WHO WE ARE

The 2015 Cultural Showcase Core Team Staff!

      November 6, 2014 @ 5:00 a.m. = dedicated 2015 Staff in line to reserve the Student Union Ballroom!

Mary Okin | Cultural Showcase Coordinator

Graduate Student in Art History and Visual Culture
2013 Salzburg Scholar | 2014 Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar

"The Second Annual SJSU Cultural Showcase is near and dear to my heart! For the second year, I have the privilege of working with an incredible Core Team Staff who inspire me daily with their commitment, talent, and hard work. I can't wait to celebrate SJSU's diversity with you all on April 23, 2015!"

Amanda Vandenberg | Cultural Showcase Creative Director

Global Studies major | President, Global Studies Union
Treasurer of SJSU's Women Lacrosse Team

"I love being part of such a culturally diverse community. In working on the Cultural Showcase I am able to enrich my life with new thoughts and ideas and I hope to help create an event that will reach out to other students and show them the diversity they get to experience every day on campus. SJSU truly is a special place in terms of exploring what the world has to offer."

William Braganza | Cultural Showcase Performer Manager

Global Studies major | Vice President, Global Studies Union
Vice President, Pride of the Pacific Islands | 2015 Salzburg Scholar

"Cultural performances are always fun to me and a huge part of my life! In high school I helped put on our school’s Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Shows and now that I'm in college, I participate in planning Pride of the Pacific Island’s annual Lu’au. Working on the Cultural Showcase Core Team staff is my way of helping bring a fun way to celebrate diversity and culture to our university!"


Hillary Schauf | Chief Financial Officer and Master of Ceremonies

Business Entrepreneurship major | Humanities minor
2014 Salzburg Scholar

"I decided to work on this project because San Jose State is a campus teeming with diversity. I believe the Cultural Showcase is an event that will not only propogate awareness and understanding of our diversity, but highlight the beauty of it as well."

Karen Roman | Cultural Showcase Social Media Coordinator

Public Relations major
Vice President, International Association of Business Communicators

"The SJSU Cultural Showcase is a celebration of the diversity found on our campus and around the world. By bringing together so many amazing cultures, we are able to produce something beautiful. I had to take the opportunity to work for such an important cause." 

Inderpal Kaur | General Event Support and Volunteer Coordinator

Psychology major | Humanities minor

2014 SJSU Salzburg Scholar  | Student Union Board of Directors 

"I believe the Cultural Showcase is the perfect way to celebrate the rich diversity of San Jose State University. We all come from different walks of life, and this event is a wonderful venue for the campus community to come together and experience each other's cultures in a fun-filled night."

Claire Tsai | Curator of Cultural Showcase Art Exhibition

Art History major | Public Relations minor
2015 Salzburg Scholar

"Joining the Cultural Showcase Core Team Staff and coordinating the Art Exhibition is my way of giving back to SJSU. I remember sitting in the audience last year and being blown away! The performers and the team inspired me. Art is also a way to communicate culture and identity, and I hope to showcase the incredible artistic talent of our students and faculty."

Adriana Muratalla | Marketing and Communications Assistant

Design Studies (Graphic Design) and Spanish Language majors

Aspire| The Future Is Ours

"I was a volunteer who helped out at the 2014 showcase. I had a wonderful experience volunteering and enjoyed all the performances held at the 2014 Cultural Showcase. This year I joined the Cultural Showcase Staff, because I want others to enjoy the showcase as much as I did last year!"

 Aditya Mairal | Liaison to Student Housing

Mechanical Engineering major | Economics minor
2015 Salzburg Scholar | A.S. Director of Intercultural Affairs

"I am an international student from India and came to SJSU as a freshman. I give back to SJSU by raising awareness about cultural diversity. The Cultural Showcase provides me with an opportunity to create an impact and make students aware of other cultures by celebrating diversity together, thus bringing to life “Unity in Diversity.”

Erin Enguero | SJSU Cultural Showcase Founder and Advisor

Kinesiology major |  Humanities minor 
2013 Salzburg Scholar | 2012 CSU Trustee Award Winner

"When I began formulating ideas for the first Cultural Showcase in Fall 2013, I thought about how all humans have diverse abilities, upbringings, and beliefs. Yet the one thing that always brings a sense of joy and unity is the art of performance. I am delighted to see our new SJSU tradition continue!"

Sharan Johal | Publicity and Volunteer Manager

Master of Public Health Candidate

2014 Salzburg Scholar 

"It is my honor to be a part of this project because it unites the campus and community as a collective group of humans to celebrate, learn, and experience cultures from around the globe. In an unforgettable way, this project really culminates and showcases the beauty of being such a unique and extraordinary community!"

Debby Ng | Venue, Food, and Student Club Tabling Coordinator

Liberal Studies Teacher Prep major 
2014 Salzburg Scholar | President, Humanities Club

"I joined the Cultural Showcase staff because I want to bring the SJSU campus community together in celebration and awareness of cultural and ethnic diversity. This event creates opportunities for appreciation and unity among students, faculty and staff. I hope it continues as a SJSU tradition. Working on staff has been an amazing experience and I cannot wait until showtime!" 

Patricia Aubel | Liaison to I-House and Fundraising Coordinator

Applied Mathematics major | Biological Sciences minor 
President, SJSU Campus Initiative | National President’s Volunteer Service Award 

"I have always believed that music, art, and performance have a remarkable power to unite people across different backgrounds. I am so proud to be a part of this celebration of heritage and talent!"


 
Eve Allums | Social Media Coordinator & Student Groups Liaison

Political Science major
2015 Salzburg scholar

"I believe staying globally connected and spreading diversity is the best way to enrich our campus. This is my first year working on the Cultural Showcase and I already see the impact it has on students at SJSU. Not only does this project help increase the knowledge of others, it also helps me prepare for a future in international law."

 
Danny Ludovina | Cultural Matinée Performer Manager

International Business major | Humanities and Spanish minors

"I'm currently working with students and student groups to organize the performances and entertainment for the cultural showcase Pre-show known as the "Cultural Matinée"

Jessica Sandoval | Graphic Designer

Design Studies- Illustration/Animation major | Humanities minor
2013 Salzburg Scholar

"My experience as a Salzburg Scholar in 2013 inspired me to believe global change is a dialogue that can begin at home, by making small changes and inspiring awareness in others."

Rishi Bommu | Performer Management Assistant
 

Computer Science major | Humanities and Mathematics minors

Phi Theta Kappa Honors, SJSU Dean's Scholar

2014 Salzburg Scholar

"We are stronger together than we are ever apart. Our diversity is the beauty that makes us wonderful together. At SJSU I am honored to serve in the Cultural Showcase to promote such beauty. I am not only proud to study in the heart of Silicon Valley, but also at one of the most diverse schools with cultural ties from all over the world."

Joyce Suen | Venue, Food, and Student Club Tabling Coordinator

Health Science major - Health Administration

2014 Salzburg Scholar

"My experience as a Salzburg Scholar in 2013 inspired me to believe global change is a dialogue that can begin at home, by making small changes and inspiring awareness in others."

Jessica Massie | Lead Volunteer Coordinator

Political Science major |  Humanities minor
2014 Salzburg Scholar

Jessica Massie is a current Salzburg Scholar and a past performer for the Salzburg Cultural Showcase. She loves to learn about new cultures and is excited to be apart of the second annual cultural showcase.

Teklehaymanot Yilma | Lead Liason to Student Housing

Political Science major | 2014 Salzburg Scholar

A.S. Outstanding Leadership Award | A.S. Advocacy Award

"The Cultural Showcase does an excellent job displaying the true beauty of our campus and its diversity. Students go about their day-to-day lives overwhelmed with personal and academic commitments and little time to enjoy the plethora of diversity at SJSU. Our project addresses that problem by organizing a large scale cultural showcase that unites many different organizations into one powerful event."

Akos Meggyes | Cultural Showcase Documentary Film Producer

Film Director | 2014 SJSU Valedictorian Graduate
2012 Salzburg Scholar | 2013-15 President’s Scholar

“It was my honor to be part of the Cultural Showcase from its inception in 2014. Our world is changing while its people transform from diverse nationals to Global Citizens. Cultural diversity makes this world a beautifully vibrant place and I’m excited to work on documenting the manifestation of it on this colorful campus.”

 
Stephanie Conroy | Cultural Showcase Creative Team

Public Relations major

"Having been very fortunate to visit many countries already, I am fascinated by all cultures and their customs. Being able to work on the Cultural Showcase, it is helping not only me, but being able to bring in other students to expand our knowledge of other cultures and their historical customs is such a great feeling. I’m very excited to bring an already diverse campus closer together for such a great event."

 

 

 

The 2014 Cultural Showcase Core Team Staff!

   

(2014 Core Team Staff at the Dress Rehearsals and Cultural Showcase)

Erin Enguero, (Kinesiology) General Event Coordinator  

Sophie Powers, (Humanities with Music minor) Volunteer Coordinator, Marketing Specialist and Backstage Manager

Mary Okin,  (Graduate Student- Art History) Food, Volunteer, and Publicity Coordinator

Nichole Yang, (Psychology) Creative Director and Marketing Coordinator

Jonathan Perez, (Political Science) Budget and Printing Coordinator

Sophia Guttierez, (Education - Teaching Credential) Cultural Showcase Postcard Exhibit Coordinator

Avesta Sabetien, (Mechanical and Industrial Engineering), Master of Ceremonies

Laura Hart, (Humanities- American Studies) -Cultural Showcase AV Coordinator

Codi Mills, (Photojournalism)- Photographer and Photography Coordinator

Akos Meggyes, (Radio-TV-Film) Cultural Showcase Documentary Director