Most of the outstanding work performed by California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) staff members this year has been done from home, so it was only fitting that the 2020 Staff Awards was a virtual celebration, as well.
During the Nov. 3 ceremony, the university thanked all staff members for their tireless work, flexibility, sacrifice, and commitment to the entire campus community during COVID-19.
One hundred and seventeen employees with five to 40 years of service were recognized during the Staff Awards Ceremony. Those with 25 years or more sent in fond memories about their time on campus. Vice Provost Ken O’Donnell had his work cut out for him as he read all the notes and comments contributed by these dedicated Toros. Several are shared below.
Custodial mover Tony Jones has four decades on campus under his belt. His CSUDH journey began in 1977 as a student athlete. “I played basketball and Dave Yanai was my Coach. That was before the gym was built, so we practiced at Victoria Park. I won Most Improved Player my first year and I still have the trophy. When they dedicated the basketball court to Dave Yanai, they gave him a picture of his first team, and I was in that picture. The hair on my head weighed more than the meat on my body.”
Teresa Stevens, facilities coordinator for the College of Extended and International Education, was celebrated for 30 years of service.
“My first day on campus was working in the Physical Plant, where I met a wonderful lady whose name was Stella Leonard. She was so nice to me and made me feel comfortable. We started going to lunch each day and we became close friends. We would talk and laugh for hours, and to this day we are still very close.”
Penny Roebuck, administrative coordinator for the College of Arts and Humanities, has been with the university for 25 years, but her first day on campus was one of her most memorable.
“My first day on campus was the Great Storm of 1995. When I came in that day it was raining, but when I left it was REALLY raining. I needed to go get a parking pass at the Cashiers Office in Small College. Naturally, there were no close parking spaces. When I arrived at the window the woman there named Maggie said, “Girl, you are wet!” From that day on I couldn’t go to that office without Maggie retelling the story of the first day we met–my first day as an employee.”
Elena Bonilla celebrated 25 years at CSUDH. She currently serves as a program coordinator for the College of Education. She fondly remembers, “The rush of staff who would try to leave the library’s 5th floor at 5 p.m. in an elevator with a limit of 12. Everyone would pack into it like a can of sardines, and shockingly, sometimes the doors wouldn’t close.” She also recalls the rush to the bookstore when the new shipment of limited Beanie Babies would arrive. She still has a scar from someone who “enthusiastically” grabbed one from her hand.
CSUDH’s Emmy Award-winning media production specialist Mario Congreve has seen and heard a lot in his 35 years on campus. He has met and interviewed every university president, and many of the major campus donors, including former Professor John LaCorte (LaCorte Hall), and the Loker family (Loker Student Union). Today Congreve is working on a documentary about the 1910 Dominguez Air Meet that took place on the open land that would become the university.
Maria Garcia-Barajas, telecommunications analyst for Information Technology, has been at CSUDH for 30 years. She wrote, “I was hired in January of 1990 while still a full-time student, so my memories may be a little different because I was experiencing them as both staff and student. What I remember most are the original buildings.”
She goes on, “I miss the hill that was lined with trees behind the library; it separated the library from the gym. It was like an oasis where we could hang out in a spot that was semi-hidden from the rest of the campus.”
2020 Years of Service Milestones
Division of Academic Affairs
5 YEARS OF SERVICE
Karen Valle, Foundation
Gennie Hardy, Academic Affairs
Christopher Acosta, University Library
Mitchell Avila, College of Arts and Humanities
Kavoos Blourtchi, College of Business Administration and Public Policy
To Dang, College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
Gina Garavito, College of Education
Miami Gatpandan, Academic Affairs
Behrang Madhi, College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
Lynda Wilson, College of Extended and International Education
10 YEARS OF SERVICE
Miguel Terán Lopez, College of Education
Jackie Haynes, College of Arts and Humanities
Dolores Lopez, Academic Affairs
15 YEARS OF SERVICE
Janette Benitez, Foundation
Alma Melena, Academic Affairs
Chanel Shorter, College of Arts and Humanities
20 YEARS OF SERVICE
Robert Downs, University LibraryDeborah Douglas, University Library
Tracey Haney, Academic Affairs
Lee Mann Broussard Ware, College of Business Administration and Public Policy
Cesar Mejia, College of Arts and Humanities
Peggy Ozaki, Academic Affairs
Debra Yoklavich, College of Health, Human Services, and Nursing
25 YEARS OF SERVICE
Christina Baltazar, College of Extended and International Education
Elena Bonilla, College of Education
Penny Roebuck-White, College of Arts and Humanities
Diana C. Ulloa, College of Extended and International Education
30 YEARS OF SERVICE
Lawanda Gutierrez, University Library
Karen Carpenter, College of Education
Deidre Fisher, College of Extended and International Education
Teresa Stevens, College of Extended and International Education
40 YEARS OF SERVICE
Albert Carpenter, Academic Affairs
Jacqueline McKenzie, College of Extended and International Education
Division of Administration and Finance
5 YEARS OF SERVICE
Amel Khan, Foundation
Traniece Anthony, Accounts Payable
Stephanie Garcia, Procurement and Contracts
Cris Loraditch, Engineering Services
John Melendez, Building Maintenance
Antonia Ponce, Custodial Services
Jessica Ramirez, Foundation
James Reed, Logistical Services
Kacey Tran, Accounts Payable
Mario Villegas, Custodial Services
Ricky Weishaar, Facilities Services
Valerie Whittington, Foundation
10 YEARS OF SERVICE
Patrisha King, Facilities Services
Raymond Chavez, Grounds Maintenance
Benjamin Cuadros, Facilities Services
John DeRosa, Building Maintenance
Carlos Funes, Custodial Services
Evangelina Garcia, Custodial Services
Edward Medina IV, Parking Services
15 YEARS OF SERVICE
Francis Bosque, Cashier’s Office
Dovie Harness, General Accounting
Alphonso Mann, Grounds Maintenance
Gerardo Martinez, Grounds Maintenance
Kenneth Oden, Grounds Maintenance
Sheila Wallace, Cashier’s Office
20 YEARS OF SERVICE
Orson Faynor, Risk Management
Andrea Giordano, Student Financial Services
Henry Lopez, Building Maintenance
Jenny Pham, Accounting Services
Daniel Routtenberg, Facilities Services
Andrew Scott, Custodial Services
Bennie Williams III, University Police
25 YEARS OF SERVICE
Michael Kinoshita, University Police
Adria Edwards, Human Resources
Dolores Hendricks, Facilities Services
Cymbeline Ponce, University Police
30 YEARS OF SERVICE
Timothy Chambers, Building Maintenance
Lyda Stukes, Procurement and Contracts
40 YEARS OF SERVICE
Tony Jones, Custodial Services
Division of Information Technology
5 YEARS OF SERVICE
Stephanie Carey, Information Security
10 YEARS OF SERVICE
Steven Sanchez, Infrastructure Services
15 YEARS OF SERVICE
Eric Estrada, Service Management
Ferdinand Ocampo, Service Management
20 YEARS OF SERVICE
Ed Hsinlo Liao, DBA and System Administration
Tak Yee Poon, IT Web and Mobile
25 YEARS OF SERVICE
Joycelyn Jones, Instructional App and Design
Kenneth Leyba, Distributed Academic Tech Support
30 YEARS OF SERVICE
Cynthia Brown, University Printing Services
Maria Garcia-Barajas, Systems Management and Monitoring
35 YEARS OF SERVICE
Mario Congreve, DHTV and Media Production
Office of the President
5 YEARS OF SERVICE
Hillary Griffin, University Communications and Public Affairs
Rosaida Dumaliang, Office of the President
Mary Garcia Nolasco, Office of the President
Deborah Roberson, Office of the President
Jeff Farsai, University Communications and Public Affairs
20 YEARS OF SERVICE
Bernadine Grayer, Office of the President
Division of Student Affairs
5 YEARS OF SERVICE
Tyffanye Hoang Le, Educational Partnerships
Josephine Lara, Health Center
Lorena De La Cruz, Outreach Services
Narvell Harris, Student Health Services
Richard Hoskin, Athletics
Marcus Jones, Enrollment Services
Tiffany Lara, Encounter to Excellence
Kimberly Lopez, Athletics
Julian Navarro, Athletics
Kevin Neal, Athletics
Marisa Nunes, Veteran Student Program
Punita Patel, Career Center
Rhoda Posey, Financial Aid
Angela Provencio, Financial Aid
Jessica Rodriguez, Student Life Programs
10 YEARS OF SERVICE
Rochelle Rhodes, Student Health Services
Arturo Yepez, Admissions Office
15 YEARS OF SERVICE
Khristine Estrada, Registrar’s Office
Michelle Matthews, Financial Aid
Sophia Momand, Student Health Services
Sandra Rollins, Disabled Students Services
20 YEARS OF SERVICE
Juan Mejia-Rivera, Financial Aid
Christal Neal, Registrar’s Office
25 YEARS OF SERVICE
Jaime Leal, Student Union
Delores Smith-Lee, Financial Aid
30 YEARS OF SERVICE
Toni Haley, Registrar’s Office
Lan Lu, University Housing
Division of University Advancement
10 YEARS OF SERVICE
Felicia Hernandez, Alumni Relations
