Published works
The theme for the 2025 Dean's Report Magazine is Hospitality Rewired: The AI Evolution.
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Click here to read the magazine!
As the writer and editor for the magazine, I wanted this year's theme to be a comprehensive look into the boom of artificial intelligence. The magazine's main feature piece examines the uprise of AI and details reason's to be excited and cautious of the technological advancement. To read this article, pulled out of the magazine, please click here.​
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In addition to AI, the magazine also covers Hilton College happenings during the 2024-25 academic year. It was mailed to 11,000 recipients.​
The echoing sounds of gently pressed keyboard keys painted the blank walls of an empty California apartment where a bookshelf stood empty. Here, fragmented words and vulnerable thoughts bonded to form a hobby that would soon heal sorrows. After moving to a new state during the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing the unexpected loss of a colleague, Cal State San Marcos physics lecturer Claudia Torres Garibay knew she needed an outlet that would rejuvenate.
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In the heart of Houston, a thoughtfully restored space is telling a story far bigger than its walls. Beck&Call Hospitality is redefining hospitality through a cultural lens. Kaylon Beck (’14), owner of the bed and breakfast, shares her story behind this 15-year project.
This story is one that reflects the history, vibrancy and culture of Houston’s Third Ward for travelers and Houstonians alike.
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Many Houstonians with an affinity for good eats may have noticed something new and exciting stirring around the city: The Michelin Guide has arrived. After earning global fame for its prestigious restaurant rankings, the Michelin Guide has now added Houston to its roster, adding a touch of refinement and Southern flavor to their global portfolio.
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Artificial intelligence has become part of everyday life, embedded in everything from smartphones and navigation systems to the tools people use at work. As AI continues to evolve, experts examine how these technologies influence decision-making, reshape jobs and raise ethical questions about data, bias and human oversight.
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This piece was included in the 2025 magazine Hospitality Rewired: The AI Evolution .
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The theme for the 2024 Dean's Report Magazine is Merging Hospitality with Space Travel.
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Click here to read the magazine!
As the writer and editor for the magazine, I initially focused on the feature story about hospitality in space. To see this article pulled out of the magazine, please click here.​
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One purpose of the magazine is to detail what happened at Hilton College during the 2023-24 academic year. It was mailed to 9,700 recipients and recognized by the University of Houston president, the first such acknowledgment in the magazine's history. ​
In the heart of Houston, a thoughtfully restored space is telling a story far bigger than its walls. Beck&Call Hospitality is redefining hospitality through a cultural lens. Kaylon Beck (’14), owner of the bed and breakfast, shares her story behind this 15-year project.
This story is one that reflects the history, vibrancy and culture of Houston’s Third Ward for travelers and Houstonians alike.
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For the third year in a row, students raced against the clock and competed for the gold during the Hilton Olympics.This exhilarating event began as a fun way to teach students how fun everyday hotel logistics can be. The idea sparked after Cathy Cheatham (’89, MS ’16), CHIA, CHE, instructional associate professor and hotel manager for the Hilton University of Houston, visited the New York Hotel Show.
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An underused space was transformed into an immersive Hall of Honor that invites visitors to explore history through art, multimedia and layered storytelling. What began as sketches and research evolved into a visually rich environment where cityscapes, timelines and archival elements reveal connections across eras. Interactive details and carefully curated objects encourage visitors to move at their own pace, creating a personal journey shaped by curiosity, context and discovery.
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For years, Eric’s Restaurant at the University of Houston’s Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospital Leadership has been a go-to meeting spot for those seeking a quick and delicious meal and quality conversation in a contemporary atmosphere.​
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For Andreas Zaloumis, owner of Third Space Theory coffee cart, “THRST,” each day introduces new community, adventure and destinations. Thursday through Saturday, he puts on the hat of a coffee guru at the Austin Avenue location, but Sunday through Wednesday, he is a one-man band, performing the roles of a videographer, photographer and fashion designer.
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Two earnestly optimistic friends and colleagues reimagine the physics industry to be disciplines comprised of brilliant scientists, who are also inclusive and empathetic. Caroline Caplan, a cosmochemist and Sara Belontz, an environmental geoscientist, are researching complex issues relevant to everyday lives, in terms of evolution and sustainability, in addition to advocating for those underrepresentation.
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From a young age, Hamed Nademi’s family knew he was made to work with technology. At only 9, joy filled the third grader as he entered a classroom filled with devices – electronic devices that is, which were intertwined with twisting wires and circularly winding coils running in and out of every groove.
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From stadium floors to performing arts centers, Hilton College students gained firsthand exposure to the events industry. A new Venue & Entertainment Management course, taught by alumnus Mike Pedé (’89), took learning beyond the classroom and into some of Houston’s largest venues. With the course’s first semester complete, the class offered students an up-close look at how major events are planned, executed and evaluated.
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“Drinking wine is almost like time travel… you’re tasting the history of the past,” said Dr. D. Christopher Taylor, professor and director of the Beverage Management Program and Fred Parks Wine Cellar. During the 2024 Fred Parks Lecture Series, attendees did just that.
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Eager with anticipation, 19 high school students stepped foot onto Cal State San Marcos with hopes of meeting new friends, learning about a school they could one day call their home, and furthering an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The inaugural STEM IDEA Academy built a robust pathway for these connections.
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Cal State San Marcos electrical engineering student Sean Resor (he/him) walks into each of his many roles with a kind heart, helpful hand and open-minded ear, which allows him to pave his own path to success and build steady foundations for future generations of students. Resor has had a rather untraditional academic journey, as he began classes at CSUSM at age 32 after transferring from Palomar College.
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Over 30 years ago, an intricate illustration of Bugs Bunny as a dentist treating Daffy Duck for a toothache was unwrapped beside a colorfully lit Christmas tree in the home of Claudia and Gregory Oelfke, DDS ‘77. This dental artwork, created by widely known Warner Bros. animator Chuck Jones, sparked a collection that would bring joy and tranquility to many patients, students, and dentists for years to come.
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Black Voices in STEM sparks conversation, elicits change
Four students boldly yet vulnerably stared into an audience of over 100 Cal State San Marcos faculty, staff and students in the USU Ballroom for what would be the first of many tough conversations in the hopes of “getting uncomfortable to get comfortable.” Black Voices in STEM, a student-led panel, was a platform for these students to safely address where CSUSM and CSTEM had either succeeded or fallen short of caring for their Black students.
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For over 22 years, Dr. André Kündgen has walked into his classes full of energy and made his way toward a chalkboard stamped with challenging yet accessible equations and concepts. Among students, he has a reputation for evoking feelings of excitement, curiosity and, most importantly, confidence.
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Biological sciences senior Serena Farrell has used every moment of her time at Cal State San Marcos to drive the department toward success with her research, be a voice for students in CSTEM, and create a safe pathway for all students. Her active, impactful work has earned Farrell the 2023 CSTEM Dean's Outstanding Graduate Award.
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Toys scattered across the floor, dirty fingerprints on the wall, homework laid across the table. Despite the chaos, beaming grins fill the homes of four college students studying at Baylor and McLennan Community College. Fulfilling their joint roles as parents and students leads to unpredictable hardships, moments of joyous laughter and humble accomplishments.
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Each day, the Cal State San Marcos community adapts their behaviors and makes conscientious decisions to reverse human impacts on climate change, the carbon cycle and their ecological footprint. One of these efforts has been slow to gain momentum among higher education institutions but is actually integral to each campus’ longevity: Green chemistry.
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Andrea “Deya” Pajarillo, a third-year dental student at UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston, has put a positive light on stay-at-home recommendations in response to COVID-19 by starting a home-grown business, Sew Justice Sew Peace, which supports change and equality.
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Cal State San Marcos’ electrical engineering program is known for being robust, exemplary and state-of-the-art, even though it was established just four years ago. Many attribute the program’s success to founding faculty member Dr. Reza Kamali, who tirelessly impacts the lives of students and is shaping the history of electrical engineering at the university and throughout North County.
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Wine was toasted and chocolates were devoured during the annual Fred Parks Lectureship on April 30. Dr. Chris Taylor, professor and director of the Beverage Management Program and Fred Parks Wine Cellar, provided an excellent presentation on exquisite wines. Alongside him, Dany Kamkhagi, owner and head chocolatier at Mostly Chocolate & Catering, provided a wonderfully informative conversation about fine chocolates.
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The walls within the Kieran-Sistrunk Fine Art Gallery are illuminated with vibrant colors and intricate details that have been splashed onto exceptional paintings. Owners Mark Kieran and Susan Sistrunk encourage individuals to step away from their everyday tasks and relax by enjoying vibrant art at 2120 Washington Ave.
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For more than 20 years, the Center for Training Research and Educational Excellence (CTREE) has given ambitious students a home and a safe space to explore their new and longstanding goals. With over $11 million in funding and a 100% success rate in the 2021-22 academic year for graduate school acceptance, it is evident that CTREE is a pillar of Cal State San Marcos.
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Memories of UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston, advice, and laughter fill the air each time the Anton, Crofcheck, and Tipton families gather for dinner. Margaret “Maggie” Crofcheck, DDS ’87, and Michael Anton, DDS ’87, share their school pride with two of their five children: Sam Anton and Robert “Bobby" Anton, plus a nephew, Nicholas Tipton — all of whom are current dental students at UTSD.
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As homecoming begins, there is a small, select group of students that has worked behind the scenes to orchestrate Baylor’s traditional festivities. Founded in 1919, Baylor’s Chamber of Commerce works hard months in advance to plan Baylor’s homecoming festivities.
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Cal State San Marcos physics student Ashley Corey was awarded best research by an undergraduate student at the American Physical Society Far West Section’s Annual Meeting at the University of Manoa Hawaii for her presentation, “Characterizing Gate Defined Quantum Dots in a Mesa-Etched Silicon Nanowire.”
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Summer Scholars Poster Showcase gives students' opportunities
Cal State San Marcos welcomed 73 students on its campus summer of 2022 to conduct research as part of the Summer Scholars program, hosted by the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM). The program Brought together research-driven students to prepare for graduate school and careers in STEM through hands-on research experience, networking opportunities and faculty mentorship.
UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston is one of five schools in the U.S. to offer a comprehensive program in laser dentistry for students. Rather than using a handpiece or surgical blade, the provider utilizes lasers to perform the procedure. Lasers are making a remarkable impact on the delivery of dental care in the 21st century and have become a widely used advanced technology.
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During children’s dental visits, pediatric dentistry residents at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry wear brightly colored scrub caps gleaming with superheroes and cartoon characters, make balloon animal gifts for patients, and participate in socially distanced dance parties. These are a few of the many ways residents elicit excitement for dental visits and advocate for good oral health habits all throughout the year, but especially during the month of February.
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In an effort to impact early career choices of students, residents, and recent graduates of UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston, a team of nine practice consultants go beyond the classroom to offer meaningful advice. The PACE Center’s Practice Consulting team encourages students to turn practice management, ethics, and jurisprudence (law philosophy) lessons taught in the classroom into applicable skills they can use while job hunting, interviewing, practicing dentistry, or even owning their own practice.
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