Each year, Student Affairs honors the impact and leadership of Student Affairs staff and programs for their innovation and collaboration in supporting the LMU student experience at the division’s annual Staff EXP Day. Each award honors and recognizes individual contributors and programs that exemplify the five pillars of the LMU Student Experience. This year, five programs and nine staff members were honored.
“This is one of my favorite moments of the year, as we come together to celebrate the achievements and dedication of our programs, groups, and individual staff members,” said Senior Vice President Kawanna Leggett, Ed.D., who launched the Student Affairs Pillar Awards two years ago, creating a cherished event for the Division of Student Affairs. “These award recipients embody our commitment to enhancing the student experience and demonstrating the profound impact we have on each of our students,” said Leggett.
The Lion Pride Award
The Lion Pride Award was presented to Julissa Guerrero and Isabel Villalobos-Galeana from Student Housing for their work bringing the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP). Designed to diversify the pipeline of student affairs professionals, NUFP offers undergraduate students mentorship, development opportunities, and a deeper understanding of the field. They both played a pivotal role outside their work responsibilities by taking on additional responsibilities to launch a national program at LMU. Their involvement in advising and motivating students within this program and traveling and getting management team leaders connected to this program was instrumental. Because some students need more opportunities than others, NUFP creates possibilities and changes the landscape of student affairs and higher education. By mentoring students from traditionally underrepresented and historically disenfranchised populations, this semi-structured program diversifies and broadens the pipeline of our profession. This program has been so successful that it will continue into the next year to increase the number of students involved.
The Unsung Hero of the Year Award
The Unsung Hero of the Year Award was presented to two staff members from Student Psychological Services, Angie Perez and Alan Reyes. They work with students experiencing mental health issues and support student success through referrals from Residence Life, Community of Care, Public Safety, and other Community members who walk students into our space for rapid response services. Students have given feedback that they feel cared for as soon as they enter this space because of their interactions. Perez and Reyes contribute in many other ways behind the scenes. They have quick interactions with students, making a huge difference in that student’s life. They are present and calm during all critical issues and crises and navigate student crises amazingly. Perez and Reyes work hard on scheduling, following up with students, ensuring all the therapists have what they need, working on the webpage, assessment, developing reports, and so much more.
The Live a Life of Purpose Program Award
The Live a Life of Purpose Program Award was presented to the Romo Brothers Collective from the Romo and Cabrini Justice Center. This new program has made impactful contributions and aims to be a support group specifically for male students. Thanks to their team’s leadership, the group has flourished, with members becoming more engaged in the LMU community and finding a renewed sense of purpose despite the complexities of their immigration status. One student shared, “This group has challenged us to dismantle what society has taught us about manhood, and as a group, we have developed this as our purpose. We can cry, celebrate each other, and seek mental health resources – something I would not have done before meeting him.”
The Live a Life of Purpose Staff Award
The Live a Life of Purpose Staff Award was presented to Lauren Daniels from Student Employment Services. In only two years, Daniels has done immense work to improve the student employment experience at LMU and create more access and opportunity. Through her leadership, Student Employment Services now has monthly training sessions for supervisors and new and prospective student employees. Daniels has also built relationships with Human Resources, Career and Professional Development, the Office for International Students and Scholars, LGBT Student Services, and LMU Restore to learn how to best serve LMU students and their professional development. As a leader, Daniels responds to the community’s needs and takes action to provide resources for all through her empathy and care.
The Become a Global Citizen Program Award
The Become a Global Citizen Program Award was presented to the International Orientation Leaders Program from the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS). OISS coordinates five orientation programs in one week and supervises a team of almost 40 students each year during International Student Orientation. This program started 25 years ago to allow students to become leaders of the international student and LMU community. The program comprises international and U.S. students, and it is integral in developing students’ interpersonal, intercultural, and professional skills. International Orientation leaders teach new international students to “learn how to be comfortable with differences rather than seeing them as barriers.” The International Orientation Leaders Program serves to create leaders of the campus community who are committed to their growth as global citizens both during and after their time at LMU.
The Become a Global Citizen Staff Award
The Become a Global Citizen Staff Award was presented to Oli Rodriguez from Ethnic and Intercultural Services. Rodriguez is highly talented at facilitating intercultural dialogue. As an alumna of the university and the Intercultural Facilitator (IF) Program that they oversee, her passion for the impact of challenging conversations shines through her work. Rodriguez does a fantastic job of mentoring the IF students to share their “Story of Self,” which, in turn, encourages their audiences to reflect critically on their own identities during these facilitations.
The Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit Program Award
The Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit Program Award was presented to Recovery at LMU. This program has helped students feel more connected and supported through multiple levels of substance use and addiction. Students have created lasting relationships and started groups to help create a larger sense of support. Recovery at LMU has worked to get Narcan training available for students and has left students feeling more aligned with their minds, bodies, and spirits through the skills they deliver.
The Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit Staff Award
The Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit Staff Award was presented to Katie Arce from Student Health Services (SHS). For 20 years, Arce has upheld the Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit pillar as a nurse practitioner and a core member of SHS. She attends to all LMU students seeking health care and those with a special focus on diabetes over thousands of visits to the health center. She brought accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care to SHS. She led the team through multiple accreditation cycles, requiring attention to detail and focus on constant quality improvement to ensure that SHS met dozens and dozens of standards. Arce also directed the EMS program, helping launch many Lions into careers in health care as they served many volunteer hours as frontline healthcare workers.
The Practice Ignatian Values Program Award
The Practice Ignatian Values Program Award was presented to the IgnatianQ Conference led by LGBT Student Services and Campus Ministry. This program involved a four-day conference celebrating queer joy rooted in Ignatian spirituality. IgnatianQ allowed students to show service toward local communities and provide ways to be a person for and with others, demonstrating the ability to cherish the gift of who you are. This program helped galvanize student identity and show how deeply one can care for the whole person while being true to oneself. With over 200 attendees from almost 25 institutions, this program made a lasting impact nationwide.
The Practice Ignatian Values Staff Award
The Practice Ignatian Values Staff Award was presented to John Orozco from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Responsibility (OSCCR). Having started originally in OSCCR as a graduate assistant, Orozco has supported the department to practice Ignatian values over the years. He supports students in practicing Ignatian values of discernment by encouraging them to make decisions based on their values so they can continue to become responsible citizens. Not only does his approach to conduct serve LMU students, Orozco has also trained countless Student Affairs staff members to be conduct administrators, supporting staff professional development, and LMU’s mission of caring for the whole person.
The Commit to Service and Justice Program Award
The Commit to Service and Justice Program Award was presented to the Generative Dialogue Election Workgroup. This workgroup was built to foster a new generation of ethical leaders capable of confronting the complex challenges of our global society. In light of the 2024 elections, this program recognized the need to prepare our students to participate and engage thoughtfully and responsibly in the electoral process. Some of the program’s objectives were to foster student engagement, create inclusive dialogue spaces, and empower student participation. This program developed strategies and resources to support the community after the election, including offering avenues for continued dialogue and engagement to promote understanding and healing within the community.
The Commit to Service and Justice Staff Award
The Commit to Service and Justice Staff Award was presented to Francisco Luna Perez from the Romo and Cabrini Justice Center. Since joining LMU, Perez has consistently exemplified what it means to commit to service and justice. His deep passion and unwavering commitment to supporting vulnerable communities are evident in his day-to-day work and the various initiatives he leads. This work reflects a purpose-driven approach and helps meaningfully align goals with our mission. His ability to lead authentically has earned him the trust of students and colleagues, naming him a co-advisor of Sigma Lambda Beta. Perez truly embodies this award’s spirit — aligning his passion with one of the world’s greatest needs and uplifting others to do the same through the needs of their students.
