National honors for CSULB's Moot Court among standout successes this month

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CSULB’s Moot Court program continued its legacy of excellence at the American Moot Court Association’s 2024–25 National Championship, where students again ranked among the best in the country. Ivonne Sotelo and Kylie Barnhart captured the AMCA title in the Petitioner Written Brief Competition, marking CSULB’s fourth national championship in written advocacy and its third under the guidance of coach Lewis Ringel. Additional standouts: Jordan Gebrian and Shakhzoda Khodjakhonova placed fourth in the nation in petitioner brief, and Kelly Bello and Margaret Cruz placed sixth in respondent brief — contributing to the university’s 15-year streak of top-10 national brief placements. CSULB also took home the prize for best team average in written brief. The Beach is one of only 17 schools to reach the final 32 teams in oral argument, marking its 19th consecutive year advancing past regionals. 

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Daniel B. Rodriguez '84, a distinguished alumnus, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. Rodriguez, who earned his bachelor's degree in political science from CSULB before graduating cum laude from Harvard Law School, is a professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where he was dean from 2012 to 2018. His academic work spans administrative law, constitutional law and the intersection of law, business and technology. A past president of the Association of American Law Schools, Rodriguez is a member of the CSULB 49er Foundation Board of Directors, reflecting his ongoing connection to The Beach. Rodriguez joins a 2025 Academy class that includes Gloria Steinem, Amy Tan, Anderson Cooper and José Andrés; he credits CSULB as instrumental in launching his career.

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CSULB has recognized 16 standout faculty and three students with the 2025 University Achievement Awards for excellence in teaching, research, mentoring and service. Andreas Bill, Lijuan Li and Lauren Heidbrink received top faculty honors for scholarship and academic leadership. Fangyuan Tian and Ted Stankowich were honored for creative contributions in chemistry and biology, while Bengt Allen and Deepali Bhandari earned distinction for transformative teaching. Hugh O’Gorman was recognized for his impact in acting pedagogy. Deborah Fraser and Jeffrey Pair received advising awards for exemplary student support. Judy Brusslan was honored for mentoring excellence in research. James Binnall and Guido Urizar earned equity and inclusion awards. Kathryn McCormick, Laurie Huning and Seung-hoon Jeong were recognized for early career excellence. Graduate student honorees include Adebimpe Akinwalere and Nicholas Chow; and undergraduate Maya Rogalski was honored for her achievements in chemistry research. The accompanying photo shows the recipients (left to right, top to bottom) in the order in which they were mentioned. 

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Christine Whitcraft, professor of biological sciences, has won the Corinne Monroe Earth Day Award from the Aquarium of the Pacific for her contributions to wetland conservation and climate resilience. A leading wetlands ecologist, Whitcraft directs the CSULB Wetlands Ecology Lab, where she and her students study how human activities — such as development, invasive species and climate change — affect coastal ecosystems. Her work spans the California coast, from Baja to San Francisco, and includes collaborations with agencies and nonprofits on habitat restoration and environmental monitoring. The Earth Day Award recognizes her commitment to advancing public understanding of wetlands’ role in climate adaptation and to mentoring the next generation of environmental scientists.

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CSULB's Esports Association clinched the 2025 Esports Cal State Cup title, besting 10 other CSU campuses in Overwatch 2. The third annual tournament saw CSULB's Overwatch Gold team triumph over Cal Poly Pomona in the finals, earning the championship trophy and solidifying their status as the top Overwatch team in the CSU system. The victory was especially meaningful, as CSULB had won the pilot tournament and selected Overwatch 2 as the featured game for this year's competition. The event was part of a broader systemwide initiative to foster community, competition and career development through esports. The team is supported by the CSULB Esports Association and the University Student Union's Esports Lounge.

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Thi Vuong, an interior design student set to graduate in May, has been awarded the 2025 Bergmeyer Scholarship + Experience by PAVE Global and Bergmeyer. Now in its 10th year, the scholarship includes a $2,500 award and an all-expenses-paid mentorship at Bergmeyer’s Boston headquarters, where Vuong will engage with industry leaders in retail and hospitality design. Her portfolio highlighted projects that foster community connection through meaningful design, including CSULB’s award-winning sustainable tiny house entry at the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon. In her winning essay, Vuong emphasized how thoughtfully designed retail spaces “can become a hub for creativity and local pride, hosting events and showcasing artisans, making neighborhoods more vibrant and connected.”  

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Elizabeth “Liz” Harris, a longtime member of the university’s Faculty Affairs team, was named March’s Employee of the Month for her outstanding contributions to campus operations and academic personnel systems. With 25 years of service, Harris is regarded as a subject matter expert whose technical acumen and institutional knowledge have shaped both local and systemwide initiatives. Colleagues noted her collaborative leadership, meticulous work and commitment to supporting faculty. From helping transition the university from index card records to PeopleSoft to guiding CSU-wide governance efforts, Harris has driven innovation behind the scenes. She is known for her foresight in resolving technical challenges and her generosity in supporting peers across campuses. Harris brings a blend of historical perspective and future-focused thinking that continues to benefit the university community.