The Roar Report - December 2025

A Holiday Message from Dr. Viridiana Diaz, Vice President of Student Affairs

Department Highlights

Student Affairs Winter Gathering

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2025 Student Affairs Winter Gathering! It was wonderful to see our division come together to connect, build community, and celebrate the end of the year.

Click below to view and download photos from the event.

Photo Gallery

ASI Emergency Food Distribution

The ASI Cougar Pantry, in partnership with Feeding San Diego, hosted an Emergency Food Distribution. The event was an incredible success serving 188 households and a total of 994 individuals!

Not only did the team support our campus community, but they also extended that care to the local community. It's truly heartwarming to see everyone show up, even in the rainy and cold weather, to ensure families could have food on their tables.

This effort wouldn't have been possible without the support of Feeding San Diego for providing food, the dedicated volunteers who gave their time, and the ASI Team for leading this impactful initiative.

CSUSM Women's Basketball Team Season Opener Win

Basketball season is officially underway! The CSUSM Women’s Basketball Team kicked off the 2025–26 season with a 58–52 home-opener victory over Azusa Pacific on Friday, Nov. 14.

Top Performers:

Sydney Hani: 16 pts, 10 rebs
Sophie Morales: 15 pts, 5 rebs, 4 ast
Kaity Haan: 16 rebs, 2 blocks
Maddie Leiva: 6 pts

The Cougars closed strong, outscoring APU 20–7 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

Check out the CSUSM Athletics website for full game details and the 2025–26 season schedule for both the women’s and men’s teams!

Learn more about CSUSM Athletics

Wellness & Recreation Center Groundbreaking

California State University San Marcos, in partnership with the City of San Marcos and North County San Diego, has reached an exciting milestone with the development of a dedicated Wellness & Recreation Center.

As one of the few CSU campuses without a Wellness & Recreation Center, this project marks an important step in advancing student well-being, engagement, and connection. As CSUSM’s residential community continues to grow, the center will serve as a welcoming hub for recreation, relaxation, and community-building for both residential and commuting students.

This achievement reflects the power of student leadership and collaboration. We extend our sincere thanks to the students, staff, faculty, and community partners whose advocacy and commitment helped bring this vision to life. We look forward to the lasting impact this space will have on our campus community.

First Gen-Week

The Cross-Cultural Center and TRIO SSS hosted First Gen Week, creating a welcoming space to celebrate the incredible step students take in pursuing their education at CSUSM. Throughout the week, students participated in events designed to provide resources, support, and guidance to help them thrive during their time at CSUSM and beyond graduation.

The series included a kickoff event, Healthy Cooking on a Budget, Beyond the Degrees: First-Gen Pathways After Graduation, the First-Gen Resource Fair, a First-Gen Alumni Panel, and a closing event that encouraged students to apply what they learned to their daily lives and future goals.

Project Rebound

Project Rebound hosted an expungement clinic open to the campus and several local community college partners. The goal of this event was to assist students impacted by the criminal justice system in filing petitions for dismissal, helping seal their records and remove systemic barriers that often limit employment and career advancement.

Over the three-hour clinic, 17 students completed the necessary documentation to submit their petitions to the court, and one participant even learned that their record had already been sealed, an emotional and transformative moment for everyone present.

This clinic was made possible through collaboration with the Epstein Family Veterans Center, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, and Rios Bollinger Law Firm, who coordinated more than 15 volunteer attorneys to serve our students and community.

Veterans Celebration

In honor of Veterans Day, the Epstein Family Veterans Center hosted an event to honor our veterans and celebrate their service. As a proud military-affiliated university, CSUSM is grateful for the community that uplifts and supports our veterans and military affiliated students throughout their educational journey.

The event also recognized Major General Anthony "Tony" Jackson (USMC, Ret.), whose 36 years of service and continued dedication to our students embody the true spirit of Veterans Day. His leadership, mentorship, and advocacy continue to make a meaningful impact on our campus community.

Upcoming Events

December 24, 2025 - January 1, 2026

Campus Closed

Welcome to the Student Affairs Family!

Student Leadership & Involvement Center Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life - Maureen Anderson

The Student Leadership and Involvement Center is excited to announce that Maureen Anderson will be joining the center as the new Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life, starting December 1, 2025. Maureen brings a wealth of experience in student leadership, personal and professional enrichment, and fraternity/sorority life. Her background includes roles at California State University, Bakersfield, Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority, Inc., and Chaminade University of Honolulu, where she developed programs focused on leadership, risk reduction, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Maureen holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Business and a master's degree in Counseling. She has served as an international volunteer, program facilitator, and ombudsman, supporting students and organizations across the country and abroad. Her collaborative approach and commitment to student development will be instrumental in growing and enhancing our fraternity and sorority life community.

Please join us in welcoming Maureen to campus! We look forward to her leadership and the positive impact she will have on our students, chapters, and the broader campus community.

Submit your nominations for the STAR Award!

The STAR Award honors staff and faculty whose exceptional contributions exemplify our division’s mission to transform lives, one student at a time, whether through direct student engagement or vital behind-the-scenes support.

Who will be next? We invite you to submit nominations for the STAR Award. Help us continue celebrating and recognizing the outstanding work happening across Student Affairs. Click here to learn more about the Division Recognition Program and view past award recipients.

Note: Nominations will remain active for one year from the month of submission. This ensures that outstanding contributions are given thoughtful consideration received each month. Please remember that you can submit nominations at any time, deadlines are given for consideration for the month.

Submit your nomination

Submit your story for the January newsletter!

Help us make this newsletter a reflection of the great things happening in Student Affairs by submitting your stories and shout-outs (like a thank you or team recognition) using the form below. Submissions are due by the 15th of the month preceding publication.

Please note: The Student Affairs Newsletter is not a student-facing publication. Content should be intended for staff and faculty audiences.

Submission Form

Missed a Communication?

Click below to catch up on any divisional emails or announcements you may have missed. We keep everything in one place so you can easily stay informed and connected.

Divisional Communications

Transforming Lives, One Student at a Time