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Nominations Now Open:  2026 Faces of SSU

Do you know an SSU student, faculty member, staff member, or alum who embodies the spirit of Sonoma State? Now’s your chance to nominate them for the 2026 Faces of SSU!

Submit your nomination by October 19, 2025: 

Faces of SSU Nomination Form

Ronimar Lopez-Bazan

Ronimar Lopez-Bazan

I love being affectionate and making new friends. Those who know me would say that I have a big heart and want to make everyone happy.

Hello! My name is Ronimar Lopez-Bazan and I use they/them/elle and she/her/ella pronouns interchangeably. I am a queer first-generation trans non-binary Latinx student majoring in mathematics with a concentration in secondary teaching. I love being affectionate and making new friends. Those who know me would say that I have a big heart and want to make everyone happy. My biggest passions are helping others, social justice, and building community.

In my two years here at Sonoma State, I have been a PUERTA Promotor, Summer Bridge Leader, and Peer Mentor. I’m also involved with MEChA, Students for Quality Education, MALCS, and served as President for Queer Student Alliance. I love finding people who share the same passions or identities as mine. Especially being a minoritized student, it’s hard to fit in or feel like you belong. Being in these clubs, I feel like they have helped me with that.

One of my main challenges here at Sonoma State is having my non-binary identity respected. Often times in class, when people refer to me, without checking in with me beforehand, they often misgender me or straight up call me a “girl” which I find very hurtful. It gets tiring having to correct people all the time. I just wished more people on this campus knew better than to assume someone’s gender and overall know more about LGBT+ topics, specifically about trans-inclusivity.

My biggest positive experience at Sonoma State is finding my chosen family here. Coming to Sonoma State, I wasn’t sure if I was going to find the right group of people but I have met so many wonderful people who have helped me become a better person and understand myself better. My friends accept me for who I am and I can’t imagine my life without them.

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