister received her bachelor’s from CSUSM in media studies in fall 2022. “We weren't sure if we could afford it, but everything worked out and we just took a leap of faith.” The move paid off for Ludwig, who discovered that she has a knack for social media marketing when her videos started to gain traction in 2021.  “It’s a gift to wake up every day wanting to do it,” Ludwig said. “For school, you have a deadline. But nobody's next to you telling you you must post today. You have to think of new ideas. You have to brainstorm. You have to come up with all these concepts. Consistency is the most important thing and loving what you do. If you don't love what you're posting, you don't love your niche or your content, you're not going to stay consistent.” Ludwig and her sister both successfully post food reviews on TikTok (@nicole.ludwig). Ludwig’s content ranges from eating at local restaurants in San Diego to franchise bakeries like Crumbl Cookies. While she isn’t afraid to try new things, her favorite foods to review are desserts.  “I joke and I say like 90% of my diet is sweets but in reality, it really is,” Ludwig said. “I love cookies. I love ice cream. Sweets are my main thing, and I love posting it because I just love to eat them.” Ludwig doesn’t just introduce viewers to new food stops and products. Her videos deliver a bigger message.  When Ludwig was in the sixth grade, she was hospitalized with an eating disorder. Her family has helped her develop a healthy relationship with food, and she wants to do the same for her viewers. “It's been a roller coaster ride, but I'm glad I can use my platform to share my story,” Ludwig said. “I get comments all the time saying that ‘Watching you eat this food makes me want to eat it, too.’ This is really one of the main reasons I wanted to start my account because I just want to help other people.” The work Ludwig has put into her social media accounts has also been used on collaborative research projects with her professors. She is currently working with CSUSM marketing professor Vassilis Dalakas and Western Kentucky University professor Joanna Melancon on how sounds in TikTok videos can impact shopping behavior.  “I made the video they are using for the experiment,” Ludwig said. “The goal is to compare and see if people purchase a product depending on a happy or sad song.”  Ludwig was recently recognized as the Outstanding Student for Marketing at the College of Business Administration Dean’s Breakfast for her ability to continuously go above and beyond both inside and outside the classroom.  Ludwig plans to continue growing her social media platforms after she graduates and work with Nicole and her brother on their start-up marketing agency, Digital Direct Marketing.  “CSUSM has helped me become who I am and grow my interests not only in social media, but business as well,” Ludwig said. “I'm so thankful for this school because it has helped me in ways that I couldn't even imagine. I wouldn't be where I am today without the opportunity to come to CSUSM or come to California.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Sarah Bricke was a student entering her final year at Cal State San Marcos when Ellen Neufeldt was hired as president of the university in the summer of 2019. They first connected a few months later. Bricke, an art, media and design major, was the co-curator of a student art exhibition titled “Juncture,” and Neufeldt dropped in on the opening event to express her admiration. Neufeldt, it turned out, was an art lover, to the extent that she converted a room in her Escondido home into a gallery space. And when, during her first year at CSUSM, she decided to display student art in that space, sure enough, it was Bricke’s art that was chosen (along with that of Kimberly Lopez, her co-curator for the student exhibit). Four years later, Bricke’s relationship with the university and its president has come full circle. In January, the art created by Bricke the student was removed from Neufeldt’s home gallery. In its place was installed art by two current or recent CSUSM students that was selected by Bricke, now a professional artist and curator. “I’m really happy to have been asked to curate the exhibition,” Bricke said. “It brings together all of these things that are intensely personal and specific to me, but that also resonate with the larger community at CSUSM, including the faculty of the art department and the president’s office, and hopefully the president herself. It’s a beautiful thing and, for me, it’s really what makes this worth doing.” After being hired to curate the exhibition last fall, Bricke opened a submissions process for CSUSM arts faculty to recommend students whose work was especially accomplished. From a group of almost 20 students, Bricke chose five oil paintings each by Karolina Lopez and Esther Rodriguez. The exhibition’s theme, Bricke says, relates to the “intersection of landscape and lived experiences of these two women who are navigating life as students, set against one of the most contested borders in the world.” Rodriguez said she created her paintings last spring during an independent study course leading up to her May graduation, under the direction of lecturer Heidi Brar. “It was a great surprise when Sarah gave me the news, and I never could have imagined my pieces being displayed in the home of President Neufeldt,” said Rodriguez, who’s now pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree at National University. “This exhibition means a step further in my career as an artist. Also, I am representing the CSUSM arts faculty, which makes me feel very proud of this accomplishment.” Brar actually mentored both selected students, first in her AMD: Advanced Painting course and then in the independent painting projects that evolved into the exhibited paintings. She said the students have different approaches to painting – Rodriguez “uses bright colors and personal imagery to interweave personal narratives with larger cultural themes,” while Lopez shows a “remarkable ability to capture the essence and color palette of iconic landscape locations in San Diego" – but are equally deserving of the recognition. “Both students’ perseverance and hard work distinguished them among the AMD majors, and I feel they are very relevant choices for the president’s collection,” Brar said. “Their work presents an opportunity to appreciate the impact the college makes and celebrate the talents of these wonderful students.” Bricke’s model of resilience and determination since her time at CSUSM is one that the student artists might hope to emulate. Graduating just as the COVID-19 pandemic was heating up in 2020, she hoped to obtain an MFA degree but didn’t get into any of the four graduate programs she applied to. Feeling lonely in isolation and discouraged by the setback, she rededicated herself to her art, and when she applied to nine programs the following year, she was accepted by eight of them and chose one of the most prestigious in the nation – the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. “SAIC was my reach school. I really felt like it was a long shot,” Bricke said. “When I got the big envelope in the mail, I was over the moon. I couldn’t believe it.” SAIC is a low-residency program, which means that students aren’t expected to live full-time in the city where the institution is located. That made it an ideal fit for Bricke, a single mother who didn’t want to uproot her daughter, Crimson (now 10), from their home in Vista. Bricke would travel to Chicago for in-person work toward her degree over the summer, but otherwise she was free to stay in Southern California, interrupted by a couple of trips with Crimson to places like Berkeley and New York City to tackle projects related to artists’ archives. “I felt this confidence as a scholar and an academic and an artist,” she said. “But the setup also gave me greater confidence as a mother.” Bricke uses multiple terms to describe her art, including “conceptual” and “research-based.” The one she prefers, though, is “transdisciplinary.” She describes it as combining academic disciplines, materials and methods in an attempt to make something new that hasn’t been done before. For Bricke, transdisciplinary art manifests itself in novel and subversive ways. She will attend academic conferences and present what she calls performative lectures, in which she adopts the traditional role of an academic while simultaneously challenging the conventions of the higher education system. Her website is another example. A page that on a traditional site might be titled “About Me” is instead called “forms of refusal,” and in place of the typical artist bio is a paragraph that reads: “Sarah … believes that biographical content is largely unnecessary and generally uninteresting. Alternatively, this placeholder for formulaic recitations of academic degrees, artistic achievements and prestigious awards offers an opportunity to test parafictions and substitute narratives.” “I think of my website as a work, and its function isn’t to present objects that I’ve made so that curators can see them and put me in an exhibition,” Bricke said. “It functions more as a thing to talk about. Curation was a natural extension of this concept, where I thought, ‘I want to gather objects and people and images so that we can have dialogue around them.’ And for me, that dialogue, that exchange between the art, the person who made the art and anyone else, like the viewer, that is where the art resides.” Bricke graduated from SAIC last July, and for the last year she has been juggling art projects like the curation for Neufeldt’s home with preparations to begin a doctoral program this fall. She's pursuing a Ph.D. at UC San Diego in contemporary art history with a focus on gender and sexuality, and artists’ archives. “I've come to see that I have an artist/scholar, scholar/artist practice,” she said. “I would love to teach because I've had such incredible mentorship from faculty at CSUSM and at SAIC, which has changed me as an artist and an academic and a scholar, but also as a person. I'd like to pass that on.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

To: All CSUSM Corporation and CSUSM Faculty and Staff The California State University and CSU San Marcos are committed to the highest ethical standards and to creating an environment where fraudulent and other dishonest acts are not tolerated. CSUSM is dedicated to ensuring that all entrusted resources are utilized ethically, prudently, and for their designated purpose.  CAMPUS REPORTING OF FISCAL IMPROPRIETIES  Campus and auxiliary personnel must notify the Office of Internal Audit of all cases involving an actual or suspected fiscal impropriety. Once informed, the campus Internal Auditor, in consultation with the Associate VP of Administration, is responsible for determining whether notification to the CSU and other state officials is required under CSU Executive Order 1104 (EO 1104).  EO 1104 articulates systemwide requirements related to reporting actual or suspected fiscal improprieties affecting the CSU and its recognized auxiliary organizations to the Chancellor’s Office and other state officials. The reporting requirements apply to both state and non-state funds.  For questions or to report a suspected fiscal impropriety, please contact the Office of Internal Audit at audit@csusm.edu.   WHISTLEBLOWER AND WHISTLEBLOWER RETALIATION COMPLAINTS  The Office of Human Resources has been designated by the campus president to receive complaints from employees, former employees, and applicants for CSU employment who wish to report alleged improper governmental activity.   CSU Executive Order 1115: Reporting Procedures for Protected Disclosure of Improper Governmental Activities and/or Significant Threats to Health or Safety  CSU Executive Order 1116: Complaint Procedure for Allegations of Retaliation for Having Made a Protected Disclosure under the California Whistleblower Protection Act For whistleblower and whistleblower retaliation complaints, contact campus HR at hr@csusm.edu and refer to the following webpage https://www.csusm.edu/hr/lrer/compliance/whistleblower.html for additional information.