Garcia’s Capitol Hill rise leads a month of honors
Making Waves is a monthly column that celebrates accomplishments of the CSULB community.
Garcia named top Democrat on House Oversight panel
Rep. Robert Garcia ‘02, ‘10 (D-Calif.) was recently selected by his peers to serve as the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, one of Congress’s most high-profile panels. Garcia, a distinguished alumnus who served as the mayor of Long Beach before being elected to represent California’s 42nd District, becomes one of the youngest members ever to hold the position and one of only two Hispanic Democrats leading a major committee. The second-term congressman emphasized his commitment to effective, inclusive leadership — citing his eight years as Long Beach’s first openly gay mayor as proof that “government can be both progressive and effective.” Garcia’s appointment signals a generational shift in Democratic leadership and places him at the center of key legislative and oversight efforts.
University earns award for planned giving overhaul
CSULB’s University Relations and Development team has received a national Circle of Excellence gold award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education for its campaign “From Silos to Synergy: Frontline and Planned Giving in Sync.” Led by Planned Giving & Stewardship, the initiative reimagined planned giving as a university-wide, collaborative effort by aligning it with frontline fundraising teams, embedding it into development work and setting unit-wide solicitation goals. Partnerships across Strategic Communications, Advancement Services, Alumni Relations and others helped drive engagement, while centralized materials and outsourced marketing freed staff to focus on donors. The result: CSULB secured planned gifts in all 10 targeted units — an institutional first — and achieved its highest planned gift count and Legacy Society membership in nearly a decade.
Chemistry professors honored for long service
Kensaku Nakayama and Lijuan Li, longtime professors in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, were recently recognized by local and state leaders for their decades of dedicated teaching and service at CSULB. Nakayama, who has taught at The Beach for 38 years, leads a lab that develops synthetic catalysis methods aimed at Alzheimer’s treatment. Li, who joined the department in 1998, was also honored for her 27 years of mentorship and leadership, including her current role as department chair. Both received certificates presented by former Cerritos mayor Laura Lee on behalf of the California State Senate, Assembly and Los Angeles County. The honor celebrates their lasting impact on student achievement, academic excellence and the scientific community both on campus and beyond.
Human development chair publishes research volume
Kimberly R. Kelly, professor and chair of Human Development, has released her first book, "Narrative Story Completion Methodologies: Research Approaches Across the Lifespan," published by Oxford University Press. Bringing together international and interdisciplinary perspectives, the volume is the first dedicated to narrative story completion methods (NSCM), an approach with a 100-year history in psychology that uses storytelling to explore the self, social discourses, and make meaning across diverse contexts. With chapters spanning the life course, the book highlights culturally sensitive and equity-centered research practices, making it a valuable resource for scholars across human development, education, social work and psychology.
Educational developer publishes workshop guide
Tolulope Noah, instructional learning spaces coordinator for CSULB, has published "Designing and Facilitating Workshops with Intentionality: A Guide to Crafting Engaging Professional Learning Experiences in Higher Education." Released by Routledge, the book draws on Noah’s 16 years of teaching and workshop experience to provide a practical roadmap for educators leading professional development. Centered on inclusivity and active learning, the book presents ten key principles for designing workshops that foster connection, reflection and growth. Noah, who regularly leads learning sessions for faculty and staff, has shared her expertise on national podcasts such as "Teaching in Higher Ed" and "Think UDL."
May Employee of the Month: Coordinator Andre Rishi
Andre Rishi, graduate business career coordinator, was named CSULB’s May 2025 Employee of the Month for his student-focused guidance and service. Rishi supports more than 850 graduate business students with tailored career coaching, extending meetings when needed and providing feedback that empowers students to sharpen their materials and strategies. He’s known for his initiative — such as collaborating with faculty to connect MSIS students with career services — and for creating a welcoming, thoughtful environment. Rishi joined CSULB three years ago and has worked in education for more than 15 years. “I find true joy in supporting students’ growth and am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a community that is dedicated to student success,” he said.
June Employee of the Month: Analyst Fabiola Tinti
Fiscal Operations Analyst Fabiola Tinti ‘17 was recently named CSULB’s June 2025 Employee of the Month for her exceptional service within Academic Resources. A Beach alum with a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice, Tinti began as a student assistant and has advanced through several campus roles. Known for her expertise in budgeting and procurement, she’s also praised for her kindness, clarity and collaborative spirit. Colleagues describe her as a go-to resource for fiscal matters and a consistent source of encouragement. “She is a true example of a BEACH success story,” said Amy Paulsen, noting her leadership on projects like Data Warehouse training.
Have an item for Making Waves? Send your submissions to Wendy Thomas Russell.
