August 2025 A&F Times
August Column
I’m very excited to be back on campus and rejoining the Sonoma State community. After serving here at SSU from 2006 to 2017, I’ve spent the past 8 years at San Francisco State. I currently serve as both Vice President & CFO at SFSU and as Interim Vice President & CFO at SSU, in addition to serving as the Project Lead for the new San Francisco Bay Region Network (SFBRN). Bringing these three roles together at such a pivotal moment, I am both humbled and energized by the possibilities that lie before us.
The formidable challenges currently facing Sonoma State are not unique in higher education. In Northern California, and across the country, regional demographic shifts, rapidly evolving expectations, and financial pressures threaten institutions of public higher education as we strive to deliver our core academic mission. Resource constraints are real and create uncertainty, and we must evolve to meet these challenges with practical and innovative solutions that are data-informed, grounded in reality, and aligned with our mission.
Despite these challenges, and with clear-eyed realism, I see abundance at Sonoma State and especially in the Administration & Finance Division: the creative spirit, the determination and potential, the legacy of knowledge and discovery, and the shared sense of purpose that unites our staff and administrators. You all have continued to deliver on behalf of our campus even as resources have declined. You’ve learned to let go of things that can no longer be done the way they’ve always been done, and embraced new processes, technology, and opportunities for collaboration. Your resilience is outstanding.
As the San Francisco Bay Region Network evolves, my role at Sonoma State will too. I will continue to be present here regularly, as well as at SF State and CSU East Bay. I know that the dedicated staff and leadership in A&F will allow us to embrace this new way of supporting the campus, and I look forward to working with all of you toward that goal. Please know that I have an open door (and open email) policy. I encourage you to drop by and say hello and let me know what your questions and concerns are about A&F, the Network, and Sonoma State. If I’m not there, we can certainly schedule time for us to meet.
In closing, it is wonderful to be here at SSU. Nearly 20 years ago, Sonoma State offered me a career pathway that allowed me to hope that I could make a positive difference in the lives of Californians through access to higher education. That hope remains, and I will work hard every day to make sure our students, faculty, and staff, especially the staff and leaders in A&F, have the opportunity to make that positive difference - and I hope you will join me on this mission.
With gratitude,
What's Happening on Campus
Students Return!
New and returning Seawolves move into campus housing on August 14th. New first year and transfer students will continue their NOMA Nation Orientation experience after moving in as they participate in the annual Week of Welcome (WOW). The WOW programming is designed to help the students get acquainted with the campus, each other, and help set them on a path for success in their journey here at SSU! Check out the WOW website or contact [email protected] for more information.
Experience "The Great Game!"
The cities of Rohnert Park and Cotati have teamed up with Sonoma State to host a cross-town scavenger hunt! The event will kick off in Seawolf Plaza at 10am on August 23rd, and participants will then be sent clues and puzzles to solve that will take them on a mission across Rohnert Park and Cotati. Stops along the game will include local businesses, historic sites, parks, and other points of interest. There will be prizes, giveaways (including tickets to a movie at the Green Music Center!), and more! For more information on the game and how to register, follow the City of Rohnert Park on Instagram @rohnertparkcity. Questions can be directed to Paul Carey at [email protected].
Seawolves Shop Local
The "Seawolves Shop Local" fair is back for it's second year! Stop by Seawolf Plaza between 11am-1pm on August 26th to meet local vendors from Rohnert Park, Cotati, and the surrounding region. Get to know the local flavors, services, and shops that make Sonoma County special. And check out the "Seawolves Save Here" website to see where students, faculty, and staff can enjoy discounts around the county!
Project Management Foundations Training
The IT Project Management Office (PMO) successfully launched the Project Management Foundations Training this summer! The first session brought together 17 staff members from across Adminsitration & Finance for an engaging, hands-on workshop focused on learning basic project management principles and practical tools that can be applied directly to participants’ current roles. The cohort was broken into teams and tasked with managing a "project" from start to finish, leveraging the techniques and principles learned in class. The overall event feedback received was positive and participants appreciated the interactive format and shared that they left with practical takeaways (and cute Lego ducks!) that they can apply in their current roles.
📅 More Dates Coming Soon!
If you missed the first session, don’t worry, additional dates will be announced soon. Stay tuned and be ready to reserve your spot!
Summer Events Recap
UPD Recognition Awards
On May 6th, University Police swore in their newest officer, Yesica Metildi at a ceremony on the lawn outside the police station. Congratulations and welcome to SSU, Yesica!
The department also recognized individuals for their contributions to the university and community. Awardees for the 2024-2025 year included:
- Erin Rock, HR - Chief's Award
- Brian Burton, CCJS Faculty - Chief's Award
- Kellie Douglas, CAPS - Chief's Award
- Michael Callen, Cotati PD - Chief's Award
- Aaron Estrada, Student Ambassador - UPD Employee of the Year
- Sean Viduya, Rohnert Park Public Safety - Chief's Award
"Unlocking Everyday Efficiency and Impact with AI" Workshop
On July 23, Information Technology and Learning & Development co-hosted “Unlocking Everyday Efficiency and Impact with AI”, a full-day professional development event that brought together approximately 120 SSU employees from across campus. In the morning, attendees explored real-world use cases from other universities leveraging AI to enhance operational effectiveness. The afternoon featured interactive group sessions, where participants discussed SSU use cases to apply AI concepts to everyday tasks and workflows, resulting in a range of creative ideas and identifying common improvement opportunities for SSU.
From our post-event survey, 75% of the respondents found the event to be valuable and two-thirds indicated they would be interested in participating in a follow up event. The survey has also highlighted that people want more hands-on training, which is what the team plans to bring next, with a series of smaller group workshops in the fall. This should allow a more inclusive set of training events that can fit into people's schedules and will allow content to be more tailored to the department or subject area of interest.
If you attended and have not filled out the feedback survey, please do so to help us plan ahead for future events, training, etc.
There’s more to come! We’re excited to continue this journey with you and hope to see you at the next AI-focused event.
Thank you to all the participants and the contributors for making this event a success!
Shoutouts!
Congratulations to the Conference & Event Services and Student Center Operations teams on closing out another Summer Conference season! The two teams work diligently throughout the year to manage the bookings and operations of the program, which brings in much needed revenue to support the campus. This season they hosted a total of 5,845 overnight guests over 6 weeks - totaling 23,775 collective nights stayed and 67,398 meals served. The success of the program would also not be possible without the support of so many campus partners, including: University Culinary Services, Facilities Management, Information Technology, Performing Arts, and Transportation & Parking Services. Great work to all involved!
The Financial Services team received 1st place in year end reporting for the 23-24 Fiscal Year! A hard-earned award and a great recognition from the Chancellor's Office.
A shoutout to the Facilities Management team on a job well done on another Commencement set up! Commencement is the largest event of the year and it's truly an "all hands on deck" endeavor to bring it all together.
Anniversaries!
Celebrated Anniversaries in May
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Belen Aguilar | Capital Planning Design & Construction |
| James Hercher | Maintenance |
| Colleen Radin | Kitchens |
| Corina Williams | Housekeeping |
| David Hudkins | Landscaping |
| Patrick Mooney | Operations & Engineering |
| Brhana Embaye | Housekeeping |
| Kelly Clark | Student Center Operations |
| Andres Zamudio | Housekeeping |
| Joshua Gillespie | Operations & Engineering |
| Keith Tucker | Operations & Engineering |
| Sarah Gillespie | Conference & Event Services |
| Carolyn Faulconer | Contracts & Procurement |
| John Howard | University Police |
| Michael Elliott | Operations & Engineering |
| Gary Peterson | Maintenance |
| Melanie Powers | Payroll & Benefits |
| Jordan Lundberg | Operations & Engineering |
| Kathy Cronin | Housekeeping |
| Dusty Magallon | Student Financial Services |
| Heather Cain | Payroll & Benefits |
| Brian Orr | Student Financial Services |
Celebrated Anniversaries in June
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Oscar Carbonell | Operations & Engineering |
| Robert Grant | Operations & Engineering |
| Jackie Ell | Maintenance |
| Karla Garcia Lugo | Accounts Payable |
| Grace Guchu | Housekeeping |
| Jeremiah Timm | Kitchens |
| Kelly Cambou | Seawolf Services |
| Stefan Fecker | Maintenance |
| Christopher Romo | Kitchens |
| Erin Rock | Talent Acquisition & Workforce Administration |
| Jessica Avner | Seawolf Services |
| Mark Utarid | Operations & Engineering |
| Alonso Gonzalez-Yanez | Landscaping |
| Carolynne Schmidt | Accounts Payable |
| Julia Ibanez | Financial Aid |
| Luz Gutierrez | Housekeeping |