Austin Ott had never watched an episode of “The Bachelorette” when he received a DM on Instagram from the show encouraging him to apply.  Ott immediately sent it to his mom, who is a huge fan of the show, and she quickly became his No. 1 supporter to try out.  Ott later received news that he would travel to Los Angeles and begin filming for the 21^st season of the hit ABC series, a reality TV dating show where a single woman meets a group of 25 romantic interests in hopes of finding her future husband.  The contestants were introduced in the first episode, which premiered July 8. Each participant made a grand entrance where they met this season's bachelorette, Jenn Tran, for the first time.  “The limo entrance was crazy,” Ott said. “You can always have it in your head of how it’ll look, but until it smacks you in the face, you have no idea what that feeling is like. No one can prepare you for that.” However, Ott felt prepared when it came to having an audience. His communication and media studies degree from Cal State San Marcos gave him a foundation to build on. Ott’s first speech in COMM 100 gave him an idea of what being in the public eye might look like.  “I think that after you can do that as a freshman, an 18-year-old in college, you're prepared for anything,” Ott said. “It helped me block out the negative and be myself.”  Ott owes his experience at Cal State San Marcos to the late Dennis Pugh, the university’s first baseball coach, who recruited him for the team in 2014.  “My time at Cal State San Marcos was probably the best years of my life,” said Ott, who graduated in 2019. “There’s nothing better than playing the game you love and being around your best friends.” Even though Ott’s time on the field ended, he never left his baseball roots. His mullet haircut and love for wearing hats is still part of his everyday life.   “I don't know if it's the baseball player in me, but ever since I was a little kid, I have always worn a hat everywhere I go, other than when I'm working,” he said. “I probably have 60 to 70 hats in my closet. It's ridiculous.”  Ott’s love for his mullet only grew once he flew to Melbourne, Australia, with the cast to film “The Bachelorette’s” third episode.  “I kind of fit in a little bit because that's the big haircut in Australia,” Ott said.   Once in Melbourne, Ott and three other contestants went on a group date in a high-speed race-car competition. The winner of the race had the chance to spend some time alone with Tran.  “Despite the combination of trying to drive stick, which I don’t know how to, and being on the right side, I somehow won it,” Ott said. “That was such a crazy experience. Getting to ride in that car and win the race ended up with me having some extra time with Jenn.” Ott wasn’t sure what would be shown once the episodes began airing, and watching it for the first time with his family and friends was a memorable experience.  A scene of “Truth or Dare” was a rather hard watch for Ott.  “I had to run around the mansion in my underwear,” Ott said. “When that happened, I had to look away.”  While it was awkward for him to watch, Ott shared laughs among family and friends.  Ott even made new friendships during filming.  “I went there for romance and I left with bromance,” he said.   Ott voluntarily left the show in episode five, saying his connection with Tran was not at the same level as the other participants.  Ott returned to his job as an account executive with FAIRWAYiQ, a golf course operation technology company in San Diego. He plans to continue his sales career but would love to expand his social media presence.  “If there is a little side quest in social media, if I get that opportunity, I would love to do that,” Ott said. “I think I would flourish in it.”  Returning home from the show, he was shocked at the love he had received on social media. While he made connections on the show, he made even more through various social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.  Before the show, Ott had a small following on TikTok where he shared lifestyle videos showing his life in San Diego. Since being on the show, his TikTok account has grown to more than 100,000 followers. Being noticed in public was never an everyday occurrence until now.  “I think that’s the craziest switch,” Ott said. “Sometimes when I go to the grocery store or the gym, someone will come up and be like, ‘Hey Austin!’ ” Being on reality television has changed Ott’s life.  “It was something I never envisioned for myself, never pictured,” Ott said. “I'm so thankful that I got the opportunity.”  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

For Cal State San Marcos alumni like Nicole Belanger, this summer marked an ideal time to give back. Belanger is a 2020 master’s graduate of CSUSM’s speech-language pathology (SLP) program, and she recently returned to campus as part of the university’s SLP summer clinic. A regional implementation lead for the state-funded Open Access project, she made a significant impact by mentoring students and introducing pediatric clients to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. “CSUSM’s SLP program provided me with a solid foundation for a successful career,” Belanger said. “Returning to supervise this summer was my chance to give back to a program that helped shape me as a clinician. I was thrilled to enrich my supervisees’ experience and inspire their passion for the field.” At the summer clinic, which operated for four hours each weekday morning through Aug. 9, Belanger and other supervisors helped 120 pediatric clients and 24 adults receive vital speech and language services at no cost. The program not only provided crucial support to the community, but it also served as a hands-on training opportunity for graduate students in the SLP program. Adrienne Shah, a lecturer and supervisor at the clinic, highlighted the dual benefits of the program. “Our students provided over 3,000 hours of free speech therapy this summer,” Shah said. “It was an incredible opportunity for them to build clinical skills while serving our community.” Shah, who had a positive experience as a CSUSM student, was driven by a desire to support current students. “I wanted them to recognize the value of their hard work and the difference they were making in people’s lives,” she said. Sarah Alapizco, another clinical supervisor, emphasized the importance of building confidence among students. “I aimed to build their confidence and show them that they had the skill set to implement successful therapy,” she said. “The summer clinic also fostered collaboration, helping students support each other and enhance their learning experience.” The clinic’s impact extended beyond the academic and professional spheres. A mother of a young adult client shared her appreciation for the services. “I was so happy that we found this clinic,” she said. “We had never been a part of a program like this, and my son had needed these services for a very long time. This was a special place, and I was excited to continue coming.” Karen Delfau, visiting from France, brought her 10-year-old daughter, Augustine, to the clinic. “I sought a range of speech and communication resources unavailable in my region,” Delfau said. “While visiting family this summer, I was pleased that Augustine could benefit from the program, and I hope to return next year.” For more information about career opportunities in speech-language pathology or to learn about clinic services, visit CSUSM’s SLP department website. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

When the time came for a leadership change atop Cal State San Marcos’ School of Education this summer, there wasn’t exactly a mad rush of candidates. Teachers, after all, love teaching aspiring teachers how to teach, and the notion of sacrificing that for a largely administrative post can be a hard sell for many. But with the teaching industry still struggling to claw back lost numbers from the pandemic, the job is more essential than ever, and the School of Education thinks it has found the perfect person to lead the way. Moses Ochanji, who’s entering his 21^st year as a professor at CSUSM, was officially appointed to a two-year term as the school’s director on Aug. 1. Ochanji has served as associate director for four years under two different directors, and he also has been the chair of the human development department. “I have been looking in at this job for some years,” Ochanji said. “I know a little bit about what the job entails, and I thought it was time for me to raise my hand and do it.” Ochanji has replaced Laurie Stowell, who became School of Education director in January 2021. Stowell, a professor at CSUSM since 1992, is entering the Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP), which allows tenured faculty to continue teaching after retiring from service. Stowell also will continue to run the San Marcos Writing Project, which is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year. “I think it’s fabulous,” Stowell said of the leadership change. “I talked to him about the job. All of us in the school have thought Moses would be a great leader for a long time, and he’s also a wonderful science educator.” As a professor of science education, Ochanji teaches science methods classes for prospective teachers. He also is the co-principal investigator on two grants in the science education arena: the Mathematics and Science Teacher Initiative (MSTI), a California State University-funded program to help recruit math and science teachers; and the Noyce Teacher Scholars program, a National Science Foundation grant that encourages talented STEM students and professionals to pursue teaching careers. Ochanji and Stowell agree that recruitment is the biggest hurdle facing the School of Education and the teaching profession as a whole. Teachers left the field en masse during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the population has yet to recover. At CSUSM this fall, there is the usual distribution of student teacher cohorts – three for the multiple-subject credential, two for single subject and one each for middle school and special education – but the numbers in each cohort are smaller. “When people are leaving the profession, the word goes around,” Ochanji said. “So there are spillover effects. People hear about it and think, ‘Teaching is hard. I don’t want to go into teaching.’ And that discourages more. “Then there’s this national narrative that teachers are not paid well. So it’s, ‘Why would I do something so difficult and not get paid well?’ Those are some of the challenges that we face with many young people.” Both the state and CSUSM are taking action to stem, and even reverse, the tide. The state, for example, has removed the requirement that teachers must pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test, allowing the undergraduate degree to substitute as a measure of competency. California also offers residencies as a way to pay students while they are engaged in student teaching so they don’t need to hold down jobs on the side.   At CSUSM, the School of Education is considering bringing back a part-time program or adding the option of a January start so that student teachers have more flexibility. The school has a recruitment committee and faculty recruitment fellow who is studying the challenges that the university is facing and how it can better reach prospective teachers. Despite the enrollment decline, the School of Education has enjoyed some clear successes. Perhaps the best recent example is Project SUPPORT, a five-year, $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education that ended last fall. The program greatly increased the number of bilingual teacher candidates to enter the School of Education, to the extent that in the last two years there was almost a full cohort of them (roughly 30 teachers). “One thing that the CSU has pushed is to make teacher recruitment a university-wide event, not just a School of Education activity,” Ochanji said. “We’re all parents, and we want the people who leave our program to be good enough to teach our children. So we all have an interest in making sure that we have good teachers in the classroom helping our students.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

As a student affairs professional, Erik Ramirez has attended many meetings in which the primary topic is concerns about enrollment in higher education. What if the best way to address such worries isn’t to brainstorm solutions among administrators in a conference room, but rather to go out and ask the targets of any enrollment push: high school students? That’s the concept behind a national organization called REP4 (of which Cal State San Marcos is a founding partner), and it was main thrust of a REP4 regional summit hosted by CSUSM on June 11-12. “I don’t think it happens often that young people are asked to share their ideas or to tell us what it is that we’re doing wrong or what it is that we could be doing better to serve them,” said Ramirez, director of initiatives and partnerships for CSUSM’s Division of Student Affairs, and the organizer of the summit. REP stands for “Rapid Education Prototyping,” and it aims to engage young students to solve problems in higher education. Earlier this month, for the first time, CSUSM held a two-day summit that brought together 37 high school students along with eight CSUSM student mentors, three CSUSM professors and some staff members. The high school students were 10^th through 12^th graders from Los Angeles County who have migrant and seasonal farmworker backgrounds. They were already on campus as participants in the second annual Migrant Scholars Summer Institute, a 10-day program through which students live at CSUSM and get a head start on experiencing what college is like. The summit took place in the Innovation Hub and the University Library Reading Room. The students were split into seven groups, and each group started with a team-building activity that involved building a tower out of raw spaghetti. With a CSUSM undergraduate mentor embedded in each team, the students then were introduced to the notion of design thinking by the trio of CSUSM faculty: sociology professor Matthew Atherton, social work professor Jimmy Young and Sajith Jayasinghe, chair of the chemistry and biochemistry department. The faculty teach different disciplines in different colleges, but all are experts in design thinking, a framework for grappling with real-world problems by trying to empathize with the community that the problem affects. It’s an iterative process with multiple stages: understanding the problem, devising various possible solutions, creating a prototype of the solution you decide on, then testing and evaluating it. Once they had settled into their teams, the high school students were presented with a prompt: How do we make college more attractive, inclusive and accessible? Guided by the professors and using the principles of design thinking, the teams went through a series of activities to determine how to tackle the prompt. Some focused on the difficulty of picking a college, others on the financial aspect or a sense of belonging. “Then based on what particular issue they wanted to address or they identified, they proposed a solution,” Ramirez said. The proposals were made in the manner of a business-style quick-pitch competition – think the TV show “Shark Tank” – and, in the end, two top pitches were selected. The first was for a peer mentor program called Adopt a Buddy that would pair new students with upperclassmen who would serve as their mentor during their first year at a university. Participation would be incentivized by things like academic credit for the mentors and free swag for the mentees. The second pitch was for a phone app titled Uni-verse through which college students would create youth-oriented content to help high school students learn about universities in California and ameliorate the issue that many feel of overwhelming choices. The app could be scaled to include virtual reality tours of individual campuses. “The most rewarding part was seeing their confidence build throughout the process,” Atherton said. “As the students were able to start creating and refining their innovations, you could see them getting excited about their proposals. Seeing the students gain confidence each time they presented their idea to a new audience during the final event shows the power of active, experiential learning opportunities.” Each member of the winning teams received a $200 credit for the CSUSM bookstore. More significantly, from a university perspective, the two winning pitches will be submitted this fall to the REP4 national conference, where the best two pitches from all the regional summits across the country will be chosen to receive funding as a prototype. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

The second annual CSUSM Blue & Silver Fundraising Dinner marked another historical night on June 15, raising a record-breaking $1,070,100 for social mobility and student success initiatives. A one-to-one match made possible by the Epstein family doubled the impact of every dollar raised during the evening. The event, co-hosted by President Ellen Neufeldt and the CSUSM Foundation Board, welcomed nearly 300 dedicated alumni, community leaders, campus partners, tribal leaders and elected officials. University Advancement Vice President Jessica Berger opened the event as a celebration of Cal State San Marcos, taking a moment to recognize the sponsors and partners who made it possible. "This evening is truly a celebration of the power of Cal State San Marcos, driven by the individual power of all of you – our strongest friends, advocates and supporters," Berger said during her opening remarks. Such support extended to the evening's entertainment with a Steinway & Sons Spirio |r provided courtesy of Steinway Piano Gallery San Diego. The grand piano was featured in student performances by Daniel Cruz as well as the CSUSM Jazz Ensemble’s Troy Amos, Andrew Kelly, Andrew Marin and Michael Kuszajewski. CSUSM Foundation Board Chair Emilie Hersh and Vice Chair Simon Kuo set the tone for the evening with their remarks. “All of these students are committed to succeeding and bringing about change in the community," Hersh said. "This is one of the many reasons I have been inspired and honored to be part of the CSUSM community.” The mission of social mobility at CSUSM is dedicated to creating pathways to success for every student. More than 50% of CSUSM students are the first in their families to attend college, and a large number of these students work part-time or full-time jobs in order to fund their education. By fostering partnerships with local industries, nonprofit organizations and community leaders, CSUSM builds a powerful network of support that propels student success. “Over the years, I’ve heard from numerous students about how their education at CSUSM has transformed their lives and moved them up the economic ladder,” Kuo said. “This is a place that helps students overcome barriers and forge a better future.” President Neufeldt took to the stage with a compelling speech highlighting CSUSM’s transformative impact in higher education. “Together, we will continue to rise, to thrive, to be that beacon of where the future of higher ed is going,” Neufeldt said. She reaffirmed CSUSM’s commitment to expanding access and education for all as a national leader in social mobility. Through philanthropic support, student success programs and resources make their impact across campus to a diverse cohort of students each year. During the dinner, five members of the Class of 2024 were invited to the stage to be recognized as champions of social mobility: Noah Bills, an electrical engineering student who transferred to CSUSM with a focus and determination to earn a bachelor’s degree and was a recipient of the inaugural Harvey and Anne Neufeldt Scholarship (established by Neufeldt as a tribute to her parents). Jasmin Casas, who holds a bachelor’s in literature and writing studies with a minor in political studies. She served as a student representative for the Foundation Board and is  working toward a career as a criminal prosecution lawyer at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Dakota Freaner, a member of ACE Scholars Services, a program that supports CSUSM’s former foster youth.  This year, he received the 2024 Tom & Kim Zarro Family award and graduated with a bachelor’s in social sciences. He will pursue a master’s in social work at CSUSM this fall. Siaje Gideon, a student highlighted during Neufeldt’s remarks, received her bachelor’s in biological sciences and founded the Black in STEM club. She will begin her doctoral studies in immunology at UC Irvine this fall. Lawrence Morris, is a sociological practice masters graduate and support recipient for Project Rebound, a program for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking to pursue a degree. Morris, who also earned his bachelor's from CSUSM in 2022, has been embedded within CSUSM’s Project Rebound office since its inception. Casas, Freaner and Morris were highlighted in the video “I Am Social Mobility,” which premiered during the event.   The 2024 Blue & Silver Fundraising Dinner concluded the highest annual fundraising total in CSUSM’s 35-year history. The impact of the evening, as well as the two historic commitments from the Epstein Family and Price Philanthropies Foundation made in the spring, contributed to over $26 million raised for the university in fiscal year 2023-24. With the momentum of success showing no signs of slowing down, the upcoming year holds promise for CSUSM and its ongoing mission in student success.

Cal State San Marcos is celebrating a milestone in its fundraising efforts, with a record $26 million raised for fiscal year 2023-24 – more than double the previous record of $12.5 million set a year earlier.  Generous donors contributed a total of 5,290 gifts, highlighting the community’s commitment to programs that promote social and economic mobility and ensuring student success across the university’s diverse student population. For perspective, the total amount raised this past fiscal year is more than half the amount raised during CSUSM’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, “Forward Together,” which took seven years to complete.   During the second annual Blue & Silver Fundraising Dinner in June, CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt highlighted the critical role of philanthropy  “The success of our university and our students is built on the power of community,” Neufeldt said. “Together, we are transforming lives and creating a brighter future for all.”  CSUSM’s fundraising efforts are crucial in maintaining and expanding initiatives that empower students from all backgrounds, providing them with the tools and support necessary to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential.    Two largest gifts in CSUSM history  In March, CSUSM announced two philanthropic gifts totaling $20 million. Price Philanthropies Foundation awarded a $10 million grant to create an innovative three-year accelerated bachelor’s degree and establish a workforce pipeline for behavioral and mental health professionals, and Foundation Board Director Dan Epstein and his wife, Phyllis, committed $10 million to serve as a unique dollar-for-dollar matching gift opportunity that will support areas across campus.   “We are eternally grateful for the extraordinary investments in our students and community made possible by Dan and Phyllis Epstein and the Price Philanthropies Foundation,” Neufeldt said.  These substantial gifts will have a lasting impact on the campus and its students, driving innovation and excellence across all areas of study.    Foundation giving and community partnerships  Foundation giving continues to play a significant role in CSUSM’s fundraising success. The College Futures Foundation provided a $650,000 grant to the CCC-CSU Transfer Collaborative, with $470,000 awarded to CSUSM. This collaborative, which includes seven California State University campuses (CSUSM among them) and 10 California Community Colleges schools, aims to develop a national model for transfer success and accessibility for all California students.   CSUSM received $250,000 from the Conrad Prebys Foundation to advance mental health services for its diverse student population, and $300,000 to establish a partnership with TrueCare to address the escalating mental health needs and bolster the university’s community of care.  Other gifts include the Hewlett Foundation donating $308,260 to support a teacher career pathway program, Henry Luce Foundation supporting CSUSM's California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center, and additional foundation support for the Innovation Hub and Tikkun Olam Makers Club.  Foundation giving and community partnerships are vital in helping CSUSM expand educational opportunities and foster socioeconomic growth in the region.    The individual power of you  Individual giving saw substantial growth this year, with alumni, faculty, staff and friends of CSUSM contributing significantly to make an impact in the region. This collective effort highlights the power of community and the impact of individual contributions in advancing the university’s mission.  CSUSM Athletics secured nearly $1 million in support from both longtime and new donors, while colleges across campus experienced increases in their annual totals. In the College of Business Administration, alumna and CSUSM Foundation Board Director Annie Norviel continued her generous contributions toward student scholarships in accounting. In addition, CSUSM founding administrators Drs. Ernie and Leslie Zomalt expanded their endowment for study abroad programs and maintained their support for the Outstanding Service Award, which is presented annually to a CSUSM staff member or administrator. New scholarships were established throughout the year to support student veterans, nursing and several areas of studies within the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences, among others.  Significant contributions also included planned and legacy gifts. Legacy donors play an important role in securing CSUSM's long-term financial health and empowering future generations of Cougars.   “This past year is truly a celebration of the power of Cal State San Marcos, driven by the individual power of you – our strongest friends, advocates and supporters,” said Jessica Berger, vice president of University Advancement.   The generosity of dedicated supporters ensures that CSUSM can continue to provide the best support system for its students to reach graduation and their career goals.    Annual events shine bright  Giving Day, held last November, was a tremendous success, raising nearly $460,000 from 2,410 donors in just 24 hours. The enthusiastic participation of so many individuals highlights the community’s deep commitment and showcases the true spirit of generosity. One of the funds supported through Giving Day is the library's Affordable Textbook Campaign, which provides students with low- or no-cost access to textbooks and course materials. This example and the collective effort shown on Giving Day continues to highlight the #HeartofaCougar.  In June, CSUSM hosted its second consecutive record-breaking Blue & Silver Fundraising Dinner with over $1 million raised, marking a significant milestone in its fundraising efforts. This event, which exceeded the previous year’s fundraising record, brought together dedicated alumni, community leaders, campus partners, tribal leaders and elected officials. The evening's highlight was the celebration of students recognized as champions of social mobility, with their inspiring stories featured in the video “I Am Social Mobility.”    A step closer: Integrated Science and Engineering Building CSUSM continues to make significant strides toward making the future Integrated Science and Engineering Building a reality. This building is not only critical for the university’s rapidly growing CSTEM program and needs of the region, but it also will serve as a hub for community engagement, providing a space for partnerships with local industries and fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.     Looking ahead: onward and upward  As the new academic year begins, CSUSM is committed to maintaining this momentum and solidifying its position as a national leader in social and economic mobility.   “A CSUSM education helps students transcend barriers faced by earlier generations and unlock their potential for lifelong success. This isn’t only a key for individuals and families but for organizations, industries and society,” said Emilie Hersh, CSUSM Foundation Board chair.  CSUSM’s record-breaking fundraising year is a celebration of the collective power of the community and a testament to the transformative power of education. With the continued support of donors, the university is poised to achieve even greater heights as it prepares for its next and largest philanthropic campaign.  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

The academic year might be long over, but athletes at Cal State San Marcos aren’t done making major waves. The latest to do so is Tanner Vodraska, a rising junior who last weekend became the first surfer in university history to win an individual national title. Competing in the college men’s division of the 2024 National Scholastic Surfing Association interscholastic national championships at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, Vodraska dominated the field. He posted a two-wave score of 17.5 points in the final on Sunday, far outdistancing his closest competitor, Jordy Collins of Westcliff University (in Irvine) with 10.73. “I feel really proud of myself because I set a goal to win the national title before I graduate, and I accomplished it,” said Vodraska, a business student from Camarillo in Ventura County. “It’s one of the biggest accomplishments in my career, and it’s going to drive me to do better in other contests.” Making the feat even more satisfying, Vodraska surfed and hoisted the trophy with four CSUSM teammates in attendance, along with his father (as an added bonus, the final was on Father’s Day). The championship also marked sweet redemption for Vodraska, who qualified for the final of the same event last summer after his freshman year but finished last in the field, nine points behind Collins and 10 behind winner Noah Kawaguchi of Point Loma Nazarene (Kawaguchi was a distant fourth this year). “I am so excited for Tanner,” said Amber Puha, the faculty adviser of the surf club since its inception in 2002 and the chair of CSUSM’s math department. “There is nothing like surfing to your full potential in an important moment like a national championship final and when the waves are firing and when your teammates and family are there to cheer you on.   “He had a difficult outing in the 2023 final. To see his confidence shine through and allow him to perform to his best capabilities makes me feel very proud of him.” Three CSUSM surfers have finished second in the national championships, most recently Chris Smith in longboard in 2007, but Vodraska is the first to bring home a trophy. The Cougars have won a pair of team titles, in 2009 and 2019. The club was riding high after the latter championship, only to see the COVID-19 pandemic the next year halt its progress. “For CSUSM surf, this signifies a return from the pandemic,” Puha said. “Winning that team national title in 2019 and having all that excitement and momentum get brought to a grinding halt was tough.” Puha said Vodraska, and his “incredible sense of humor,” contributed greatly to the surf team’s strong chemistry this season, and she’s looking forward to even better things in 2024-25. The club welcomes all interested students, with a particular need for women shortboarders. Tryouts will take place in mid-September. Prospective members can email csusmsurf@gmail.com to be added to the club’s distribution list. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

With Pride Month underway, the Pride Center at Cal State San Marcos is focused on the importance of remembering the lives lost in the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, and ensuring the campus community is aware of the support available to LGBTQ+ individuals. “Support for Pride Month is incredibly important at CSUSM,” said Robert Aiello-Hauser, director of the Pride Center. “By acknowledging and celebrating Pride Month, CSUSM sends a clear message that we value diversity and are committed to promoting equality for all members of our community. This can help to foster a sense of belonging and community, which can be especially important for LGBTQ+ students who may face discrimination or feel isolated on campus.” Aiello-Hauser noted that the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting is significant for several reasons, including: It's a solemn occasion to honor and remember the lives lost in the tragic event. Reflecting on their stories and the impact of their loss helps keep their memories alive. The anniversary provides an opportunity to show support for the survivors and the families of the victims. It's a time to offer comfort, solidarity and resources for those who continue to grapple with the aftermath of the shooting. The anniversary often serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the community affected by the shooting. It's a time for unity, coming together to support one another, and demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity. It helps raise awareness about issues such as gun violence, LGBTQ+ rights, discrimination, and the importance of tolerance and acceptance. By remembering the Pulse nightclub shooting, people are reminded of the ongoing need for societal change to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The anniversary can serve as a call to action for policymakers, activists and communities to work toward creating safer environments for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic. “The anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting is a time for reflection, remembrance, solidarity and a renewed commitment to creating a more inclusive and compassionate society,” Aiello-Hauser said. CSUSM provides various forms of support for LGBTQ+ students, creating an inclusive and welcoming campus environment. Some ways CSUSM supports LGBTQ+ students include: Pride Center: This is a space that serves all sexual orientations and gender identities. The center offers a safe space for students to gather, access resources, receive support, build community and engage in activism and advocacy efforts. SafeZone Program: This program is designed to educate faculty, staff and students about LGBTQ+ issues and create visible symbols of support throughout campus. SafeZone provides resources and training to create a network of allies/advocates who can offer support and understanding to LGBTQ+ individuals. Counseling and Psychological Services: CSUSM's counseling services provide support specifically tailored to the needs of Pride students, including counseling sessions with therapists who are knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ issues and experiences. They also provide therapy groups specifically for the community. Student Organizations: CSUSM has several student organizations specifically for Pride students and allies. These organizations provide opportunities for socializing, networking, activism and support within the campus community. Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives: These initiatives are aimed at creating a campus culture that celebrates and respects all identities, including those within the LGBTQ+ community.  Housing Options: The university offers several inclusive housing options, gender-inclusive and LGBTQ+-affirming housing communities, to accommodate the diverse needs of Pride students. Policy Support: CSUSM has policies and procedures in place to protect LGBTQ+ students from discrimination and harassment based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. These policies demonstrate the university's commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students. These include various transgender inclusion and protection policies and a preferred name policy and procedure. CSUSM will be marching for the 16^th year in the San Diego Pride Parade on Saturday, July 20. Anyone interested in joining the CSUSM group can fill out the interest form online. “Representing the CSUSM campus by marching in the San Diego Pride parade is an opportunity to promote visibility, solidarity, advocacy and celebration of LGBTQ+ identities and rights, both within the college community and beyond,” Aiello-Hauser said. “It reinforces CSUSM’s commitment to diversity and inclusion while fostering connections with the broader LGBTQ+  community.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314