Artist and Cal State San Bernardino alumna Jean Vezzalini will host a reception on Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., to showcase her paintings in the lobby of the Indian Wells Theater at the university’s Palm Desert Campus, with all proceeds from the exhibition to be donated for student scholarships. As an international student, Vezzalini started taking classes at the Palm Desert Campus in January 2004. She completed an associate degree in liberal arts, English composition in May 2004 from College of the Desert, and a bachelor’s degree in English, English literature track in June 2006 from CSUSB. She continued her studies, and in June 2010, obtained a master of arts degree in communication studies.  After she retired in Italy, Vezzalini started to work on a dream – to write and illustrate a collection of short stories in English. English is not her first or second language. Vezzalini speaks French, Italian, English, Arabic, Spanish and Greek. To attain that dream of writing a book in English, she chose College of the Desert to begin her studies.   Along the way, Vezzalini worked on the campus newspaper and completed an associate degree in digital and design production. She also became a watercolor, acrylic and oil painter. She has had two solo exhibitions of her work on the Garrow Gallery Wall at COD and her work has been exhibited in the Walter N. Marks Center of the Arts in Palm Desert. She donated her work to the campus to raise funds to improve existing art programs on the COD campus.   In 2008, the city of Palm Springs and the Public Arts Commission awarded Vezzalini with an Honorable Mention for “Typically Jam.” In 2009, the 11th City of Palm Springs Annual Juried Art Show nominated Vezzalini’s “Jenial” first in the Acrylic, Gouache and Tempera categories.  Today Vezzalini lives between Italy and Rancho Mirage. Her thirst for learning and knowledge continues to propel her to greater intellectual and artistic achievements. A painting or digital design and production class will always trigger Vezzalini’s interest. Most of all, she likes to share and give back.   Her passion for the arts and communication elicit her enthusiasm. Whether volunteering with special events at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, studying or working on the completion of her book, Vezzalini continues to make art.  To RSVP to the reception, email Mike Singer at msinger@csusb.edu. The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is located at 37-500 Cook St. The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees, a doctorate in educational leadership, and teacher credentials and certificates. With more than 1,400 students, it is the Coachella Valley’s four-year public university and plays a vital role in educating and training the region’s growing population. For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the Office of Public Affairs at msinger@csusb.edu or (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107, or visit the campus website at pdc.csusb.edu.