Rizal "Riz" Verder Aliga joined the California State University Maritime Academy (CSUM)
staff in February 2022 and currently serves as the Coordinator for the Energy & Sustainability
program (January 2023). Offered admission to Cal Maritime in 2016, instead, Riz chose
to attend UC Santa Cruz. As a full-time student working ten part-time jobs on-campus, Riz earned his B.A. in
Legal Studies and an Education minor in three years. Soon after (2019-2022) he taught Multimedia and History (U.S. + World) for his high
school alma mater, Jesse M. Bethel HS Law Academy (Vallejo, CA). In 2021, he earned
a M.M. in Management, Innovation, Sustainability, and Technology (MIST).
Riz serves on the Board of Directors (2021-2025 District 1) for the Greater Vallejo
Recreation District (GVRD - Vallejo Parks and Recreation) as Board Secretary.
During his free time, Riz is a die-hard Keelhauler fan, as he is the official DJ +
public address announcer for Cal Maritime Athletics at Basketball and Soccer contests. He also loves supporting the cadets during athletics & recreation play.
The youngest of 3 sons of immigrant parents, Rizal Verder Aliga is a Filipino-American native of Vallejo, California. His ancestors were pioneers of Vallejo, the first Filipinos to arrive and settle
in the late 1800's, early 1900's. The old residence is now the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Library next to Vallejo City Hall.
Rizal Aliga's research interests include finding innovative ways to get our campus
up-to-date in the 21st century, which includes zero waste campaign, facilities and
electricity (HVAC + lighting), smart gardens/farms, labyrinths, pier dredging for the incoming NSMV, and collaborative community outreach.
University of California, at Merced "Smart Farm"
University of California, at Santa Cruz "Arboretum + Garden"
California State University, at Maritime Academy
