A Message from the Dean for the 2023-24 School Year

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 graduates and to all of our outstanding faculty, staff and students

College of Sciences graduates pose for a photo in cap and gown

Congratulations to everyone for completing another amazing year!

To our graduates, you have put in years of hard work, sacrifice and commitment to arrive at this moment and we are so excited to see where your San Diego State University degrees take you next. Please take a moment to reflect on the past few years and appreciate all that you have put into this journey and the impact of all those who supported you along the way. We are so proud of you and always remember, once an Aztec, always an Aztec!

I’d also like to take a moment to acknowledge some outstanding faculty, staff and graduates who have stood out for their contributions to the College and broader University community. 

Outstanding Faculty and Staff

Congratulations to the following awardees, faculty and staff who were chosen due to their high level of impact on students as well as their tremendous dedication and valuable contributions to their departments.

Outstanding Staff

College of Sciences Diversity & Inclusion Council
Michelle Altemus
Melani Soto

Departments of Astronomy and Physics
Hilary Scalisi

Department of Biology
Katherine Zumstein

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Robert Queen 

Department of Computer Science
Heather Stark

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Joan Kimbrough

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Ashley Arpallan

Department of Psychology
Sean Molnar

Outstanding Graduates 

Along with one outstanding graduate selected for the College of Sciences, each department in the College selects one undergraduate student who has excelled in their department. The awardees are listed below, along with their Most Influential Faculty member who has served as a mentor to them.

Environmental Sciences Program
Samantha Madonia
Most Influential Faculty: Dr. Trent Biggs

Geological Science Program
Jennasea Fisher 
Most Influential Faculty: Dr. Matthew Weingarten

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Janelle Amber Recinos 
Most Influential Faculty: Dr. Gordon Kirby

Department of Physics
Noah Kapchinske 
Most Influential Faculty: Dr. Sanjay Behura

Department of Psychology
Alin Alshaheri Durazo 
Most Influential Faculty: Dr. Terry Cronan

Commencement Recap

If you missed Commencement, College of Sciences undergraduate and graduate ceremony live streams are available.

Also, learn about the experiences of several exceptional undergrad students, Fernando Magallon-Romero (Computer Science), Jorge Villanueva (Biology), Justice Herrera (Psychology) and Sama Mikhail (Microbiology), as well as graduate student Judy Mahmalji (Psychology), who all graduated last week.

Check out Commencement photo galleries to catch up on all the graduation fun, including the ceremony closing with Biology major Elias Meamari proposing to girlfriend and Psychology major Mariam Zaki (she said yes)!

Retiring Faculty

Finally, I want to take a moment to thank faculty whose retirement started during the 2023-24 school year for their incredible service to SDSU, to the College and to their respective fields as a whole. 

Walt Oechel
Distinguished Professor, Biology
Director of SDSU’s Global Change Research Group
Director of the Joint Doctoral Program in Ecology
Co-director of the Center for Climate and Sustainability Studies (C2S2)

Eric Frost
Professor, Geological Sciences
Director of the Viz Center
Co-Director of the Graduate Program in Homeland Security

Joanne Lobato
Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
Coordinator for the Joint Doctoral Program (JDP) in Mathematics and Science Education
Member of the Center For Research in Mathematics and Science Education (CRMSE)

Michael O’Sullivan
Professor and Former Chair, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Gregory Talavera
Professor, Psychology

Congratulations once again to everyone on a great year!

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Roberts

Dean, SDSU College of Sciences