Outstanding Staff Award Recipients

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alessandro

Alessandro Russo
OSA Recipient 2023-2024

Alessandro has contributed to the CSULB campus in many different roles, including as an undergraduate and graduate student, student organization leader, staff member and leader, and guest lecturer.

As a first-generation college student, Alessandro received his Bachelor of Arts in 2010, and his Master of Arts in 2016, in Italian Studies. During his time as a student, Alessandro served as President of the Club Italia student organization and published 2 translations of Italian works into English. In 2011, he seized the opportunity to join the ranks of administrative staff as Assistant to the Chair of the George L. Graziadio Center for Italian Studies. Later, he was Administrative Support Coordinator for the Learning Assistance Center, and Administrative Analyst/Specialist in the Department of Romance German Russian Languages & Literatures until 2022 before moving over to the Department of Economics in the same role.

In addition, over the years at CSULB, Alessandro has shared his vibrant Italian American family history as a CSULB guest lecturer in the course, “Mobsters, Mammas, Mafias, and Migrations.”

Alessandro joined the CSULB Staff Council in 2018 representing the College of Liberal Arts. In May 2021, he was elected as Staff Council Chair where he currently serves until the end of May 2024, completing the maximum three-year term. As Staff Council Chair, Alessandro was an active member of the Academic Senate Executive Committee, the International Education Committee (IEC), the Beach 2030 Reimagining Staff Working Group, and fulfilled many speaking engagements advocating on behalf of CSULB staff. In August 2023, he received the John and Phyllis Jung Endowed Full-Time Staff Award from the College of Liberal Arts.

In his nomination for the Staff Council Outstanding Staff Award, this excerpt from CSULB Prof. Bonnie Gasior’s recommendation letter illustrates Alessandro’s commitment to CSULB:

“In addition to performing his regular duties with grace and efficiency (and often under pressure)—indeed, Alessandro is one of the savviest staff members I know—he also embraced every opportunity to make the department more visible and stronger. He was instrumental in helping establish our MA program in Italian; he collaborated and coordinated with faculty on most if not all intellectual and cultural events; and he mentored students in the Italian program, as well as doing outreach with potential student candidates. 


More broadly, Alessandro has amassed a wealth of activities and ongoing service work… including volunteering time in his local community, Riverside, through charity walks and preparing holiday care packages for the unhoused. By holding himself and others to the highest standards, he effortlessly elevates everyone in his sphere to perform at their best. “

We thank you Alessandro for representing and embodying the spirit of CSULB’s hard-working and dedicated staff!

 

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sylvana

Sylvana Cicero
Year: 2023 / University Student Union

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Kristin Bonetati

Kristin Bonetati
Year: 2022 | 49er shops

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John Ciulik

John Ciulik
Year: 2021 | Family & Consumer Sciences

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Pedro Castro

Pedro Castro
Year: 2020 | College of The Arts

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Susan Tsuji

Susan Tsuji
Year: 2019 | History

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Jennifer Moran

Jennifer Moran
Year: 2018 | URD College Development. College of the Arts

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Wendy Lopez

Wendy Lopez
Year: 2017 | Human Development

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Diane Graham

Diane Graham
Year: 2016 | Biological Science

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Anne Ambrose

Anne Ambrose
Year: 2015 | University Relations and Communications

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Kathy Engberg

Kathy Engberg
Year: 2014 | School of Nursing

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Sherry Pawneshing

Sherry Pawneshing
Year: 2013 | Facilities Management/PPFM

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Stafford Cox

Stafford Cox
Year: 2012 | Academic Technology Services

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Laura Stone

Laura Stone
Year: 2010 | Library

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Berta Hanson

Berta Hanson
Year: 2009 | Staff Human Resources

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SNancy Green

Nancy Green
Year: 2008 | Forty-Niner Shops

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Vickie Messina

Vickie Messina
Year: 2007 |College of Engineering

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Jim Long

Jim Long
Year: 2006 | Dance Department, College of the Arts

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Charleen Rice

Charleen Rice
Year: 2005 | Facilities Management, Division of Administration and Finance

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Fred Neely

Fred Neely
Year: 2004 | University Bookstore, Forty Niner Shops, Inc.

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Cindy McCarty

Cindy McCarty
Year: 2003 | Dept. of Romance, German, Russian Languages and Literatures, College of Liberal Arts

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Sharon Olson

Sharon Olson
Year: 2002 | Academic Projects, Academic Affairs

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Carol Riley

Carol Riley
Year: 2001 | College of Education, Academic Affairs

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Bob Rodgers

Bob Rodgers
Year: 2000 | Audio Visual Services, Academic Affairs

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Sgt. Bonnie Myers

Sgt. Bonnie Myers
Year: 1999 | University Police, Division of Administration and Finance

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Sgt. Bonnie Myers

Elahi Amani
Year: 1998 | Division of Administration and Finance

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Barbara Parks

Barbara Parks
Year: 1997 | Public Affairs and University Publications, Division of University Relations

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Valerie Bordeaux

Valerie Bordeaux
Year: 1996 | University Outreach and School Relations, President's Scholars, Office of the President

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Brian Lawver

Brian Lawver
Year: 1995 | University Relations and Development

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Sgt. Bonnie Myers

Kathy Billing
Year: 1994 | University Thesis Reviewer

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Sgt. Bonnie Myers

Kim Orbeck
Year: 1993 | Academic Affairs