Leadership & Staff

Interim Associate Vice President for Student Success & Educational Equity

Agustin Ramirez

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

Matthew Smith, Ph.D. 

he/him/his

Dr. Matthew Smith, a proud Cal State San Bernardino alumnus, serves as the associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Smith is deeply committed to the transformative power of education and the vital role that community plays in student success.

Before returning to CSUSB, Dr. Smith served as the senior associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students at Cal State Dominguez Hills. There, he led major institutional initiatives focused on retention, basic needs, and holistic development, co-chaired the strategic planning process, and partnered across divisions to launch equity-driven, data-informed programs. Under his leadership, the university secured more than $15 million in grants to support first-generation and low-income students, expand basic needs services, enhance residential life, and strengthen support networks for student parents.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Cal State San Bernardino, a master’s in higher education from Cal State Fullerton, and a doctorate in education from Claremont Graduate University.

Chief of Staff & Director for Operations and Fiscal Management

Mary-Christine Ulatan Robles, MPA
she/her/hers

Mary-Christine Ulatan-Robles has served the CSUSB community as a professional staff member since 2007. Prior to her current role, she served as the Senior Budget Analyst/HR Liaison for the Vice President's Office for Student Affairs and Budget Analyst/HR Liaison for the Athletics Department.

Mary is a double CSUSB alumna, receiving both her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Administration degree from California Baptist University, with research interests in government accountability and performance, public organizations and public policy, and higher education.  

Associate Dean of Students & Director for Student Conduct and Ethical Development

Lisa Root, M.A.
she/her/hers

Lisa Root joined the CSUSB community in May 2016 from California State University, Chico. In her current role, she provides leadership to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development and the CARE (Campus Assessment, Response, and Education)Team. Lisa earned her bachelor of arts degree in Liberal Studies at San Jose State University, where she served as a Residence Hall Director and launched her career in student affairs. She went on to obtain her Master of Arts in Education, Counseling & Guidance at California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.

She is the proud product of the California Master Plan, having studied and worked at four different campuses in the California State University system, as well as one UC campus. She is an advocate for student success and making a difference in the lives of the students we serve at CSUSB.

Executive Director of Health, Counseling, and Wellness

Beth Jaworski, Ph.D.
she/her/hers

Dr. Beth Jaworski has worked at CSUSB since 2003 in various roles, including as a therapist in Counseling & Psychological Services, the Director of Services to Students with Disabilities, Assistant Vice President for Student Services, and in her current role as Director of the Student Health Center in the Division of Student Affairs. Additionally, she also serves on the CARE (Campus Assessment, Response & Education) Team. She is a clinical psychologist and holds her M.S. and Ph.D. from Syracuse University and B.A. from the University of California, Irvine. She is committed to student success, health and wellness, and social justice.

Director for Athletics

Shareef Amer, J.D.
he/him/his

Shareef joined CSUSB after five years at NCAA Division I Cal State Northridge, where he served as their Associate Athletic Director for Compliance before being elevated to Associate Athletic Director for Administration and Operations in February 2019. In this role, he oversaw the Compliance Services Office, facilities, events and game day management, and was responsible for strategic planning for the department. Additionally, Shareef was the sport supervisor for the baseball, softball, women’s indoor volleyball and beach volleyball programs.
 
Prior to CSUN, he worked within the Office of Athletic Compliance at the University of Southern California and the Compliance Services Office at the University of Michigan. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law

Executive Director of Student Engagement and Completion

Avisinia Rodriguez, Ed.D

she/her/hers

Dr. Avisinia (Avi) Rodríguez, from Guadalajara, Mexico, moved to Thermal, California in 1990. She graduated from Coachella Valley High School and became the first in her family to attend college, starting at CSU San Marcos. After earning her BA in sociology, she pursued a Master’s in Postsecondary Educational Leadership at San Diego State University.

Avi began working at CSU San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus (PDC) as an Admissions Counselor, later becoming an Academic Advisor, which inspired her to pursue a doctoral degree. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2021, focusing on peer mentor experiences. Now, she is the Executive Director Student Engagement and Completion at CSUSB PDC. In her free time, Avi enjoys traveling, volunteering, and spending time with her daughter, Lyla.

Division Budget Analyst & HR Liaison

Temporarily Vacant

Assistant to the AVP for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

Temporarily Vacant

Assistant to the AVP for Student Success and Educational Equity

Kantaralia Rodriguez, MBA
she/hers/ella

Kantaralia Rodriguez serves as the Assistant to the AVP for Student Success and Educational Equity. She joined the CSUSB family and Division of Student Affairs in June 2021 and holds over 10 years of experience working in higher education. Prior to joining CSUSB, she Kantaralia is a proud CSUSB alumni having double major as an undergraduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Administration - Management and Information and a Bachelor of Arts in Management - Human Resources, and also earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Redlands.

Marketing and Communications Specialist

Monica Calvillo

she/her/hers 

Monica Calvillo serves as the Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Division of Student Affairs. She has extensive experience in social media strategy, digital marketing, and event marketing. Prior to this role, Monica worked in the healthcare and non-profit sectors, as well as tourism and hospitality in the Coachella Valley. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from San Jose State University, she has developed a robust foundation in marketing and social media strategy.

Graphic Design Specialist

Laura Munoz

she/her/hers

Laura Muñoz serves as the Graphic Specialist for the Office of the Vice President. She joined the CSUSB family in 2019 and the Division of Student Affairs in 2022. Prior to this role, she worked as the Content Marketing Specialist at The Broad, a contemporary art museum located in Downtown Los Angeles. She is a proud alum, having earned her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Marketing from CSUSB.