Recognizing the vision, leadership and service that fuels the work of the university, Cal State Fullerton faculty, staff and administrators gathered April 19 for the annual University Awards Program.
The celebration kicked off with breakfast, rousing music from the Titan Band and the fun of seeing CSUF President Fram Virjee and David Forgues, vice president for human resources, diversity and inclusion, along with members of the Spirit Squad, sending T-shirts into the audience.
“There is only one real source of orchestrating humanity and changing humanity, there’s only one way to change lives and change legacies, and only one way that we can lift up communities and support communities — you know of course I’m talking about reaching higher through the power of higher education. That’s what we do,” said President Virjee.
“Nothing looks better than this Titan family wielding the transformative power that we have in changing lives with education. So I want you guys to give yourselves a hand.
“All of you have demonstrated to me what the Titan family really means,” Virjee continued. “It’s who we are in the classroom. It’s what we do on the field. It’s how we interact and care for, and care about, our communities.”
Virjee also noted that the university is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year — a legacy of “supporting Titans reaching higher,” but added that the awards ceremony was a time to recognize the excellence of Titan faculty and staff members.
“Of course, most importantly, it’s all about you, the faculty and staff of this incredible institution,” he told the crowd. “Every time I think that I can’t be inspired one more time, I meet another faculty member or another staff member who inspires me with their story.”
Kari Knutson Miller, provost and vice president for academic affairs, agreed. “Each one of you plays a vital role in the success of Cal State Fullerton through our commitment to student success both inside and outside the classroom and to a thriving Titan community. Our goal is to ensure that every Titan feels supported and inspired. The time and energy you have devoted to our students and our university is noted every day.”
In addition to recognizing employees’ years of service and achievement of advanced degrees, the awards program presented three campuswide awards.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
A team who created the exhibit, “African American Civic Engagement: 1860s and 100 Years Later Among CSUF Titan Alumni,” was recognized this year for embodying the university’s spirit of diversity, equity and inclusion. Stan Breckenridge, retired lecturer in African American studies; Siobhan Brooks, chair and associate professor of African American studies; and Alina Mircea-Trotz, director of development for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, launched the exhibit and a special fundraising initiative to deepen connections between the community, alumni, students, faculty members and staff.
Teamwork and Collaboration Award
The Campus Speaker Working Group received this year’s Teamwork and Collaboration Award for its leadership, planning, open communication and effective collaboration when a controversial speaker, who sparked numerous protests at other universities, visited campus. Members of the group include: Keya Allen, Jeff Fehrn (Associated Students Inc.); Michael Delo (Parking and Transportation); John Beisner, Michael Coughlin (Risk Management); Jeffrey Cook (Strategic Communications and Brand Management); Tonantzin Oseguera, Vincent Vigil (Student Affairs); and Carl Jones, Scot Willey (University Police).
Leadership Award
Pauline Tagle, director of the Office of Grants and Contracts, was honored with this year’s Leadership Award for motivating staff, demonstrating high standards of integrity, and streamlining the office’s ability to process 300 grant proposals each year. Helping the university increase its external grant revenue by 25 percent ($21 million to $26 million) over the last three fiscal years, Tagle and her team provided guidance, support and information from announcement of funding opportunities, submittal and review to negotiation with sponsors.
Graduation and Certificates Earned
Several staff members who earned advanced degrees were recognized, including:
Andrew Gonzales, Ed.D., University of Southern California
Inez González, Ed.D., Cal State Fullerton
Diane Mazzey, Ed.D., University of Southern California
Matt Olson, M.F.A. screenwriting, Cal State Fullerton
Abigail Segura, M.A. education, Claremont Graduate University
Valerie Sun, Ed.D., Cal State Los Angeles
Years of Service
With 45 years of service, custodian Michael A. San Roman led the class of those who have served the campus community for more than four decades.
Following him were two longtime faculty members: Anil K. Puri, director of the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting, and Laurance Timm, professor and interim director of the School of Music, who have given a broad range of service from teaching in the classroom to administrative duties during their 40 years serving Cal State Fullerton.
35 years of service
Beatrice “Bunny” Casas, administrative analyst, Academic Programs
Maqsood Chaudhry, professor of electrical engineering
Bhushan Kapoor, chair and professor of information systems and decision sciences
Paula J. Selleck, associate director, news media services, Strategic Communications and Brand Management
Mostafa Shiva, professor of electrical engineering
Keith Wanser, professor of physics
30 years of service
Teresa E. Cabral, logistical services, Facilities Management
Enrique M. Chavez, plumbing shop, Facilities Management
Ning Chen, professor of computer science
David L. Duncan, library administration
Ann Naomi Ehl, Auxiliary Services Corp.
Lynne D. Funk, academic operations/support services, University Extended Education
Catherine Higa, Children’s Center, Associated Students Inc.
Linda Stanton, professor of English, comparative literature and linguistics
Robert Voeks, professor of geography and the environment
25 years of service
| John Beisner Martin Bonsangue Raul Camacho Bryan Cantley Monica Castro John N. Chappell Marilou V. Encina Jade Jewett Mikyong Kim-Goh Patricia Laguna |
Yuming Li Eligio Hernandez Lopez Martin Lorigan Gail K. Matsunaga Jennifer L. McCormick Mark P Mealey John Mearns Yuan Ting Bradley Van Mourik |
20 years of service
| Lucimar Acevedo Jennifer D. Baldaray Jon Bruschke John Carroll Amy L. Castaneda Susan I. Cervantes Amybeth Cohen Robert E. Davis Linda Fraser Juan Gallego Marco Polo Gutierrez Pamela S. Hernandez John Hickok Kristi Kanel Robert Kersey Nathan L. Longcrier Kenara Ly Michael D. Marcinkevicz |
Nathan L. Longcrier Kenara Ly Michael D. Marcinkevicz Maria C. Mccray Ronald Morris Loan V. Nguyen Wei-Cheng Peng Catherine Perez Christine I. Pircher-Barnes Elena Quinto Debra Rose James Taulli Jie Tian Yvonne M. Velasco-Ortega Lisa M. Wang Candi Watkins Jeanette Weir Linda L. Wright |
15 years of service
| Maricela Alvarado Scott Annin Michelle Arsneault Antonieta Bartter Rahul Bhaskar Ellen Caldwell Kathleen Cariaga Amy Coplan Kristine Dennehy Michael Dickerson Matt Englar-Carlson Mark S. Filowitz Markus Fischer Robert L. Flores Joseph Forkan Natalie Fousekis April Franklin Jacqueline Frost Margaret Garber Michele M. Garden Susan C. Garofalo Elizabeth Georges Rickey Glenn Jr Laleh B. Graylee Charles Grieb Heather Guzman Javette Hayes Holladean Y Hillman Gabriel J. Ibarra Mortaza Jamshidian Changhyun Jo Sara Johnson Matthew Kirby Mikhail Korzhev |
Michael Lara Susan K. Leavy Mary A. Lehn-Mooney Jarret Lovell Vivek Mande Mindy Mechanic Valeria Moreno Andrew L. Nguyen Pamella H. Oliver Rosario Ordonez-Jasis Patricia Park Melinda Pierson Gregory Pongetti Mallela Prasada Rao Thomas R. Rahlfs Celia Reynolds Karen Kohrt Ringl Tammy L. Rogers Angeles Sancho-Velazquez Hans Schenk Heather L Snavely Paul Stapp Bogdan Suceava John A. Tambio Terri L. Thompson Kyriakos Toyias Sharnette M. Underdue Roberto Valencia Amanda N. Villagran Mishu Vu Sherri R. Wolff Stacey Wong Samuel Yang Philippe Zacair |
10 years of service
|
David W. Aguirre |
Pawel Kalczynski Dolores L. Kimball Christopher Kondo Lisa M. Krause Kevin Lambert Patrick J. Launi Robyn L Lechuga Cheng Y. Lee Patricia Literte Leonardo Lopez James E. Low Oscar R. Machado Jr. Shannette N. Madayag Estrella S. Mangahas Charlesetta Medina Mark D. Mendez Stephen Mexal Maged Mikhail Natalie M. Mir Iris C. Miranda Cari A. Morelli Kristopher S. Mosser Elizabeth E. Munoz Janice Myck-Wayne Inder-Mohan S. Nat Melda M. Navarro Jose Navas Crystal L. Newman Vincent K. Nguyen Tu-Uyen Nguyen Mitchell Okada Heather Osborne-Thompson Rita D. Page Marcella Panuco Dana M. Pape Paula R. Parker Debra Patterson Priscilla A. Pena-Towns Genesis Perez Patricia Perez Dawn R. Person Christopher Peterson Daniel M. Phillips Zehava Purim-Adimor Madeline Rasche Debra Jean Redsteer Veronica Rosas Jasamin Rostamkolayi Michael Shafae Monique C. Shay Terri Simonton Heather Snavely Myungsoo Son Traci Statler Jessica Stern Michelle L. Tapper Lorraine Thornburg Yolanda R. Tijerina Megan Tommerup Ofir Turel Israel R. Vasquez Guillermina Vega Jessica M. Wagoner Todd L. West JC Westgate Sandra F. Wong Christina M. Yanez Jennifer Yee Hassan Yousefi Dawit Zerom Tracey E. Zuno |
5 years of service
| Brittany N. Aase Vahideh Abedi Hilda V. Aboytia Kazi Ahmed Hector M. Alfaro Rachael E. Amaro Erick N. Ambrocio Jorge Araujo Adrian Avila-Alvarez Maria Bedolla Renee J. Bennett Gabriela Best Lorenzo Bizzi Amanda M Borin Adilio Borja Leslie Bruce Analia Cabral Daniel T. Clavel Michael J. Colapietro Leticia Collins James Collison Raffaella Commitante Selenia S Corado Crystal Cortez Jaycee Cover Gwen L. Dack Ana F. De Guzman Marisela Delgadillo Peter B. Donovan Pauling Duong Carolyn Dupaquier Perry Dupuis Lilia Espinoza Armand Esquivel David M. Forgues Kristy Forsgren Briana L. Fulfer Patricia L. Gabel Monica M. Garza Gary Germo Alexandra V Giron Adam Glesser Mikhail Gofman Jason P. Goldsmith Jennifer Goldstein Christine Gonzales Janna M Gray Monica Hanna Mark Herbst Janette A. Hernandez Brenda L. Hernandez Joseph B. Horodyski III Cherie Ichinose Veronica Jimenez Ortiz Jeffrey Jolly Yan Kang-Abreu Charlene W. Keith Yuna Kim Yenlan Li Sissi Li Lauren M. Lopez Geoffrey Lovelace Vanessa A. Lowe Carol Lundberg Christopher Lyons Ladan Maleki John K. Marino Summer Martin Solomon Massin Lashawn R. Mccombs Larry A. Mcgee Alina C. Mircea-Trotz Phoolendra Mishra |
Sara V. Mouw Betty D. Neri Irving A Nguyen Alfredo Nieto Gabriela Nunez Stephen O’Connor Julie Orser Hema Paliwal James Parham Marilyn Parras Gregory D. Paules Roxane J. Perez Jennifer Piazza Amanda Pinedo Jeffrey W. Polunas Aaron Popp Rachel Pound Anthony Quiroga Kristin M. Rabbetts John S. Ramirez Alvin Rangel-Alvarado Jocelyn Read David A Reed Michael J. Roberts Nina Robson Angel Rodriguez Gina L. Rodriguez Gregory Rogel Magdalena Roman Christopher L. Romo Donna M. Roth Gregory J. Saks Maria D. Salazar John M. Salinas Carlos E. Sanchez Joshua Sanchez Marla Sanchez Nydia Sandoval Andrea R Schmid Tracy A. Shadowens Rebecca Sheehan Kulsoom Sizar John Smith Darryl Smith Baatar Sodnompel Susana Soqui-Lopez William Sprinkle Garrett Struckhoff Justin D. Sturdivant Patrick M. Sullivan Brittney Swanson Berhanu B. Tadesse Stephanie M. Tancredi Anne-Margaret Tovar Christopher Tracy Lan T. Tran Nhu Y. Tran Yuying Tsong Nathan S. Van Diggele Gregorio Vasquez Vidal Juan Villafuerte Anthony J. Villanueva Jacquelyn A. Villasenor Haowei Wang Michael W. Wilcox Tiffany N. Zanias Dereck Zara Marina J. Zarate Fang Zhang |