Book launch, design awards lead month of milestones

Four alumni from CSULB’s BFA program in interior design have been named to Interior Design Magazine’s 2025 30/30 list, which recognizes 30 emerging leaders under the age of 30. Honorees Ben Balingit ’20, Joyce Leung ’20, Kwon Lee ’20 and Suvini Gunaratna ’20 were selected for their creative innovation and design excellence across a range of professional projects. The honor spotlights each alumnus’ diverse portfolio of work and reinforces the strong reputation of CSULB’s Department of Design. The renderings that helped earn them national attention included Kwon’s design of a children’s library and Leung’s reimagining of a Los Angeles-area airport. All four designers work in the industry and are committed to human-centered, sustainable environments. 

Claudia Huang, a faculty member in the Department of Human Development, has announced the forthcoming release of her book, "Dancing for Their Lives: Self-Cultivation, Sociality, and Growing Old in Urban China." The book explores how retired Chinese women known as “dancing grannies” use public dance as a response to shifting cultural norms, economic pressures and aging in a rapidly changing society. Huang, a sociocultural anthropologist whose work focuses on aging and identity, contextualizes the phenomenon within broader transformations such as the privatization of services and the changing role of elders. Her analysis, based on 18 months of ethnographic research in Chengdu, sheds light on aging, urban life and East Asian culture. 

Several members of the CSULB community have been honored for their leadership and commitment to equity and empowerment. Devery Rodgers received the 2025 Advancement of Women Award from the President’s Commission on the Status of Women for her work supporting the advancement of women on campus, while two honorees were honored at the Black Alumni Scholarship Gala for their influence on campus and in the broader community: Arnecia Bryant, director of Facility Operations and Sustainability, for her efforts to create inclusive university spaces; and Ishmael Pruitt ’11, founder and CEO of Project Optimism, for his organization’s impact on youth through mentorship and educational equity. In addition, nearly two dozen faculty members across all seven colleges received the 2024-25 President’s Awards for Outstanding Faculty Achievement. 

She’s been called the “heart of the division,” and now Christina Salvador has a new title: Staff Council Outstanding Staff Member. For 30 years, the CSULB alumna has served with distinction as associate director of Prospect Research & Management, playing a key role in major fundraising campaigns and mentoring colleagues along the way. Known for her energy, generosity and service, Salvador has helped shape nearly every major fundraising campaign and built systems that have become foundational to University Relations and Development. Salvador has served on Staff Council, co-chaired its Special Events Committee and organized everything from campuswide Olympics to Giving Day’s inaugural Philanthropy Fair. She also volunteers as Elbee, the university mascot. Her blend of professionalism and campus pride has made her a valued colleague whose impact reaches well beyond her job description. 

Ayendili Alcantar Alvarez has built a reputation for empathy and excellence — qualities that recently stood out in a moment of quiet leadership. When a blind student needed help navigating campus, she stepped in without hesitation, guiding them with care and confidence. That everyday act of compassion helped earn her recognition as CSULB’s April's Employee of the Month. Alcantar Alvarez began her CSULB journey in 2014 as a student assistant and now serves as a financial aid professional in Enrollment Services. Known for her inclusive approach and steady support, she was commended for going beyond her job description — an act a colleague called “the epitome of the standard we hold here at The Beach.” She’s also recognized for her collaborative spirit and subject-matter expertise, often stepping in to support coworkers with patience and generosity.