CSN Alumni - Success Stories

We are joined by David Garcia from JPMorgan Chase, Dr. Federico Zaragoza, CSN President and Dr. Ricardo Villalobos, Executive Director of CSN Division of Workforce and Economic Development. We are talking about the $225,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase to support workforce development in Las Vegas.

Clarissa Cota, VP/Provost CSN North Las Vegas leads a discussion with Dr. Federico Zaragoza, CSN President and Professor Alok Pandey, CSN Chair of the Math Department. They discuss the new Math Map program made possible through a $2.6M grant from the US Department of Education in support of Hispanic and Minority serving institutions (HSI/MSI). · CSN is incorporating nationally recognized strategies for Latino students in STEM courses including: o Placement: Developing a holistic tool to accurately place a student in a math course; o Support: Coordinating academic counseling and non-academic referrals such as immigration services, access to basic needs and food pantries from day one to graduation day; o Instruction: Implementing teaching techniques based on ongoing professional development; and o Pre-Graduation: Program students present at La Cumbre Matemático a Math Summit, sharing their research and collaborative workforce skills with industry and community leaders.

In this episode, Ruben Kihuen, Director, External Affairs at Immigrant Home Foundation leads a discussion with Dr. Federico Zaragoza, CSN President, Astrid Silva, Executive Director, Dream Big Nevada and Belkiss Rodriquez, Interim Director at CSN DWED talk about the availability and importance of access to high school equivalency and English as a Second Language classes at CSN. Open to everyone and at no cost to the student. 

The College of Southern Nevada and Schneider Electric received the Environment + Energy Leader Project of Year Award 2020 for our collaborative commitment to sustainability on all CSN campuses. This elite award celebrates excellence in environmental, sustainability and energy management, demonstrating positive impacts to people, planet and the bottom line. Listen as Dr. Federico Zaragoza, CSN President and Chris Collins, VP Systems Transformation Schneider Electric North American Operations talk about the long standing partnership and what the award means to CSN and our environment.

Today we talk with Shellie about her experience as a CSN student and how she is driven to support student success at CSN through the Center for Academic Success (CAS). Shellie and team have been providing tutoring services for many years. The pandemic required a new way to offer their services. When CSN classes went online within 72 hours, Shellie and the CAS moved their tutors and students' accessibility online too - including embedding students in online classes and providing supplemental instruction. Listen to Shellie's inspiring, personal CSN story.

Listen in as recipients of the CSN Foundation Spirit of CSN award recipients talk about their winning projects. The Foundation awarded more than $45,000 to five projects led by CSN faculty and staff.  The selection committee determined these were the best for meeting CSN metrics for student success and putting student first at CSN.  The Textbook Assistance Project - Provides textbooks on loan to students. The Meaningful Writing Project - Will change the student's perspective on the relevancy of first-year courses to their overall personal, academic, and professional goals, and this will increase engagement and motivation to succeed. The Collective Project - Collaborate with invested and supportive CSN constituents to address the challenge(s) and reason(s) African American students are graduating at a 3% rate. Learning by Hands-On Research - While participating in this research immersion, students will be provided the hands-on-experience in environmental investigation in a living laboratory.

Today we talk about the impact of the CSN Student Emergency Fund. The fund offers short term, financial assistance to students enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and helps keep them in school. Wells Fargo Foundation has offered a challenge and will match all gifts up to $20,000. Brian Formisano, Southern Nevada President for Wells Fargo shares why this is important to the bank and how we are adapting work to the pandemic. Brian Akins, CSN Director of Student Life and Leadership Development leads the CSN Student Emergency Fund and talks about how the fund has helped many students at CSN stay in school. Join the challenge and make your gift before May 8th - www.csnfoundation.org

Need some inspiration right about now? Listen to the stories of three CSN Alumni and their pathways to success. LJ Cunningham - Shares his calling for storytelling using his video skills for celebrities and nonprofits with equal zeal. Chelsy Chavez - Is excited to be close to graduation and shares her health care education pathway Jacob Lara - Talks about how his music talents were nurtured at CSN and where he is today.

On International Women’s Day 2020 CSN Impact celebrates the success of women alumni and scholarship recipients.

Be inspired by CSN alumni sharing their stories of impact. Golam Hussein Marvin, Terrance Walton, Naree Asherian and Sequoia Buffer share how they came to CSN, their experience and where they are today.