The IMPACT awards recognize Alliant staff, faculty, and associates who make a positive and lasting difference in our communities, country, and the world. These individuals go the extra mile to ensure that Alliant students receive academic excellence, insightful mentoring, and unwavering support throughout their University journey. Each of the individuals below has made a significant contribution to making our University the remarkable institution it is.
Alliant’s IMPACT values serve as our core operational tenets. They represent the platform upon which we build and integrate our mission into our daily work as well as provide standards to return to for programmatic, systemic and personal evaluation and development. The IMPACT acronym represents our six core values of Inclusion, Mentorship, Passion, Accountability, Communication, and Teamwork. At Alliant, the importance we place on these values is reinforced through our IMPACT Awards.
We encourage you to read on and get to know these outstanding contributors, gaining inspiration and hope from their actions.
Tiffany Chhibber
HR Organizational Development Specialist, Fresno Campus
"Tiffany listens, learns from others’ experiences and actively engages in DEI education and training. She is a founder of an online platform, giving everyone in our community an opportunity to engage and contribute, and is a model of inclusion."
Dr. Manijeh Daneshpour
Program Director and Distinguished Professor, Couples and Family Therapy
California School of Professional Psychology, Irvine Campus
"Dr. Daneshpour takes a careful approach to assessing program candidates, keeping the focus on overall potential, intellectual abilities and skills in communication. By doing so, she has created a diverse and inclusive student body at the Irvine location."
Dr. Julii Green
Associate Professor, Clinical Psychology
California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego Campus
“Dr. Green’s exemplifies the highest service through her dedication to teaching, advising, mentoring, volunteering, and community work. She is committed to inclusive excellence, and her dedication to diversity benefits everyone at Alliant and beyond.”
Dr. Valata Jenkins-Monroe
Program Director and Professor, Clinical Psychology
California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco Campus
“Dr. Jenkins-Monroe is a leader in diversity on the campus and has had tremendous impact infusing cultural skills, awareness, and conversations into program meetings and student trainings. All are benefited by her instruction, encouragement and role modeling.”
Dr. Carrie Petrucci
Adjunct Professor, Couples and Family Therapy
California School of Professional Psychology, Irvine Campus
“Dr. Petrucci is inclusive of all learning styles and abilities. She is dedicated to her students, and provides individual support while listening, collaborating, and instilling confidence to maximize learning and maintain motivation.”
Dr. Jennifer Staples
Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychology
California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego Campus
“Dr. Staples is a mentor and guide who is passionate about her students and patients, making students and faculty aware of the importance of being sensitive to transgender issues and helping the University live up to its values of inclusion and diversity.”
Dr. Donna Block
Assistant Professor
California School of Education, San Diego Campus
“Professor Block has made it her mission to bridge the online distance and truly connect and support each student in her courses with a passion and commitment, guiding learning and creating a supportive and enriching environment.”
Dr. Sandra Espinoza
Branch Director and Assistant Professor, Couples and Family Therapy
California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles Campus
“Dr. Espinoza is an exemplary director, professor and mentor. She not only believes in diversity, but leads by demonstration through her research and advocacy, and is a strong mentor who values supporting up-and-coming professionals.”
Dr. Kasia Fuiks
Systemwide Program Director and Assistant Professor, Organizational Psychology
California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego Campus
“Dr. Fuiks encourages innovation in learning even when teaching concepts of leadership development, making each course a team learning event. She creates an engaging environment for learning, and her effusive nature energizes her classes.”
Dr. Sarah Samman
Assistant Professor, Couples and Family Therapy
California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego Campus
“Dr. Samman is the ultimate professional who compassionately listens to and supports her students through their personal challenges while at school. She’s a caring and capable clinician, a brilliant academic and theorist, and a wonderful person.”
Ashley Carter
Associate Vice President of Student Engagement
San Diego Campus
“Ashley deserves recognition for her extraordinary passion. She is great at bringing enthusiasm and intensity, always finding new ways to improve the student experience and developing creative strategies for improvement and growth for the team.”
Dean Jones
Director of Library Services
San Francisco Campus
“Dean Jones exemplifies the core values of IMPACT by creating engaging events with unique art, passionate speakers, and relevant topics. He shows his love for the University through his willingness to serve and showcase Alliant in the community.”
Thomas Moore
Operations and Facilities Manager
Los Angeles Campus
“Thomas demonstrates his passion by lighting and maintaining a fire under projects like the IMPACT values, strategic planning, campus events, and staff council. He clearly cares about each of his University members individually.”
Dr. Rajeswari Natrajan-Tyagi
Branch Director and Professor, Couples and Family Therapy
California School of Professional Psychology, Irvine Campus
“Dr. Raji shows true and authentic compassion for all that she does, is always kind, open and respectful to her students. She goes to great lengths to help all around her and is passionate about her work in the mental health field.”
Stephanie Byers-Bell
Regional Director of Campus and Student Services
Los Angeles Campus
“Stephanie does an outstanding job of watching over students, going above and beyond by making sure all needs are met, keeping her word, providing guidance and solutions in areas far outside her area of expertise, and ensuring resolutions are reached.”
Larissa Dizon
Executive Assistant
San Diego Campus
“Larissa is a pleasure to work with—positive, committed and kind. She makes an IMPACT every day for students, staff and faculty with her great attitude. Her help and her efforts to provide information in such a pleasant manner are very appreciated.”
Thanayi Karenga
Senior Academic Affairs Specialist
San Diego Campus
“Thanayi lives the IMPACT values every day. She uses her knowledge to educate and train her team to be successful. She says what she means and means what she says, working hard every day with a smile. The Alliant family is richer for her presence.”
Dr. Mary O’Neil
Adjunct Professor
California School of Education, Online Campus
“Dr. O'Neil goes above and beyond in reaching out to students and making sure everyone is on track. Her comprehensive feedback is extremely helpful, and her thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and creativity shows her passion for her work.”
Michael Sulger
Director of Student Finance
San Diego Campus
“Michael holds himself and team members accountable, empowering ownership for the work. He consistently focuses on doing what is best for the student, and his work ethic and openness in exploring different ways of doing things drives efficiency and success.”
Dr. Lynne Valek
Associate Professor, Organizational Psychology
California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno Campus
“Dr. Valek maximizes class time and assignments, teaching students to create memory palaces, perform content analysis on TV shows, and even takes them to the local zoo to discuss sustainability, all with useful and constructive feedback.”
Jennifer Caudillo
Associate Director of Student Finance
San Diego Campus
“Jennifer goes above and beyond to assist students, staying on the phone until questions are resolved, addressing matters calmly and efficiency, and following up on all voicemails and emails within 24 hours. Alliant is lucky to have Jennifer part of the team.”
Dr. Marion Chiurazzi
Professor, Clinical Psychology
California School of Professional Psychology, Sacramento Campus
“Dr. Chiurazzi is an advocate for students, always enthusiastic and working collaboratively to improve the student experience. She goes above and beyond for her students and colleagues, removing roadblocks along the way. She is an excellent example of teamwork.”
Yolanda Miller
Executive Assistant to the Provost and Senior VPAA
San Diego Campus
“Yolanda works hard to support and serve the Provost, Deans, staff, faculty, and students. She has amazing customer services skills and shows great dedication to the University. She never hesitates to assist and is an example in how she interacts with all our personnel.”
Vivian Nguyen
CFT Program Coordinator
San Diego Campus
“Vivian is an excellent example of IMPACT values: she is inclusive and engages the CFT community in collaboration, works across systems to find solutions, contributes to the success of others, is passionate and authentic, and a great team player.”
Scott Zimmer
University Librarian
San Diego Campus
“Scott represents the best of Alliant in every core value. His impact as the head librarian is made even better by his teamwork and communication style, going above and beyond in accommodating every request and improving library operations.”
Sacramento Staff
Kimberly Gardner, Nicole Brighouse, Kristen Bahler
Sacramento Campus
“The Sacramento Campus staff are exemplary, supportive, inclusive, and create an environment of success. They are a wonderful team who bring passion to their work as creative problem solvers, and hold a high standard to strongly support Alliant’s mission.”
Ali Campot
Student Advisor
San Francisco Campus
“I appreciate Ali’s clear communication, how she works to understand the issue at hand, asks questions, and writes excellent emails when addressing challenging issues with students. Ali goes above and beyond to provide accurate information to students and is committed to excellence. She is kind, an active listener, and follows through! Her attention to details and open communication have impacted our student service levels. Ali is always student centered.”
Darrick Bady
IT Coordinator
Los Angeles Campus
“Darrick is positive, responsive and great at building confidence. He is prompt, has great follow-up, and is always helpful at sharing his expertise, figuring out solutions, and entering every room with a warm, friendly attitude.”
Curtis Korn
IT Director
San Diego Campus
“Curtis is great at validating the user experience by asking questions and ensuring he understands all needs and requirements before he responds and takes action. He is helpful, responsive, wonderful, and generally amazing.”
Dr. Kristy Pruitt
Dean
California School of Education, San Diego Campus
“Dr. Pruitt provides clear information, always responding to questions and concerns in a timely manner. She is a tireless worker, an excellent problem solver, and handles all with professionalism, poise, and a gracious and collaborative attitude.”
IT Department
All Campuses
“The IT department has done an exceptional job during the transition to remote learning and working during the COVID-19 pandemic, making the shift as seamless as possible. They provide great service and are helpful in offering support in responding to tickets.”