CSUSB CAL Talks

This is a person that our students are always talking about so I was pleased he had a few minutes to share with me for this podcast. Students respect that he was just like them - a student at CSUSB with ambitions and then he did it! He made his dream come true to be a filmmaker and win an Oscar. He still teaches and continues to make great independent movies (but for how long till a studio comes calling?). Meet Professor Johnny Coffeen. His interview is short and sweet and funny, too. 

Here's more about him including a shout-out in Variety about his latest film The Avalanche starting on the film festival route during FilmQuest in Prove, Utah.

https://variety.com/2026/film/festivals/filmquest-2026-lineup-jamie-lee-curtis-rhea-seehorn-1236845274/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4313181/

It takes a lot of courage to leave a full-time career job to pursue your dream of filmmaking. That is the story behind Joel Morales who is a graduate of the Communication & Media department and now pursuing his Master's Degree. Joel is all in at Cal State San Bernardino with a job working in Audio-Visual at the campus Santos Manuel Student Union. I loved doing this interview because Joel was a student of mine in the practicum course at Coyote Radio where we record these podcasts. It's a succinct, passion-filled seventeen minutes. Enjoy!

What a huge job she has! The CSUSB Perfoming Arts Center had been in the works and under construction for ten years. Tiina Mittler was named the Executive Director in Spring 2026 for its innaugural season. Housing the departments of Theatre and Music, Tiina is uniquely qualified for this position. 

She's a huge fan of 1980-90s Alternative Rock and so am I! So that was fun to hear her talk about. What a great background Tiina has in performing arts. It's a delightful listen. 

Here is more about Tinna from her biography:

“The moment in which the artist and audience connect creates an energy that builds on an experience. That energy can inspire joy, provide a needed escape, cultivate curiosity, or provoke thought. It is my why,” Creating a space where artists connect with their audience, and cultivating that connection point, has been a driving force in Tiina Mittler’s career. With more than two decades of leadership experience in performing arts administration, Ms. Mittler possesses expertise in venue management, strategic program development, and curatorial entertainment booking. From serving as the Board President for California Presenters, a volunteer organization dedicated to advancing performing arts programming and touring in California and working as a live entertainment consultant for public agencies to overseeing the programming and operations for the intimate 199-seat Curtis Theatre at the Brea Civic & Cultural Center to the 1,400 seat Haugh Performing Arts Center at Citrus College, Tiina remains unwavering in her belief that arts and cultural venues have the power to build community, drive the economy, and elevate the quality of life for the areas in which they reside. She strongly believes that California State University San Bernardino’s new performing arts center will serve as a dynamic connector to future students, and the greater community. She is honored to have been chosen as the inaugural executive director and is truly looking forward to fostering meaningful relationships with her new colleagues across campus, while serving our students, the University and community.

One thing that stood out to all about Jose Pereida was his love of all things Motion Pictures: Jose is a movie fanatic! And so very knowledgeable.

Jose is a graduate of the Communication & Media Department with a concentration in Media Studies. He has been a student on-air host on the campus radio station, Coyote Radio during his senior year. This is where his movie knowledge shines through the speakers and ear buds. 

During weekends, you can hear Jose announce for the CSUSB Coyotes Baseball and Softball teams as they play rivals in our adjoining ballparks. He's kept that job post-graduation.

During the interview Jose talks about his time at CSUSB and transferring here from Chaffey College in Ontario. This is a straight-up IE Dude!

His family tradition of wrestling comes out in our converstaiton, too. It's heartwarming.

Congratulations to Jose for graduating and heading into his very bright future as a communicator.

Dr. Erin Hall is an Assistant professor of linguistics and speech-language pathologist in the English Department at CSUSB. She tells me that she has a goal of building a strong rapport with students and leading them to develop an appreciation of the field. She hopes to help develop new programs in speech-language pathology at CSUSB to address the lack of a public university options in the Inland Empire, which will prepare students for well-paying and interesting careers in the field.

Regarding research, Erin examines the intersection between child language acqusition and sociolinguistics with a particular focus on how children participate in language change. She also has more than 12 years of clinical experience as a speech-language pathologist, addressing various communication challenges with children and adults.

Dr. Hall is also a founding professor in our Speech-Language Pathology Master's Preparatory Certificate Program which provides students with the prerequisite coursework needed to apply to most Master’s programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Communication Sciences & Disorders. 

I think you'll enjoy hearing about her work and her hobbies which take her often to the water!

​Scott was such an fun interviewee! Not only does he have a colorful background but he delivers his story with vividness and humor. He is a true Inland Empire original being born in San Bernardino and growing up in the High Desert. 

His youth brought some health challenges that turned into his life's passion. Well, his work passion! Because there's Julie Kruger, too. And much more importantly so - his wife and high school sweetheart.

The Department of Theatre Arts has Scott as their cheerleader and staple. 

Here's the biography he provides:

An American Advertising Federation multiple ‘Addy Gold Award’ winning graphic designer that earned his Bachelor’s Degree, as class valedictorian, in Graphic Design and Marketing from the Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. He worked for several years in the marketing department for San Manuel Casino in Highland California; former Art Director and Co-Owner of Desert Barn Brewery in Hesperia, California; and currently as a Graphic Design/Publicity Specialist for California State University San Bernardino’s Department of Theatre Arts.

Kevin Zhang’s work as a composer and experimental musician encompasses instrumental, vocal, electronic, and electro-acoustic concert music, along with field recordings, sound walks, site-specific installations, and interdisciplinary projects involving film, theater, and dance. His compositions have been presented internationally at the Darmstadt Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, Dian Red Kechil International Young Composers Residency, Electroacoustic Barn Dance, Festival de Royaumont, Hear Now Music Festival, MOXsonic Festival, Northwestern University New Music Conference (NUNC!), Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium, Puerto Rican Sound Art Fair, Qualcomm Institute’s IDEAS series, the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS) National Conference, the UC Davis Music and Words Festival, and the VU Symposium for Experimental, Electronic, and Improvised Music. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition at California State University, San Bernardino, where he also directs the CSUSB New Music Ensemble.

Education

Ph.D., University of California, San Diego

M.F.A., University of California, Irvine

B.M., New England Conservatory of Music

Dr. Matt Smith began his academic career at Cal State San Bernardino but that's just part of his amazing college experience. He takes us through that path and the hows and whys of his commitment to student affairs. After all, we're all here because of the students! But his story may be the best.

Matt spent his youth in the Inland Empire so he knows first hand what it's like to make your way as a young adult in our region.

Describing his K-12 years you'll find his story engaging and enlightening. As a teenager he decided what to do with his life and it all centers around students and their welfare.

It's a wonderful interview with a passionate member of our campus community. Cheers to Dr. Smith!

Peter has such a fun zig-zag college path that is unlike most students in getting where he is today. He laughs frequently at discribing how he came to be an ITS Consultant trhough that very path of finding his way through academia. 

Peter describes his Vietanmese background and the orign of his family's last name. It's all so facinating and the epitome of being American.

Coyote Radio is in the College of Arts and Letters and the home to these podcasts. Peter knows the equipment all too well! He is our IT Consultant and Broadcast Engineer.

Peter always has a smile and warm greeting for all and you hear that in this interview.

And just like the blouse she wears in her profile pic here, Professor Papailler is colorful, intriguing, smartly presented and just a bounty of liveliness. She has some super fun stories about growing up in Louisville, Kentucky. From that early age she was play acting with her brother and neighborhood friends. Her desire was to attend Columbia University but stayed home and was a student at University of Louisville. Listen and find out why it was a great choice. 

Kristi is so passionate about Theatre Arts that it's contagious! From start to finish you'll be engaged in this interview. Pure entertainment with that dramatic flare.

Kristi Papailler, MFA 

 Graduate Certificate in African American Theatre

Sifu Tai Chi & Qi Gong With Specialty in These Arts for Actors

Theatre for Positive Social Change 

Head of Acting & Faculty Advisor

Professor, Department of Theatre Arts

Faculty Fellow - CSUSB Extended Reality for Learning xREAL Lab

Advisor- Student African American Sisterhood

Department Representative, California Faculty Association, San Bernardino Chapter

College of Arts & Letters Representative- Faculty Senate

Treasurer, The Black Theatre Network

Next Steps Coordinator, KCACTF Region 8