Sustainability Leaders

2025 Cohort

Santiago Fuentes

Santiago Fuentes is a 4th year student majoring in Public Health. As a SLP scholar, Santiago has been collaborating with a CSU Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV, National Science Foundation funded program called “Climate Empowerment Learning Initiative” (CELI). As part of CELI, he has been able to improve on his leadership skills by working alongside both High Schoolers and Middle Schoolers who are passionate about climate education and bringing his own public health knowledge and experiences to spark further passion. Santiago plans on pursuing a Masters in Public Health, with a concentration in Environmental Health. 

Jasmine Carranza

Jasmine Carranza is a second-year transfer student majoring in Environmental Studies. Through the SLP program, she was inspired to engage and strengthen her advocating skills within her campus' community and has since partnered with the Real Food Challenge (RFC)—a nationwide movement that’s active on college campuses across the U.S. to advocate for a sustainable food system. After graduation, she plans to pursue a full-time position with the City of Oakland's Public Works Environmental Service Division, where she’s currently interning. She’s eager to continue growing her career in environmental service and make a difference in her community.

Jesse Gutierrez

Jesse Gutierrez is a fourth-year student at CSU Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV, set to graduate in spring 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. He is a Sustainability Leadership Scholar interning at the local Clean Energy Alliance, where he creates educational materials focused on home electrification, decarbonization, and the resilience hub campaign in partnership with Emerald Cities and Ava Community Energy. An advocate for environmental justice, Jesse has engaged with youth from New Voices Rising, Hayward committee members, and local residents to discuss a just transition to clean energy. After graduation, Jesse plans to work as a policy analyst for the California Department of Public Health, aiming to implement policies that eliminate barriers to a sustainable clean energy future.

Kat Vaino

Kat Vaino double majors in Ethnic Studies & Sociology, they are graduating summa cum laude spring 2025. The Sustainability Leadership Program has provided space and supportive navigation of Kat’s environmental passion, and they have been accepted into Contra Costa Resource Conservation District’s Spring Internship cohort. After graduating from CSUEB, Kat plans to attend graduate school in fall 2025 and work towards his goal of becoming an Environmental Sociologist.

Irbyn Fernandez

Irbyn Fernandez Is a 4th year student majoring in Ethnic Studies with a concentration in Native American Studies and minoring in Sociology. SLP related activities include volunteering with the nonprofit organization Friends of Sausal Creek at the Bridge View Trailhead in Oakland currently working on restoring the area back to its natural habitat. Irbyn plans to pursue a career in Sustainable Development and Habitat Restoration, and also plans to bring sustainable practices to his home town in the Central Valley.

Wail Mohammed

Wail Mohammed is a third year Computer Science major at CSUEB with strong interest in sustainability and green programming. Through SLP, he is able to undertake his dream project working on air quality management system using microcontrollers and exploring its applications in workplace safety and environmental monitoring. Through mentorship and guidance from Vandhana Somaskanthan, a Cisco Software Engineer, Wail is gaining valuable insights into engineering and technology, with future plans to develop holistic innovative solutions to further drive sustainability.

Yicheng Zeng

Yicheng Zeng is a first-year graduate student majoring in Interaction Design and Interactive Art. The SLP has provided space for her to explore interests in sustainability and environmental justice. Yicheng discovered her passion for environmental health through participating in the Ideathon on Sustainable Development Goals at Cal State Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV. She is currently working on design ideas to address issues related to indoor environmental quality. Motivated to integrate sustainability into product design, she plans to incorporate these values into her future work.

Adrianna Iorio

Adrianna Iorio is a fourth-year History major with a concentration in Sustainability & Modernization and a minor in Sustainability. A returning SLP student, Adrianna previously worked at the REAP Climate Center in Alameda and now serves as a fellow for the food justice nonprofit Real Food Challenge. After graduating from Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV, they plan to pursue a graduate degree in Public History, where they hope to integrate their passion for food justice and sustainability into future museum work.

Sam Koshy

Sam Koshy is a graduate student in Construction Management at CSU Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV, with a strong focus on sustainable construction. Through the SLP program, he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity on the Sequoia Grove project, (Silicon Valley’s most greenest development)    contributing to hands-on construction activities and gaining experience in energy-efficient materials and all-electric systems. Committed to advancing eco-friendly building practices, he aims to integrate sustainable solutions within the construction industry.

Kyle McCray

Kyle Mccray is a fourth year student majoring in Chemistry. Working towards a graduate degree in Materials Science with a concentration in sustainability. Through SLP they have been working with Fresh Approach, whose mission has been to create long-term change in local food systems. Kyle has been assisting in expanding knowledge about food and nutrition with Fresh Approach. Helping run the community compost program. Where at local farmers markets free composting bins are given out and recollected once full. Afterwards added into community gardens.

Rachelle Areyan

Rachelle Areyan is a 4th year transfer student majoring in Anthropology. She has been involved in different community environmental projects in her hometown of Fresno. Her interest is in educating the public on how they can create environmental change in their daily lives. In the SLP program she is currently working on a project to educate students on the indigenous plants growing on campus. She believes that by integrating environmental change individually in our daily lives we can make a big change together.