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You are here: Home / Archive / News / 2015 Staff Awards recognize outstanding achievement and years of service

2015 Staff Awards recognize outstanding achievement and years of service

October 19, 2015

Facilites years of service 2015
Division of Administration and Finance ‘Years of Service’ award recipients.

For unequivocal dedication to student success, tireless work ethic, and exceptional artistic talent that is helping create a new look and feel for the university, three California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) staff members have been honored with 2015 Staff Awards for Excellence.

The Staff Awards ceremony, which took place in the Loker Student Union Ballroom on Oct. 15, also recognized the years of service of 93 staff members. Each year the event provides a way for the university to highlight the vital role staff plays in CSUDH’s success in carrying out its mission for the benefit of the entire campus, and the diverse communities the university serves.

“This event and Staff Appreciation Day are among my favorites. It’s nice to pause and thank the people who play so many roles in the success of the campus, and a lot of that work is often unsung,” said University President J. Willie Hagan. ”Last week I had the chance to have dinner with 11 of our students at the HACU conference. Sitting around the table, I asked them how their grades were, how they got to college, and what was helping them succeed. …A number of them mentioned a faculty member, but just as many mentioned a staff member.”

Laura Drake
Laura Drake, graphic designer, University Communications and Public Affairs.

Staff Award categories were created to recognize exemplary service that supports the goals and objectives in the CSUDH’s five-year strategic plan. Each nomination is reviewed by the Staff Awards and Recognition Committee, which this year selected one awardee in three categories: innovation, student success, and customer service.

The Innovation Award was presented to Laura Drake, a graphic designer in the University Communications and Public Affairs (UCPA) office. The award honors those who “use creativity and innovation to streamline and/or improve business processes and services for students and the campus community.”

“Laura uses creativity and innovation, with a great deal of success, to develop and produce university communications that have consistently been outstanding,” wrote UCPA Director Brenda Knepper in Drake’s nomination letter. “Her ability to produce highly professional and well-designed materials has contributed to enhancing the public perception of the university, as well as increased internal pride in our institution.”

One standout project that Drake has “enjoyed” designing materials for since arriving on campus in spring 2014 has been Staff Appreciation Day. She also finds working with UCPA’s graphic design interns to be rewarding.

“To see their design skills progress, and then gain employment in the industry after graduation, makes me very proud,” she said.

Miguel Teran Lopez
Miguel Lopez, History Department coordinator.

“It was such an honor just to be nominated. Just being appreciated means so much to me,” Drake added. “This university has been my favorite place to work during my career, and I think it has so much to do with the passion of the people who work here and the energy and mission of the university. I’m also very proud to be studying here to earn my master’s degree in humanities, and to call myself a Toro!”

Miguel Teran Lopez (’10, B.A., Chicano Studies), a History Department coordinator in the College of Arts and Humanities, received the Student Success Award for “creating and supporting an environment of teaching and learning that assists in the recruitment, transition, retention, and graduation of students.”

Lopez was nominated by Associate Professor Chris Monty, chair of the History Department.

“Miguel works diligently to help the History Department realize its goals by providing excellent service to our students. He volunteers regularly to support events that make student life meaningful and vibrant,” wrote Monty. “Miguel has completed numerous voluntary staff workshops in order to better support students, including the Safe Space Program and Mental Health First Aid training. He also works actively with a number of campus organizations that support under-represented minorities.”

“This feels great. Knowing that among all the wonderful nominees I was the one chosen,” said Lopez, who also received his five-year service award during the ceremony. “I feel very blessed and grateful that my work here at Dominguez Hills was recognized, but I’m really doing this all for the students.”

Joni Johnson
Joni Johnson, administrative support assistant, Child Development Program

Joni Johnson (’13, M.A. English Literature), an administrative support assistant in the Child Development Program received the Customer Service Award, which recognizes staff who “demonstrate exemplary customer service for students, employees and/or guests.”

She was nominated by Kimberley Radmacher, an associated professor in the Child Development Program. She nominated Johnson in the Customer Service category because she “is committed to ensuring that students understand and receive accurate information, and helping them resolve their concerns, who in turn have told Radmacher that Johnson is “kind, compassionate, and approachable.”

“Winning the award was great. It reinforces what we do as staff members because sometimes it can feel like a thankless job. As Dr. Hagan pointed out, we’re sort of the ‘unsung’ heroes of the university, and since we are students’ first point of contact, our roles are very instrumental and important to their success,” said Johnson. “I’ve been working in the same program since I’ve been here, which is great because I love our students and I know what they will contribute a great deal to the future.”

 


 

Staff awards service awards
Division of Academic Affairs ‘Years of Service’ award recipients.


5 years of Service

Jackie D. Haynes – Administrative Assistant, Interdisciplinary Studies/Pace, College of Arts and Humanities

Dolores G. Lopez – Division Coordinator, Staff and Management Personnel, Academic Resources, Management and Planning

Lavonne D. Norwood – Administrative Support Assistant, Faculty Affairs

Miguel A. Teran Lopez – Department Coordinator, History, College of Arts and Humanities

Raymond Chavez – Grounds Worker, Facilities Services

John Derosa – Facilities Maintenance Mechanic, Facilities Services

Carlos Funes – Custodian, Facilities Services

Evangelina Garcia – Custodian, Facilities Services

Lawrence Harris Jr. – Custodian, Facilities Services

Elaine Magee – Payroll Technician II, Payroll Services

Edward Medina IV – Parking Officer, University Police

Jennifer Reyes – Cashier, Foundation

Gary Singer – Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, University Police

Mayra V. Aguilera – Applications Scanning Processor, Admissions

Benjamin S. Cuadros – Lead Custodian, University Housing

Stephen K. Janes – KDHR Radio Station Manager, Associated Students Inc.

Patrisha A. King – Application Scanning Processor – Admissions

Rochelle Rhodes – Administrative Support Assistant, Student Health and Psychological Services

Arturo Yepez – Customer Service Supervisor, Records and Registration

Steven M. Sanchez – Operating Systems Analyst, Infrastructure Services

Loren E. Edwards – Academic Advisor, University Advisement Center

Sergio S. Pineda – Jumpstart Site Manager, Center for Service Learning, Internships and Civic Engagement

Garret Abrahamson – Electrician, Facilities Services

Martin Espinoza – Grounds Worker, Facilities Services

Tammi H. Kobayashi – Lead Teacher, Child Development Center, Associated Students Inc.

Deborah Parham – Associate Director, Disabled Student Services

 

10 Years of Service

Jeanette Benitez – Creative Designer/Program Support, CA STEM Institute for Innovation and Improvement, College of Education

Maya B. Medina – Administrative Support Coordinator, Academic Programs

Alma Melena – Advisor, Student Services Center, College of Health, Human Services and Nursing

Chanel Shorter – Advisor, Student Services Center, College of Arts and Humanities

Francis Bosque – Cashier, Cashiers Office

Dovie Harness – Administrative Analyst/Specialist, Accounting Services

Gerardo Martinez – Grounds Worker, Facilities Services

Kenneth M. Oden – Grounds Worker, Facilities Services

Teresa D. Ramirez-Garcia – Custodian, Facilities Services

Sheila J. Wallace – Cashier, Cashiers Office

Ferdinand M. Ocampo – IT Help Desk Consultant, User and Access Services

Michelle N. Matthews – Financial Aid Specialist, Financial Aid

Sophia S. Momand M.D. – Staff Physician, Student Health and Psychological Services

Sandra S. Rollins – Administrative Support Coordinator, Disabled Student Services

Patsy S. Tebbs – Sign Language Interpreter, Disabled Student Services

Monica Barbosa – Office Clerk, California Academic of Mathematics Sciences

Griselda Gomez – Academic Personnel Coordinator, Faculty Affairs

Mitchell T. Maki – Vice Provost, Office of the Provost

Eric Estrada – Accounts Payable Specialist, Accounts Payable

Alphonso Mann – Grounds Worker, Facilities Services

Khristine Estrada – Graduation Assistant/Diplomas, Records and Registration

 

15 Years of Service

Tak Yee Poon – University Webmaster, Enterprise Applications/CM

Deborah J. Douglas, Academic Affairs Financial Support Analyst, Academic Resources Management and Planning

Robert D. Downs – Coordinator, Circulation Services, University Library

Tracey M. Haney – Administrative Analyst/Specialist, Academic Programs

Lee Mann Ware – Student and Faculty Support, Business Advisement and Student Services, College of Business Administration and Public Policy

Cesar G. Mejia – Technician, Digital Media Arts, College Arts and Humanities

Peggy N. Ozaki – Assistant Director, Toro Learning Center

Orson V. Faynor – Environmental Compliance Specialist, Risk Management

Andrea M. Giordano – Student Financial Services Specialist, Student Financial Services

Andrew R. Scott – Lead Custodian, Facilities Services

Bennie Williams III – Sergeant Detective, University Police

Bernadine D. Grayer – Presidential Aide, Presidents Office

Lisa A. Hemenway, Sign Language Interpreter, Disabled Student Services

Christal J. Neal – Records Specialist, Records and Registration

Daniel Routtenberg – Field Maintenance Mechanic, University Housing

Zachaius J. Duchsherer – Lead Offset Pressman, University Printing Services

Henry A. Lopez – Painter, Facilities Services

Jenny Pham – Students Financials Accountant, Accounting Services

Ed Liao – Network Analyst, Enterprise Applications/CMS

Juan Carlos Mejia-Rivera – Financial Aid Computing Consultant, Financial Aid

 

20 Years of Service

Christina Baltazar – Accounting Technician, College of Extended and International Education

Elena Bonilla – Administrative/Office Coordinator, Teacher Education, College of Education

Jocelyn Jones – Program Administrator, Mediated Instruction and Distance Learning, College of Extended and International Education

Penny Roebuck-White – Administrative Coordinator/Advisor, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building Program, College Arts and Humanities

Adria Edwards – HRIS/SME Analyst, Human Resources

Dolores Hendricks, Plant Operations Coordinator, Facilities Services

Ernest C. Ikner – IT Help Desk Consultant, User and Access Services

Debra K. Yoklavich – Academic Associate, College of Health, Human Services and Nursing

Diana C. Ulloa – Administrative Analyst/Specialist, College of Extended and International Education

Michael Kinoshita, Sergeant Detective, University Police

Cymbeline Ponce, Sergeant, University Police

Yuki DeSoto – Lead, Systems Analysis and Development, Enterprise applications/CMS

Kenneth Leyba – IT Consultant, Academic Technology

Jamie Leal Jr. – Assistant Director, Loker Student Union

Delores Smith Lee – Director, Financial Aid

 

25 Years of Service

Deidre Fisher – Payroll Technician, College of Extended and International Education

Timothy Chambers – Facilities Maintenance Mechanic, Facilities Services

Lawanda Gutierrez, Library Services Specialist, University Library

Lyda Stukes – Administrative Analyst/Specialist, Procurement, Contracts, Logistical, Facilities Leasing and Support Services

Toni Haley – Office Coordinator, Records and Registration

Lawanda Gutierrez – Library Services Specialist, University Library

Karen Carpenter – Credential Analyst, Student Services Center, College of Education

Faye Phinsee – Supervisor, Library Assistant, Inter-Library Loans, University Library

Teresa Stevens – Facilities Coordinator, College of Extended and International Education

Cynthia Brown – Duplicating Machine Operator, University Printing Services

Maria Garcia-Barajas, Telecommunications Analyst/Specialist, Telecommunications

Lan T. Lu – University Housing Facilities Coordinator, University Housing

 

30 Years of Service

Mario R. Congreve – Staff Producer, Mediated Instruction and Distance Learning, College of Extended and International Education

John E. Hearn – Earth Sciences Technician, College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences

 

35 Years of Service

Jacqueline J. McKenzie – Extension Registrar, College of Extended and International Education

Tony R. Jones – Laborer, Facilities Services

Albert Carpenter – Coordinator, Business Administration and Student Services, College of Business Administration and Public Policy

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Administration, Staff

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