By Sarah GraueMeet some of the Cal Lutheran staff helping students navigate their college years and beyond.
Andrew Castro ’16, MS ’19
Assistant director of Residence Life and Student Conduct
Time at Cal Lutheran: 5 years
Ways you support students: I supervise resident assistants, offering them support in all aspects of their roles. I’m available to help all students through challenges they may have with roommates, adjusting to life on campus or concerns related to student conduct.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: Move-in day is always the day of the year that stands out to me the most. It’s a great time meeting all of our new students and families, but it’s also a time when the resident assistants shine and it really sets the tone for the year.
Leslie Madrigal ’20, MPPA ’22
Financial aid counselor II
Time at Cal Lutheran: 3 years
Ways you support students: I help them understand the financial aid process, whether that be with institutional, state or federal aid. I also support students by helping them explore different options to ensure their higher-education dreams become a reality.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: The most meaningful moments I have working with students are definitely when I get to help first-generation college students. This is a whole new world and financial aid can be complicated to understand at times, so I try my best to explain the process to them and their families, whether it be our prospective students or our continuing students.
Kecia Davis
Director of Health, Wellness and Performance and head softball coach
Time at Cal Lutheran: 34 years
Ways you support students: Sports medicine, instructor, adviser, adjunct faculty, softball coach
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: In 1995, the softball team was able to go to NCAA regionals in Storm Lake, Iowa. While we were there, we were under a tornado warning and our California athletes were a bit nervous and scared. The hotel we were in was called the Lamp Lighter and the pool was more like a green pond. Our equipment manager took some of the water out and told us “the history” of the power of the pond water and poured it on the bats to ignite them. All the players loved the story and were then excited to play when the warning was over. The results of the games were not what we had hoped for, but the experience in and out of the weather was one we will never forget. We went again to Iowa the next year and once again there was a tornado warning, this time we went and saw “Twister” in the movie theater. The veteran athletes were still a bit nervous but we came together as a team and “rode out” the storm.
I was head athletic trainer in 2011, and Eric Flores was scheduled to compete at the NCAA National Championships for both the hammer and shot putt. A few weeks before the meet, he had some lower back problems. I was able to work and rehab his back so that he could compete. In his interview with the press after winning the national championship in both the hammer and shot putt, he specifically mentioned my name and how much he appreciated all the work I did to get him healthy. I don’t ever need recognition for what I do, but that was a special time, and I was very grateful for Eric and his appreciation of our work with all student-athletes.
Jeff Kohagen
Supervisor at Ullman To Go
Time at Cal Lutheran: 3 years
Ways you support students: By working at Ullman To Go, I cater to dietary needs, answer any questions, help the students understand their meal plans and offer support when they are stressed.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: One of the tennis players gave me a T-shirt to give to my son because I had mentioned I liked it.
Cindy Lewis
Executive director of Career Services
Time at Cal Lutheran: 25 years
Ways you support students: Helping students find satisfying internships and career opportunities, running programs and workshops, helping students apply for grad school and opening services for students even once they graduate.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: Recently, I helped several recent graduates find jobs after they contacted me and said they had been looking for quite a while with little luck. I helped them update their resumes and cover letters, identified what they might be doing that could be hindering their chance at an offer and did mock interviews which resulted in them getting employed.
Yvonne Wilber
Librarian, head of Undergraduate Instruction and Outreach
Time at Cal Lutheran: 10 years
Ways you support students: My primary role is to lead the instruction of our students on how to find and access the information they need for their studies, especially in an ever-changing information environment. I encourage students to be curious, to follow their passions and to use critical thinking as they encounter new and different ideas. By being strong in who they are as unique persons, they can discover the willingness and courage to take and defend a position or even change their minds. I and the other librarians do this work in many forums, from teaching in classrooms to one-on-one consultations to assisting students in programs such as the McNair Scholars Program and the Community Scholars for Black Lives Fellowship Program. I believe that there is not a single program or student that the efforts of the library staff do not support.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: There are so many! Honestly, some of my most meaningful interactions have been when basketball coach Russell White brings his new players into the library every fall. I give them my own “pep talk” about what it means to be a scholar-athlete and how the library can help them accomplish their goals. These young men are always polite, interested and can ask really good questions!
Salma Loo, MS ’12
CARE Case Manager
Time at Cal Lutheran: 15 years
Ways you support students: In my role, I support students by meeting them where they are and helping them navigate challenges, big or small. Every student’s situation is unique, so my role often shifts depending on what they’re experiencing and what is needed at that time. Sometimes, it’s simply being a compassionate listener during a tough moment. Other times, it’s helping them navigate available resources, whether that’s getting connected with mental health counseling, academic support or other services we offer here at Cal Lutheran. A key part of what I do is helping students feel empowered to tackle challenges. This might involve discussing social dynamics, like managing conflicts with friends, family or roommates, or self-advocacy and effective communication with faculty. I encourage students to take proactive steps and often model what that process might look like. Ultimately, my goal is to help students feel seen, supported and confident in their ability to move forward.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: The most meaningful moments in my role often come after the initial crisis has passed — when students reflect on how far they’ve come. Knowing I was able to play a small part in their journey is incredibly rewarding. Some of the most powerful experiences happen when former students reach out to share about how something I said or did made a lasting difference.
At this year’s Homecoming, I had the privilege of reconnecting with several alumni who shared the lessons they learned during our time together and how they still resonate in their adult lives. Hearing those stories is a reminder of why this work matters. It’s an honor to help students through challenging times, celebrate their growth and see them thrive long after they’ve left Cal Lutheran. Moments like these remind me that even in their struggles, students are building resilience that will serve them for years to come.
