Almendra Lawrence

Almendra (Journalism, '11) is a bilingual content producer who helps empower and inspire audiences through storytelling. She also assists with editing and communications project management. She is a proud alumna and former editor-in-chief of The Orion.

Contact Almendra Lawrence at acarpizo@csuchico.edu

Claudia Ruiz wears a two-piece burgundy suit and pink blouse as she is photographed in the School of Nursing's state-of-the-art simulation center on campus.

Healing the Gap: Alumna Aims to Empower Latinx Community

As a physician dedicated to helping the Latino community, Claudia Ruiz is the role model she wished she had growing up.

Wearing a green sweater and black pants, Kirsten Welch rests her arm on a rail while she poses for a photo outdoors.

Graduating Seniors Share Their Stories: Undeterred by Rejection, Engineering Major Finds Success

Kirsten Welch's perseverance and hands-on experience landed her the internship of her dreams at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.

A summer night sky above a lit-up academic building

Fond Farewell: Retired Facilities Employee Steven Blackman

Remembered for his hearty laugh, retired facilities employee Steven Blackman was a lifelong music lover, adventure seeker, and taught himself to play guitar.

Black and white photo illustration of Norman Tu with the words: 2024 Distinguished Alumni Honoree

Distinguished Alum, Entrepreneur, and CEO Norman Tu

In 1982, a motivational seminar inspired Norman Tu to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams. Today, his company employs over 350 people and has facilities in several states.

Emerson Reyes, Jasmine Reyes Rodas, Areni Rodas, and Liam Reyes Rodas, 2 (left to right) as prospective students are welcomed to campus to learn about academic programs, explore facilities, and establish community at the Choose Chico event on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

Inaugural Día de la Familia welcomes Latinx families

Día de la Familia is designed to engage and empower Latinx families and their students who are curious about the college planning process and interested in attending Chico State.

Black and white photo illustration of Alycia Anderson with the words: 2024 Distinguished Alumni Honoree

Distinguished Alumna, Motivational Speaker, and CEO Alycia Anderson

Alycia Anderson believes disability needs to be an important part of the DEI conversation. An international TEDx speaker and advocate, she works with global companies to expand what inclusion means in the workplace.

Student India Starr smiles as she looks away from the camera and poses with her arms crossed in a black button-up blouse against a beige studio background.

Former Basketball Player Finds New Team in the Classroom

Basketball brought India Starr to Chico State, but the support she found here made the communication studies major want to stay.

Student Olicia Johnson smiles as she looks away from the camera while she's wearing a blue blouse in front of a beige studio background.

Passion Leads Chico Native to Find Path in Computer Science

A love of coding and her hometown led Olivia Johnson to pursue her degree at Chico State. "I have finally found my path..." she said.

Student Sierra Bowling smiles as she poses with her hands holding her gray jacket in front of a beige backdrop with the outline of a window in the background.

Hands-on Learning Helps Mold Graduate Student into SLP She Wants to Be

What began as Sierra Bowling's teenage interest in public speaking has become a passion for the budding speech-language pathologist.

Photo illustration with three portraits that include Kimate Richards, Thembi Mawema, and Lateasha Meyers

‘Elevating Black Excellence’ the Focus of Tipping Point Student Success Summit

The event brings together the University community to explore data around student success and learn how innovations in teaching and support services can make a critical difference.

Fond Farewell: English Professor Emeritus Ernst Schoen-Rene

Described as energetic, creative, and inspiring, English Professor Emeritus Ernst Schoen-Rene devoted himself to teaching at Chico State for more than 35 years.

Donning her pink lab coat, microbiology major Nayellie Barragan-Mejia smiles for the camera while conducting research at a lab at Chico State.

Biology Major’s Grit Strengthened by Faculty and Staff Support

Although Nayellie Barragan-Mejia has faced myriad health issues and social barriers to pursuing her goals, she has found encouragement from a network of support at Chico State.

Alyssa DeVries (left) and Liam McCoy (right) work on an exercise during a Communication for Disorders (CCD) counseling session on at Chico State.

Celebrating 75 Years of History, Impact in the Field of Speech-Language Pathology

Founded in 1948, the CMSD program has a long history of providing the North State with high quality professionals and critical speech, language and hearing services.

Two employees of a food pantry smile at each other and they distribute beautiful fresh produce

Chico State’s Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Chico State's Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry has become a leader and a model for the rest of the CSU campuses.

Jennifer Ikemoto, assistant chief of special operations for California Department, poses for a photo while wearing her uniform and stands along the American River near the DFW Regional Office in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

To Serve and Protect Our State’s Natural Resources

Jennifer Ikemoto, assistant chief for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, uses her biology degree and position to protect California's habitats and wildlife.

Capt. Keith Michels, Rory Thelen, Nancy Thelen, Lt. Chad Deal (left to right) take a tour of one of the buildings that houses inmates at Folsom prison.

Preparing the next generation of CDCR leaders through the Executive Leadership Institute

Developed in 2017, ELI prepares state corrections executives to be decisive, effective, visionary leaders, and champions of change.

Abbas Attarwala, who was awarded a $30,000 grant this summer to research the impacts of AI on children, is photographed at his desk while he is typing on a laptop.

The Growing Pains of AI: Professor to study how tools like ChatGPT affect children

Professor Abbas Attarwala received a grant to study how AI affects children and identify areas where more research is needed.

Photograph of Charles Price wearing a suit and dress shirt. He is looking up and away from the camera.

Fond Farewell: Professor Emeritus Charles “Chuck” Price

Few faculty members have had the wide-reaching influence and reputation that Charles Price enjoyed as a political scientist specializing in California government.

Mary Bowman wears a pink top and holds an award certificate with her right hand and a trophy with her left hand as she poses for a photo.

Celebrating Mary Bowman: 2022’s Making a Difference Award Winner

Brimming with compassion and a desire to give back, Mary Bowman is the epitome of an inspiring and engaged campus colleague.

Fond Farewell: Communications Professor Emeritus Robert “Bob” Main

A 22-year Army veteran with an unbounded joy for teaching, Robert “Bob” Main captivated and inspired students for over 50 years at Chico State and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

A group of students stands outdoors while holding bags and other household items to be donated to an emergency shelter run by Chico State's Basic Needs.

REACH Students’ Service Projects Extend Support to Community

From mental health awareness to homelessness to animal welfare, 115 students tackle a dozen service projects to help the Chico community on and off campus.

Melania Raygoza looks at the flow test stand she and her group created

Engineering Success: Students Solve Real-World Problems

From self-cleaning pool robots to a self-stabilizing spoon for Parkinson’s patients, engineering students demonstrate their ingenuity at the ECC Senior Design Capstone Project Expo.

Jaylen Kruth (left) stands behind a counter as she accepts a purchase by Josh Rodriguez (right) who is using his EBT card to pay. There are a variety of snacks on the counter.

Expanded CalFresh Eligibility Brings Food Access to More Chico State Students

More Chico State students can now qualify for CalFresh benefits to access food, thanks to expanded eligibility requirements.

Eriberto Hernandez, who is out of focus, holds an old photograph of his older sister standing next to the Chico State sign and wearing a cap and gown.

Five Siblings Fulfill Father’s Dream

Salvador Hernandez left a remarkable legacy as his five children earned college degrees from Chico State, fulfilling his dream.

Mother hugs her son while they pose for a photo.

Mother, Son Turned Classmates Learn From Each Other

Kevin LaCombe and Evone LaCombe were overlapping kinesiology students for two semesters—an experience the mother and son called unique and inspiring.

Public relations major Skylar Trostinsky is photographed on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Chico, Calif. Originally from the East Coast, Skylar is president of Chico State’s Envy dance team, works as a copy editor at the NorCal Design Center, and is general manager of Tehama Group Communications (TGC).

Journalism Major Finds Career Path to Write Her Own Future

A love of writing led Skylar Trostinsky to journalism and Tehama Group Communications, where she’s honing her skills and paving the way for a successful career in PR.

Mateus Avalos, wearing a black polo shirt and khaki pants, sits on a bench in front of a brick building for a posed photo.

Construction Management Student Gets Solid Start to Future

Senior construction management major Mateus Avalos went from novice to leader in the program—securing three internships and helping lead community service projects in his hometown of Chico.

A group of young children stand in a circle with four older teachers crouching down to play a game with a ball.

Kinesiology Major Finds Groove in Adapted Physical Education

From hating PE to aspiring to change how it is taught, Drew Jones’ passion for adapted physical education has taken her on a journey of service-learning opportunities and to pursue her teaching credential.

Alumna Sarah Weiss stands in front a rack holding folded T-shirts that she sells on her shop, Queer Gear.

Alumna Takes Pride in Identity, Launches ‘Queer Gear’ Business

Sarah Weiss started an e-commerce store that's not just fashionable, but impactful. Queer Gear sells clothing to promote visibility and representation, while giving back to nonprofit organizations focused on LGBTQ+ causes.

A student (left), wearing an orange safety vest, kneels alongside Professor Mohammed Albahttiti (right) while the two work on installing pavers at the site of a community service project at the Chico Islamic Center.

Office Hours: Concrete Industry Management Professor Mohammed Albahttiti

CIM Professor Mohammed Albahttiti empowers students through hands-on service-learning projects that connect theory with real-world application.

Janell Bauer sits at her desk while writing in a notebook and looking at the camera. A pink book sits on the desk to her left.

Office Hours with Journalism and PR Department Chair and Professor Janell Bauer

Fueled by her passion for feminism and gender equity research, Janell Bauer aims to inspire her students to be thoughtful communicators.

Student sits on the floor with 5-year-old boy as they play with trains during a session in the Autism Clinic in March 2020. Other toys and play equipment, like hula hoops, can be seen in the background.

Five Questions with Kinesiology Alumna and Adapted Physical Education Teacher Taylor Guy

As an adapted physical education teacher, kinesiology alumna Taylor Guy is passionate about making sports accessible to her students and helping them find an activity they enjoy promoting lifelong physical activity.

Portrait of Theodore Greenfield who is wearing sunglasses, and a blue button up dress shirt.

Introducing Theodore Greenfield: 2023 Lt. Rawlins Merit Scholarship Recipient

Theodore Greenfield, a father of two and elementary school band instructor, hopes to become a high school math teacher to share his love for the subject.

Portrait of Yanetli Navarro Hernandez, who is wearing blue top while her arms rest on a stool.

Introducing Yanetli Navarro-Hernandez: 2023 Lt. Rawlins Merit Scholarship Recipient

Construction Industry Management student Yanetli Navarro-Hernandez wants to be a role model and encourage more women to pursue careers in construction management.

Hannah Hull photographed standing with trees and a rainbow structure in the background.

‘Living my dream’: Chico State Alumna Forges Path in Hollywood

Hannah Hull (Media Arts, '20) shares about her "wild ride" from Chico State to Hollywood, where she's been working on sets of films and television shows.

Student Yarely Contreras sits with one foot up on a tree retaining wall made of bricks as she looks onto into the distance.

Chico State Program Encourages Students to Give Back Home

Chico State's Giving Back Home program offers support and resources to students looking to make a difference in their hometowns.

Stylish photo of Haley Willis next to words that say 2023 Distinguished Alumni Honoree

Distinguished Alum and Owner of Advantage Therapy Services Haley Willis

Haley Willis, CEO and founder of Advantage Therapy Services in Chico, is helping advance the field of speech-language pathology. She is being honored as the 2023 Distinguished Alumni of the College of Communications and Education.

Alumna Ashira Solomon smiles for a portrait..

Chico State Helps Pave Way for Alumna Now Living in Israel

In November, alumna Ashira Solomon was invited to be the presenter and moderator for the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Political Leaders in Iceland.

Joel Solis sits and smiles for the camera while holding a photograph he took. His painting of a Latina street vendor is seen in the background.

BFA Graduate Drawn to Chico State’s Art Program

Inspired by his culture, BFA graduate Joel Solis dedicated his culminating exhibition to Latino street vendors around Butte County.

Alumna Allison Ivie leans on a wall as she smiles and poses for a photograph.

5 Questions with Alumna and Vice President of Center Road Solutions Allison Ivie

Inspired by her mother, alumna Allison Ivie has made a career of advocating and empowering organizations that help women and families.