2023 Winners
2024 Titan Excellence Award Winners
Dr. Sampson Akwafuo
Director of the Computational Epidemiology, Disaster and Data Intelligence (CEDDI) Lab
(Computer Science)
Dr. Akwafuo's nominator mentions, "Dr. Sampson Akwafuo’s activities are consistently geared toward ensuring unbridled success and retention of first-gen, low-income and underrepresented students. Throughout Prof. Akwafuo’s career, he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to supporting and mentoring students from minorities and underrepresented communities. He has received many awards, honors and grants to supports his research."
Taylor Gonzales
Admissions Representative
(Admissions)
Taylor goes above and beyond for our student ambassadors and Titan community. She builds community by the friendliness and Titan spirit that she brings to the office. Her nominator states "Without Taylor, our office would not be the same! The immense support that she has for staff, student staff, and of course the Titan community is strong."
Elizabeth (Liz) Morales
Evaluator II, Graduate Studies
(Computer Science)
Elizabeth's nominator states, "It is a great pleasure to recommend Elizabeth (Liz) Morales for the Titan Award. Liz truly deserves the Titan Excellence award. She is the soul of the Department, with a great deal of emotional intelligence, and being able to help faculty and students alike. I do not think there is anyone more qualified for the Titan Award.”
2024 Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Award
Justine Budisantoso
Justine's understanding of the unique challenges encountered by underrepresented communities has been the foundation of her impactful work. Her leadership in developing targeted programming for alumni from diverse backgrounds and special populations exemplifies her dedication to inclusivity beyond the current student body. Justine is a driving force behind implementing the Alumni Association DEI Taskforce's recommendations, and she has a reputation as a leader in alumni DEI programming within the CSU system.
Team Members include Nat Betancourt Arellano, Cathy Barrad, John Beisner, Cecil Chik, Tara Gallivan-Garcia, Shelly Hsu, Joe Luzzi, Sahar Nia, Sharnette Underdue, Philip Vasquez, Vincent Vigil, and Captain Scot Willey.
Titan Card Preferred Name Implementation Team
In less than three months and in time for transfer student and new student orientations was able to come up with a process for students and employees to use their preferred first names on a Titan card without requiring legal documentation. Within the first week of announcing this new program, approximately 40 members of our community obtained a new Titan card with their true name. One of these community members stated that "As a trans person, this is truly incredible and thank you so so much for instituting something like this. ...I'm so thankful to see roll out now not just for me but for anyone else who ever wants to use it. This teams actions truly reflect the power of not letting past practices get in the way of doing the right thing.
2024 Teamwork and Collaboration Award
Team members include Lyzette Hingco, Karolyn Lee, Stephanie Nguyen, Yessica Penate, Susan Saikaly, and Abril Vega.
Titan Degree Audit Team
This team created and launched the Titan Degree Audit system for our master’s and doctoral students. The degree audit software stands as a monumental advancement in providing students with a comprehensive evaluation of their coursework and degree requirements, directly contributing to their academic success.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the organic formation of this team across various units and divisions, united by a common vision of enhancing student success. The implementation and refinement of the graduate Titan Degree Audit is a testament to this team's dedication to reducing barriers to student success and providing invaluable resources to faculty, staff, and students alike.
Team members include Valerie Arribeno, Myesha Dunn, Anthony Frisbee, Karla Perez, Alexander Porter, Dr. Kevin Thacker Thomas, Vincent Vigil, Scot Willey, and Dr. Jaime Sheehan.
CSUF Mobile Crisis Response Implementation Team
This team's leadership and participation in listening to the concerns and suggestions of our Titan community have been instrumental in identifying and implementing a new approach to mental health crisis management on our campus. This initiative signifies a transformative shift in our collective response to crisis situations, prioritizing inclusivity and the destigmatization of mental health assistance. The creation of the CSUF Mobile Crisis Response Team under this team's guidance is a pioneering step within the CSU system. This team's dedication to this implementation not only sets a new standard for crisis intervention but also aligns perfectly with our mission, vision, and strategic objectives. Your efforts have ensured that our campus remains a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment for all members of our community to flourish.
