Joe Gutierrez | CSUSB Office of Strategic Communication | (951) 236-4522 | joeg@csusb.edu
With the start of the 2021-2022 academic year, these young people as members of the Associated Students, Inc. will represent and advocate on behalf of their fellow Cal State San Bernardino students to ensure they are part of the decision-making process.
The ASI Board members have answered questions about themselves to give CSUSB students the opportunity to learn more about them, their reasons for joining ASI and future plans. To learn more about the Associated Students Inc., visit the ASI webpage.
Daisy Ramos Gomez, ASI President & CEO
Major: Business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship
Year of graduation: 2022
Goal after graduation: Continue with higher education, receive my master’s degree and go into public policy.
Why did you join ASI? I joined ASI three years ago to advocate for my peers on campus-wide committees to give faculty and staff a student’s perspective and help be the voice for our students. To ensure that all voices are being heard and are being advocated on accordingly. I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and now as the student body president I have the opportunity to advocate for over 20,000 students at the local, state and federal level.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year? My goals for this year are to help share crucial information to our students, ensure they have a safe return to campus and to let students know ASI is here to support them. Now more than ever, making sure that the student voice is not only being heard but is making in impact and starting change and help bridge the educational equity gap.
What most excites you about returning to campus as we return from the pandemic? I am most excited to interact with our students and have in-person connections. I am looking forward to establishing a personal bond with students on campus. Overall, I am very thrilled to continue my college experience back in person as well.
What do you like to do outside of school and work? Outside of school/work I like to go on hikes, bake, lie down and binge watch shows/movies, and most importantly, sleep. I have found these to be the best methods of relaxation for me, especially during a busy week.
Paola Galvez, ASI Executive Vice President
Major: General mathematics with a minor in philosophical logic
Year of graduation: 2023
Goal after graduation: Earn scholarships and attend a master’s program for general mathematics. Ultimately, I hope to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics and be a professor while doing research.
Why did you join ASI? I wanted to enrich my time at CSUSB and make the most out of it. I wanted to really immerse myself into the community and help enhance the voice of the student body through leadership. I felt ASI would be the best area for me to achieve and excel in our goals with other student leaders to help our opinions be accounted for.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year? I want to focus my time on succeeding our process of getting student representation on committees. I aim to focus a large part of my time as well on helping to close the academic equity gap. With a return to campus this year after a pandemic, many of our students need support in various areas and I will be doing what I can within my term. I will touch on areas such as mental health, food insecurity, housing insecurity, technology insecurity, and financial insecurity.
What most excites you about returning to campus as we return from the pandemic? The improvement that it will have on our students’ mental health. Returning to campus and being able to take in all the different experiences that as students, and even faculty and staff, were not able to have during virtual learning, will help uplift our community. We all miss attending events, holding meetings in person, and being in a collegiate environment overall. I definitely miss the students though and I cannot wait to meet them and see how my work at ASI helps our students return to an incredible campus.
What do you like to do outside of school and work? I really enjoy spending time with my dog, my partner, family and friends. I love taking trips to the mountains or to the Angel Stadium of Anaheim, but if I am staying home, I would prefer to watch the Angels play baseball on TV, listen to music, play the guitar, play Monopoly or do math puzzles!
Suany Echevarria, ASI Vice President Finance
Major: Spanish Single Subject Credential
Year of graduation: Spring 2022
Goal after graduation: Begin master’s in education and teach at the secondary level in my own classroom.
Why did you join ASI? I wanted to bring a different perspective to the conversation. Being a re-entry student, a mom, an immigrant and a transfer student all bring so many various perspectives that in some ways represent an entirely different student population who, historically speaking, have not always been in these leadership positions.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year? In my courses my goal is to finish strong and pass my credentialing TPAs, and in my leadership to continually advocate for students’ needs.
What most excites you about returning to campus as we return from the pandemic? I’m excited about the ability to collaborate in person with my credential cohort and being able to attend various events.
What do you like to do outside of school and work? I enjoy spending time with my family, being outdoors and volunteering.
Alexis Corine McGowan, ASI Board of Directors, Sustainability
Major: Biology with a minor in creative writing
Year of graduation: 2023
Goal after graduation: Going through my box full of dreams and goals to see what I accomplished while I spent my time getting my bachelor’s.
Why did you join ASI? I have always loved being involved in student government and I want to make great changes to as many people as I can.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year? Being able to build friendships and maybe get a connection.
What most excites you about returning to campus as we return from the pandemic? Simply enjoying time connecting with someone.
What do you like to do outside of school and work? Reading books, daydreaming and hanging out with my cat Mikoto.
Alexia Maciel, ASI Board of Directors, College of Arts & Letters
Major: Double major in communications with media studies and political science
Year of graduation: 2023
Goal after graduation: My goal after graduation is to begin my career, travel and enjoy my life!
Why did you join ASI?: I was interested in doing what’s best for our student population and I wanted to have a positive impact on our campus. I also was interested in ASI since my freshman year at CSUSB because I witnessed all the amazing work they did and I wanted to be part of that amazing work and team.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year?: Be involved on campus, making sure all students’ needs and concerns are met, and to have a positive impact on our campus.
What most excites you about returning to campus as we return from the pandemic?: Having the opportunity to live on campus again and to relive that experience!
What do you like to do outside of school and work?: I like to play video games, go out with friends, eat some good food, and listen to music.
Angelique M. Melendrez, ASI Board of Directors, Palm Desert Campus
Major: Psychology
Year of graduation: 2022
Goal after graduation: Enter a master’s program.
Why did you join ASI? I love the idea of being involved in school and I know I can make a positive impact on the PDC campus.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year? To meet new people, organize cool events that appeal to all students, and to have fun!
What most excites you about returning to campus as we return from the pandemic? Getting back into that social atmosphere that naturally comes with being at school. Talking with people in person is just so much more organic than through a screen.
What do you like to do outside of school and work? I love to play board games and have game nights with friends, travel to different places, go on road trips, and hang with my mini dachshund Telemachus.
Auguste Daniel Torres, ASI Board of Directors, College of Natural Sciences
Major: Kinesiology: Allied Health
Year of graduation: Spring 2023
Goal after graduation: Pursue a research and clinical degree in health.
Why did you join ASI? To learn more about what CSUSB has to offer and what it could possibly offer to students.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year? Provide transparency on campus policy for students and education about different career fields.
What most excites you about returning to campus as we return from the pandemic? Being around people again, social interactions, and just overall engaging in the classroom.
What do you like to do outside of school and work? Volunteer work, travel, and trying new activates with friends old and new.
Guadalupe Romero, ASI Board Directors College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Major: Biological psychology
Year of graduation: 2023
Goal after graduation: Attend graduate school and work on getting a Ph.D. in biological psychology. I as well will like to continue working as an advocate for students.
Why did you join ASI? I have always had a love for leadership programs. I really enjoy being a voice for students on campus. Anytime they have issues, or want to change something, or want something on campus improved, my team and I are able to find resources and solutions for them and that kind of work is what I love doing. I work really well in this type of environment with people who also are dedicated to helping others and improving our community.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year? I have two main goals that I am planning on working on for this upcoming school year. The first goal focuses on campus safety. Since we’re planning on being back on campus in person, it’s important that students feel safe going back to campus and that the university will still continue to take precautions since we’re still living through the pandemic. I want to focus on making sure that the campus stays clean and sanitized at all times and that students continue to wear masks on campus. I also want to work with the University Police Department so that students know where to go in case any incidents occur on campus. Introducing students and faculty to the UPD on campus will help everyone feel more safe overall and establishing that relationship with UPD will make students and faculty feel more comfortable speaking to them. My second goal I will be working on this year is focusing on the mental health resources. By working on ways to expand the services for students and faculty members to utilize since a lot of students have spoken up and said that they would like to see more resources related to mental health.
What most excites you about returning to campus as we return from the pandemic? Being able to learn in the classroom and interact with my peers and professors. I really miss establishing those friendships and getting to know the people on campus. I also am looking forward to being able to talk to my professor during their office hours rather than having to write emails all the time.
What do you like to do outside of school and work? I like going to different restaurants and bookshops with my friends and sisters. We like to learn about new places, cultures, and what other cities offer entertainment wise as well.
Michael Vazquez, ASI Board of Directors Graduate Student Representative
Major: Master of Public Administration
Year of graduation: fall 2022
Goal after graduation: Working in government at the local level.
Why did you join ASI? I was a part of student government while I pursued my undergraduate degree at another CSU campus. I found the experience very rewarding, and I wanted to serve again here at CSUSB. I also recognize that many graduate students have full-time jobs, have children, or generally have busy lives. I know for many of them, taking a position like mine would be very difficult since it requires so much time and there is little to no compensation. So, for me, taking this position is a service to them.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year? Well, a personal goal is continuing to get good grades. For my position in ASI, I want to make sure our students are supported as they transition back to in-person classes. I want to leave ASI in a better position than when we came into office and I want to improve the experience for all students, but especially graduate students.
What most excites you about returning to campus as we return from the pandemic? I am most excited to meet my peers in person. I feel like seeing your fellow students on a weekly basis in person just encourages cooperation and a flow of ideas that is harder to get in a virtual environment. Also, I really enjoy events where school spirit is on display. So, hopefully we can have many of those!
What do you like to do outside of school and work? I take frequent trips to the beach; it’s a great place to enjoy the outdoors while social distancing. I also like to attend sporting events. However, since the pandemic I no longer attend indoor sporting events. I only do outdoor events and wear a mask. I think this year I have attended about 15 Major League Baseball games for the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. I plan to attend at least five more games before the season ends.