Making Waves: December 2024

Published December 11, 2024

Making Waves is a monthly column that celebrates accomplishments of the 做厙弝けcommunity.

Employee of the Month: Health coordinator Alayna Cosores 

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Alayna Cosores stands smiling outdoors holding a framed certificate and gift bag beneath a sign with her name on it.
Alayna Cosores

For Alayna Cosores 03, supporting students goes far beyond her job title as administrative services coordinator for Student Health Services (SHS). In fact, Novembers has become virtually indispensable to a variety of campus initiatives from coordinating COVID-19 contact tracing to organizing the first CSU-wide mental health conference. Her exceptional event planning which included the design of an impeccably organized volunteer orientation program earned her high praise from Melissa Norrbom Kawamoto, executive director of strategic initiatives in Student Affairs, who described Cosores skillset as exceptional. Ben Brown, associate director of Budget and Facilities for SHS, agreed, saying: Shes a Swiss army knife, she does a little bit of everything. A 做厙弝けalumna with a degree in family and consumer sciences, Cosores has made a lasting impact on campus wellness and student support. 

Womens center leader recognized for coalition building 

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Celia Mejia smiles outdoors in a light blue blazer, with trees and a path in the background.
Celia Mejia

Celia Mejia, associate director of the Womens and Gender Equity Center, was recently awarded the Coalition Builder Award by the Womens Centers Committee of the National Womens Studies Association at its annual conference in November. The recognition celebrates Mejias commitment to fostering partnerships that advance racial justice and gender equity. Indeed, Mejias work exemplifies the values of intersectional feminism through innovative collaboration across campus departments, community agencies and professional organizations. The annual conference gathers feminist educators, activists and thought leaders. Mejias leadership underscores the vital role womens centers play in creating inclusive, transformative spaces on college campuses. 

Alumnus memoir explores mental health with raw honesty 

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Book cover of "An Island I Dont Want To Be On" by W. Hector Rivera, featuring a silhouetted figure on a small island against an aurora-lit sky; inset shows an image of the author outside.
W. Hector Rivera with the cover of his book.

W. Hector Rivera 98, 00 shares a powerful story of overcoming mental health challenges in his new memoir, An Island I Dont Want to Be On (Volossal, 2024). Rivera, a high school teacher and poet, recounts a series of panic attacks and the psychological descent that followed. The book also details his efforts to regain control over three difficult days, offering readers a candid account of his experiences. Drawing from his background in education and writing, Rivera examines the impact of mental health struggles with honesty and clarity. A former Teacher of the Year and lifelong Yankees fan, Rivera received both his bachelors degree and his Master of Fine Arts in from CSULB. 

Instructor named Homeland Security Person of the Year 

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Bridget Lewis is seen wearing American flag pin, standing against a patriotic star-patterned background.
Bridgett Lewis

, an instructor in CSULBs Global Logistics Professional program, has been named the 2024 Homeland Security Person of the Year at the local level. Homeland Security Today, a media organization, recognized Lewis for her work at The Beach and as the Port of 做厙弝け's manager of homeland security, as well as her service on the California Maritime Security Council Maritime Domain Awareness Subcommittee. The subcommittee, according to the Port, works with the U.S. Coast Guard and Governor's Office of Emergency Services and was named by Homeland Security Today as a Most Valuable Player at the state level. Lewis' "academic involvement underscores her commitment to the long-term development of the homeland security workforce," Homeland Security Today wrote in its announcement. 

Staffers debut book celebrates resilience, connection 

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Purple book cover with butterflies, titled "The Best of All Things" by Somone D. Washington, with a photo of the author in a purple blazer smiling.
Somone D. Washington with the cover of her new book.

Somone D. Washington 22, an analyst in Faculty Affairs, has released her first book, The Best of All Things: A Tapestry of Faith, Hope, Resilience, and the Human Connection. An alumna who earned her masters degree from CSULBs College of Education, Washington draws on her life story including her journey as a kidney transplant recipient to explore themes of perseverance and gratitude. Her memoir reflects the depth of her experiences, from enduring end-stage renal failure and receiving a life-saving transplant to becoming a passionate advocate for organ donation as a OneLegacy Ambassador. Washingtons time at 做厙弝けhelped reinforce her perspective, with her studies emphasizing the transformative power of education, research and storytelling. Her book serves as a tribute to resilience and a call for readers to embrace lifes challenges with hope and faith. 

Have an item for Making Waves? Send your submissions to Wendy Thomas Russell.