About Us |
Established in 2020Our committee is a team of graduate and undergraduate students at CSUN, elected to the committee by the student body.
|
Our GoalThis committee was formed by students in the department in response to disparities regarding access and quality of education for students across lines of race, gender, and economic class. We are here to represent you to the faculty, and to channel the voices of the student body to improve the experiences of all students in CSUN's Biology Department.
|
Meet the Team
Cameron Geller (He/Him/His)
Mentorship Coordinator Cameron is a third year graduate student specializing in Cell and Molecular Biology.Through research in Dr. Jonathan Kelber’s Developmental Oncogene Lab, he studies breast cancer with an emphasis on delineating the roles of key proteins that aid in cancer metastasis. As a first generation college student with a learning disability, Cameron hopes to give students the confidence to pursue a career in science making sure that students everywhere know that they are capable of learning anything.
|
Cam Hoffbeck (they/them)
|
Amanda Chiachi (she/her)
|
Malik Campbell-Mack (he/him/they/them)
Mentorship & Outreach Coordinator Malik is a fourth year undergraduate majoring in Biology and minoring in Africana Studies and Psychology. They have been involved in numerous labs, researching a broad spectrum of topics from race politics to child development to genetics to computer science. They hope to help mitigate academic disparities, provide a voice for BIPOC and other marginalized groups, and inspire those groups to pursue higher academia in spaces that lack representation. Malik hopes this committee is a genesis of change that garners more transparent student-faculty communication and allows marginalized groups to have a safe place to speak on their diverse experiences.
|
Carlos Calderon (he/him)
Social Media Coordinator Carlos is a fourth year student majoring in Ecology/Evolutionary Biology. He is currently an intern for the North American Bear Center as a Bear Educator in Ely, Minnesota. As a first generation college student, Carlos wants to assist first years students that want to study Biology and be that role model for them. He understands that Biology as a whole is a strenuous course that requires a lot of patience and time to get familiar with as new students progress in their academic career. He wants to be a support system for students who will need extra assistance in Biology and motivate them to not give up on their career goals in the science field.
|
Natalie Castillo (she/her)
Undergraduate Coordinator Natalie is a third year undergraduate student majoring in Biology and minoring in Central American studies. She is currently doing research in Dr. Robert Espinoza’s lab on black and brown widows. As a first generation, pre-dental student, Natalie wants to help out students that are struggling to find the appropriate path towards whatever career they would like to pursue. College is hard, but what makes it easier is finding people that support you!
|
|
|
|
Taylorann Smith (she/her)
Committee Coordinator/ Treasurer |
Arada Batresian (he/him)
President |
|
|
Taylorann is a second year Master's student specializing in Marine Biology. She studies microplastic pollution in Deep-sea and intertidal habitats in Dr. Kerry Nickols Ecological Oceanography Lab. As a queer woman of color in STEM, Taylorann hopes to inspire others to contribute their diverse perspectives to the field of science. She joined the Biology Student Committee to help strengthen the sense of community within the CSUN biology department among faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students. At times it can be hard to feel like you belong, but Taylorann wants to remind students that they not only belong, but they are needed, valued, and appreciated.
|
|
Our Vision
Despite receiving numerous accolades for its commitment to a diverse student body, many first-generation and underserved/minority undergraduate students at CSUN feel mired in trying to navigate the complexities of pursuing higher level education. With the goal of attaining a degree in Biology, or taking Biology coursework towards another degree, many students struggle to find success early on in their undergraduate curriculum. As a result, many students prolong their graduation date or drop out of school altogether. As graduate students, many of us have received direct feedback from our students who describe the challenges they face in their coursework. Additionally, some of us can directly empathize having been CSUN undergraduates prior to matriculating into graduate school. Through collaborations with the undergraduate population, our team aims to foster a stronger community of students, providing a diverse network to help mentor and support students throughout their time at CSUN. By collaborating with the department faculty, our team aims to have a voice during departmental meetings about decisions being made in the Biology department. From this work, we aim to ensure that implemented strategies maintain maximal opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
