Outstanding Staff Award Recipients
![alessandro](/sites/default/files/images/2024-04/alessandro-russo.png)
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, 鈥淢obsters, Mammas, Mafias, and Migrations.鈥
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鈥檚 recommendation letter illustrates Alessandro鈥檚 commitment to CSULB:
鈥淚n addition to performing his regular duties with grace and efficiency (and often under pressure)鈥攊ndeed, Alessandro is one of the savviest staff members I know鈥攈e 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. 鈥
More broadly, Alessandro has amassed a wealth of activities and ongoing service work鈥 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. 鈥
We thank you Alessandro for representing and embodying the spirit of CSULB鈥檚 hard-working and dedicated staff!
![sylvana](/sites/default/files/images/2023-05/sylvana-c.png)
Sylvana Cicero
Year: 2023 / University Student Union
![Kristin Bonetati](/sites/default/files/images/2022-07/K%20Bonetati%20pix_0.jpg)
Kristin Bonetati
Year: 2022 | 49er shops
![John Ciulik](/sites/default/files/images/2022-07/John%20Ciulik%20-%202021.jpg)
John Ciulik
Year: 2021 | Family & Consumer Sciences
![pc.png Pedro Castro](/sites/default/files/images/pc.png)
Pedro Castro
Year: 2020 | College of The Arts
![st.jpg Susan Tsuji](/sites/default/files/images/st.jpg)
Susan Tsuji
Year: 2019 | History
![jm.jpg Jennifer Moran](/sites/default/files/images/jm.jpg)
Jennifer Moran
Year: 2018 | URD College Development. College of the Arts
![wl.jpg Wendy Lopez](/sites/default/files/images/wl.jpg)
Wendy Lopez
Year: 2017 | Human Development
![dg.jpg Diane Graham](/sites/default/files/images/dg.jpg)
Diane Graham
Year: 2016 | Biological Science
![aa.jpg Anne Ambrose](/sites/default/files/images/aa_1.jpg)
Anne Ambrose
Year: 2015 | University Relations and Communications
![ke.jpg Kathy Engberg](/sites/default/files/images/ke.jpg)
Kathy Engberg
Year: 2014 | School of Nursing
![sp.jpg Sherry Pawneshing](/sites/default/files/images/sp.jpg)
Sherry Pawneshing
Year: 2013 | Facilities Management/PPFM
![sc.jpg Stafford Cox](/sites/default/files/images/sc.jpg)
Stafford Cox
Year: 2012 | Academic Technology Services
![ls.jpg Laura Stone](/sites/default/files/images/ls.jpg)
Laura Stone
Year: 2010 | Library
![bh.jpg Berta Hanson](/sites/default/files/images/bh_0.jpg)
Berta Hanson
Year: 2009 | Staff Human Resources
![ng.jpg SNancy Green](/sites/default/files/images/ng.jpg)
Nancy Green
Year: 2008 | Forty-Niner Shops
![vm.jpg Vickie Messina](/sites/default/files/images/vm.jpg)
Vickie Messina
Year: 2007 |College of Engineering
![jl.jpg Jim Long](/sites/default/files/images/jl.jpg)
Jim Long
Year: 2006 | Dance Department, College of the Arts
![cr.jpg Charleen Rice](/sites/default/files/images/cr.jpg)
Charleen Rice
Year: 2005 | Facilities Management, Division of Administration and Finance
![fn.jpg Fred Neely](/sites/default/files/images/fn.jpg)
Fred Neely
Year: 2004 | University Bookstore, Forty Niner Shops, Inc.
![cc.jpg Cindy McCarty](/sites/default/files/images/cc.jpg)
Cindy McCarty
Year: 2003 | Dept. of Romance, German, Russian Languages and Literatures, College of Liberal Arts
![so.jpg Sharon Olson](/sites/default/files/images/so.jpg)
Sharon Olson
Year: 2002 | Academic Projects, Academic Affairs
![ci.jpg Carol Riley](/sites/default/files/images/ci.jpg)
Carol Riley
Year: 2001 | College of Education, Academic Affairs
![br.jpg Bob Rodgers](/sites/default/files/images/br.jpg)
Bob Rodgers
Year: 2000 | Audio Visual Services, Academic Affairs
![nophoto.gif Sgt. Bonnie Myers](/sites/default/files/images/nophoto.gif)
Sgt. Bonnie Myers
Year: 1999 | University Police, Division of Administration and Finance
![nophoto.gif Sgt. Bonnie Myers](/sites/default/files/images/nophoto.gif)
Elahi Amani
Year: 1998 | Division of Administration and Finance
![bp.jpg Barbara Parks](/sites/default/files/images/bp.jpg)
Barbara Parks
Year: 1997 | Public Affairs and University Publications, Division of University Relations
![vb.jpg Valerie Bordeaux](/sites/default/files/images/vb.jpg)
Valerie Bordeaux
Year: 1996 | University Outreach and School Relations, President's Scholars, Office of the President
![bl.jpg Brian Lawver](/sites/default/files/images/bl_0.jpg)
Brian Lawver
Year: 1995 | University Relations and Development
![nophoto.gif Sgt. Bonnie Myers](/sites/default/files/images/nophoto.gif)
Kathy Billing
Year: 1994 | University Thesis Reviewer
![nophoto.gif Sgt. Bonnie Myers](/sites/default/files/images/nophoto.gif)
Kim Orbeck
Year: 1993 | Academic Affairs