Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
Building Success and Opportunity
CSUN President
he CSUN campus is buzzing with more than 37,000 Matadors enrolled for the fall semester, and I’m filled with profound gratitude for the extraordinary generosity and vision that continue to propel CSUN forward.
Over the summer, we celebrated the grand opening of our new Autodesk Technology Engagement Center (ATEC), born from a shared vision with Autodesk, Inc. — a shared vision of equitable opportunity and infinite possibility for students to explore careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). Autodesk’s CEO (and CSUN alumnus), Dr. Andrew Anagnost, has helped shape a tech giant that empowers innovators and changemakers around the globe to design and make a better world. With Andrew’s encouragement as a proud Matador, Autodesk’s gift has brought this center of possibility to reality for our students, faculty and community.
Awareness, Aspiration, Access
This is the moment Anagnost and several of his fellow alumni will inspect and judge each team’s Senior Design Project, and then they’ll name the winners of the 16th annual capstone competition for CSUN’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. Anagnost’s eyes twinkle, and he grins as he listens to the Matador students’ new take on an old challenge: How to deliver packages without carbon emissions or adding to traffic congestion?
This never gets old for Anagnost. The president and CEO of tech giant Autodesk, a leader in design and make software, returns each year without fail to volunteer and judge the Senior Design Showcase, because he knows what it means to these aspiring engineers, makers, dreamers. He knows that they know he once stood where they stood, because he’s refreshingly candid about his own CSUN path — which was anything but smooth or linear.
Make, Break, Discover
he brand-new Autodesk Technology Engagement Center marks a massive leap forward for academic programs in CSUN’s Andrew J. Anagnost College of Engineering and Computer Science. The center is a nexus of innovation and exploration for K-12 and university students, focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) learning.
Teaching All Minds
CSUN’s dedication to neurodivergent students and those with other disabilities is “about dismantling systems that serve to segregate students who are perceived as different,” Amy Hanreddy ’99 (Special Education), M.A. ’02, chair of the Eisner College’s Department of Special Education and co-director of CSUN Explorers said. Future educators trained at CSUN, she said, “demonstrate exemplary practice in inclusive education.”
Alexandra Davis
College of Science and Mathematics
She earned her Ph.D. in zoology at Oregon State and served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta and UCLA. In fall 2024, she joined the faculty at CSUN and set up her lab in Magnolia Hall.
Davis is a true believer in the mission of the CSU, because she lived it. That’s what attracted her to teach at CSUN, where, like many of her colleagues in the College of Science and Mathematics, she hopes to pay it forward.
Brewed with Matador Spirit
hat started as a homebrewing experiment in their garage more than a decade ago has grown into a cornerstone of the San Fernando Valley’s craft beer scene. Back then, Derrick Olson ’10 (Manufacturing Systems Engineering) was a recent CSUN grad and an engineer with a homebrewing hobby. Today, alongside his cousin and business partner, Bryan Olson, he’s the owner and force behind 8one8 Brewing, a local hotspot that blends community with the art of craft brewing.
The sale of the duo’s first wholesale keg in late 2015 marked a turning point, solidifying the Olsons’ transition from hobbyists to professional brewers. With momentum building, the cousins continued to expand their vision for the brewery. In May 2018, they opened their tasting room on De Soto Avenue in Canoga Park — a welcoming, communal hub where customers could gather and enjoy a frosty pint.
This is CSUN
Athletics
Matador Moments
This is CSUN
Athletics
Matador Moments
Feeding the Future
parked by the CSUN lactation education course she was taking as an undergrad, Jocceline Hernandez asked about her own mother’s breastfeeding experience. Nutrition experts recommend breastfeeding as the optimal source of nutrition to support an infant’s growth and development. But Hernandez’s mother said she hadn’t received much support before delivery nor later as a working parent.
“That really formed that kind of aha moment, the light bulb went off, where I thought to myself, ‘My mother experienced this, who’s to say how many other individuals and families experience a similar situation to that,’” said Hernandez ’11, M.S. ’14 (Family and Consumer Sciences – Nutrition and Dietetics). “Not only did it make me want to pursue the lactation program, but I discovered [CSUN was] the right place where I could make a difference in my community.”
From Pitch to Premiere
young woman is haunted by the lingering traumas of her childhood, manifesting as an unrelenting monster. This was Abigail Salmon’s ’22 (Cinema and Television Arts) vision for her senior thesis project — the culmination of her film production program in CSUN’s prestigious Department of Cinema and Television Arts, in the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication. The Senior Film Showcase is designed to teach students how to navigate the entire filmmaking process, from script to screen and everything in between.
When Salmon first dreamed up her short film, “Dahlia’s Monsters,” she never imagined it would make it past the program’s highly competitive first stage, the pitch. The story was deeply personal and technically ambitious, relying heavily on visual effects. And, to make it even more challenging, students had to adhere to pandemic-era SAG-AFTRA protocols and take extra precautions to ensure their cast and crew’s safety.
Safe Shelters, Strong Futures
This is what’s possible with the support of the CSUN with a HEART Fund and the university’s Basic Needs Office. Through its partnership with Jovenes, a nonprofit dedicated to helping young adults overcome homelessness, CSUN’s Rapid Rehousing Program provides students with temporary and long-term housing solutions, along with vital support services. These services cover subsidized rental and move-in costs, along with short-term rental assistance designed to help students transition to full responsibility for their housing. It’s a lifeline for students who need a stable and safe home — including student parents — giving them the opportunity to focus on their academic journeys.
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1970s
Ben Amata ’72 (History) has served as a librarian at CSU Sacramento for 41 years. He published an open resource journal article in 2024, “New Zealand Security Agencies’ Secrecy, Accountability and Transparency in the Modern Era.” In 2023, Amata received the Bernadine Abbott Hoduski Founders Award, which recognizes government documents librarians who have made significant contributions to the field of state, international, local or federal documents. The award recognizes those whose contributions have benefited the individual’s institution and the profession.
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Christopher G. Jones ’74 (Business Administration – Accounting), former professor of accounting and information systems in CSUN’s David Nazarian College of Business and Economics, published his second detective novel, “Oceano Beach Bedlam,” under the pen name Topper Jones. Since retiring from teaching in 2017, Jones has devoted himself full time to creative writing. He’s under contract with Wild Rose Press for his “Thad Hanlon & Bri de la Guerra Mystery Series.” The first book in his series, “All That Glisters,” published in 2023. - Jorge Lozano ’77 (Journalism) is retired after a career in television as a writer, producer and director at Univision Networks, KNBC and KCBS. He noted that he has very fond memories of working on CSUN’s Scene Magazine as a journalism student.
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1980s
Jon Georgio ’83 (Business Administration/English), CEO of Gothic Landscape, was the keynote speaker at the 10th Annual Jeff Marine Bull Ring New Venture Competition Final, on April 24 at CSUN’s David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. In addition to his CSUN degrees, Georgio completed the Management Development Program for Entrepreneurs at UCLA. He’s a member of the CSUN Advisory Board. Georgio resides in Santa Clarita with his wife, Mardi Georgio ’85 (Liberal Studies), and together they have three children.
- Tony Ngai ’83 (Engineering), founder of Society of Motion Imaging in Hong Kong, received the Outstanding Filmmaker Award from the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers.
- Zeke Zeidler ’87 (English Literature) was named the Wilmont Sweeney Juvenile Court Judge of the Year for 2024, by the Juvenile Court Judges of California (a section of the California Judges Association). The award is presented to a juvenile court judicial officer who exemplifies leadership and innovative dedication to California’s youth. The announcement was made during JCJC’s annual meeting in May 2024.
- Brent Fischer ’88 (Music) was part of the team that won Best Global Music Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Fischer served as a producer and orchestral arranger for “Alkebulan II” by Matt B, featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
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1990s
Thomas G. Mackey ’91 (Finance), principal at employment law firm Jackson Lewis P.C., was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “2025 Leader of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys” list. The award recognizes top litigators and trial attorneys in the L.A. region for their skill and dedication to clients. Mackey is also a frequent speaker at bar associations throughout the region, sharing insights from his extensive trial experience. After graduating from CSUN, Mackey earned his J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. - Michele Levinson ’93 (Political Science) joined Frost Brown Todd as a partner in the firm’s Product, Tort & Insurance Litigation Practice Group in Los Angeles. Levinson represents insurers, nonprofits and public entities in automobile claims, first-party property insurance, bad-faith litigation and personal injury defense, among other matters. After graduating from CSUN, Levinson earned her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law. She has served on the board of directors for the Southern California Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigative Units.
- Megan (mcgowen) crouch ’93 (Urban Studies and Planning) is the city manager for the city of Auburn, Ala. She also serves as national president for Alpha Xi Delta, a women’s fraternal organization. She leads Alpha Xi Delta’s National Council, a governing board that provides leadership, oversight and guidance to fulfill the organization’s vision for inspiring women to realize their potential.
- Dr. William “Scott” Woska ’93 (M.S., Exercise Physiology) is executive medical director – medical, clinical and scientific affairs, for two pharmaceutical companies focused on neuromuscular and musculoskeletal movement disorders. In addition to a master’s from CSUN, Woska holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. Before pursuing dual residencies and fellowships in internal medicine and orthopedics, Woska spent what he called “one of my most rewarding years in medicine,” conducting postgraduate research at the Medical State University of Lviv, Ukraine. There, he studied the intergenerational effects of radiation exposure on descendants of Chernobyl survivors. Since returning to the U.S., he has applied his medical training to the biopharmaceutical industry — including as a senior medical science liaison for Bausch+Lomb. Woska lives in Monterey, Calif.
Proud Gathering
ancers in traditional regalia perform at the 2024 CSUN Powwow, a beloved annual event that celebrates the American Indian communities living in Los Angeles County and throughout Southern California. This year’s powwow — CSUN’s 40th! — is scheduled to take place Nov. 29 in the Sierra Quad. To learn more, click the button below. Photo by David J. Hawkins.
Mighty Matadors
atador Nights 2025 was unforgettable! Were you there? Or just wish you were? A beloved campus tradition hosted annually by the University Student Union, this students-only evening where carnival meets dance party helps set the mood for a great school year. Matadors enjoyed carnival rides, slushies and amazing DJ sets — all under a full moon on Sept. 12. Looking good, CSUN! Photo by
Jacob Bennett Development Communications Officer
Nick Bocanegra Assistant Director, Sports Communications
Carmen Ramos Chandler Director of Media Relations
Ringo Chiu ’01 Photographer
David J. Hawkins ’16 Photographer
Naz Keynejad ‘95, M.A. ‘16 Alumni/Annual Giving Communications Associate
Kevin Lizarraga ’01, M.A. ’04 Director of University Marketing
Matt Monroe Associate Athletics Director, Sports Communications
Marco Ortiz ’21 Web Producer
Josselyn Partida ’16 Social Media Editor/Writer
Kimon Rethis Senior Web Producer
Carissa Rhoads Administrative Analyst
Javier Rojas Media Relations Specialist
Jesse Spero Lead Web Content Writer
Jenny O’Mara Steinbeck ’90, B.A. ’91 Writer/Editor
Student Photographers Blake Fagan, Sonia Gurrola
(ISSN 1549-8115) is published by
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18111 Nordhoff St.,
Northridge, CA 91330-8296.
Department of Strategic Communication & Brand Management
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff St.,
Northridge, CA 91330-8296
On the Cover
