Justus Baker-Postell and Monica Ybanez have been selected as the 2024–25 outstanding students for the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration.

Baker-Postell, the Outstanding Undergraduate Student, and Ybanez, the Outstanding Graduate Student, will be honored at the college’s spring Commencement ceremony, which will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at Toyota Arena.

Baker-Postell, who earned her bachelor of arts in administration with a concentration in marketing, said she selected the major because it resonated with both her personality and her vision for the future. “I chose it because it aligned with a future I see for myself,” she said. “I have always had marketing skills and now I can apply them along with the tools I have learned.”

Baker-Postell’s journey at CSUSB began with financial uncertainty. “When I first started, I had no way of paying for the cost of attendance at CSUSB,” she said. But with resilience and determination, she persevered — emerging as a leader and advocate for others.

She created a lasting impact on campus by organizing a new event at the university’s Veterans Success Center that highlights and celebrates the service of women veterans.

“I am most proud of founding the She Served Cookout at the Veterans Success Center, an event dedicated to honoring women veterans,” she said. “What makes it even more meaningful is knowing that it has become an annual tradition, one that will continue to celebrate their service and strength long after I graduate.”

Baker-Postell shared that her great-grandmother was her greatest inspiration. “My great-grandmother inspired me to pursue my dreams fearlessly,” she said. “She taught me that even if the path changes or I lose my way, the true danger lies not in failure, but in settling for a life without growth, passion, and happiness.”

Baker-Postell plans to work as a marketing and communications coordinator for Vizard Marketing & PR and eventually pursue a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology. Her long-term career goal is to work in higher education, transition into event coordination, and ultimately retire from a career in government service.

“I’m defining my future by showing up fully, taking every opportunity to grow, serve, and lead with purpose,” she said. “Through my work in marketing, outreach, and event coordination. I’m building the skills to support and guide others, especially students in higher education. Each step I take, from my studies to my involvement on campus, is part of a bigger vision: to make a lasting impact in my community and beyond. By staying committed to growth and making a difference, I’m shaping a future where I can empower others to succeed, just as I strive to do myself.”

Ybanez, a two-time CSUSB alumna, is graduating this spring with her Master of Business Administration. She previously earned her undergraduate degree from CSUSB in 2021. “I chose this (MBA) degree because I felt it would help me lead and empower those who get little to no representation,” she said.

She hopes to use her degree in a mission-driven organization where she can champion inclusion and advocate for communities that are often overlooked. “I want my work to mean something for those around me. By being a woman in business, I hope my leadership skills will prove to be beneficial to building up a strong generation.”

Ybanez said her three children were the reason she returned to graduate school. “I was motivated by my three kids. They are growing up in a new era where things look scary for women and minorities,” she said. “I want to show them that their mom will do what it takes to lead and guide others to a path of equality, strength, and courage in any workforce they choose to pursue.”

Her decision to pursue her MBA followed a significant personal and professional turning point. “Before pursuing my MBA, I had to quit my full-time county position because I was not well enough to continue down that path,” she said. “It was my experience with previous leadership that made me realize that I was struggling to be healthy and a better version of myself and that I needed to go back to school to get the credentials that will lead me to a career I am passionate about. I had to give up a steady income and seek financial help during this process. Despite the struggle, I do not regret it one bit.”

Ybanez shared that she is most proud of her impact on students at the business college. During her time as a speech consultant, she helped numerous students in their presentation and speaking skills.

During her time at CSUSB, the support and resources at CSUSB — including faculty mentors, the Speaking Center, Career Center and Writing Center — helped her find direction and build confidence. She credited professors Bailey Benedict and Julie Taylor as mentors and said that her experience at CSUSB helped her discover a renewed sense of purpose. Through the guidance of faculty like Benedict, Taylor and Jacqueline Coyle-Shapiro, she found inspiration in their examples of leadership and began envisioning her own path as a future educator. She hopes to teach at a community college to help high school graduates navigate the often-difficult transition into higher education.

“Without CSUSB guiding me through my BA and my MBA, I don’t know where I would be,” Ybanez said. “I would not have had all the amazing opportunities that I got from the school. I would not have met so many amazing students and teachers. I would most likely still be lost, exploring countless careers. From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to my university.”