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Katrina McCollough describes fungi the way an artist renders an image. Mushrooms, she says, are “the quiet heroes”—ephemeral, overlooked, but indispensable. Without fanfare, they bind ecosystems together from the shadows while other flora and fauna take center stage.

That philosophy of hushed fortitude has guided McCollough’s path from illustrator to ecologist, and now to being named the 2025 CSU Trustee Sam Nejabat Scholar for 脱裤吧 Bay, one of the highest distinctions in the 脱裤吧 system.

“Mushrooms combine the plants and the soil, doing all the hard work in the background while letting the plants live their best lives,” McCollough said. “I really like the mushrooms for that.”

Growing up in Silicon Valley

Raised in Milpitas, McCollough grew up the daughter of two computer programmers in the heart of Silicon Valley. Technology was always at hand, but her artistic eye gravitated toward what could be called the beautifully eccentric — harmonic details that most others overlooked. By middle school, she was creating digital illustrations in early versions of Photoshop, selling stickers with friends at local fan conventions in Santa Clara and San José, and even landing her first commissioned work from her art teacher at age 13. 

Freelance design and illustration jobs, at times with global brands, followed high school. It was a decade immersed in passion and hustle, the magical and the mundane, as she worked to balance client work with customer service jobs to make ends meet in one of the world’s highest cost-of-living regions. As an artist in Silicon Valley—surrounded by programmers and corporate climbers who lived in a different register—the pull toward tech wealth was not affirming. The strain of what she wryly calls being “California poor”—never hungry, but never with much extra—wore down her mental health, and eventually slid into alcoholism.

A Turning Point

A partner’s encouragement and her mother’s steady support became her lifeline. With their help, she began to recapture her spirit for living. One class at a local community college turned into two, then eventually a full course load. She found herself thriving in biology—particularly in ecology, where her old passion for mushrooms re-emerged with new scientific depth.

“School kept me sober,” McCollough said candidly. “It gave me purpose, it gave me self-respect back. I’m really grateful I survived, and that I didn’t hurt anybody.”

Rediscovering the Underdogs

After completing her undergraduate degree in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology, McCollough experienced an epiphany that reshaped her perspective:

“There are no superstars in ecosystems. Every tiny thing is important. Humans like to decide what matters, but nature doesn’t work like that.”

Now in her first semester of the master’s program in biology at 脱裤吧 Bay, McCollough is finally working directly with fungi in the laboratory of Dr. Brian Perry, professor of biological sciences and director of the HAY Fungarium. Perry specializes in fungal biodiversity and evolutionary biology. With his mentorship, McCollough is researching the associations between soil fungi and native California plants—work that could shape future approaches to habitat restoration.

Proof That Passion Pays Off

Recognition for her resilience and clarity of purpose soon followed. The CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement is the university system’s highest recognition of student accomplishment, awarded annually to one scholar from each campus. Students are chosen not only for their academic excellence but also for their resilience, service, and commitment to transforming their communities.

“Katrina’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, reinvention, and discovery,” said 脱裤吧 Bay President Cathy Sandeen. “Her story reminds us of what is possible when passion meets opportunity, and we are proud to see her recognized with this honor.”

McCollough is clear-eyed about what the award means. “I wouldn’t be here if not for possibly hundreds of people who supported me through scholarships,” she said. “Your money did not go to waste. I want to show that I’m going to help the world.”

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, McCollough hopes to bring fungi into the center of ecological restoration planning. She dreams of working with local conservation organizations and helping elevate the importance of soil ecology in biodiversity initiatives.

“‘I’m hoping I can look back and say, ‘You did it, Kat,’” she said with a smile. “You helped the world.’”