Titan of the Year
Marisa Sherb
School of Nursing College of Health and Human Development
Titan Excellence Award
Diana Herrera
Housing and Residential Engagement, Student Affairs & Strategic Enrollment Management
Diana Herrera sets the gold standard for Titan Excellence. Her student-centered approach is evident in their work every single day. She meets one-on-one with first-generation students and their families to ensure they understand degree requirements, processes, and university resources. A natural innovator, Diana launched the Finance department’s first social media platforms to expand access and increase student engagement. Through Instagram and Discord, she conducted outreach and connected students to career-focused opportunities, organizing and promoting events with leading organizations such as the U.S. Treasury, Disney, and the Commercial Bank of California. In Spring 2025, her department achieved a 97% mentoring completion rate.
Titan Excellence Award
Marisa Sherb
School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Development
Marisa Sherb exemplifies mission-driven leadership and outstanding performance. She manages a fast-growing team, supervising both undergraduate and graduate students while coordinating hundreds of placements across programs. Marisa builds relationships with community partners, coordinators, faculty, students, and leadership, all while ensuring seamless communication and compliance across multiple health systems and community sites. No matter the complexities of regulatory changes and countless challenges, she rises to meet every moment and ensure our students succeed, all while expanding care across our community. Thanks to this work, they have provided invaluable clinical experiences that prepare future nurses. Marisa facilitated placements of health care professionals in hospitals, senior centers, after-school programs, and conducted homeless outreach, ensuring care reaches those who need it most.
Titan Excellence Award
Danielle Van Dalsem
Outreach, Recruitment, and Orientation, Division of Student Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Management
Danielle Van Dalsem reimagined the campus visitor experience and reshaped Campus Tours and Visit programs to enhance engagement, advance operational excellence, and strengthen student leadership. She launched college-based tours, developed specialized K-8 tours, and even introduced Saturday tours with Spanish-language options. Danielle played a key role in launching the TargetX Customer Relationship Management system, which streamlined internal operations and ensured every campus visitor’s journey is seamless from the very first click. She strengthened student leadership by creating the Senior Titan Ambassador program, fostering peer mentorship, and developing a leadership pipeline. By collaborating across campus and beyond, she learned and shared best practices with Task Forces, conferences, and the Student Affairs Professional Development Committee. These efforts have resulted in greater access, stronger community engagement, and meaningful experiences for over 29,000 campus visitors.
SchoolsFirst Excellence in Education - Staff
Chérie Rolapp
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Academic Affairs
Chérie Rolapp champions our students, working tirelessly to secure grant funding and private support to expand access to paid internships, mentorship, and professional development. Chérie is deeply committed to her work and its impact, intentionally leveraging a powerful network of partnerships to advance opportunity for all students. She clears obstacles and removes financial and systemic barriers from students’ paths, clearing the way for all to benefit, including first-generation, low-income, and historically marginalized students. In 2025, Chérie forged innovative partnerships in biotechnology and tech sectors, creating new pathways for Cal State Fullerton students to attend national conferences and connect with industry leaders. These were truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that opened doors, shaping students’ futures for years to come.
SchoolsFirst Excellence in Education - Faculty
Dr. Thomas May
College of Business & Economics, Academic Affairs
Dr. Thomas May is perfectly cast in his role as an innovative professor. He transforms the challenging subjects of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analysis into engaging and accessible learning experiences. Dr. May's passion, creativity, and clarity shine through, with students reporting that this professor “doesn’t just teach the material - he makes you want to understand it and see the bigger picture.”
Dr. May champions inclusive teaching and his commitment to student success is interstellar, always making himself available for exceptional mentorship and guidance, both inside and outside the classroom.
Teamwork and Collaboration Award
Student Affairs & Strategic Enrollment Management Team
Powered by teamwork and driven by purpose, this team delivered a standout year. The Student Affairs & Strategic Enrollment Management Team surpassed Spring transfer goals, increased student attendance of Fall in Love with Fullerton by 58%, expanded campus tours with Spanish language and virtual options, launched the College Tour on Amazon Prime, and expanded partnerships, cultivating a network that reaches across campus, our community, and the entire state. As a result, this team hit record-breaking student recruitment, with Fall 2025 receiving over 83,000 applications and they engaged over 40,000 students across 516 events!
The Student Affairs & Strategic Enrollment Management Team include:
Haley Arendt, Hailey Bruder, Vince Cardenas, Jessica Cocciolone, Jorge Contreras, Alyssa Duran, JC Elamparo, Rosemarie Enriquez, Citlalli Franco, Oscar Garcia Ortiz, Steph Hernández, Christin Johnson, Britney Lynch, Leah Mathews, Jeanette Monzon, Tae Peoples, Noel Quiñones, Jeremy Reyes, Sam Sanchez, Kay Sosin, Talani Solia, Emily Taketa, Nate Umagat, Danielle Van Dalsem, and Julianne Vartanian.
Inclusive Excellence Award
Tula B. Strong
Department of Theatre and Dance, College of the Arts
In 2025, Tula B. Strong co-founded the Blacks in the Arts initiative, also known as BitA, demonstrating their commitment to creating a campus that celebrates representation and builds collaboration across the university and beyond. This new student group, that Tula co-founded within the College of the Arts, has elevated the visibility and success of Black students, Black faculty, Black staff, and Black alumni. In its inaugural year, BitA has over 124 members. Tula created these vital spaces for all students to thrive by planning mixers, facilitating workshops, and fostering a true sense of belonging. Her work embodies inclusive excellence by addressing systemic inequities and amplifying marginalized voices.
Spotlight Award
Coach Demain Brown
Women’s Soccer Head Coach, Titan Athletics
Coach Demian Brown, head coach for Women’s Soccer was recognized by President Ronald S. Rochon with a Spotlight Award for his leadership during a challenging time for his team. Entering his 19th season at the helm of the program heading into the 2025 season, Brown is the second longest-tenured coach in Cal State Fullerton Athletics history.
A respected leader on and off the field, Coach Brown has guided the Titans with a focus on competitive excellence, student-athlete development, and a strong team culture. Throughout his career at CSUF, he has helped elevate the women’s soccer program through dedication to his student-athletes and the Titan community, exemplifying Titan values through integrity, resilience, and service.