Meet The Team

Jackie Varela, M.S.

Director

Email: jacqueline.gardner@csusb.edu

Jackie Varela joined the Office of Student Leadership & Engagement in November of 2017. She received her BS at Georgia Southern University in Biochemistry and Masters of Science at the University of Tennessee in College Student Personnel.  Jackie is a proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Women’s Fraternity and is passionate about reading, fitness and all things Disney.  She brings 6 years of experience working with fraternities and sororities, leadership development and large scale event planning for students. Jackie is committed to a student-centered advising approach and supporting students in authoring their own college experience. 

Dana Franklin

Finance & Administrative Support Coordinator

Email: dfranklin@csusb.edu

Dana joined the Office of Student Leadership & Engagement in April of 2014. She came to CSUSB with 10 years of professional experience in the auto industry; giving her a strong sense of the importance of customer satisfaction. Dana enjoys translating that emphasis to the CSUSB campus community whom she has the opportunity to work with every day. Dana makes it her priority to provide a helpful and positive experience to all students, staff, faculty, and off campus guests that visit Office of Student Leadership & Engagement. Dana provides administrative support to Office of Student Leadership & Engagement staff as well as student programs including student organizations, Greek life, Commuter/Transfer programs, and campus events. She is also excited to support the campus wide use of the student involvement platform Coyote Connection. Her favorite part of her role here at CSUSB is having the opportunity to watch the student’s growth through-out their academic and co-curricular journey and having the opportunity to support that success in any way she can. 

Dana considers herself a true “Cali” girl, in which she is proud to say she was born and raised! She loves cheering for her daughter at her soccer and softball games and going for walks with her children and their little Yorkie Angel.

Marcos Pineda, M.A. 

Senior Student Engagement Coordinator - Fraternity and Sorority Life 

Email: mpineda@csusb.edu

Calendly: https://calendly.com/mpineda-fsa

Marcos Pineda joined the Office of Student Leadership & Engagement in October of 2021. He is a proud alumnus of Cal State San Bernardino where he graduated with his Bachelors in the Spring of 2013. He then received his Masters in Higher Education from the University of Redlands in the Spring of 2016. Marcos is the first in his family to obtain both a Bachelors and Masters degrees. He is a proud member of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc. Marcos is very knowledgeable about the California State University system, he has worked at Cal Poly Pomona and started his career in Fraternity and Sorority Life at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Marcos believes fraternities and sororities play a crucial role in the development of leadership and transferable skills in student leaders.

Marcos' philosophy is that fraternity and sorority life is for everyone, and everyone should feel safe and free to be their most authentic selves amongst supportive friends. Marcos has the privilege to advise the entire fraternity and sorority life community, its 4 governing councils (the Interfraternity Council, the Multicultural Greek Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the Panhellenic Council) and advising the Order of Omega Honor Society for fraternity and sorority members. Marcos leads the community through hazing prevention education, 

Marcos identifies as Queer, Chicano, and First Generation. He always maintains an open-door policy for all students and is happy to connect and support students however he can.

Marissa Zuniga, M.A.

Student Engagement Coordinator - Multicultural Student Organizations and Leadership Programs

Email: marissa.zuniga@csusb.edu

Calendly: https://calendly.com/marissa_zuniga

Marissa Zuniga (She/Her/Hers) joined the Office of Student Leadership & Engagement in August of 2022. She is an alumna of Cal State San Bernardino where she received her Bachelors degree in 2019. She then received her Masters degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs from the University of Redlands in 2021. Marissa brings 5 years of experience working with multicultural clubs and organizations and is passionate about creating a safe space for students to thrive within their identities. Marissa is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and was involved in numerous clubs as a student. She strongly believes student engagement provides an opportunity to interact in diverse settings and build transferable leadership skills. Her number one goal is to empower and support students during their college experience.

Amber Vargas

Student Engagement Coordinator - Student Clubs and Organizations

Email: amber.moreno@csusb.edu

Calendy: https://calendly.com/amber-moreno-csusb

Amber Moreno (she/her/hers) joined the Office of Student Leadership & Engagement in April of 2022. She received her B.A. in Sociology from California State University Dominguez Hills in 2019. She is a proud member of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. and is passionate about reading, animals, and spending time with her family. She brings with her 5 years of experience working with student clubs and organizations and campus partners. Amber believes that student success is tied directly to student engagement and is an advocate for a safe and inclusive environment for all students. As a First-Generation student, she aims to support students in their post-secondary career by creating a welcoming and safe space for students where they can ask questions and develop their leadership skills.

Gisselle Lopez

Administrative Support Assistant

Email: gisselle.lopez@csusb.edu

Gisselle Lopez joined the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement in December of 2023. She received her B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University San Bernardino in 2022. Her experience has been facilitating students' access to volunteer services and connections with community non-profits. Gisselle is passionate about student involvement and believes that students have a better outlook on their academic journey when they are involved within the University. She is excited to continue to support CSUSB students' involvement through OSLE programs and services.