ºÚÁÏÉçapp

January 2026

Tammy Marquez

Recognized by: Toddi Sinclair
Recognized for: Integrity, Accountability and Mutual Respect
Title: Facilities Management Business Analyst
Department: AVP Facilities Management

Tammy has been an incredible person to learn from, and her professionalism and character truly stand out. Even when she has a full schedule, she consistently makes herself available to help train me and thoughtfully answer any questions I have. She approaches every interaction with patience, care, and respect, which creates a positive and supportive learning environment.

Tammy demonstrates strong integrity and accountability through her reliability and commitment to doing things the right way. She follows through on her responsibilities, takes the time to ensure I fully understand processes, and never makes me feel rushed or overlooked. Her depth of knowledge is evident, but what makes her an exceptional mentor is the way she shares that knowledge with humility and mutual respect.

She regularly checks in to see how I am doing and makes sure I feel supported as I continue to acclimate to my new role. Tammy’s consistent encouragement, respect for my learning process, and dedication to helping others succeed reflect the core values of integrity, accountability, and mutual respect. Her mentorship has had a meaningful impact on my confidence and growth in this position.

Christina Rocchi

Recognized by: Cindy Juntunen
Recognized for: Integrity, Accountability and Mutual Respect
Title: Academic Programs and Policy Specialist

Department: Academic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness

Christina is consistently supportive and helpful in addressing issues germane to policy and program development.  I really appreciate her deep knowledge, her ability to navigate system procedures, and her willingness to help people accomplish tasks and moves things forward. She is an unsung hero who is responsible for getting a lot of things done, often behind the scenes, and she does so with a strong sense of commitment and integrity.

Jessica Hernandez

Recognized by: Karen Myers-Bowman
Recognized for: Student-centeredness
Title: Academic Advisor

Department: Center for Advising and Student Success

Jessica has provided exceptional support to the students in LS and ITEP. She is responsive to their needs far beyond course selection and academic planning. She is a great listener and follows through with meeting students' needs - no matter how big or small. She is responsive, knowledgeable, supportive, and shows a high level of integrity. We are so lucky to have her on our COE team! She makes a difference!

Amy Marbach

Recognized by: Tom Burns
Recognized for: Intellectual Curiosity
Title: User Services Communications Specialist - Help Desk

Department: Technology Services & Operations

I would like to recognize Amy Marbach with an Otter Strength Award for her outstanding work in researching, implementing, and launching a new student scheduling tool in time for the Spring semester.

This new tool allows Help Desk student assistants to submit their availability, request shift changes, and manage scheduling needs in one centralized place. As a result, it significantly streamlines scheduling workflows and eliminates much of the manual coordination, saving Amy considerable time and allowing her to focus on other high-priority responsibilities.

Amy took the initiative to research available options, evaluate what would work best for our team, and thoughtfully set up the system to meet our operational needs. Her proactive approach, attention to detail, and willingness to take ownership of this project have led to a meaningful and lasting improvement in how we support our student staff.

Thank you, Amy, for your initiative, problem-solving, and dedication to making our processes more efficient for everyone.

Sierra Morgan

Recognized by: Toddi Sinclair
Recognized for: Community and Belonging
Title: Assistant Project Manager

Department: Planning Design & Construction

Sierra has been one of the most welcoming and supportive people I have had the privilege of working with. From my very first day, she has been someone I could rely on, and her presence immediately made the space feel less intimidating and more inviting. She took the initiative to help me understand my role and always made time to sit down with me to answer my questions, no matter how small or “silly” they might have seemed. She never once made me feel judged or hesitant to ask for help, which meant so much as I was learning and adjusting.

What truly sets Sierra apart is how intentional she is about making sure others feel comfortable and included. She consistently checks in with me and goes out of her way to ensure I feel welcomed, supported, and confident in my understanding. Even when she is busy, she takes the time to listen, explain, and reassure me, making it clear that my questions and experiences matter.

Sierra’s kindness, approachability, and genuine care for others have created a strong sense of belonging for me. Her actions reflect a deep commitment to building community and supporting those around her. Her support has had a lasting impact on my experience. She truly embodies the ºÚÁÏÉçapp value of community and belonging through her everyday actions.

February 2026

Jeanna Reyes-Belval

Recognized by: James Bezerra
Recognized for: Global Orientation
Title: Education Abroad Program Analyst
Department: University College

I am pleased to nominate Jeanna Reyes-Belval for recognition for exemplifying ºÚÁÏÉçapp’s commitment to Student-Centeredness and Global Orientation.

As the Education Abroad Specialist and International Club Advisor, Jeanna has dedicated her career to expanding the perspectives of ºÚÁÏÉçapp students by helping them explore the world. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to serving students and ensuring they have access to transformative global learning experiences.

Jeanna consistently places students at the center of everything she does — guiding them through the education abroad process, encouraging them to step beyond their comfort zones, and fostering global awareness through her leadership of the International Club. Her dedication empowers students to broaden their academic, cultural, and personal horizons.

Through her passion, guidance, and unwavering support, Jeanna has made a lasting impact on countless students and truly embodies the values of Cal State Monterey Bay.

Kacie Figueroa

Recognized by: Nicole Guzman
Recognized for: Community and Belonging
Title: Front Office Supervisor
Department: Student Housing and Residential Life

Kacie exemplifies ºÚÁÏÉçapp’s value of Community and Belonging through her intentional efforts to foster connection and support across the department. Although newer to the team, she has quickly built meaningful relationships with students and colleagues, creating an environment where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. She approaches every interaction with warmth and a genuine willingness to listen, ensuring others feel supported. Her positive presence and readiness to help, even beyond her formal responsibilities, strengthen our shared sense of community and purpose.

Brian Shaw

Recognized by: Nicole Guzman
Recognized for: Creativity and Innovation
Title: Information Security Technician
Department: Technology Services & Operations

I am would like to recognize Brian Shaw with an Otter Strength Award for his exceptional contributions to the POS and Meal Plan Management System RFP committee. Although Brian joined the committee later in the process, he immediately stepped in as a dedicated and highly engaged member, committing significant time and energy to fully support the work.

As our subject matter expert in information security, Brian brings critical insight that has strengthened our evaluation process and ensured we carefully consider risk and compliance. He continues to go above and beyond by developing tools that have helped us more effectively assess vendor bids, adding clarity and structure to a complex process. Brian is a stellar example of an innovative mindset, particularly in his effective utilization of AI.

Brian’s commitment, expertise, (and even the thoughtful touch of creating a custom RFP Zoom background for our meetings!) reflect both his dedication and team spirit. I am incredibly grateful he joined the committee and for the meaningful impact he continues to make.

Sathyan Sundaram

Recognized by: Tom Burns
Recognized for: Student-centeredness
Title: Institutional Assessment and Research Senior Data Scientist
Department: Institutional Assessment and Research

Sathyan’s otter strength is his ability to turn complex data into something genuinely useful. By making it easy to access and compare WEPA printing data with student demographics, he helped us better understand how students are actually using the service. This insight supports more informed, student-centered decisions and ensures our printing solutions align with real student needs. His collaboration and clarity made a meaningful impact.

Lora Johansen

Recognized by: Tom Horvath
Recognized for: Integrity, Accountability and Mutual Respect
Title: Administrative Support Coordinator
Department: Marine Science

Lora has been outstanding in getting a very large volume of purchases completed in both a timely manner, but more impressively, with an acute eye to details. I'm sure this added volume was managed only through her commitment to going above and beyond in her role as department ASC.

March 2026

Joanna Wong

Recognized by: Karen Myers-Bowman
Recognized for: Integrity, Accountability and Mutual Respect
Title: Professor and Chief Assistant to the Dean Professor and Chief Assistant to the Dean
Department: Education & Leadership / College of Education

I am honored to nominate Dr. Joanna Wong for the Otter Strength Award in the category of Integrity, Accountability, and Mutual Respect. As a Professor and my Chief Assistant to the Dean for nearly three years, Joanna exemplifies these values through her unwavering reliability, ethical leadership, and deep commitment to anti-racism and inclusion. She is an exceptional listener and a dedicated mentor to junior faculty, fostering an environment of mutual respect across the college. Her accountability is reflected in her significant service on the University Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Committee and her leadership in our Community and Belonging efforts. Whether stepping in to lead a critical grant proposal or securing a prestigious $3.5 million Spencer Foundation grant, Joanna consistently follows through with excellence. Her proactive support has been instrumental to my success and the growth of our college, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have her as my colleague.

Cynthia Bush

Recognized by: Tom Horvath
Recognized for: Student-centeredness
Title: Administrative Support Coordinator
Department: Mathematics & Statistics

Cynthia has been fantastic at getting the M&S website back to its former state during the migration. Working alongside the Chair, she has managed her time well through the trainings and the onerous processes. I appreciate her get-it-done attitude and her patience with all these critical tasks.

Ryan Taylor

Recognized by: Nicole Guzman
Recognized for: Creativity and Innovation
Title: Assistant Director for Learning and Assessment
Department: Student Housing and Residential Life

Ryan exemplifies ºÚÁÏÉçapp’s value of Creativity and Innovation through his holistic and forward-thinking approach to his work. He thoughtfully develops strategies that support both student learning and community development, ensuring peers and students have the opportunity to grow and succeed. His contributions to assessment and curricular design have helped guide the department toward greater alignment and more efficient, process-driven practices. At the same time, he remains grounded in care for the individuals behind the work, balancing innovation with a strong commitment to people.

Diana Zambrano

Recognized by: Jennifer Clinkenbeard
Recognized for: Community and Belonging
Title: Lecturer
Department: Mathematics & Statistics

Diana does an incredible job of reaching out to each of her students, connecting with them, and fostering a collaborative and respectful environment in her classes. We are lucky to have her!

Joseph Hernandez

Recognized by: Isaac Hernandez
Recognized for: Service and Civic Engagement
Title: Laborer
Department: Shipping & Receiving

I would like to recognize Joseph for his professionalism and commitment to student well-being while responding to a situation in Yarrow Hall (Building 206) on March 11th at approximately 3:05 PM.

While returning to his work vehicle, Joseph and a colleague heard a disturbance between neighboring residents. Rather than continuing on, he took the initiative to check in and ensure everyone was okay, giving students the opportunity to share concerns about ongoing conflicts affecting their comfort, safety, and ability to rest.

Joseph responded with empathy and professionalism, listening carefully and ensuring the concerns were communicated to the appropriate campus partners for follow-up. Although the situation was outside the typical scope of Facilities work, his actions reflect our team’s commitment to student-centered service and helping create a safe, respectful living environment.

Joseph’s care and professionalism strengthen our campus community.