Student Showcase Presenters
Development of Novel Therapeutics for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
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Dr. Ahmed Awad -Student Research Office Faculty Director
Dr. Awad earned his Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Ulm, Germany. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Iowa State University and UC Santa Barbara before joining the faculty at CSUCI. Dr. Awad has guided numerous projects that have led to students' co-authored publications in prestious peer-reviewed journals.
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Noor Awaad -Biology, Senior
Noor has a strong interest in Chemistry, inspiring her to start research in this field. She is eager to learn more about medical science, and plans to continue her studies after graduation, combining her understanding of biology and chemistry to make an impact in healthcare. She notes that her current research experience in biochemistry has improved her problem-solving and thinking skills, allowing her to contribute to real-world challenges, specifically in fields such as cancer drug development.
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Annika Callo - Chemistry/BioChemistry, Junior
Annika joined the pancreatic cancer therapeutics SURF team this year. She also presented research using worms to study sensory behavior and neural mechanisms underlying brain functions with CSUCI classmates last year at Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research (SCCUR).
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Daniel Schwartz - Biology, Junior
Daniel Schwartz is a pre-med biology major and is a junior transfer student to CSUCI. This is Daniel's second semester doing undergraduate research under Dr. Awad, and he presented biochemical research for pancreatic cancer therapeutics at SURF 2025.
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Perla Villalobos - Chemistry, Junior
Perla chose CSUCI as she was drawn to its history and architecture. Over time the campus asthetics began to remind her of her home in Mexico, making it her home away from home. She came to CI with a passion for chemistry, that began in high school, with hopes to pursue a career as a forensic scientist and to support families behind the scenes.
Wildfire Recovery and Service Learning: Restoring Communities and Ecosystems (SURF and LAStronger Summer projects)
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Dr. Brenton Spies - Faculty, Lecturer ESRM
Dr. Brenton Spies is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Environmental Science and Resource Management Program at CSU Channel Islands. A conservation ecologist, his work focuses on wildfire and disaster relief, habitat restoration, and endangered species management, with projects ranging from wildlife recovery to innovative soil remediation. He integrates student research into these efforts, creating hands-on learning experiences that advance both conservation outcomes and the next generation of environmental leaders.
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Yaizi Delgado - ESRM, Earth Systems, Senior
Yaiza chose CSU Channel Islands because of its unique location and the vibrant, supportive environment that encourages both hands-on and in-class learning. Through the ESRM Department, the Environmental Communication Program, and the Santa Rosa Island Research Station, she has gained invaluable experiences that shaped her passion for restoration and conservation. With the guidance of her mentor, Dr. Spies, she plans to pursue a career in the field of Environmental Science and possibly further her post-graduate education to expand her knowledge.
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Alexa Murillo - Chemistry, Biochemistry, Senior
Alexa chose CSUCI because of the small classroom sizes, which allowed her more time and opportunities with her professors. Alexa feels that research is the heart of our campus, and she’s grateful for the opportunities to participate in research within the Chemistry, Communications, and Environmental Science and Resource Management departments. This semester she will be applying to CSUN for their Master’s in Geological Science program and hopes to pursure a career in geochemistry and hydrology.
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Judyann Bibian - Chemistry, Senior
Judyann chose CSUCI for the relatively low cost of attendance and the campus population size, as she wanted opportunities to connect with her professors and the campus overall. Judyann’s choice in universities was also influenced by the proximity to, and involvement with, Channel Islands National Park. She found this opportunity to work on her degree while in this unique environment both intriguing and exciting. Upon graduation, Judyann hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a Master's degree in Environmental Chemistry.
NASA H2O: Sparking STEM Dreams at CSU Channel Islands
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Dr. Kevin Hayakawa - Faculty, Assistant Professor (Physics)
Dr. Kevin Hayakawa is an Assistant Professor at CSU Channel Islands and the Principal Investigator for CSUCI's NASA Here to Observe (H2O) externship program. His research focuses on the formation and evolution of asteroid and comet belts around stars other than the Sun. Dr. Hayakawa earned his bachelor's degree in Physics and Astrophysics from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics from UCLA.
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Javier Fregoso - Applied Physics, Senior
Javier chose CSUCI because it gave him the chance to explore Physics “from the ground up”, without breaking the bank. He notes that the faculty at CI are incredibly supportive, and the small class sizes offer him the opportunity for real attention and mentorship, which has made a significant difference in his educational path. Javier is a Ventura County native, making the university’s location is convenient for him. After graduation, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Plasma Physics and hopes to one day work on fusion energy and inspire others from his local community to pursue a career/education in a STEM field.
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Hydee Madrigal - Applied Physics, Senior
Hydee chose CSUCI because it is a Hispanic Serving Institution, noting that it resonates with her background, as her hometown is also predominantly Hispanic. Hydee wanted to attend a university that felt familiar while also providing a strong educational foundation. Upon graduation, she aspires to pursue graduate studies and ultimately earn a Ph.D. in a field related to Physics.
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Joseph Olague - Applied Physics, Senior
Studio Art Program Creative Research
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Marianne McGrath - Program Chair & Associate Professor of Art
Professor McGrath was born and raised in Oxnard and Camarillo, and studied Biology and Fine Art at The University of Colorado at Boulder, receiving her Master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She returned to Ventura County and joined the faculty here at CI in 2017, and is currently the Chair of the Department of Art & Art History, and an Associate Professor of Studio Art.
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Brooke Flemming - Art, Studio Art Emphasis, Senior
Brooke chose Cal State Channel Islands because she felt that the university provides the opportunity for first generation and low-income students to explore creative mediums that she is most passionate about. Through hands-on learning experience, foundational skills, and studio time with her professors who help shape her skills, Brooke has grown exponentially and gained knowledge that she will be able to apply professionally for artistic job opportunities.
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Elizabeth Rosales - Art, Studio Art emphasis, Senior
Elizabeth chose to attend CSU Channel Islands because of its proximity to her home in Ojai, and its a small population providing more one on one time with professors, the research station on Santa Rosa Island which she has been able to visit two times already, and its reputation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. She plans to apply for residencies in the fall after she graduates and find a gallery assistant job in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, or New York City.
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Alexis Jimenez - Art, Studio Art emphasis, Senior
Alexis is a first-generation student at CSUCI. A reason as to why he chose this campus was the lost cost of attendance allowing him to further his education. After graduation he hopes to go on to graduate school and obtain his MFA in art. He notes that the faculty at CI have been actively preparing him for what’s next, and he feels that his time at CSUCI has pushed his artistic skills to the next level, thanks to the professors’ passion and dedication towards their students.
Entrepreneurship & Small Business Institute
“Award Winning Student Start-Ups"
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Dr. Maria Ballesteros-Sola - Faculty and MVS Director of Accreditation and Strategic Initiatives
Dr. Ballesteros-Sola, DBA, MBA, Fulbright Scholar, Paul R. Lawrence Fellow, is a strong advocate for using high-impact practices such as experiential and service learning, learning communities, international experiences, the case method, and humanizing technology in higher education.
Her research focuses on social enterprises, hybrid organizations, and B Corps. She has published in the Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, International Journal of Social Business, the International Journal of Management Education, Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Education & Pedagogy, Case Research Journal, The Case Journal, and the Journal of Social Business. -
Batuhan Berkdemir - Business, Senior
Batuhan chose CSU Channel Islands because of its strong business program and the opportunities it provides for hands-on learning through research and campus organizations like CI Solutions and ESBI. During his time here, he has gained real-world experience in digital marketing and outreach events, which helped him discover his passion. After graduation, Batuhan hopes to pursue a career in digital marketing where he can continue creating impactful campaigns that connect communities and organizations.
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Austin Dent - Extended University (Certificate in Environmental Technologies)
After a year of service at Food Share of Ventura County and the Ventura County Senior Nutrition Farm, Austin saw his next steps as returning to school to apply what he learned in these service environments.He selected CI's Environmental Technologies program to build technical skills which he hoped to bring to charitable agriculture in the region. Since enrolling, he's had the opportunity to work with the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Institute to found "CalThrive Community Agriculture", a federally-recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to improving food equity in California's Central Coast. With the support of his Environmental Science professors, he has also secured a position as a Geospatial Engineer developing software to monitor and analyze wildfires.
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Citlali Martinez - Psychology, Senior
Citlali notes that as a first-generation college student, she chose CSUCI for its wealth of resources, particularly within the Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics, and its affordable cost of attendance, which has provided her with financial stability while pursuing her passions. A major highlight in her time at CI has been her involvement with the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Institute (ESBI), which offered her valuable resources and networking opportunities that support an entrepreneurial mindset. After graduation, she plans to work in marketing while continuing her education to ultimately pursue a career as a public school psychologist.
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Jay McCoy Sosa - Business & Economics, Senior
Jay chose CSUCI for its affordability, strong academic reputation, and unique opportunities such as the Entrepreneurship & Small Business Institute (ESBI), where the mentorship of Dr. Maria Ballesteros-Sola and Aaron Nastaskin, a former Business Communication Lecturer at the MVS School of Business and Economics, helped him turn his vision of starting a business into reality. As Jay prepares for graduation in May, he will expand his entrepreneurial endeavor and grow his company in the field of innovation, while pursuing a paid internship in operations to further develop as a leader and build a career that creates meaningful impact.
Habitats of Hope: Building a Future for Education and Conservation with CSUCI and the Santa Barbara Zoo
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Dr. Allison Alvarado - Faculty
As an Assistant Professor of Biology at CSU Channel Islands, Dr. Alvarado helps students gain hands-on experience in ecology, ornithology, and wildlife conservation. Through the CSUCI–Santa Barbara Zoo partnership, she connects student learning with real-world conservation projects that protect species and habitats. Her teaching and mentorship prepare students to become the next generation of conservation leaders.
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Nicholas Burdick - Psychology and Biology, Senior
Nicholas chose CI for its hands-on student research, small class sizes, affordability, and supportive local environment, which allowed him to explore his interests deeply without the pressures he might have faced elsewhere. After graduation, his plans are to enter a graduate program emphasizing projects at the intersection of wildlife conservation, animal behavior, and technology with an emphasis on bioacoustics to monitor and protect Southern California’s native species.
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Nathalie "Max" Morales - Chicano Studies and Biology, Senior
Max chose CSUCI primarily because they read of the upcoming Conservation Center partnership with the Santa Barbara Zoo, and for the hands-on learning that best suits their learning style. After a summer internship at the L.A. Zoo in 2022, they realized they would want to work in the field of conservation to help endangered animals improve their populations and educate communities to value their local biodiversity. The real-world research and internship opportunities offered at CI have been more than they ever imagined, helping them learn and fine-tune skills that will be invaluable as they grow in their career.
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Tabitha Kelley - Biology, Senior
Tabitha chose CSUCI because it offers a way for students to truly network and meet their professors. She believes the opportunities available in small class sizes and the wonderful community of educators make CI truly unique. Since her freshman year, she has had the opportunity to do various ecology program researchthat led her to find a passion in entomology within the agricultural field. She hopes to purse this field in her post-graduate work.
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Ethan Ernst - Biology, Senior
Ethan applies his interests in ecology, agriculture, and linguistics through programs readily avialable to students at CSUCI, and he plans to pursue a graduate degree in one of these fields. He is a local, who grew up around the campus, and he has a great fondness for the local mountains and the diversity of life found within them.
Golden Entr'act
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Heather Castillo - Professor and Department Chair, Performing Arts
Professor Castillo began her career as a commercial dancer in Los Angeles and has worked with stars ranging from Andy Williams, Debbie Gibson, to Selena Gomez. In 2020 she was awarded the Schlundt Lecture in dance from UC Riverside and Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award from the CSU Chancellor’s Office. Her current research focusing on excavating and identifying the genealogy of lyrical jazz and its alignment with the AIDS crisis will be published in the Oxford Handbook of Queer Dance Studies next year.
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Promise Walters - Dance Studies, Senior
Promise chose CSUCI for the relatively lower cost of attendance, and the opportunity for the feeling of a big university community. She hopes in the future to be an entertainment artist. At orientation, Promise was amazed that the Dance Studies course path didn't center around one dance style, and as a result changed her major to Dance Studies, noting she and her classmates learn about a variety of styles, train in them, and learn to understand their history.
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James Gardner - Music, Senior
James is a performer that transferred to CSUCI in the spring of 2025. Their main focus is vocal performance, but they also play woodwinds, piano, and some percussion. They chose CI due to its affordability and its opportunity to leave where they're from for a new environment. After graduation, they plan to pursue their masters in Vocal Performance and hopefully an artist's certificate in conducting. They plan to perform at any opportunity that they can as well as teach and pass on their love for music.
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Leatha Joyner - Theatre and Performance, Freshman
Leatha is an aspiring actress and singer, and chose CSUCI because of the location. After graduation she hopes to perform around the world as an actress & singer.
Magician, Sleight of Hand
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Zachary Morris - Psychology, Junior
Zachary chose CI because of its proximity to the ocean and opportunities in the region. He wanted to build a community and find his place and saw that opportunity at CSUCI, and especially with the Santa Rosa Island Research Station located on the Channel Islands. He was able to participate in a seven day trip with 14 other students which he says has completely changed the trajectory of his career and opened many doors.
President's Scholars
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Soren Jacobsen - Pre-Nursing, Senior
In selecting a university, Soren sought out locations that were near the coast offering an “amazing” nursing program. Once he visited the campus, he was inspired by the beauty of the campus and how accessible it was to the major cities, noting CI is “the perfect balance”. He applied for and received scholarships, which also supported his decision to attend CI. Soren states that being selected as a recipient of the CSUCI President’s Scholars Award was an honor, and that after meeting multiple faculty and staff, he feels it is evident that they want every student to succeed at achieving a higher education degree. He notes that he is happy to call CSU Channel Islands his home for the duration of his education.
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Hector - Mechatronics Engineering, Junior
As the youngest of three siblings in a family of five, Hector felt a significant sense of responsibility in choosing a university. He looked for a place that would provide strong academic resources and a supportive environment for personal growth. CSU Channel Islands caught his attention not only because it offered his desired major, Mechatronics Engineering, but also due to its small class sizes and approachable faculty. Plus, the campus’s beautiful scenery and welcoming atmosphere were a bonus. Hector notes he feels truly honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a CSUCI President’s Scholar. As he continues his academic journey, he hopes to make the most of this opportunity to support and grow CSUCI’s goals and programs but also to advance his interests and learning.
For questions, please email donorrelations@csuci.edu.