Coming to CSUSM, Miyah Walker felt introverted and nervous to talk to others, but that did not stop her from pushing herself to step outside her comfort zone. Walker has been inspiring her peers and helping create a safe space on campus through her work as a residential adviser; as a collections, delivery and access student assistant in Kellogg Library; and by educating and advocating for BIPOC mental health awareness at Student Health & Counseling Services as a HOPE peer health educator. Walker’s efforts led her to be selected as the recipient of the 2025 Dean of Students Award for Outstanding Leadership. To learn more, visit: https://news.csusm.edu/psychology-student-focuses-on-mental-health-advocacy/ (fb)

At CSUSM, the Wildfire Science and the Urban Interface degree program is training the next generation of fire professionals—from those who actually fight the fires to those who will help prevent and mitigate wildfires from a wide range of vantage points within the fire industry. Created by Wildfire Researcher Matthew Rahn, the program is the only one of its kind in California. As part of this course of study, Rahn is looking at ways to reduce fire risk to homes and other buildings. Rather than concentrating on new-home building, he is identifying both common sense and innovative ways to retrofit existing homes to make them more fire-resistant. To learn more, visit: (fb)