Jessica Castillo Vardaro
@jessicacv.bsky.social
Wildlife Biologist, Pika Enthusiast, Biology prof @ SJSU, Latina in STEM, she/her
Oakland today
October 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Oakland today
Been feeling low lately so I did a creative/delicious activity that took most of the day. Juiced ~50 fruits from my plant, made vegan passionfruit jelly, dark chocolate ganache, and super fancy looking truffles. My 2nd time making ganache and 1st time doing the rest. I’m extremely happy with the day
October 5, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Been feeling low lately so I did a creative/delicious activity that took most of the day. Juiced ~50 fruits from my plant, made vegan passionfruit jelly, dark chocolate ganache, and super fancy looking truffles. My 2nd time making ganache and 1st time doing the rest. I’m extremely happy with the day
Actual conversation I had last night
spouse: maybe we shouldn’t go visit your family in Colombia because you’re a brown person with tattoos
Me: are you serious? what are you talking about?!
Spouse: did you read the email the CSU sent us?
spouse: maybe we shouldn’t go visit your family in Colombia because you’re a brown person with tattoos
Me: are you serious? what are you talking about?!
Spouse: did you read the email the CSU sent us?
![Screenshots of an email with the following text:
From the Chancellor's Office
March 28, 2025
Travel Advisory for Students, Staff and Faculty
Dear Spartan Community,
As we embark on Spring Break, we want to pass along the following information that we just received from our Chancellor’s Office regarding international travel for all CSU faculty, staff and students. If you have imminent international travel plans, please review the guidance below.
The CSU has developed an advisory for distribution to all faculty, students and staff. The information below is included in the advisory.
“Due to a marked increase in federal enforcement actions involving individuals entering or returning to the United States—particularly those traveling on visas—we [CSU] are issuing the attached guidance for all CSU faculty, staff and students considering international travel. Although there have been no changes to federal immigration law, enforcement activity has intensified. This trend could potentially impact individuals with a wide range of immigration statuses, including international students, visiting scholars, and other non-citizens affiliated with CSU campuses.
The criteria being used in recent enforcement actions is simply not clear, and we are not able to predict their future actions. Therefore, the CSU strongly encourages all faculty, staff, and students to carefully assess the necessity of international travel at this time. The decision to travel outside the United States is personal, but the CSU advises all members of its community to proceed with extreme caution.”
We wish everyone a safe and restful Spring Break and look forward to seeing our community back on campus soon.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mr5iarxs63aa5p6sfrhsrnqe/bafkreigx6zuxoclpxq6c4hd2utddc5yydyzpwemijoms7tscmly6pwvfh4@jpeg)
![From the Chancellor's Office
March 28, 2025
Travel Advisory for Students, Staff and Faculty
Dear Spartan Community,
As we embark on Spring Break, we want to pass along the following information that we just received from our Chancellor’s Office regarding international travel for all CSU faculty, staff and students. If you have imminent international travel plans, please review the guidance below.
The CSU has developed an advisory for distribution to all faculty, students and staff. The information below is included in the advisory.
“Due to a marked increase in federal enforcement actions involving individuals entering or returning to the United States—particularly those traveling on visas—we [CSU] are issuing the attached guidance for all CSU faculty, staff and students considering international travel. Although there have been no changes to federal immigration law, enforcement activity has intensified. This trend could potentially impact individuals with a wide range of immigration statuses, including international students, visiting scholars, and other non-citizens affiliated with CSU campuses.
The criteria being used in recent enforcement actions is simply not clear, and we are not able to predict their future actions. Therefore, the CSU strongly encourages all faculty, staff, and students to carefully assess the necessity of international travel at this time. The decision to travel outside the United States is personal, but the CSU advises all members of its community to proceed with extreme caution.”
We wish everyone a safe and restful Spring Break and look forward to seeing our community back on campus soon.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mr5iarxs63aa5p6sfrhsrnqe/bafkreigmtdhyzp4qm26c763ak2szlmoywhuqsvxihrfbdk3ispvmzdxnbe@jpeg)
March 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Actual conversation I had last night
spouse: maybe we shouldn’t go visit your family in Colombia because you’re a brown person with tattoos
Me: are you serious? what are you talking about?!
Spouse: did you read the email the CSU sent us?
spouse: maybe we shouldn’t go visit your family in Colombia because you’re a brown person with tattoos
Me: are you serious? what are you talking about?!
Spouse: did you read the email the CSU sent us?
Not as cool as Michigan’s sticker, sadly, but I Voted anyway
October 21, 2024 at 1:24 AM
Not as cool as Michigan’s sticker, sadly, but I Voted anyway
Hottest Oct 2nd on record
October 3, 2024 at 12:14 AM
Hottest Oct 2nd on record
It’s Oct 2nd. This is not OK
October 2, 2024 at 10:49 PM
It’s Oct 2nd. This is not OK
We’re posting tiny cups?! Here are the recent ones my spouse @echinocrepis.bsky.social made. The rest are in a box somewhere. I love them
September 18, 2024 at 4:41 AM
We’re posting tiny cups?! Here are the recent ones my spouse @echinocrepis.bsky.social made. The rest are in a box somewhere. I love them
Zuko refuses to ride in the buggy unless the top is down.
September 14, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Zuko refuses to ride in the buggy unless the top is down.
Someone said it was post videos of your pets day?
Here is Zuko cocking his head every time I say “walk”
Here is Zuko cocking his head every time I say “walk”
September 12, 2024 at 2:20 AM
Someone said it was post videos of your pets day?
Here is Zuko cocking his head every time I say “walk”
Here is Zuko cocking his head every time I say “walk”
Me: why do my eyes itch?
Also me: look at my beautiful yard!!
Also me: look at my beautiful yard!!
May 24, 2024 at 7:07 PM
Me: why do my eyes itch?
Also me: look at my beautiful yard!!
Also me: look at my beautiful yard!!
Zuko loves his wampillow*
*Wampa pillow
*Wampa pillow
May 20, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Zuko loves his wampillow*
*Wampa pillow
*Wampa pillow
Spouse also HATES this
May 18, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Spouse also HATES this
I’m pretty confident there are only 3 birds singing in my backyard atm
May 15, 2024 at 7:22 PM
I’m pretty confident there are only 3 birds singing in my backyard atm
Front yard looking good. Matilija poppies just starting to bloom. So many colors this year. Ignore the grass/weeds
May 15, 2024 at 4:52 PM
Front yard looking good. Matilija poppies just starting to bloom. So many colors this year. Ignore the grass/weeds
Does this count?
I’m not sure if Werner Herzog would be the best, or the worst therapist
I’m not sure if Werner Herzog would be the best, or the worst therapist
May 15, 2024 at 5:18 AM
Does this count?
I’m not sure if Werner Herzog would be the best, or the worst therapist
I’m not sure if Werner Herzog would be the best, or the worst therapist
The penstemon are really showing off this year. There’s a planter basket under there
May 14, 2024 at 4:57 PM
The penstemon are really showing off this year. There’s a planter basket under there
Zuko says “If I don’t come in the house, you can’t go to work”
May 14, 2024 at 4:54 PM
Zuko says “If I don’t come in the house, you can’t go to work”
I try not to let Zuko kiss me on the mouth, but sometimes he sneaks one in
💋🐕❤️
💋🐕❤️
May 14, 2024 at 8:05 AM
I try not to let Zuko kiss me on the mouth, but sometimes he sneaks one in
💋🐕❤️
💋🐕❤️
Zuko pup thinks that we control the rain. He hates it so much and doesn’t understand why we don’t just make it stop. It hurts my heart
May 4, 2024 at 6:29 PM
Zuko pup thinks that we control the rain. He hates it so much and doesn’t understand why we don’t just make it stop. It hurts my heart
Dropped this beautiful artichoke from my garden into a bowl of water to flush the earwigs and HOLY MOLY were there earwigs!AND a spider. Like 10 earwigs total!
🕷️🐜
🕷️🐜
April 29, 2024 at 12:18 AM
Dropped this beautiful artichoke from my garden into a bowl of water to flush the earwigs and HOLY MOLY were there earwigs!AND a spider. Like 10 earwigs total!
🕷️🐜
🕷️🐜
Zuko would NEVER*
*he was definitely not just eating toilet paper like fruit by the foot the other weekend
*he was definitely not just eating toilet paper like fruit by the foot the other weekend
April 11, 2024 at 12:31 AM
Zuko would NEVER*
*he was definitely not just eating toilet paper like fruit by the foot the other weekend
*he was definitely not just eating toilet paper like fruit by the foot the other weekend