Matador Achievement Center

  • Matador Achievement Center
  • Matador Achievement Center
  • Matador Achievement Center
  • Matador Achievement Center
  • Matador Achievement Center

Staff Members

 

Lindsey Schantz, Director of the Matador Achievement Center

Lindsey: lindsey.schantz@csun.edu

Grace Castaneda, Director of Athletic Academic Advising 

Grace Castaneda joined the Matador Achievement Center as Director of Athletic Academic Advising in February, 2023. Castaneda received her bachelor's degree in kinesiology, specifically physical education, from Fresno State and was a walk-on to the Bulldogs' track and field team where she competed all four years as one of the program's top hammer throwers. After moving home, she attended CSUN and earned her graduate degree in counseling, specifically college counseling and student services. She has worked at CSUN for many years, starting her career in this same office providing academic advising for student-athletes. Since then she has experience working in the Matador Advising Hub, the Nursing department and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences SSC/EOP office.
Castaneda will work primarily with the Matador men’s soccer program and looks forward to using her knowledge of CSUN and connections with colleagues across campus to support all of our student-athletes and the MAC.

Grace: grace.castaneda@csun.edu

Kevin Green, Assistant Director of Athletic Academic Advising

Kevin Green joined the Matador Achievement Center in March of 2020. Green comes to CSUN from Pepperdine University where he served as an Academic Services Coordinator. Green began his career at Pepperdine in March 2014 at the OneStop Office as an advisor before moving to Athletics in 2015.Green previously worked in academic advising at various institutions based in Chicago. Originally from Chicago, Green received his associate's degree from Elgin Community College in 2000, his bachelor's degree in psychology from Augustana College in 2003 and his master's of education in counseling (college student development) from DePaul University in 2009. Green was a student-athlete himself, having played baseball both at Elgin and Augustana. Kevin also oversees the Summer Success Program for incoming Student-Athletes. 

Kevin: Kevin.green@csun.edu

Dario Rios , Senior Athletic Academic Advisor 

Dario: dario.rios@csun.edu

Lori EIland,  Athletic Academic Advisor

Lori: lori.eiland@csun.edu 

Erick Loomis,  Athletic Academic Advisor

A former CSUN student-athlete, Erick Loomis joined the Matador Achievement Center as a Academic Advisor in September, 2023. His main academic team sport assignments include men's track and field/cross country and women's golf.
Prior to assuming his current role at CSUN, Loomis served as an Assistant Coach for the track and field program at the University of New Orleans. Loomis has also served as a graduate assistant track and field coach at Western Illinois University, where he earned his master's degree in Sport Management. During his time at Western Illinois, his responsibilities included serving as an Athletic Academic Advisor/Learning Specialist intern prior to moving on to an intern position in Game Day Operations the following year.
Loomis also had the honor of being a sponsored athlete by Starbucks through their Elite Athlete Program. This recognition was a result of his notable achievements as a track and field student-athlete during his time at CSUN from 2017-19.
While at CSUN, Loomis set multiple school records in the hammer throw and weight throw, qualified for the NCAA West Preliminaries and made two appearances at the USA Track and Field Championships. He was named a second team All-American in 2019."It is with immense enthusiasm and pride that I return to CSUN as an alumnus, ready to support student-athletes on their academic journey," said Loomis. "I find it particularly meaningful to work from the very same offices I once sat in as a student-athlete here. I am eager to play a pivotal role in the academic success of our students and to meet the needs of our department."

Erick: erick.loomis@csun.edu

Ruben Soria, Athletic Academic Advisor

Ruben Soria, Jr. joined the Matador Achievement Center as an Athletic Academic Advising Assistant in August, 2023. He will work primarily with the women’s water polo and men’s volleyball programs at CSUN.
Soria, Jr. is a Southern California native, originally from Culver City. After high school, he attended Santa Monica College where he was a student-athlete competing in men's soccer before graduating in 2019. Soria then transferred to UCLA where he majored in psychology while continuing his career as a student-athlete.
After earning his bachelor's degree from UCLA in 2021, he enrolled at Missouri State University to pursue his master’s degree in student affairs in higher education. While at Missouri State, he worked as a graduate assistant with Campus Recreation before graduating in May of 2023. In his free time, Soria enjoys playing soccer, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

Ruben: ruben.soria@csun.edu

Downie Tech , Senior Learning Specialist

Currently on leave

John Marquez , Learning Specialist

John: john.marquez@csun.edu

Bri Marroquin , Academic Support Coordinator

The Matador Achievement Center has announced the hiring of Bri Marroquin as Academic Support Coordinator for CSUN Athletics. 
Marroquin, who previously worked as Student Engagement Coordinator at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif., began her appointment at CSUN in November 2023. 
A 2021 graduate of CSU Channel Islands, Marroquin earned her bachelor's degree in communications. She earned the same undergraduate degree as her father, Tulio Marroquin who is a coach for CSUN's women's club soccer team. She then earned her master's degree in postsecondary administration and student affairs from USC. A member of the club soccer team at CSU Channel Islands, Marroquin served as team captain for two years while also assisting with coaching. In her spare time, she enjoys playing soccer in weekend women's leagues and staying active at the gym.

Bri: brianna.marroquin@csun.edu

Jolleen Hartman, Administrative Support Coordinator for Academic Advising

Jolleen: Jolleen.hartman@csun.edu

Catherine Rosa, Administrative Support Coordinator for Academic Support

Catherine Rosa is the Administrative Support Coordinator for the Matador Achievement Center, fifth floor. She manages the Travel Letters, Equipment Checkout, as well as the Textbook Loan Library programs for the Student-Athletes.

Catherine: Catherine.rosa@csun.edu

Adam Takahashi, Evening Support Coordinator 

Adam: adam.takahashi@csun.edu