ALUMNI AWARDS GALA HONOREES

David Tetreault, ’89, ’94
President, Triller

Shannon Tetreault, ‘90
TV Producer
Media and Entertainment Executive

Donna Tetreault, ‘93
TV Parenting Journalist, Author, and Speaker

—— ♦ ♦ ♦ ——

David Tetreault is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Advertising in 1989 and a Master of Arts in Theatre Arts in 1994. Tetreault also holds a Master of Fine Arts in the highly prestigious Producers Program from UCLA 2002.  Tetreault completed a Graduate Certificate from Columbia University in Sports Management in 2016.  

Tetreault began his career in 1989 at CNBC in Advertising Sales and Marketing. Tetreault moved onto Sony Pictures as a Manager of Marketing in 1990 developing strategies for many high profile television shows, that included “Who’s the Boss,” “Married with Children,” “Mad about You,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy,” “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” “Ricki Lake,” “Seinfeld,” and many more.  

In 1995 Tetreault was made Director of Marketing at Warner Bros. Television and was charged with developing high level advertising campaigns for the “West Wing,” “Friends,” Extra,” “Access Hollywood,” “Rosie O’Donnell,” “The Adventures of Lois and Clark,” “Suddenly Susan,” “ER,” “The Jenny Jones Show,” “Babylon 5,” “The Client,” “The Wayans Bros.,” and many more.  At Warner Bros. Tetreault created innovative campaigns that blended Radio, TV, Outdoor and On-Line advertising.

In 1999 Tetreault joined FOX Television as Senior Vice President of Marketing.  In this role Tetreault ran a $200 Million Dollar Advertising budget to market all of the FOX television shows. These shows included the “X Files,” “The Simpsons,” “Dharma and Greg,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Futurama,” “King of the Hill,” “Ally McBeal,” “Divorce Court,” “Malcom in the Middle,” “Stark Raving Mad,” Angel,” “On Air With Ryan Seacreast,” “American Idol,” and many more.  At 20th Tetreault multimillion dollar sponsorships with Lexus, American Airlines, Apple, Chevrolet, BMW and others.  

In 2008 Tetreault took the Chief Operating Officer position at IHEARTMEDIA’s Clear TV.  Clear TV developed TV networks across the OTT space, On-Line and Out of Home.  At Clear TV Tetreault brokered over two hundred programming partnerships with major networks that include ABC, NBC, FOX, ESPN, CNBC, USA Networks, Bloomberg, FOX News, the CW, CBS Sports, and many others.  

In 2015 Tetreault became the Chief Business Officer for Golden Boy Promotions. Tetreault created Medía and Entertainment division for Golden Boy that produced 1000’s of live boxing events around the world as well as TV shows such as “Mano a Mano,” “The Ring Report,” “Off the Canvas,” and the “Golden Boy Fight Night.” Tetreault brought significant distribution to Golden Boy through partnerships with Facebook and ESPN.  Tetreault brokered the largest TV license fee deal in boxing history with a $550 Million Dollar pact with DAZN.  Golden Boy has thrived since on the global stage with its DAZN partnership.

Tetreault joined Triller as President in 2022 overseeing Boxing, Combat Sports and Entertainment.  Tetreault architected the acquisition of BKFC, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, BKFC produces over 35 live events around the world annually. Tetreault has a team that creates TV programming and short form content to drive the Triller Fight Club and BKFC brands globally. Tetreault has initiated a Triller Sports division, which provides the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and MLS a suite of services to drive viewers and sponsorships to their teams and products.  

Tetreault also serves as an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Los Angeles teaching Strategic Management in the MBA program as well as at the University of San Francisco teaching Sports and Entertainment in the Masters of Sport Management program. 

Tetreault is married to Shannon Tetreault and recently they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.  David and Shannon have two beautiful daughters Alexis and Peyton, who are both graduates of the University of San Diego. 

—— ♦ ♦ ♦ ——

Shannon Tetreault is a distinguished professional with a dynamic career spanning various facets of the entertainment industry. Graduating with distinction in Broadcasting and Advertising from California State University, Los Angeles in 1990, she embarked on her journey at Stu Segal Productions as a Production Coordinator, contributing to the success of hit shows like "Silk Stalkings," "Renegade," and "Pensacola Wings of Gold."

Her passion and talent led to her promotion to Coordinating Producer in 1996, where Shannon produced impactful made-for-television movies such as "Reasons of the Heart," "Illegal in Blue," "Fast Money," and "Wounded Heart." Transitioning to entertainment marketing at DG Entertainment in 2005, she worked on campaigns for major studios like Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, FOX, CBS, and Paramount.

In 2010, Shannon brought her expertise to Clear TV, a division of IHeartMedia, where she collaborated with over 200 programming partners, including ABC, ESPN, CNBC, BBC, FOX News, NBC, and others.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Shannon finds fulfillment in her 30-year marriage to David Tetreault and cherishes her role as a mother to two daughters, Alexis and Peyton. A cancer survivor, she advocates for the City of Hope, embodying resilience and dedication in both her personal and professional life.

—— ♦ ♦ ♦ ——

Donna Tetreault is a national TV parenting journalist, award-winning and best-selling author, international speaker, and educator. Her most important job, mom and wife.

Donna earned a BA in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1991. After graduation Donna’s love for children and education led her to enroll in the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at Cal State LA. She taught kindergarten, 1st, 4th, and 5th grades at Eastman Avenue Elementary in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

After four years in the classroom, Donna decided to change course and began her twenty-five year television reporting career. She started in Midland, Texas, market 147. Her next move was to Rochester, New York, market 77. After two years in the cold and snow, Donna headed home to Los Angeles, market 2. Her first job in Los Angeles was for KCBS-TV channel 2 as the station’s Education reporter. She went on to work at KNBC-TV channel 4 for the next eight years. She then made the leap to national TV reporting and worked at CNN’s west coast bureau.

In 2008 Donna and Andrew’s first son, Jackson was born. Asher followed quickly in 2009. At that point, Donna left general assignment reporting and decided to embark on her now fifteen year parenting reporting journey. She wanted to use her skill set as a reporter to research and report on evidence-based parenting strategies to not only empower herself as a parent, but viewers in Los Angeles and across the country.

Building this unique, niche reporting path was not always an easy road as Donna pitched News Directors in Los Angeles who liked the idea, but were not always ready to commit to this type of franchise for TV. But her deep passion for parenting education kept her pitching. Over the years, she has worked as a national parenting reporter for NBC News Daily, NBC News Now, Dr. Phil, The Doctors, The Talk on CBS, The Insider on CBS, Access Hollywood, and HLN's Raising America with Kyra Phillips. She is also seen regularly in Los Angeles on KCBS/KCAL, NBC’s California Live, KTLA, and Spectrum News One.

In 2020, Donna began work as host of her own podcast, Kids Under Construction, launched with Stage 29, Dr. Phil’s podcast group.

Over the years she has been a contributor for U.S. News & World Report, Parents.com, Thrive Global, Your Teen Magazine, and has guest contributed for Harvard University's Graduate School of Education's Making Caring Common Project.

Donna is also an author. Her parenting book is titled, The CASTLE Method. Her debut children's book, Dear Me, Letters to Myself For All of My Emotions is a Best-Seller and Readers' Favorite Award-Winner in the Educational Category.

Donna has also taught journalism classes at UCLA Extension. One of her favorite courses, which she created, The Art of the Interview.

She is also an Advisory Board Member at Bonfire Digital Wellness for Teens and founded, with her husband, Andrew, the nonprofit Caring Counts.

Donna lives in Sherman Oaks with her husband, Andrew, and their two sons who attend Harvard-Westlake. Jackson is in 10th grade and plays golf and Asher is in 9th grade and plays baseball.

Michelle Zamora, ’04
Co-Founder and CEO
Viva La Puppet, LLC

Michelle Zamora is the Co-founder and CEO of Viva La Puppet, LLC. She is a Latina puppet designer, creator, & puppeteer originally from Brownsville, Texas. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Cal State LA in 2004.

Michelle traveled around the world puppeteering Waffles in Waffles + Mochi on Netflix alongside Michelle Obama, Jack Black, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rashida Jones, Chef José Andrés, Chef Massimo Bottura, Samin Nosrat, Lionel Richie, and many others.

In 2021 she was nominated for an Imagen Award for Best Voice-Over Actor in a Television Series. Michelle received an Ovation Award for Puppet Design in 2014. She returned to Cal State LA’s Theater Arts & Dance Department to teach Puppetry 101 a couple years after graduating. She was the puppet captain and lead puppeteer in A Black Lady Sketch Show on HBO and Let’s Be Real on FOX. Michelle also led the Viva La Puppet team that created puppets for Worn Stories on Netflix, The Tiger and The Buffalo Meta commercial, Bob's Burgers Live, Pee-Wee Herman Live on Stage shadow puppets, Sanjay & Craig on Nickelodeon, Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg, and Jason Mraz.

Michelle and her company were featured in an ad for LegalZoom as well as designed, created, and puppeteered in their national commercial campaign. She is a mama to Ellie and Milo and finds inspiration in their wonderment and joy for our world. 

Michelle gives the utmost thanks to her mom, dad, sister, husband Matias (Co-founder and President of VLP), Viva La Puppet team, Tony Martinez, and the entire Cal State LA theater department faculty and staff for supporting and believing in her puppet dream. 

Mike M. Sarian, Ph.D., MBA, ’83
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
American Healthcare Systems

Mike Sarian is a highly accomplished leader in the healthcare industry, with over 30 years of experience in senior executive positions. As the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Healthcare Systems (AHS), Sarian has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape.

Throughout his career, Sarian has held various key roles, including multihospital CEO, multispecialty medical group CEO, hospital CFO, and other senior executive-level positions. He has successfully led the transformation of struggling hospitals into thriving institutions by prioritizing quality of care, operational efficiency, workplace environment, and corporate strategy.

Prior to his current position at AHS, Sarian served as the President of Hospital Operations for Prime Healthcare Management Inc., where he oversaw the operations of 45 hospitals across 15 states. Under his leadership, eight of these hospitals were recognized as "Top 100 Hospitals" in the country.

Sarian's expertise extends beyond hospital management. He has served as CEO and Vice President of Finance for various healthcare systems, IPAs, and medical groups, including Prospect/Alta Hospital System Inc., Heritage Medical Group, HMMG Inc., and Saint John's Healthcare. In addition, he has been an executive board member of esteemed organizations such as the California Hospital Association and the Southern California Hospital Association.

Sarian is highly educated, holding a Ph.D. in public health, a master's degree in business administration and management from the University of La Verne, and a degree in business administration from California State University, Los Angeles. His commitment to lifelong learning is evident in his pursuit of academic excellence.

Apart from his professional achievements, Sarian is dedicated to giving back to his community. He has served as a board member for the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Los Angeles and the University of La Verne, demonstrating his passion for education. Sarian's involvement in the Armenian community is another testament to his commitment to service. He actively supports Armenian hospitals, the Armenian church, local Armenian schools, and other charitable organizations.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to his field and his years of dedicated service to the nation, Sarian was honored with the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Mike Sarian's exceptional leadership, extensive experience, and commitment to excellence make him a highly respected figure in the healthcare industry. His vision and dedication have made a significant impact on the organizations he has led and the communities he serves.

Frances Baez, Ph.D., ’98
Chief Academic Officer
Los Angeles Unified School District

Frances Baez is a twin and one of three daughters of an immigrant mother born in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Dr. Baez attended public schools in Los Angeles Unified.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Teacher Credential and Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from California State University, Los Angeles and she earned her Ph.D. in the School of Education in Urban Leadership from Claremont Graduate University in 2023. 

Dr. Baez has been an educator close to 30 years in Los Angeles Unified and has led transformation as a teacher, school Principal, Instructional Director, Administrator of Instruction and Local District Superintendent leading increases in high school graduation, English Language Arts and Math, English Learner reclassification, and early literacy.  

As a leader, she has promoted women in leadership efforts as President of the Association of California School Administrators Region 16 and has mentored many principals.  She is a past Fellow with the National Institute for Latino School Leaders (NILSL) of UnidosUS where her collaborative research informed policy for English Learners at the State and National levels.  She is currently part of a Google Fellowship and has begun a Fellowship with the Forum for Educational Leaders. This dedication is for the students of Los Angeles, to ensure that she is always at the cutting edge of innovation and progress as she leads instruction for close to 500,000 students.

Dr. Baez keeps families and students at the forefront as she sponsors and mentors youth to reach their goals. She leads with heart, mind, and soul and her mission is to remove all obstacles to learner’s success. 

Outside of leading, she enjoys cycling, hiking, volunteer work, spending time with family, and ministering in her church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Her partner in life, her husband Rene Baez and her twin sister are her sources of love and support.

Today she serves as the Chief Academic Officer supporting the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) vision to prepare students to be Ready for the World!

Christopher Lynch, Ph.D., ’84
William R. Johnson Jr. Family Chair
Dean, Bourns College of Engineering
University of California Riverside

After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cal State LA in 1984, Christopher Lynch joined the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power as an entry-level engineer. From there, he moved to Santa Barbara in 1986, where he worked at Dynasen, Inc. developing sensors for shock pressure measurements. While working full-time, he completed his Master of Science, Ph.D., and postdoctoral work at UC Santa Barbara.

In 1995 he joined Georgia Tech as an assistant professor. He moved to Los Angeles in 2007 where he served as a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and as director of the MS Online Engineering Program which rose to the #1 USNWR ranking. From 2016 to 2018, he served as the Chair of the UCLA Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. In 2018 he moved to Riverside to serve as Dean of the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering at the University of California Riverside (UCR).

Dean Lynch is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a Fellow of SPIE. He has received the ASME Smart Structures Prize and the SPIE Smart Materials and Structures Lifetime Achievement Award for his research on Smart Materials and Structures. He has served as the editor-in-chief and is currently an editorial board member of the journal Smart Materials and Structures. 

Under Dean Lynch's leadership, the Bourns College of Engineering has grown from 3,400 to 5,000 students with approximately 4,000 engineering and computer science undergraduate students enrolled across 5 departments and approximately 1,000 graduate students. "The focus of the college is on educating our diverse students to participate in our increasingly complex technology-based economy through careers in industry, as entrepreneurs, and as faculty members."       

Christopher and his wife Anne have been married for over 41 years. They have three sons who have formed their own intellectual property law firm. Chris and Anne currently have five grandchildren with number six on the way. They enjoy hiking and skiing together and spending time with family as often as possible.

Bamby Salcedo, ’16,’20
President and Chief Executive Officer
The TransLatin@ Coalition

Bamby Salcedo is a prominent and celebrated transgender Latina activist, known all over the world for her passionate and productive social, political, and economic influence. As the President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, Bamby steadily leads this nationally recognized organization that advocates for and addresses the issues of transgender Latinas throughout the United States. Bamby received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mexican and Latin@ Studies from California State University, Los Angeles, and also developed the Center for Violence Prevention & Transgender Wellness, a multimillion, multipurpose, multiservice space for Trans people in Los Angeles.

Bamby’s wide-ranging activist work has brought visibility and given a voice to not only the trans community, but to countless others whose efforts focus on critical topics that include immigration, HIV, at-risk youth, LGBTQIA+ issues, incarceration, and more. Through her dynamic leadership, Bamby has developed several organizations that have created networks and connections where there were none, and she, to this day, tirelessly advocates for the rights, dignity, and humanity of those who are often silenced. Determined to affect change at every level, Bamby actively engages and supports many local, national, and international organizations and planning groups.

As a recognized public speaker, Bamby’s experience has an extensive range. She has expertise in presenting to governmental bodies, human rights and social justice organizations, and universities and colleges, as well as speaking at demonstrations and rallies and testifying as an expert witness. Bamby has also appeared at national and international conferences as a featured speaker. She speaks to diverse audiences on varied topics and intersecting issues that include transgender-related issues, social justice, healthcare, social services, incarceration, immigration, and detention as well as professional and economic development for transgender people.

Thanks to her impassioned and impactful influence, Bamby has been invited several times by the White House to participate on a multitude of panels. In 2015, she proudly shared the stage with President Biden at the United States of Women Summit and later that same year she spoke at the Transgender Women of Color and Violence and LGBTQ People of Color Summit. In 2021, Bamby visited the White House again to speak as an invited guest and valued advocate on the issues of safety, inclusion, as well as opportunities for transgender individuals. Bamby was also invited to testify before Congress to speak on the Equal Rights Amendment with the ERA Coalition, for which Bamby serves as a board member. Bamby was humbly honored to participate in the hearing and always ensures that our elected officials learn firsthand how people are impacted by the policies and laws they create.

Bamby has also had the honor of being the opening plenary speaker at several conferences, including The 2018 National Sexual Assault Conference, the 2015 National HIV Prevention Conference, and the United States Conference on AIDS in 2009 and 2012. She has participated as a facilitator with The PanAmerican Health Organization where she helped develop the blueprint on how to provide competent health care services for transgender people as well as health care for LGBT people and human rights in Latin America and The Caribbean.

Bamby is known for communicating in deeply powerful, sobering, and inspiring ways that align beautifully with her warm, down-to-earth presence. She speaks from the heart, as one who has been able to transcend many of her own issues, issues that have derailed and paralyzed countless lives, including at times, her own. Bamby’s words and experience often summons both tears and laughter and her life story has been the subject of two documentary films, “TransVisible: Bamby Salcedo’s Story” and “LA QueenCiañera.”

Bamby has been featured and recognized in multiple media outlets such as People en Español, Latina Magazine, Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, OUT 100 and featured in the HBO documentary The Trans List, among many others. Bamby has also been recognized and awarded for her outstanding work by multiple national and local organizations.

Sylvia A. Alva, Ph.D., ’81
President Cal State Fullerton

Dr. Sylvia A. Alva was appointed as the ninth president of California State University, Fullerton, the most populous institution in the largest system of higher education in the country in August 2023. As chief executive officer, she provides leadership for approximately 4,000 educators, overseeing all aspects of the university’s operations in close collaboration with faculty, staff, alumni, community partners, and the institution’s more than 40,000 students.

President Alva joined CSUF from the California State University Chancellor’s Office, where she has served as executive vice chancellor of academic and student affairs since 2021. In this role, Alva has focused on providing a high-quality educational experience for California’s diverse student body. Among the activities led by the division was the systemwide Graduation Initiative 2025, which led to all-time high graduation rates for students while narrowing equity gaps in degree completion.

Dr. Alva’s appointment at CSUF is a homecoming for her. She began her career in higher education at CSUF as an assistant professor of child and adolescent development before being promoted to associate professor and professor. While at CSUF, she served in a number of administrative roles, starting as the educational equity coordinator for the College of Health and Human Development and culminating as associate vice president for undergraduate programs.

She continued her career at California State University, Northridge, where she served as dean of the College of Health and Human Development. In 2015, she joined California State Polytechnic University, Pomona as provost and vice president for academic affairs, providing strategic and academic direction for the campus. She also held a faculty appointment in the psychology department.

Dr. Alva is a first-generation college graduate and a product of the CSU, having earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. She earned a master's and Ph.D., both in psychology, from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Nina Ernst Luce, '63, '70
Marriage and Family Therapist

Nina Ernst Luce (September 29, 1942 – December 14, 2023) was a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice for the past 34 years helping individuals and couples. In her practice she supported people with a variety of struggles including issues around aging, fighting diseases, bereavement, and marital struggles. Nina helped countless individuals and couples find peace and happiness.

Nina was born in Los Angeles, California, and was always proud to be an LA native.  She attended Paul Revere Middle School and University High School.  She graduated from Cal Sate LA in 1963, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (the first graduating class of nursing at Cal State LA). After graduating, Nina worked at the Orthopedic Hospital as a clinic nurse where she worked with children.  After working at the hospital for a year she realized she enjoyed the counseling and parent education components of her work the most so she shifted to working as a school nurse.  She was employed at various schools over the years including the Garvey School District, Simi Valley Unified School District, Los Angeles Unified School District and Inglewood School District.  While working at the schools she often had to do home visits for outreach and education around healthy life choices and hygiene so she decided it would be helpful to go back to school for Health and Safety Studies.  Therefore, she returned to Cal State LA and obtained her masters in Health and Safety Studies, with an emphasis on health education in 1970. 

After about two decades of nursing, Nina decided to embark on a new career as she continued to find the counseling component of her work to be the most fulfilling for her.  She obtained her Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology, including academic requirements for the Marriage, Family and Child Counseling license in 1986 at Pepperdine University.  While in school she worked as a bereavement counselor at Brotman Medical Center and as a counselor intern at OPICA Adult Day Care.  After completing graduate school, Nina worked at the Jewish Family Service of Santa Monica as a Marriage Family and Child Counselor.  She worked with elementary school aged children and their families along with the geriatric population and their families.  After a couple of years Nina was ready to hang her own shingle and opened a private practice in 1989.  She was dedicated to her patients, which was illustrated in countless ways.  She was even reaching out to patients regarding rescheduling canceled sessions a couple days before her passing.

Nina interwove her two professional careers throughout her work life and never lost passion about nursing even though she changed her focus professionally.  She also never lost her pride in being the first graduating class of nursing at Cal State LA.  She always believed in the program and continued to support it over the years.  In recent years she was particularly impressed with the direction the nursing program has taken, implementing state of the art facilities and maintaining high pass rates on the board exams.

Nina and her husband David Luce were married for 52 years at the time of her passing (12/14/2023) and have two daughters and three grandchildren.