Oscar buzz, Olympic momentum mark recent Beach achievements

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Jeremy Spears ’07, who graduated from CSULB with a BFA in art illustration, has earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film as co-director and writer of “Forevergreen,” a 2025 animated short that follows an orphaned bear cub and a nurturing tree. Spears, an Annie Award-winning story artist at Disney-Pixar, has contributed to major films including “Zootopia 2,” “Zootopia,” “Frozen,” “Moana,” “Encanto” and “Big Hero 6” and helped shape "Forevergreen” alongside co-director Nathan Engelhardt. The short has screened at international festivals and won several awards, including an Oscar-qualifying prize at AFI Fest, before receiving its Academy Award nomination for the 98th Oscars. In a recent interview, Spears credited The Beach with honing his storytelling and composition skills and remembered Professor Robin Richesson ’82, ’95 as a key mentor. 

Marcus Hobbs ’23, founder and executive director of Project X LB, has been honored with a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Maker Award from the City of Long Beach. An educator and community leader, Hobbs leads the nonprofit with a mission centered on meeting people where they are and creating pathways toward healing, dignity and belonging. Project X LB first gained visibility through its Loads of Kindness initiative, which provides free community laundry access to families experiencing financial hardship. Hobbs is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Howard University, where his training emphasizes Black perspectives, cultural wisdom, collective care and community-led solutions. During the City Council presentation, Sixth District Councilmember Suely Saro highlighted Hobbs’ work and impact. 

A longtime history professor at CSULB was posthumously honored when her book, “The Hungry City: A Year in the Life of Medieval Barcelona,” was named Medievalists.net’s Book of the Year. Marie A. Kelleher, who passed away in 2024 while completing the manuscript, joined the faculty in 2003 and was known internationally for her scholarship on women, gender and law in medieval Catalonia. Published by Cornell University Press, the book reconstructs the 1333–34 famine in Barcelona to present a vivid portrait of urban life grounded in civic records. Colleagues and friends collaborated to bring the project to publication, which Medievalists.net praised as a fitting culmination of her career. Kelleher’ book previously won the American Historical Association’s Premio del Rey. 

Rita Suh, a lecturer in the Teacher Education Department and coordinator of CSULB's UTEACH program, will chair the upcoming statewide conference of the California Association of Teachers of English. Centering on equity, inclusion and belonging in education, the conference will convene educators from across California around the theme “Power to the Teacher: Preserving Narratives, Amplifying Perspectives.” Suh also works as an educational consultant, leading professional development in culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogy, language acquisition and support for speakers of African American English and Chicano English. Her work emphasizes valuing the identities, histories and experiences of students, families and communities that often are marginalized in schools. Through her leadership role, Suh will help shape conversations that highlight teachers as essential leaders of inclusive, asset-based learning environments statewide. 

Brian Katz, a professor in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics, has assumed the role of editor in chief of PRIMUS, a leading journal focused on teaching and learning in undergraduate mathematics. Published for a national and international audience of university mathematics instructors, PRIMUS — short for Problems, Resources, and Issues for Mathematics Undergraduate Studies — features scholarship on curriculum, pedagogy and equity in mathematics education. Katz has been on the editorial leadership team for a few years but this is the first time he'll serve as editor in chief. A longtime advocate of inquiry-based learning and inclusive teaching practices, Katz brings extensive experience as an editor, scholar and educator. 

Brenda Medina Santillán, an academic advisor and academic success program coordinator in the Engineering Student Success Center, was recognized as CSULB’s December 2025 Employee of the Month for her leadership, innovation and commitment to students. Medina Santillán, whose connection to the College of Engineering spans nearly two decades, began her CSULB journey as a student assistant in the MESA program before advancing into roles that shaped K–12 outreach and student success initiatives. She later helped pilot the BESST program, which became the model for the University’s Beach XP program. In her current role, Medina Santillán supports engineering students as they navigate academic challenges and work toward becoming fully declared in their majors. Colleagues cited her behind-the-scenes leadership, collaborative approach and ability to streamline complex programs as central to her impact on the student experience. 

Known for his behind-the-scenes impact on student success, Hedrick Flores was named January Employee of the Month in his role as an academic advisor in the College of Education’s Liberal Studies Department. Since joining the college, Flores has become a trusted presence for students and colleagues, known for his reliability, inclusivity and student-centered approach. He plays a key role supporting Beach XP cohorts within the College of Education and oversees the Liberal Studies peer mentor program, helping students navigate registration, set goals and build confidence while guiding peer mentors as they develop their own leadership skills. Colleagues praised Flores for stepping in during high-demand advising periods, mentoring newer staff and creating welcoming spaces where students feel supported and empowered.