New 2024-2025 Board of Directors Takes Their Seats
By Teagan Davidge
Last month, a new Board of Directors (BOD) Chair and Vice Chair for the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) University Student Union (USU) were seated, along with several new representatives.
While the Board’s goals for the 2024-2025 year have yet to be set, Chair Daniel Lopez and Vice Chair Marilyn Orantes have clear aspirations for their roles.
“Marilyn and I are looking forward to continuing to support students’ basic needs through the Valera NEST, the Transportation Assistance Program, and our scholarships,” said Lopez.
Vice Chair Orantes excitedly anticipates connecting graduate students to USU programs, services and resources, as a CSUN graduate student herself. She discussed the development that members of the BOD will gain this year by attending conferences.
“I look forward to the conferences that we offer our BOD. I think we learn a lot from them, and we are able to grow professionally and personally,” Orantes said. “They’re just great opportunities to add to our skills that we can use in school and then career wise.”
Lopez is an undergraduate at CSUN, currently pursuing a bachelor of science degree in Public Health and a minor in Human Sexuality. He served as Vice Chair for the Spring 2024 semester and is eager to take on additional duties in his new position.
“The USU is like home away from home. Not only because I am there all the time, but also the programs we have for students provide them a safe space to convene, be themselves, find community and just express themselves how they want,” he said. “I think there’s always something for everybody you can find within the USU with the different programs that are run every day.”
Lopez explained that serving as Vice Chair revealed how vital the BOD’s work is to a thriving campus, ultimately leading him to run for chair.
“Even though I only have this semester until I graduate, I really wanted to still be involved as much as I can and help lead this organization,” Chair Lopez said.
As a parent scholar, Orantes recalled feeling alienated and uncomfortable on campus at first. She said she began joining campus groups that supported her, including Parent Scholars United (PSU).
“At that time, the PSU President was a Board member of the BOD. She saw potential in me and what I could bring to the USU. My first year on the Board, I saw endless opportunities, not only for myself, but to be that voice for parenting students,” she said. “I loved and I enjoyed being a servant leader, serving students, wanting to know what they need, because what makes me happy is the success of others.”
Orantes is studying Early Childhood Educational Psychology and has been a member of the BOD since June 2023.
“With all the events that we have and the opportunities that we provide for students, I think [being involved with the USU] is just a great experience for students to have during their journey at CSUN. Whether it’s as a graduate or undergraduate, it’s an amazing opportunity,” she said. “It just makes our experience better. We get so much support, especially during finals, and that’s something I’ve never seen on any other campus, so the USU means a lot.”
Other student representatives on the Board for 2024-2025 include Devaansh Mann, Heet Patel, Leo Chou, Mishell De Leon, Nawshin Sabah, Ricky Rosado, Rudy Granillo and Vyom Pathak. Some recently were elected or appointed, while others will be continuing in their two-year terms.
Non-student directors on the Board include Executive Secretary Debra L. Hammond, University Representatives Dr. Freddie Sanchez and Dr. Edith Winterhalter, Alumni Representative Joaquin Macias, Faculty Representative Dr. Mirna Sawyer and Staff Representative Steven Wang.