May 2026 A&F Times
May Column
As we prepare to celebrate our newest graduates at Commencement later this month, it is both an incredibly exciting time and a challenging one, as we all work to create a great experience for our students while maintaining service levels, meeting project deadlines, and continuing to execute campus operations.
The theme of “disruption” is often discussed during commencement speeches, encouraging students to apply their education to confront problems head on, seek creative solutions, embrace uncertainty, and challenge systems to improve the world around them.
We have just passed the 100 day mark since go-live for Phase 1 services at the San Francisco Bay Region Network, and I think this same theme applies to the work we are doing there. Through consolidating the services of Information Technology, Procurement, and Accounts Payable, the SFBRN is disrupting well established processes and service models and encouraging our campuses to think outside the box and operate differently.
While each of our campuses have the same mission, the tools and pathways each campus uses in pursuit of that mission can vary greatly. As we continue to refine our operations, we are working towards systems alignment, shared access, and stabilization, which will result in more efficiency and improvements in service when interacting with SFBRN services. Additionally, Phase 2 planning for the SFBRN continues to take shape, with Human Resources, Payroll, and Accounting & Financial Reporting planning underway and services in these areas expected to transition to the Network this summer.
As with any new system, these operations will continue to be refined with a mindset of continuous improvement. I encourage you to read the vision and guiding principles of the SFBRN if you have not done so to learn more about the SFBRN.
What's Happening on Campus
Scoops of Gratitude
With the end of the semester just around the corner, save the date for “Scoops of Gratitude''! Join the campus community in Seawolf Plaza on Wednesday, May 27th from 2-4pm to enjoy frozen treats, music and games. You are also invited to share shoutouts or fun photos from this past year. Photos can be emailed to [email protected] or use the submission form to submit your shoutouts no later than Wednesday, May 20th.
Summer Conference Season Kicks Off
The annual summer conference season at Sonoma State kicks off on Monday, June 8th. Over the course of eight weeks, the campus will host groups consisting of a diverse range of attendees who will utilize campus facilities for their meetings, events, meals, and hospitality - ultimately culminating in a total of 27,902 nights stayed and nearly 75,000 meals served! Executing this program each year is truly a team effort, consisting of campus partners from Student Center Operations, Conference & Event Services, Culinary Services, Performing Arts, Facilities Management, Shipping & Receiving, Parking, Campus Recreation, Green Music Center, and many others. We hope you all will join us in welcoming our many guests this summer and helping to ensure they have a memorable stay at SSU!
Environmental Stewardship & Collaboration in Action
When biology major AJ Staal looked at the parking lot outside Sonoma State University’s Environmental Technology Center, they saw an opportunity to rethink how water moves through campus — and to protect the Copeland Creek watershed in the process. In collaboration with partners from the Center for Environmental Inquiry, SSU Landscaping, East Bay Regional Parks, and others, Staal led the design and installation of a new bioswale that captures stormwater runoff from a nearby parking lot, filtering pollutants and sediment before they can reach Copeland Creek. Staal's work was recognized at the 2026 Research, Scholarship and Creativity Symposium, where they won the award for Best Water Research Poster. Read more about the project on SSU News.
Seawolves Dig In!
The fourth annual Seawolves Dig In took place on April 24, drawing 100 students, faculty, staff, and community members for a morning of hands-on environmental stewardship. Both an Earth Week finale and an Arbor Day celebration, the event invited volunteers to roll up their sleeves across six campus sites, planting magnolia and fruit trees, adding flowers and native species, clearing invasive weeds, and restoring and creating habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. In total, participants planted 22 trees and more than 200 native perennial pollinator plants. The event coincided with Sonoma State’s recent recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Higher Education Tree Campus – a designation that reflects the kind of hands-on care demonstrated during Seawolves Dig In and reinforces the university’s continued investment in sustainability, community engagement, and its arboreal landscape. To read more about Seawolves Dig In, and other Sustainable SSU initiatives, check out the article on SSU News!
Congrats, Class of 2026!
This year we have another batch of student assistants graduating within A&F! While we will miss having them on our teams, we are so proud of their accomplishments and excited to see what they do next.
A&F 2026 Graduates
Box Office
Tyson Keaunui, Psychology
Trent Glenn, Creative Writing (M.A.)
Ella Andrada, History
Lesly Silva, Business Marketing
Transportation & Parking Services
Karley Fredeen, Psychology
Ashley Metzger, Communications
Charlie Tang, Psychology
Student Center Operations
Adina Apilado, Liberal Studies Hutchins
Unique Dabbs, Kinesiology
Vanessa Economus, Business Administration
John Hickman, Business Administration
Dylan Vargas, Business Administration
Human Resources
Kila Carleton, Psychology
Addyson Renard, Psychology & Kinesiology
Mail Services
Cydney Harris, American Multicultural Studies
Sydney Tran, Studio Arts
Information Technology
Sergio Rivera-Real
Abraham Rivera-Real
Isabella Bibayoff
Carlos Gomez
Accounts Payable
Alyana Hoffman, Financial Management
Shoutouts!
Brian Orr received a thank you from Dr. Lisa Hua in the Biology for his work on setting up a registration website for the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference in April. The conference was hosted by SSU and had over 500 attendees!
Erin Rock, Chandra Holte, and Kimmy Lillo reported for duty as the Duck Squad to support Giving Day 2026! They roamed campus helping folks to purchase a name for a Sonoma State duck. In total, Giving Day 2026 raised over $333,000 to support campus causes!
On Saturday, May 16th members of A&F participated in the Windsor Half Marathon/10K/5K, starting and finishing in the Windsor Town Green. Keep an eye out in the "Employee Wellness Opportunities" emails for more run/walk opportunities and exclusive discount codes for the Sonoma State community!
Celebrated Anniversaries in April
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Allan Timblin | Kitchens |
| Gia Telles | Housekeeping |
| Frances Little | Financial Aid |
| Noelle Fisette | Employee Relations & Compliance Services |
| Don Cortes | Kitchens |
| Kimberly Lillo | Talent Acquisition & Workforce Administration |
| Alison Schneider | Housekeeping |
| Megan Varnadore | Risk Management & Safety Services |
| David Salinas | Housekeeping |
| Steven Motley | Operations & Engineering |
| Nicholas Arnold | Workstation Security Services |
| Eleanor Henderson | Enterprise Applications |
| Raymond Blabon | Kitchens |
Celebrated Anniversaries in May
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Belen Aguilar | Capital Planning Design & Construction |
| Colleen Radin | Kitchens |
| Patrick Mooney | Operations & Engineering |
| Corina Williams | Housekeeping |
| David Hudkins | Landscaping |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Ivonne Manriquez | Financial Aid |