CAMP Alumni

February

Maria Venegas Escobedo

March

Brian Sanchez

April

Alma Sanchez

May

Felipe Angel

• Bio

  My name is Felipe Angel and I am part of the 2014 graduating class here at CSUSM. I embarked on this college journey in 2008 and couldn’t have made it to where I am today without the assistance of this amazing program. I am a first generation Latino from Valley Center, CA and I am currently a Diversity and People Analytics Sourcer at Facebook. My core responsibilities consist of identifying top talent in todays competitive market and aligning the candidates experience and passions to our open positions. While doing this, I also maintain candidate sentiment top of mind through the whole process as people are at the heart of what I do.

  Before joining Facebook, I kicked off my professional career at Aerotek. I was hired as a recruiter in 2014 and worked myself to an Account Recruiting Manager and Account Manager before I made the transition into tech in 2017. Aerotek was able to teach me how to really balance out my emotions, how to develop a work/life balance, and how to establish long lasting relationships. Recruiting is a very fast paced and demanding industry and finding balance is key.

  While at Cal State San Marcos, not only was I a full time student but I was also a full time employee. Having free time was almost unrealistic for me so I early on, I had to find a way to be efficient with my time. The biggest challenge for me wasn’t making time but it was more of the sacrifice that I had to make for myself and my future. A lot of my friends were out having fun and going to the club, where those nights I was either studying or working to make it through the next week. We all have a different journey and the best thing to do is to make your self priorities your own not based on what others around you are doing. Today, CSUSM offers students like yourself, tons of new resources and opportunities I never had, so make the most out of them. Connect with the right people and have fun, I am happy and honored to serve as a mentor to all of you and pave the way for whatever you want to do. If I made it here with little guidance, imagine where you can get!

September

Alejandro Contreras

October

Manny Calderon

• Bio

  Manny Calderon, MBA is the Senior Director of Finance at Aurrera Health Group. He oversees all financial aspects of the business and drives the company’s financial strategy and planning.

  Prior to joining Aurrera Health Group, Manny was a Finance Manager at eHealth, an online insurance marketplace specializing in Medicare. At eHealth Manny oversaw all financial reporting, planning, and forecasting activities for the Medicare Partnerships division.

  Manny also previously worked at Beckman Coulter, a global diagnostics and life sciences company. As Finance Manager, Manny supported pricing, revenue, and budgeting activities for the Microbiology Business Unit. He also led the financial turnaround strategy for key regions to achieve positive sustainable growth. Prior to Beckman, Manny was part of Intel Corporation where he held various revenue analyst positions.

  Manny holds an MBA from Sacramento State and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Cal State San Marcos. Manny enjoys cycling, jogging and traveling. Manny and his family live in the Sacramento region with their cat Oreo.

November

Dr. Juan Carlos Reyna

• Bio

  A proud immigrant from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Juan Carlos was raised in San Diego North County and was part of the 2006 CSUSM CAMP Cohort. He has worked in the education sector for over 14 years and has served in numerous capacities within the University of California, Community College, and in K-12 systems of education. Currently, Juan Carlos serves as a Council Member and Vice President of Finance for a national nonprofit organization called the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE). Most recently, he served as the Director of a Developing Hispanic Serving Institution Title V grant at Grossmont College in San Diego East County. He provides leadership and assists with the development, implementation, evaluation, and adaptation of programs, services, and professional development opportunities in higher education. 

  Juan Carlos currently holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from SDSU, a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from National University, and a bachelor’s degree in History from CSUSM. Within his first year at CSUSM, Juan Carlos faced many challenges at home, with employment, and many other responsibilities outside of school. He was unable to prioritize school and was dismissed from CSUSM after his first year. Infuriated about becoming part of the negative statistics regarding Latino men in higher education, he refused to give up, appealed his dismissal, and was reinstated. Four years later, he walked the stage and received his bachelor’s degree. As a first-generation college graduate, he has witnessed the generational impact that his accomplishment has made on his entire family. He advises students to maintain

February

Victor Lopez

March

Oscar Perez

September

Jonathan Molina

• Bio

  Buenas! My name is Jonathan Jesus Molina, and I am a proud CSUSM-CAMP alumn. I am a first-generation Mexican-American as both my parents are from Mexico.  I was raised with my younger sister a few blocks away from the CSUSM campus in San Marcos, CA primarily by my mother who spent many years as an immigrant worker. I had a modest upbringing in a low-income household where none of my local community members had any college education. To wit, science was not the family business. Despite this, I never struggle academically. However, I did struggle in maneuvering through the academic pipeline--that is, deciding on a career path, deciding which school to attend, and understanding what steps to take to be in the profession I desired. I also needed to allow myself to feel comfortable in being the only Latino in a room of peers with completely different and more privileged backgrounds. CAMP greeted me warmly in 2012 as I began my undergraduate career at CSUSM where I majored in in Biological Sciences. CAMP provided the sense of belonging in college by instilling a sense of community in me with individuals from similar backgrounds. Furthermore, they also pointed me to campus resources and offices including the Office of Training, Research, and Education in Science. With OTRES, I was able to outline the path I would take to get where I am and also to where I want to be; a research professor. Thus, CAMP helped me navigate through my struggles in understanding the academic pipeline as well as feeling comfortable not having a privileged background and still pursuing a college education. Now, I am currently a PhD Candidate in Integrated Biomedical Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. Prior to this, I had a variety of part-time jobs, research projects, fellowships, and made memorable moments that developed my experience, including: research with the San Diego Zoo – Safari Park with—where I did my Master’s research--and peer mentor with Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). As a peer mentor with LSAMP, I aided in developing young scientists determined to learn the scientific method and carry a project from conception, to bench, and follow through with communication via poster presentation. This experience was impactful because I was not only able to guide other student’s from similar backgrounds as myself to engage in scientific work, but also reminded myself of how limited the scientific community is in scientists with Latin backgrounds even in CSUSM; an institution with high Hispanic/Latin enrollment. This disparity was also clear to me in professor representation as I had so few Latin professors in biology. This now motivates me to accomplish my career goals because I feel that if more students can visualize themselves as a scientist they will pursue that career path more often. Thus, if I could give any words of advice, it would be to be brave in pursuing your dreams and ask for help when you struggle.

October

Cipriano Vargas

• Bio

  Cipriano Vargas was born and raised in Vista, is currently the President of the Vista School Board and serves as the Strategic Manager of Community Engagement for San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer. He is a graduate of Vista Public Schools and the proud son of migrant farmworkers. Vargas earned his B.A. in Sociology from California State University San Marcos with a minor in Women Studies and Spanish.At Cal State San Marcos, Vargas served on student government and was later appointed by Governor Brown to the CSU Board of Trustees. It was there that he became a fierce champion of higher education and ultimately a factor that led him into the classroom. He interned with VUSD Superintendent Vodicka, participated in various programs with the National Latino Research Center (NLRC), and spent a good amount of time advocating for students in Sacramento & Washington D.C.After graduating from college, he taught Kindergarten in the urban core of San Antonio, Texas. He was part of the founding faculty for KIPP Esperanza Dual Language School. In 2016, he returned home and was successfully elected to the Vista Unified Schoolboard where he now serves as the School Board President. Prior to working for the County of San Diego, he worked for SEIU Local 221 as their political organizer helping advocate for workers and a more transparent county budget process. Through their efforts, the Invest in San Diego Families Coalition has seen major wins for our region which include rental support, increased wages for workers, the creation of the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Affairs and Office of Labor Standards. Now at the County of San Diego, Cipriano manages the grants for the Office of Supervisor Lawson-Remer, supports community engagement, and advises on policies impacting residents in our region. The County of San Diego has a $7.3 Billion Dollar operating budget with over 15,000 employees. Most recently, the County Board of Supervisors have been laser focused on tackling the cost of living, homelessness, and supporting working families.Cipriano has been recognized for his leadership by the San Diego Union Tribune as Young Latino Champion, the Vista Chamber of Commerce in their 40 under 40 recognition and as Alumnus of the Year by Migrant Education Region 9. He serves as the Past President of the CSUSM Alumni Association and is a member of ACLU Next Gen.Cipriano’s advice for students is “Take a risk and step outside your comfort zone. As an introvert, I never realized my own potential as a youth. I was fortunate to have good mentors in my life who provided me with advice and helped me take those leaps. Find those individuals and organizations that will help you grow and develop. There is a whole world out there, go chase those dreams''.

December

Luz Clarita Torres

January

Maria Quintana

• Bio

  My name is Maria Quintana. I have two majors, one in Nursing and the other in Human Development. I am currently a Triage Registered Nurse. When I graduated from High School and transitioned  to CSUSM, I would say it was less overwhelming for me all because I was part of CAMP. I honestly felt that CAMP got me out of my comfort zone in which I got to meet new classmates and people, and also gave me the opportunity to get familiar with the campus. CAMP for me was like home/family  because I had some amazing advisors that were there to listen to me academically and socially. CAMP was overall very welcoming and helpful. Some tips that helped me balance my personal and academic life were having a planner and    breaking my time throughout the day. Also, I would  stay after class in the library and get all my assignments and studying  done before I went home.  The responsibilities and focusey that I have as Triage Registered Nurse are:

  • Triaged/assess patient with proper protocols and informed providers in a timely manner within the work shift in order to ensure a timely call-back or follow-up. 
  • Assisted physicians and mid-level providers with different examinations and procedures. 
  • Conduct medication reconciliation and refills. 
  • Document all information adequately in the patient’s electronic health record (EHR) and overall ensure Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance by maintaining strict confidentiality of all patient information. 

  What I love about my job is that I get to be part of the health care of my patients and advocate for them in order for them to receive the optimum care they deserve. What motivates me is as a Hispanic I get to help my community and underserved population and at the end of their visit patients are always happy that they are understood. The most valuable piece of advice would be that it is okay to be unsure about their pathway, to take their time and do research or ask to sit in lectures that find their interest. Do not rush and do something that you will not enjoy in your life. 

February

Dr. Avi Rodriguez

June

Oscar Caralampio

• Bio

  My name is Oscar Caralampio and I am a teacher in Fallbrook, California. I have been teaching for slightly over 7 years now and it is a pleasure building great relationships with my students and their families. Aside from teaching, I also serve as the school board vice president for the Fallbrook Union High School District.

  I was born in an indigenous village in Guatemala. My family and I are from Aldea Ixtenam and our native language is Q’anjob’al; Q’anjob’al is an indigenous language that dates back to the great Maya civilization. Now, I live, teach, and organize in Fallbrook with my wife who is a high school counselor. Together, we are doing the best to raise our two beautiful children (Itzae and Natahvi) while trying to advocate for the youth in our community.

  As an elementary teacher, I am currently the Innovation Lab teacher at our dual immersion school. I am responsible for teaching hands-on science lessons, in Spanish, to our over 500 students. I see each grade level twice a week, and I teach all of our Kinder-6th graders as well as our TK and three classes of Special Education. It is definitely a beautiful challenge.

  As a migrant student, my siblings and I worked in the Valley Center agricultural fields at a young age. By the time I was 8, I worked full time picking the produce and weeding the fields. My brothers and I spent countless hours, and memories, under the beating sun every summer, weekend and school breaks. It was definitely a character building experience. Throughout my college career, I worked a handful of jobs. I spent years being an after school staff, painting houses with my oldest sibling, working in gas stations and cleaning houses with my sister. There are a lot of life lessons that one can gain from trade related work, never underestimate any labor experience.My advice for our CAMP students is to be unique, do not be afraid to embrace identity. As you continue to work on improving yourself, make sure to give back. You didn’t make it this far alone, I truly believe that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Think collectively, not individually; measure your success on how you have made life better for others, not just for your pockets. Lastly, I hope all of you enjoy your time in CAMP and at CSUSM; I have made amazing, life long friends, from CAMP and I hope all of you get the opportunity to experience how amazing that feels. En lucha, siempre.

August

Alan Albino

September

Monica Huerta

October

Ivan Gonzalez

November

Miguel Angel Rangel

• Bio

  Miguel Angel Rangel was born in Fallbrook but raised in all North County. He lived in San Marcos, Vista, Valley Center, Bonsall Escondido and Tecate Mexico to name a few. Miguel earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance in 2020. He was fortunate to study abroad in Spain for a summer and took some courses towards his minor in Spanish. Miguel currently works as a Project Accountant for a Tech Company named Paladin Technologies in San Diego. His current role involves working closely with the operations team and project managers. He is primarily responsible for overseeing the financial aspects of a project as it progresses. Miguel Angel has been fortunate to work with finance teams for various companies and in industries such as cosmetics, infrastructure, oil and gas and his most current role is in the tech industry. As an undergraduate he faced many challenges most first-generation students face when pursuing a higher education. Miguel at age 15 was separated from his mom and had to adapt even during his educational journey. His mom resides in Tecate, Mexico and would make trips to visit her every other week. He mentions that being able to balance his time with family, friends and his educational studies was the most overwhelming and exhausting part of his journey. Before CAMP, Miguel also struggled with being social and being able to have a conversation with other people. He was very shy in High School and when he began the CAMP summer program, he decided he wanted to change that. He began by participating in classroom discussions and asking questions when necessary. Miguel by the end of CAMP did not recognize himself because of how social he had become during the summer bridge in 2015. What Miguel values the most from this summer program was the amount of friends he had made and being able to identify with many of these individuals. Miguel is very proud of himself and is very content with his life and the people that surround him. He now lives in Little Italy, Downtown San Diego and is living the life “Little Miguel” would have loved, he explains that after all the struggles him and his family have gone through, he would have never imagined to be living the life he has now. Miguel Angel is thankful for CAMP for teaching him the most valuable lesson there is and that is “hechandole ganas” and staying true to yourself.

January

Victoria Camacho

• Bio

  Victoria Camacho Hi everyone, my name is Victoria Camacho. I grew up in North County San Diego split between Escondido and San Marcos. I went to grade school and college in San Marcos, so I consider San Marcos my hometown. However, my family and I are from a small rancho known as Zarate, Michoacan. We moved to the United States when I was 10 months old and my home became Southern California. I am so grateful my parents took the risk of leaving everything they knew behind in pursuit of a better life without knowing what they were getting themselves into. Through their sacrifices, I was able to be the first person in my family to earn a college degree at California State University San Marcos. Looking back, achieving a degree in Human Development created a strong foundation for myself because with the rigors of being a first generation college student I was able to develop strong critical thinking skills and an excellent work ethic. After graduating from CSU San Marcos, I went on to pursue a degree in nursing at CSU Channel Islands and am currently working on my graduate degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. I work at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital as a Clinical Nurse II providing care for patients with cardiac conditions. I also precept new nurses, students, and assist with interviews for potential new hires. You might be wondering why I didn’t pursue nursing at CSUSM and if you weren’t let me tell you. There was a phase during my early college years where my self-confidence plummeted and this trickled into all aspects of my life. I didn’t feel like I was smart enough and I resented not having parents that could help guide me or tell me things other than “tu puedes mija”. In retrospect, I let the world dictate what I was capable of, instead of believing in myself. The turning point was when my friendships with Karen Guerrero and Anayeli Sanchez became stronger, these women influenced me greatly. The power amistades have at such an impressionable age is underestimated. This is why I am so grateful for the College Assistance Migrant Program, they gave me a lot more than I could have asked for: comunidad, advising support, stipends for materials and life changing friendships. My biggest take away for first-year college students is this: mira tu alrededor and ask yourself, do these people help me grow or succumb to mediocrity? You need a support system that understands your struggle and doesn’t let you fall when you want to give up. Most importantly, believe you are capable of hard things and you will do them, it doesn’t matter how long it takes you or how many times you reroute your “plan”, stay committed and you will succeed.

Febuary

Azucena Acosta

March

Jovani Vega

• Bio

  My journey begins in the blistering heat of Imperial Valley, more specifically Heber, California. Both of my parents were migrant field workers who gave up their dreams and careers in Mexico to give us a shot at the American Dream. Like many other Chican@s, I grew up in a rough underserved neighborhood, but I take pride of where I’m from. It molded me into the person that I am today and has made me grateful of the little things in life.   

  My professional journey started with the College Assistance Migrant Program. I was an Academic Advisor / Out of the Area recruiter I worked with high schools outside of the local service area, such as Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley. I also worked for the Office for Training, Research and Education in the Sciences here at CSUSM where I helped with the Guaranteed Transfer Admission Support Program for Palomar STEM Scholars. After that journey I landed a position with Office of Recruitment and Outreach as a Recruitment and Outreach Officer where I got to work with different high school districts creating a bridge for students who were interested in applying to CSUSM.   

  I am currently a Senior Academic Advisor at Cal. State University San Marcos. I work with Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Biological Sciences, and Biotechnology majors. I assist our current CSUSM scholars with their educational plans and any questions they may have about their educational journey. I love what I do, I get to guide students and help them get to graduation.  

  There were different challenges that I faced as an undergraduate. Being from out of the area I had a huge culture shock and difficult transition to the fast-paced city life. I was used to the pace of my small hometown. Everything moves faster in the city, you have to “move with the cheese” or you’ll get trampled. Being a first-generation college student didn’t make it easier, everything was new to me; from the FAFSA application, selecting the right courses, having to find an apartment, roommates, buying groceries, and the new young adult responsibilities such as paying rent and utilities. I quickly learned that financial aid wasn’t going to cover everything, so I had to find a job and had to balance work with my academics. The biggest challenge I had to face was when my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer. I did not take this well, I don’t think anyone is ready for such thing. After my mom passed, I questioned a lot of things in life, and it also made me want to drop out and move back to Imperial Valley even though I only had 1 more year and half to finish my degrees. I was ready to leave, but my CAMP Advisor Saida Rivas and our CAMP Director Minerva Gonzalez spoke with me and provided the support that I needed. I knew that I couldn’t give up, this was for my mom and pops and all the people who believed in me, so I kept pushing and was able to complete my goal of graduating from CSUSM. ¡Si se pudo!  

  Motivational words for CAMPers, “tú puedes con esto, y más.”   I know that it’s hard and tough at times to keep on going but it will get better I promise. Always remember your why. It doesn’t matter how many times you stumble levántate, sacúdete y sigue adelante. You got this!