The recent passing of Miguel Alejandre lingers throughout Cal State LA as the lives he touched remember him with the utmost love and respect.
Alejandre, a Golden Eagle alum, graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing with a minor in Social Media. He was on his way to obtaining his Masters in Education with an option in Foundations when he passed suddenly on Friday, Aug. 23. For personal reasons, his family has decided to keep the reason of his passing private.
During his time at Cal State LA, Alejandre, also known as “Mr. Cal State LA,” was highly involved multiple departments on campus such as Office for Students with Disabilities, Associated Students Inc., was a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, and even worked as a campus tour guide while being an undergrad.
After graduating from Cal State LA, Alejandre obtained a position as an Athletic Advisor, primarily focusing on baseball and womens’ golf.
Kyle Behen, the Director of the University Academic Advisement Center, a longtime co-worker, explained that Alejandre “was the most positive force in this office. He was my go-to guy here.”
As a first generation graduate, Alejandre valued all his education could offer and strived to support others who needed guidance.
Alejandre’s cousin, Amalia Moreno Banda, a first generation master’s student studying Rehabilitation Counseling, attributes her education to him.
“He’s the one who got me into Cal State LA. He helped me with all the paperwork, he helped me to apply… he’s the one who also helped me [apply for] my masters.”
Banda considered Alejandre as a brother and expressed that “anyone could go to him for help.”
A GoFundMe account was set up to raise funds for Alejandre’s funeral on Friday. The donations totaled over $15,000 in less than a week.
The community that surrounded Alejandre within the university will always remember his winning smile and open heart as he is embodied in posters around campus which truly exemplify his unofficial title as “Mr. Cal State LA.”
