Andrea Valadez
Editor-in-ChiefI’ve been involved with the Lutrinae for about a year now, and I’ve absolutely loved it. Starting as a staff writer taught me so much about journalism and helped me discover my passion for this industry. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my closest friends and exploring all that Monterey has to offer. I’m an avid sitcom and movie lover, so that also helps me unwind from school and work. As I transition into my new role as editor-in-chief, I’m eager to continue developing my skills as a writer and editor. I’m extremely passionate about doing my part to help amplify the important stories of our campus community.
Jaelynn Diokno
Production ManagerAs a long time student of graphic design and multimedia, dating all the way back to high school, I am excited to showcase my work as The Lutrinae’s Production Manager. I am a third-year Communication Design major student concentrating in Visual Design here at California State University of Monterey Bay. I love my dog and 6 cats.
Sara Christensen
WebmasterI am a senior Communication Design student, concentrating in visual design and am the webmaster at The Lutrinae. I’m grateful to have been afforded this opportunity to make more connections with people on campus, bring news to the CSUMB community, and develop my web design skills. I am happy to join the team and apply my design knowledge, so The Lutrinae can reach as many viewers as possible. I like to spend the rest of my time watching movies and series, cooking, going thrifting, and getting coffee.
Paige Francis
Assistant EditorHi! I'm Paige and I'll be the Lutrinae's Assistant Editor this year. I've been involved in journalism for about four years between my high school paper and club newsletters. I'm a second-year Environmental Studies major. Outside of editing and school work, I love to crochet, read, and binge my favorite shows. I'm very excited to be a part of the newspaper this year!
Samantha Hutz
PhotographerHello everyone! As a local freelance photographer, I have been honored to join The Lutrinae as their newest Staff Photographer for the foreseeable future. I’ve lived in the Monterey area since the spring of 2022, and I’ve met so many amazing people and continued to do meaningful work, both educational and creative. I’m a fourth-year Business major with a concentration i n Entrepreneurship and a minor in Pre-Law, with hopes to go to law school and become a civil rights attorney. Until the day comes that I can represent underserved communities in the halls of justice, I’m taking the opportunity to give voice to the students of CSUMB here at The Lutrinae. If you see me around campus taking photos, keep an eye out for them to appear in our weekly publication!
Zoe Kapp
Visual EditorMy name is Zoe Kapp. I am a second year communication design major. This is my first year working at the Lutrinae. I am excited to be the new visual editor and create illustrations for the paper!
Maxwell Tartaglia
Staff WriterI am currently a fourth year student at CSUMB. I joined The Lutrinae in my second year because it seemed like an exciting new experience to challenge myself as a writer. The role pushes me out of my comfort zone and engages me with events and coordinators on campus. My creative outlet has always been writing, but outside of that I like to cook, play games, travel and generally just experience new things.
Nicholas Zuniga
Staff WriterFall 2023 will mark my third year at CSUMB, and my first semester working with The Lutrinae. I have always enjoyed creative writing, but my major (psychology) does not allow for much of this. So, I am excited to have this opportunity as a creative outlet for my various interests. Being in this position, I am excited to create movie reviews, discuss mental health, and cover campus events.
Oscar Daniel Jimenez Iniguez
Staff WriterI am proudly from the Bay Area, specifically from East Side San Jose. I am a third-year HCOM major with a concentration in journalism and media studies. Journalism is something I hold dear and near to my heart because it speaks to what I like to refer to as the human experience. People's stories truly gravitate me to this long-time passion of mine and is the main focus I intend to pursue during my time writing for this esteemed newspaper. Another passion of mine besides journalism is listening to Nirvana and grunge music deep into the lonely and haunting night. I hope I can truthfully represent the people of this community and give a platform for those who need to be heard an opportunity to speak.
Chris Hamilton
Staff WriterWhen I first transferred into CSUMB’s Global Studies program last year, I was enthralled by all of the new ideas and worldviews that my classes explored. However, I was left with endless questions and knew that at some point, the answers I sought about how the world works would have to be found outside of the classroom. Since joining the Lutrinae in Fall 2023, the field of journalism has proved to be the perfect vehicle for investigating the world in this way, constantly challenging me to engage with fascinating people, events and ideas.
David Kellogg
Faculty adviserI've been working at the Monterey Herald for 21 years, coming to the Peninsula from the San Jose Mercury News where I worked for about 15 years. I've been teaching journalism classes at CSUMB for four years and have also worked with students at UC Santa Cruz for 14 years. I began my professional career while at College of San Mateo, covering high school football games, pounding out stories on a manual typewriter only to have them marked up in a lot of red by a chain-smoking editor. I moved on to earn my degree at San Jose State, where I graduated to writing stories on an electric typewriter. I’ve done various post-grad training programs, including earning a certificate from UC Berkeley in digital media, yet I still needed help from my granddaughter to set up Spotify. My most important role for the Lutrinae, I’m told, is to bring baked goods for the news meetings.