Long before most Toros are even awake, CSUDH grounds worker Fernando Goncalves is hard at work making the campus look great. For 11 years, he has arrived on campus at 5:30 a.m. every weekday to maintain and improve the landscape. “I really enjoy beautifying the campus for everyone to enjoy,” he says. Goncalves is responsible for maintenance of the grounds around Welch Hall, Extended Education, and the North Lawn. His regular “beat” includes one of the most engaging landscape features on campus: the Little Village located in between the Student Health Center and University Theatre. In fact, Goncalves helped design and create the tiny village in 2014, which he says is his proudest ... Read More
Staff Spotlight
Staff Spotlight: Sharrae Evans
Sharrae Evans, administrative support coordinator for the Art & Design and Theatre & Dance departments, didn’t just happen to land a job on the CSUDH campus. “I’m a Toro!” she proudly proclaims. Indeed, Evans is a Toro alumna who has made the university her home away from home for the past 15 years. She started as an undergraduate student, attaining her BA in Business Administration (Management and Human Resources) in 2007. She returned to CSUDH for her master’s degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace Building, which she earned in 2012. She started her career at CSUDH by working as a student assistant on campus during her undergraduate years. Evans spent time in ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Morgan Kirk
For Morgan Kirk, serving as coordinator of the CSUDH Basic Needs Program is the best job on campus. “I love what I do!” she declares. “It gives me joy that our services are helping students in need. I enjoy knowing that I am making a difference in their lives.” Kirk’s position at CSUDH involves supporting students who face food and/or housing insecurities on campus. She provides case management for housing insecure students, and supports students with temporary emergency housing. Kirk also manages and facilitates monthly food distribution events, partnering with EveryTable and the CSUDH farmers’ market to provide fresh, nutritious meals for Toro students in need. “I am really proud of ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Mario Villegas, Custodian, Facilities Services
Custodian Mario Villegas has been with CSUDH Facilities Services for almost seven years, contributing to keeping the campus looking great on a daily basis. As someone who says he “loves to learn something new every day,” Villegas is proud to work on campus and “be part of a community where people are encouraged to get an education.” In his position at CSUDH, Villegas is responsible for keeping his assigned area of the campus ship-shape. Whether he’s cleaning classrooms or restrooms, or making sure the carpets are cleaned and vacuumed and trash is picked up, Villegas knows that he’s making vital contributions toward creating a safe and healthy environment for the Toro community. “I do the ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Paola Carbajal-Kerr
When Paola Carbajal-Kerr says, “I’m proud to be a Toro,” she means it. The CSUDH alumna and current residential life coordinator for University Housing has been studying or working on campus for 15 years—she joined the Toro staff right after graduating from the university. “I worked in Student Affairs as an undergraduate student programmer for the Multicultural Center (now Multicultural Affairs),” she says. “I had so many great mentors at the time that I decided to join their ranks in helping to support students!” In her current position, Carbajal-Kerr leads the programmatic efforts for students living in the Residence Hall, as well as supervising the work of the student staff in the ... Read More
