Staff Accolades

Tatiana Loyaza

Employee of the Month

April 2024

Tatiana Loyaza

Department of Student Support and Transitions

 

Tatiana Loyaza is a Victim Advocate for the Department of Student Support and Transitions. FSU's Victim Advocates offer free and confidential support to members of our community who may have been a victim of a crime or similar situation. Advocates are able to provide support through administrative and legal processes.
In the words of Tatiana's nominator: "Tatiana has been an amazing Assistant Director of our Victim Advocate Program for years but over the past few months has stepped in as the Interim Director of Case Management Services leading the Case Management team through a transition. She is a selfless individual and a strong professional who is always willing to step up and help others. She exemplifies a strong student affairs professional by always treating every student, parent, colleague, and community member with care and respect."

Florida State University’s Division of Student Affairs thanks you for your exemplary leadership qualities and for your care for the students you serve.

Employee of the Month Archive


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Awards, Fellowships and Scholarships

Michael Fine, M.S.

Michael Fine, M.S.

Student Union

April 2024: Michael R. Fine, M.S., associate director of the FSU Student Union, has been honored as the recipient of the prestigious Gordon Teigen Meritorious Service Award for 2024. The annual award is presented to an individual for outstanding service to collegiate bowling. Recognized twice as one of the Bowlers Journal’s "Top 100 Bowling Coaches in America," Fine currently represents the interests of all collegiate bowling programs on the USBC Collegiate Advisory Council and serves as Secretary/Rules Editor for NCAA Women’s Bowling.

Dr. Felicia Williams and Andy Johnson at Tau Sigma Honor Society

Felicia D. Williams, Ph.D. and Andy Johnson

Student Engagement

April 2024: inducted by the Office of Transfer Student Services as Honorary Members into the Tau Sigma Honor Society. Additionally, the Office of Student Governance and Advocacy was awarded the 2024 Transfer Advocate award for the support of FSU's transfer student population through programs such as the Transfer Leadership Program, Welcome FSU, and SGA funding support.

Xavien Johns

Xavien Johns

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

April 2024: selected as a 2024 Jim Rhatigan Graduate Fellow for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference. This fellowship was given to only 8 Graduate Students around the nation.

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Tyrone "TJ" Johnson

The Career Center

March 2024: received the 2023-24 Outstanding Undergraduate Advising Award. The Outstanding Undergraduate Advising Award recognizes excellence in undergraduate advising involving a number of areas including knowledge about curriculum, areas of concentration and career options, sensitivity to pressures and demands on students, good communication skills, and a non-judgmental approach for advisees’ concerns. This award will be presented during a reception on April 23 at 5:30 p.m.

V. Casey Dozier

V. Casey Dozier Ph.D.

The Career Center

March 2024: has been selected as the recipient of the NCDA Outstanding Career Practitioner Award for 2024! Dr. Dozier will be honored at the NCDA Global Conference in San Diego, California in June. The awards committee was unanimously impressed with how her scholarly pursuits, application of theory to practice, direct career service, teaching, international collaborations, and years of service to the profession not only meet but exceed the essence of each award criterion./p>

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Rana Emad, Jacob Stamm, Sabrina Quiroga, Danny Chiarodit

The Career Center

March 2024: received the National Career Development Association (NCDA) 2024 Graduate Student Conference Scholarship.

Sarah Butler

Sarah Butler

University Housing

March 2024: Associate Director Sarah Butler won the Southeastern Association of Housing Officer's prestigious Charles W. Beene Memorial Service Award at this year's conference.

Rana Sedeeq

Rana Sedeeq

The Career Center

February 2024: received the NCDA 2024 Graduate Student Conference Scholarship.


Presentations, Conferences and Exhibits

Xavien Johns

Xavien Johns

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

April 2024: Co-presented at the 2024 Annual NASPA Conference in Seattle under the topic "From NUFP to Graduate School: The Importance of Preparatory Programs and Internships for Graduate Student Success." Our program abstract was "Internships across industries remain a critical component of preparing students for their careers. Students pursuing Master’s in higher education obtaining structured student affair internships remain rare due to few generalists’ professional opportunities prior to graduate school. Creating an internship emphasizing the preparation on both the professional and academic sides of the post-undergraduate experience is essential. Through this presentation, we will explore why creating such internships matter, the advantages for graduate schools, and the impacts on several current graduate students." Presented alongside NUFP Cohort members Asa Lewis, who is a graduate student at the University of Maryland, Warren Lor, who is a graduate student at The Ohio State University, and Dr. Lane Washington who is the Senior Advisor to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Colorado Bolder.

Stephanie Walker

Stephanie Walker

FSU Childcare

March 2024: presented Preparing Pre-Kindergarten Families for the Transition to Elementary School at the March 2024 National Coalition for Campus Children's Centers conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Li Pon

Li Pon

The Career Center

March 2024: presented Guiding International Students through the U.S. Career Landscape at the 2024 Florida Association of International Educators (FAIE) hosted at Florida State University.

Corbin H. Ryder

Corbin H. Ryder

Center for Health Advocacy Research Center

March 2024: presented Utilizing Pedagogical Strategies to Engage Black Men in Leadership Development at NASPA.

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Patrick Marshall

University Housing

March 2024: presented poster session: Higher Education as a Failing System: Examining the Impact of Current Legislation on Support Services for Underrepresented Students

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Raines Baker, Tyliah Parrish, Danny Chiarodit, and Marty Swanbrow Becker

The Career Center

March 2024: presented at the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences showcase this past Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 titled: How Perceptions of University Support of Diverse Students Influence Help-seeking and Help-giving

Rana Emad

Rana Sedeeq and Jinlin Wu

The Career Center

March 2024: presented at the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences showcase this past Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 titled: International Students’ Resilience in U.S. Higher Education Institutions

NSFP at the Southern Regional Orientation Workshop

Robyn Brock, Trinity Davis, Zac Collins, Madison Merrill, Riley Curls, Amya Stokes, Ryan Short, Barbora Malichova and Cassie Hiatt

New Student & Family Programs

March 2024: presented at the Southern Regional Orientation Workshop (SROW). The team was comprised of 12 under graduates, three graduate students, and two full-time professionals. The team also participated in the undergraduate case study, the banner competition and applied for the innovative program award and won first place for the undergrad case study. Tara King and Kaitlyn Ritt won first place for graduate presentations, Madison Merrill won first place, Trinity Davis and Zac Collins won second place, Amya Stokes and Barbora Malichova won third place. The team competed in the banner competition and won second place. The team was the Overall Innovative Program Winner for the food recovery project with Sustainable Campus and Seminole Dining.

Maria Zareen, Annie Hu and Chris LaFever, Ph.D.

Maria Zareen, Annie Hu and Chris LaFever, Ph.D.

The Career Center

March 2024: presented at the 2024 Florida Career Development Association (FCDA) Summit on March 2: Ethical Dilemmas Supporting Realistic Goals Without Imposing Values on the Client.

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J.J. Jerez, Jake Bucher and Kelechi Nnaji

The Career Center

March 2024: presented at the 2024 Florida Career Development Association (FCDA) Summit on March 2: Bridging Realms: Navigating the Intersectionality of Career and Mental Health.

Qiong Li

Qiong Li

The Career Center

March 2024: presented at the 2024 Florida Career Development Association (FCDA) Summit on March 2: Self-perceived Employability for People in Mid-career.

Jacob Stamm and Sabrina Quiroga

Jacob Stamm and Sabrina Quiroga

The Career Center

March 2024: presented at the 2024 Florida Career Development Association (FCDA) Summit on March 2: Career Indecision and Metacognitions in College Students.

Jacob Stamm and Deb Osborn, Ph.D.

Jacob Stamm and Deb Osborn, Ph.D.

The Career Center

March 2024: presented at the 2024 Florida Career Development Association (FCDA) Summit on March 2: Decoding the Digital Frontier: Information/Communication Technology Trends within Career Development Articles (2009-2022).

Ben Wicker

Ben Wicker

University Housing

February and March 2024: Residential Student Eexperience Director Ben Wicker successfully presented a session titled: At Least We're Not in Florida: A Working In the Sunshine State Story at the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) Annual Conference, with other Florida Housing leaders.

Kelly Clark

Kelly Clark

University Housing

February and March 2024: Assistant Director Kelly Clark served on a panel titled Navigating our 'Controversial' Identities on College Campuses at the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) Annual Conference.

Amanda Peerce, Liz Schumm and Joey McGinn

Amanda Peerce, Liz Schumm and Joey McGinn

University Housing

February and March 2024: Residence Coordinator Amanda Peerce and Assistant Coordinator Liz Schumm sucessfully presented along with Joey McGinn at the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) Annual Conference. Their session was titled: Supervising Neurodiverse Student Staff: Strategies for Inclusive Leadership.

Brian Sayre

Brian Sayre and Rachel Blakesley, Ph.D.

University Housing

February and March 2024: Hall Coordinator Brian Sayre and Dr. Rachel Blakesley successfully presented their "Best of Florida" session at the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) Annual Conference, titled: From Great Resignation to Great Reimagination: Addressing the Recruitment & Retention Needs in Housing.

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Steven Niette

Center for Global Engagement

February 2024: co-presented Administrative Processing: The Student Experience at the Florida Association of International Educators Conference.

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Jared Tirone

The Center for Global Engagement

February 2024: co-presented Guiding International Students Through the U.S. Career Landscape at the Florida Association of International Educators Conference.

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Alice Maxwell, Alycia Malicz, Jaden Austin and Emma Massaglia

Division of Student Affairs Marketing and Communications Office

February 2024: presented Collaborative Marketing for a Unified Student Success Initiative: Hello FSU! at the 2024 CASE District III Conference.


Service

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Tracey Dowling, EdD

The Career Center

March 2024: nominated by peer members to serve another term as Vice President for the Capital Women’s Network 2024-25. Capital Women's Network was established in Tallahassee, Florida in 1978. It was started as part of a conscious and concerted effort to help women advance in business, the professions, and government during an era when women were just beginning to diverge from their traditional roles in the American workforce and move into management, law, accounting, medicine, and even politics.

Ben Wicker

Ben Wicker

University Housing

March 2024: Ben volunteers as an Assistant Cubmaster for Pack 6 in Tallahassee, and recently completed the Scouts BSA Wood Badge advanced, national leadership course. The course is for Scouting volunteers and professionals who work to plan and achieve a set of goals aimed at strengthening the Scouting program at unit, local, state, regional, and national levels. The Wood Badge course can take anywhere from 8 to 18 months to complete.

Ben Wicker

Ben Wicker

University Housing

March 2024: Residential Student Experience Director Ben Wicker started his position as Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) President on March 1 and is representing FSU well!


Accomplishments

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Darryl Lovett

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

March 2024: successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation in Higher Education! The title of his dissertation is “Exploring Administrators’ Perspectives on Cultivating Sense of Belonging Through Black Male Mentorship Programs at Mid-size and Large Predominately White Institutions.”

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Yang Li

The Career Center

March 2024: successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation in Higher Education! The title of her dissertation is "Charting New Waters: Navigating Intersectional Identities in STEM – A Focus on Asian International Women."


Featured

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Rose Rezaei, Laura Perez-Felkner, Ph.D., and Ladanya Ramirez Surmeier, Ph.D.

Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness

February 2024: published a chapter on gender and educational inequality in the Sage Handbook of Sociology of Education.
Perez-Felkner, L., Ramirez Surmeier, L., & Rezaei, R. (2023). Gender and Educational Inequality. In Mark Berends, Barbara Schneider, & Stephen Lamb (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Sociology of Education (pp. 142-158). Sage Publications

Accolades Archive

2024 DSA Awards