Student Affairs honored six staff members and six programs for their leadership, innovation, and collaboration during the inaugural Student Affairs EXP Pillar Awards on May 16, 2023, at the annual staff development day. The awards honor and recognize individual contributors and programs that exemplify the five pillars of the LMU Student Experience.
The Student Affairs Pillar Awards were started by Senior Vice President Kawanna Leggett, Ed.D., to recognize the hard work and dedication of Student Affairs staff. SVP Leggett partnered with the Staff EXP committee to put together this special recognition event. “I am so proud to be able to honor the hard work and impact our Student Affairs staff and programs have on our community,” said SVP Leggett. “These inaugural staff and program pillar awards, which will now annually celebrate the achievements of our division, highlight both our team’s core principles and the learning outcomes we set forth for our LMU students to have each year.”
The Practice Ignatian Values Program Award
The Practice Ignatian Values Program Award was presented to Andrea Niemi and Jeanette Ramirez, from Student Leadership and Development and the committee who was instrumental in planning the inaugural Student Academic, Service, and Leadership Awards in April 2023. This program recognized over 120 student leaders for their outstanding academic, service, and leadership over the past academic year and is recognized for this award for helping integrate the development of student leadership, personal beliefs, and academic achievements.
The Practice Ignatian Values Staff Award
The Practice Ignatian Values Staff Award was presented to Dominic Ortiz, assistant director for staffing and training in Student Housing. Ortiz oversees, and helped to build, one of the largest student staff teams on campus in Student Housing and knows every single one of the 114 students they work with. This person approaches this work with passion, dedication, and regularly uses discernment as a tool for how they foster meaningful student engagement. As a supervisor, they also use the same intentionality with their professional staff.
The Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit Program Award
The Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit Program Award was presented to Briana Maturi, Anthony Rivero, and Matt Reinig from LMU CARES and Center Student Success for their work on this year’s Wellness Wednesday weekly program. The program was recognized for regularly collaborating and partnering with departments and student organizations across campus to ensure holistic wellness for students. This year, those partnerships included hosting a live podcast with LMU Athletics and providing regular opportunities for departments to share their resources. This program is a favorite among the campus community and one that many look forward to each week.
The Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit Staff Award
The Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit Staff Award was presented to Michelle Kiser, assistant director of Campus Recreation for Fitness in Campus Recreation and Student Facilities. Kiser actively seeks and provides opportunities for students and staff to engage in emotional, physical, and overall holistic development at LMU. Through her work with LMU’s FitWell program, Kiser has hosted programs where students learn how to meditate and find ways to celebrate self-care and love. She brings lots of energy to LMU and immensely cares for all by meeting everyone where they are to provide support and opportunities to feel safe and thrive. Kiser is highly involved in the campus community and it demonstrates the time and care she puts into her work in Student Affairs and with the entire student body.
The Commit to Service and Justice Program Award
The Commit to Service and Justice Program Award was presented to Special Games, which was led by a student-run committee and overseen by Daveon Swan and Jenny Fukanaga, from the Pam Rector Center for Service and Action, along with a student-run committee. This program brought together the university and L.A. community for two days of non-competitive games, fun activities and friendship to members who face intellectual and physical challenges. Since 1977, LMU has hosted special games each year, until 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the event to be canceled for the past three consecutive years. 2023 was the first-time this event returned to campus, and remarkably, was there were no students on the committee or staff from the CSA who had seen or participated in this program previously because those who were a part of the games in the past had either left the university or had graduated. The planning team relied on historical records kept in three-ring binders and word-of-mouth accounts of Special Games from the past to pull off this extraordinary event. Students across campus actively supported this program and learned through fun activities and friendships that were formed.
The Commit to Service and Justice Staff Award
The Commit to Service and Justice Staff Award was presented to Csilla Samay, Ed.D., assistant dean of students for International Students and Scholars. Samay has actively and meaningfully engaged others through various levels of community. This past year, she supported a community group through a challenging time and collaborated with other campus partners to provide a holistic realm of support for them. The passion she has for the greater good is evident, not just in their work but in their lives as well. Her leadership and advocacy efforts have been for the betterment of student and staff experiences.
The Become a Global Citizen Program Award
The Become a Global Citizen Program Award was presented to Avenues of Awareness, overseen by Stuart Moskovitz, director of LGBT Student Services, and Angela O’Malley, assistant director of Recovery at LMU. This program tackled social justice topics, including abolitionist feminism, equity in academic affairs, environmental justice, during an interactive and immersive art exhibit held in the Del Rey Theatre. It allowed the voices of those who are minoritized to be lifted by creating conversations and fostering a community within a community. This inaugural event required many creative and logistical pieces which highlighted the team’s ability to make connections and mobilize resources.
The Become a Global Citizen Staff Award
The Become a Global Citizen Staff Award was presented to Min-Jung Kim, director of Asian Pacific Student Services. Kim personifies appreciation for diversity and seeks opportunities to engage others in critical reflections about intersectionality and positionality. She has revitalized the Asian Pacific Islander community with her commitment to developing her students in all aspects. Kim regularly connected with other campus partners to honor the intersection of identities and to celebrate the many cultures represented on campus. She has connected with students in such a strong way that many have come to see them as a mentor.
The Live a Life of Purpose Program Award
The Live a Life of Purpose Program Award was presented to two programs this year. The first award was presented to the Athletics Training Program out of Campus Recreation and Student Facilities led by Caitlyn Ratcliffe. This program supported 250 student and staff participants over the past year. The program elevated the wellbeing of LMU community members that made over 700 appointments during the fall 2022 semester alone. The program treats injuries from minor to severe and has done so in a calm, welcoming manner that clients appreciate and feel comfortable with. This program helped student staff live a life of purpose by gaining valuable hands-on, practical experience to help prepare them for future careers as athletic trainers or a career in medicine.
The second Live a Life of Purpose Program Award was presented to The Los Angeles Loyolan Centennial celebration led by Tom Nelson, director of Student Media, and Kevin O’Keeffe, assistant director of Student Media. The Loyolan has served the LMU community as a student-focused new source for the past 100 years. This program has provided valuable work experiences for thousands of students and taught them creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The centennial program highlighted the impact of this program by celebrating the large network of alumni and current students through storytelling that shared where alumni are now and how the lessons they have learned in the newsroom during their time at LMU have impacted their future careers.
The Live a Life of Purpose Staff Award
The Live a Life of Purpose Staff Award was presented to Mimi Hoang, Ph.D., a psychologist and interim training coordinator in Student Psychological Services. Hoang has exhibited what it means to live a life of purpose by using her strengths and roles at LMU to contribute to the greater good of the campus community. She has met the demands of multiple roles graciously and has dedicated their full selves to helping others. Hoang has a passion for helping folks find their true selves and is aware of the need of community as a form of care.
The Lion Pride Award
The Lion Pride Award stands as the most esteemed recognition presented by Student Affairs to a dedicated member of the divisional staff. This accolade is bestowed upon individuals whose unwavering efforts have spanned beyond a single academic year, persisting throughout their years at the university. Those honored with the “Lion Pride Award” serve as beacons of inspiration, selflessly devoting their time and skills to enhance the student experience. This year, the Lion Pride Award was presented to Dr. Dan Hyslop, who served as LMU’s medical director and physician in Student Health Services for the past 33 years and recently retired in December 2022. Dr. Dan, as he is known by many in the community, has cared for thousands of LMU students during his time on the bluff, supervised hundreds for Emergency Medical Technicians in training, and collaborated with many staff and faculty. He also had served a critical need by pushing off his official retirement twice, to continue serving as LMU’s medical director while Student Affairs was hiring during the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters.
