Happy New Year!
A.S. Staff Honored
Performance Awards
Exemplary full- and part-time A.S. employees are recognized each semester for their hard work and dedication. A.S. recognizes the following employees:
Children’s Center
Amanda Donado — Assistant Teacher
Cindy Miranda — Associate Teacher
Ana Lopez — Associate Teacher
Alondra Martinez — Kitchen Assistant
Mia Herrerias — Associate Teacher
Sophia Quinn — Associate Teacher
Amber DeMarco — Assistant Teacher
Rachel Curtis — Assistant Teacher
Lacey Roche — Office Assistant
Mariana Ortiz Calderon — Assistant Teacher
Aztec Recreation
Jazmin Jackson — Member Services Representative
Leialli Kamel — Member Services Lead
Melissa Asmar — ARC Office Assistant
Adam Pavlakovic — Climbing Wall Attendant
Jennifer Melford — ENS/Group Fitness Instructor
Keith van der Walde — Group Fitness Instructor
Anndrei Miranda — Intramural Sports Supervisor
Campbell McGarvey — Competitive Sports Lead
Doyle Schroth — Lifeguard
Giancarlo Michael — Lifeguard and Swim Instructor
Madison Lunde — Videographer
Leonila Fulgencio — Building Services Assistant
Aztec Student Union
Joe Pierce — Aztec Lanes Attendant
Jacob Duffy — Aztec Lanes Attendant
Natalia Posadas — ASUB Program Assistant
Bianca Ramsey — ASUB Program Assistant
Nathan Lozano — Operations Lead
Adil Piromari — Operations Lead
Emily Jacobo — Senior Operations Lead
Brian Turner — Audio Visual Lead Technician
Shoh Sewell — Audio Visual Technician
Gwyneth Lutovsky — Union Programs and Services
Business Services
Jennifer Shorey — Contract & Risk Management Coordinator
Scholarships
A.S. awards three $500 scholarships each semester to part-time student employees based on academic performance, contributions to the SDSU and San Diego communities, financial need and length of employment. A.S. awards the following students with scholarships:
Gabriella Fischer — Aztec Recreation
Mariella Jacinto — Aztec Recreation
Emily Sanchez — Aztec Student Union
Congratulations!
January A.S. Sustainability Tip
By Charlotte Roberts, A.S. Sustainability Coordinator
Hello A.S. family! As fellow residents of the same planet, I think we all share an appreciation for not only our favorite places in nature, but also the vibrant human communities that call this place home. For most of known human history, our species has lived somewhat symbiotically with natural resources, flora and fauna. The individual impact of species in our biosphere (i.e. felines, reptiles, fungi and homo sapiens alike) may have altered their respective habitats on a day-to-day basis, but it wasn’t until economic globalization and the proliferation of fossil fuel use during the industrial revolution that a single species’ activities caused ecological disruption on a planetary scale.
Climate change, pollution, soil degradation, colonialism, poverty and systemic racism were all unfortunately perpetuated in the modernization of our world, and while it wasn’t one individual’s behavior that created these issues, each individual can still feel empowered to make choices that align with the equitable, healthy world we hope to revitalize for each other. After all, humans are just as much a part of nature as the trees in the forests and the whales in the ocean.
Sustainability is an intersectional and constantly evolving concept. It has been around for dozens of generations in most indigenous cultures. I believe every person has their own intrinsic wisdom about how to practice sustainability using their own unique skills and interests. Each month, we’ll be sharing a new sustainability tip in the A.S. newsletter. It will highlight some of the specific ways I’ve seen individuals practice sustainability, but remember that anything you do to improve the long-term wellbeing of your community is authentic sustainability at work.
January A.S. Sustainability Tip:
Plant Native Species at Home
Native plants have evolved to thrive in local microclimates, so they require far less irrigation and provide shelter and food for essential pollinators.1 Most nurseries have native plant selections, but Mission Hills Nursery is my favorite (and San Diego’s oldest garden center)!
If you would like additional information or have questions about anything listed above, don’t hesitate to email me at cmroberts@sdsu.edu!
2023 New Year’s Resolutions
Happy New Year! Have you created any New Year’s resolutions? Hear some of our A.S. full-time staff’s resolutions to possibly add onto your list or inspire you to create your own!
“For my 2023 New Year’s resolutions, I want to start using my free ARC pass and getting in better physical shape. I want to release some new music next year! I’m a singer-songwriter and I love writing songs, but I never released anything in 2022. And I want to continue to grow in my career with everything audio-visual related. Along with my resolutions, I’m looking forward to a trip to Europe next summer! One of my good friends from elementary school is getting married in Italy in July and I’ve been saving up as much money as I can for that trip.”
- Kevin Dieschbourg, Student Union Technical Services Supervisor
“My New Year’s resolution is to focus on my health and wellness through exercise. Exercise has taken a back seat the past few years and it’s time to make it a priority. Whether it’s joining my kids as they dance around the house, or taking daily walks or runs around my neighborhood, becoming more active is a goal of mine. I’ve already signed up for a fitness/wellness class beginning at the start of the new year that I’m so excited for!”
- Diane Atienza, Viejas Arena Office Coordinator
“As the new year approaches, my first thought is “I want to be less stressed.” I’ve made a list to help guide me in 2023. First, leave work at work and don’t bring it home. Second, be mindful and present with my loved ones. Third, keep moving my body and work towards doing a 10K Spartan Race.”
- Sandy Rodriguez, SDSU Children’s Center Master Teacher
“It’s been many years since I set a New Year’s resolution. The pandemic made the future hard to imagine and it was punishing for my physical well-being; I gained weight, did less yoga and lost mobility. This year, I’m taking a positive spin on New Year’s resolutions with non-judgemental reflection and I’m really excited about two goals in 2023! They are self-care education goals rooted in research and experimentation. My belief is that when I learn about self care, I’m more likely to do it.
As I reflect on fitness results of 2022, I got to thinking I should be smarter about protein (especially breakfast!) So, that’s the first goal - learn more about nutrition - especially protein portions. The second goal is to learn more about physical therapy specific to my bad knee. It’s an issue I’ve had for years and I know some exercises help, but I don’t know which ones really work and I don’t know how often or how many repetitions to complete. I do know that not all physical therapy is made equal and my question to answer in 2023 is: which exercises work best and what is the least amount of time I can spend to get results?
I’m not going to implement changes on Jan. 1, 2023, except to start a diary with my research. Thanks for reading this and, by the way, the fact that I wrote it down and shared it with you gives me two boosts in my likelihood for commitment and success.”
- Amy Schiller, Aztec Recreation Marketing Manager
Aztecs Rock Hunger Breaks Record
Thank you to our A.S. family for helping us raise $109,676 for Aztecs Rock Hunger, surpassing the goal of $100,000 and breaking the previous record of $100,267 set in 2019!
“I’m so overwhelmed with the amount of support we got,” said A.S. Vice President of Financial Affairs Sophia Koch. “It’s incredible.”
From Oct. 14 to Nov. 6, Aztecs Rock Hunger team collected monetary donations and non-perishable food items to combat food and nutrition insecurity and support The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, A.S. Food Pantry and SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team. Donors gave online, at campus eateries and markets, select athletic games and by dropping off non-perishable food in the red bins scattered across campus. A $1 donation provided two meals to those in need.
This year’s campaign was titled “Feed the Need” as a result of the lasting impact from the pandemic and inflation that have increased food and nutrition insecurity in the San Diego community. In the past year, The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank distributed 63 million pounds of food to the over 900,000 food insecure people in the San Diego community.
“We’re currently serving over 400,000 people a month,” said Food Bank CEO Casey Castillo. “This money that was raised, over $109,000, will translate to over 200,000 meals that we’ll be able to provide to hungry individuals and families throughout the community, and we’ll be doing that over the holidays.”
SDSU President Adela de la Torre said the fundraising total “shows the commitment of many, many individuals” to the mission of the food bank.
“The fact that we can work together with this incredible agency, which also supports our students, is a wonderful partnership and collaboration,” de la Torre said. “It’s a great example of systems working together and more importantly, it defines who we are.”
Of the monetary donations, 20% stays on campus to benefit the SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT), which helps bridge the gap in resources for students experiencing immediate food, housing or unforeseen financial crises that impact student success. During the 2021-22 academic year, ECRT assisted roughly 2,000 students. In addition, the money raised will support the A.S. Food Pantry which continues to see a record-breaking amount of students using its services this semester.
While the three-week fundraising push for the campaign ended, those interested in fighting food and nutrition insecurity can still make a donation. Participants can donate through CashApp ($aztecsrock), via the SDSU Online Giving Portal or the Online Virtual Food Pantry.
“This number is proof of what happens when we band together for a common goal,” Koch said. “Every time this campaign was spread through word of mouth, every cent, it all mattered. Thank you.”
New A.S. Employees
Welcome to our new section of the A.S. newsletter highlighting the latest full-time employees who’ve joined the A.S. family. We’ll learn more about the newest team members, but first we wanted to recognize all of the A.S. full-time employees hired in 2022!
Diane Atienza — Viejas Arena Office Coordinator
Kaylani Brown — Aztec Student Union Operations Supervisor
Reilly Bosworth — Viejas Arena Events Supervisor
Donna Buenafe — A.S. Executive Assistant
Abigail Castro — SDSU Children’s Center Master Teacher
Jose Delgado — Graphic Design Specialist
Kevin Dieschbourg — Aztec Student Union Technical Services Supervisor
Edward Dizon — Aztec Recreation Operations Supervisor
Ai Kuwayama — Fitness & Wellness Supervisor
Jonathan McGrew — Senior Systems Analyst
Rodrigo Mercado — Human Resources Associate Director
Ally Norman — Aztec Aquaplex Supervisor
Gabrielle Prichett — SDSU Children’s Center Master Teacher
Lorena Ramirez — A.S. Office Coordinator
Mohammad Hamed Rasooli — Accounts Receivable Technician
Eric Rintoul — Aztec Recreation Building Services Mechanic
Charlotte Roberts — A.S. Sustainability Coordinator
Omar Sanchez — Payroll Technician
In December 2022 we welcomed Brian Levett and Sam Ramtin to the team. Here’s a little more about them!
Brian Levett, Government Affairs Assistant Director:
Hi everybody, my name is Brian Levett and I will now be serving as one of your Government Affairs Assistant Directors! I was born and raised in San Diego and am a 2017 graduate from SDSU, where I obtained my bachelor's degree in Kinesiology (Pre-PT)! Prior to this role, I was at GEICO for 5 years, working as a claims adjuster and coach after completing a management development program. While at SDSU I found myself heavily involved with organizations such as the Afrikan Student Union, Student African American Brotherhood, Rotaract, Mortar Board and Peer Leadership Consultants! I even had the honor of becoming Homecoming Royal in 2015! With that said, I have a passion for leadership and student leader development and am so excited to be back to continue the good work being done in A.S.!
Sam Ramtin, Government Affairs Coordinator:
Hey there! My name is Sam Ramtin and I am the Government Affairs Coordinator for Associated Students!
I completed my undergraduate program at CSU San Marcos and received my Master’s from San Diego State University (made in the CSU!). I studied Political Science, with an emphasis in Public Policy and International Relations. I spent two semesters abroad on scholarship, one undergraduate and one graduate, in the United Arab Emirates and Spain, respectively. I’m bilingual in Persian and am working on adding Arabic to my repertoire as well.
My passion for student affairs began at CSU San Marcos, where I spent two years working for Associated Students, Inc. as an executive officer as well as managing various student organizations. Since that time, I have held several positions in higher education — most recently as Program Coordinator for American Councils for International Education, where I oversaw operations for two cultural exchange programs. It’s great to return to SDSU as an alum and bring these experiences to A.S.!
In my free time, I love anything to do with the outdoors — hiking, camping, backpacking. If I’m not out in nature, I’m likely spending my time running, reading or cooking.
15 Questions
Kyle Morita
- What is your name and title?
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Kyle Morita — Viejas Arena Box Office Supervisor
- Which A.S. department do you work in?
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I work with Viejas Arena, where I program events and sell tickets for concerts.
- How long have you worked for A.S.?
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I’ve worked for A.S. full-time for 1.5 years now, and 3 years as a student prior to that.
- What do you like most about working for A.S.?
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I think I enjoy the people the most. Working on a college campus with and for students brings a unique and vibrant energy into the workplace.
- What was the last movie you saw? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
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The last movie I saw was “Under the Skin” with Scarlett Johansen. I’d give it a thumbs down because the storyline was confusing and some of the imagery was rather disturbing.
- Do you collect anything? What do you collect and why?
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I am on a mission to collect every Dolly Parton album on vinyl. I love the way her feathery-light voice crackles on the record player.
- What fictional family would you like to be a member of?
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I’d want to be part of the Kim family from “Kim’s Convenience.” They’re resilient and hardworking while also being silly and loving towards all people.
- Do you prefer pens or pencils?
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Pens. If you’re going to make a mistake, you might as well commit, right?
- If you could start a charity, what would it be for?
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If I could start a charity, I would want it to benefit individuals who experience homelessness due to their LGBTQIA+ identity. Whether they were kicked out by their family or facing discriminatory evictions.
- What type of pets do you have and what are their names?
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My roommates have 3 cats: Shakespurr, Whispurr and Jaspurr. So I get to have the fun of having a cat, without assuming the responsibilities of owning a cat.
- There is a free, round-trip shuttle to Mars. The catch: it will take one year of your life to go, visit, and come back. Are you in?
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Absolutely not. I get nervous in airplanes so I can’t even picture a rocket.
- You have your own late night talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?
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Dolly Parton of course! She’s a timeless queen that can connect with people of all generations and backgrounds. She’s generous, kind and funny which I think would make a great interview.
- When you visit the Zoo, which animal do you make sure you see?
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I make sure to see the elephants. They’re often slow moving and graceful. Occasionally, they’ll even smile for you.
- Which of your teachers is/was most memorable?
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I have to shout out Tishna Asim in the English department here at SDSU. She is understanding and empathetic towards her students but balances it nicely by holding her students accountable and expecting them to put their best foot forward when they can.
- If you had to sing karaoke right now, which song would you pick?
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I’d choose “The Prayer” by Andrea Bocelli. It’s not a crowd pleaser or a “bop” per se, but when you take the time to listen to the lyrics, it’s a beautiful song with only warm wishes from our fellow humans.
Entertainment
VIEJAS ARENA
Aztecs Basketball Home Games
Calendar
JANUARY 2023
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