11 Jun He Was Just a Student—Then He Led ASI, Fought for Equity and Found Purpose in Comics
Aaron Aguilar, a 2020 Cal State Fullerton psychology graduate with a minor in film, took full advantage of his four years on campus. Growing up in a small town like Apple Valley, Calif., his future seemed unclear. He went from believing a four-year university was out of reach to running for the Titan Student Center (TSC) Board of Trustees and eventually serving as Associated Students Inc.’s (ASI) president in his senior year.
As a President’s Scholar, he received a four-year leadership scholarship that enabled him to attend CSUF. His involvement in student life began with the Resident Student Association as a freshman, marking just the tip of the iceberg to Aguilars’ immersion in student leadership
“People say the happiest place on Earth is in Orange County, and I don’t think it’s Disneyland—I think it’s Cal State Fullerton,” Aguilar said. With deep pride in his alma mater, he shares how his time at ASI shaped his journey, purpose and future goals.
Finding His Place on Campus
Aguilar with his fellow Titans / Credit: Aaron Aguilar
A pivotal moment came in 2017 when, as a sophomore, he joined ASI’s student-led street team meeting promoting campus events. There, he met ASI Board of Trustees Chair Jared Hill and discovered the meaningful impact students could have on campus—an experience that reshaped his college journey.
In 2018, he took the leap in his third year and ran for the TSC Board of Trustees, a decision he describes as transformative.
“I felt like I should have done this from the very beginning of my Titan journey,” he said.
On the facilities committee, he reviewed proposals, budgets and policies for TSC programming. Aguilar used his role to champion projects aligned with his passions, including a standout initiative to enhance the Titan Theater for movie nights, industry speakers and creative student events.
Though the plan didn’t materialize that year, the support from student leaders and trustees left a lasting impact. With a strong team, supportive mentors and a collaborative committee, he felt capable of achieving anything.
“The research for that project showed me that we didn’t need to start from square one with a theater remodel,” Aguliar said. “We could just look at what countless other colleges and student leaders across the country had already successfully done.”
The knowledge gained through this experience set the groundwork for his presidential campaign the following year.
An Eye-Opening Experience
Aguilar and student leadership at CHESS / Credit: Aaron Aguilar
In Spring 2019, Aguilar and his running mate, Mansi Kalra, campaigned to establish a permanent food pantry, as CSUF was one of the last 23 CSU campuses without one.
He and his executive team spearheaded the resolution, visited other campus pantries and advocated throughout the year to secure funding.
Aguilar credited his time at CSUF for broadening his worldview. Coming from a small high desert town in San Bernardino County, he was unaware of social or campus issues that surrounded the Orange County community and other larger communities he later visited.
He collaborated with fellow student leaders on Basic Needs services, which provided food, housing and financial support. This included launching the mobile food pantry, which later became the ASI Food Pantry in the Titan Student Union.
“It was eye-opening to learn about food insecurity and homelessness,” Aguilar said. “I didn’t know those issues existed on so many levels and stages.”
Passing on The Torch
In early 2020, Aguilar and other ASI leaders took part in the California Higher Education Student Summit (CHESS) in Sacramento. As his team boarded their flight, rumors about COVID-19 causing a national lockdown began. However, he would not let his senior year and team go down without his legacy moment.
“I had the privilege of watching other student leaders, a lot of them just freshmen, fiercely advocating for students,” Aguilar said. “It gave me peace knowing the torch was being passed to our younger, passionate student leaders.” He knew that ASI CSUF would be left in good hands.
These lessons would follow him into the next phase of his journey.
From Education to Social Work
Aguilar in his English classroom at Teach for America / Credit: Aaron Aguilar
After graduating, Aguilar joined Teach for America, teaching high school English in Louisiana. He then took a position as a life skills coach and facility manager, supporting foster youth working at a group home in San Bernardino County.
His focus: navigating trauma, counseling and connecting young people to vital resources.
“Working for Teach for America to continue helping with classroom equity, then with my social work after, I think was a direct result from Fullerton and the things I saw at ASI,” Aguilar said. “There were these big issues that I had no idea about before. Now I do.”
The skills he developed in college—particularly in research, addressing inequity and teamwork— proved essential in his new career roles.
Bridging Literacy Gaps Through Creativity
Aguilar immersing himself in the nonprofit comic book industry / Credit: Aaron Aguilar
This year, Aguilar came full circle. After a break from his role as a community support case manager, he returned to Apple Valley and joined his childhood favorite comic shop, 4 Color Fantasies—bringing him closer to his five-year goal of opening a nonprofit comic shop to empower youth and promote literacy.
“I want to make things fun and exciting so youth are inspired to give back to their communities,” Aguilar said.
He is using this time to learn the ins and outs of the comic book industry to fully understand the business before launching his nonprofit.
“I needed some mentorship and guidance, so it has been a really good experience so far,” Aguilar said. “Honestly, I’m still figuring it out. But attending CSUF opened my eyes to so many career possibilities.”
ASI instilled Aguilar with a strong spirit of giving back; he hopes his organization will have a similar impact on other youth.
Looking Ahead: A Future Built on Impact
One of Aguilar’s hobbies is training for ultramarathons / Credit: Aaron Aguilar
Aguilar has not ruled out pursuing a master’s degree in school or child psychology, but his long-term dream is clear.
“Five years from now, I want to have my own nonprofit organization that’s impacting others the way ASI impacted me,” he said. “I do believe a big part of that is owed to ASI, seeing how powerful a student-run organization could be.”
Running toward the goal of giving back to his community, Aguilar also enjoys running in his free time. Aside from training for an ultramarathon, Aguilar spends a lot of time reading and taking his time to immerse himself in the comic book industry.
Advice to Current Students: Say Yes to Opportunity
Aguilar exploring his interests in comics at a comic book conference / Credit: Aaron Aguilar
For students still trying to find their place, Aguilar offered simple but powerful advice: “Take advantage of all the opportunities that are available. It doesn’t have to be ASI but get yourself out there. You’ll be grateful you did.”
Aguilar acknowledged that students often underestimate their own power. “A lot of people think they’re just students,” he said. “But I was just a student who ran for elections and shared my ideas. And I’m still doing that today.”
As he continues to advocate, Aguilar carries the Titan spirit wherever he goes, rooted in service, driven by purpose and always ready for the next big idea.