Each year, Pomona faculty, staff and students nominate staff members for the Peter W. Stanley Distinguished Staff Award. A committee selects awardees who have distinguished themselves through service or effort beyond what is required in their daily job.
On March 30, President G. Gabrielle Starr presented the Distinguished Staff Award to the following three staff members:
- Lauri Bell, academic coordinator of the Chemistry Department
- Asena Taione-Filihia, assistant director of the Asian American Resource Center
- Lawrence Youhanna, payroll manager in the Finance Office
Lauri Bell
Bell serves as the academic coordinator of the Chemistry Department. “If you ask anyone in that department who is running the show, they will say it’s Lauri,” says a staff member, in one of her nominations.
As an academic coordinator, she supports both faculty and students in the department. “She is kind and is always willing to help others, even if it means dropping what she’s doing at the time,” says a staff member, adding that Bell goes above and beyond to welcome students and make them feel at home in the department.
Bell also coordinates events for the Chemistry Department, including the annual Robbins Lecture series and senior thesis presentations. “Lauri is the one doing all the leg work to make sure these events run smoothly,” one person writes.
Bell in so competent in her role that she also informally mentors and supports others at the College with similar roles. “Other departments come to her asking for help with events and other department tasks. She provides help with events on a regular basis for chemistry and other departments,” one person notes.
Bell began working at Pomona 25 years ago in the facilities department and “was always willing to help” back then as well, says a staff member.
Asena Taione-Filihia
In her six years as assistant director of the Asian American Resource Center (AARC), Taione-Filihia has accomplished many things, including helping establish the Pasifika Inland Empire Coalition for Empowerment (P.I.E.C.E.). Additionally, she coordinated two large grants through the California Endowment and the California Department of Public Health, which support AARC’s community partnerships.
“Sena not only talks the talk but walks the walk with her justice and empowerment work,” says a staff member.
Taione-Filihia also oversees the Saturday Tongan Education Program, attending the program every Saturday and coordinating youth and families to attend the program. “Without Sena’s coordination and presence within the program, it wouldn’t be as successful as it is today,” notes the staff member.
Taione-Filihia served on the Pomona College Internship Program selection committee in 2021 and has partnered with the Career Development Office in other ventures as well.
To benefit the College at large, Taione-Filihia serves on DART, Pomona’s emergency response team, and on the staff council. These roles “further demonstrate Sena’s passion for community building, both to advocate for staff as well as to create a safe campus environment,” writes a staff member.
Lawrence Youhanna
Working in Pomona’s finance office for close to two decades, Youhanna is the payroll manager for the College. He helps ensure that faculty, staff and students get paid.
One of his nominations points out the fact that everyone gets paid shows how hard Youhanna and others in the payroll office work.
Working on payroll requires a lot of problem solving, and Youhanna “always has a good attitude,” says a staff colleague. “He goes out of his way to listen to (students, staff and faculty) if they have questions and get their problem handled.”
“Despite whatever deadlines he may be under and his workload, he always makes customer service a priority,” says another staff member. He “makes sure all who ask for his assistance leave with what they need and even offer to provide additional help” and makes them “feel like they are a priority.”
Youhanna’s service to the entire campus also translates to those he works with in his own department. A colleague writes, “Lawrence is a joy to work with and always brightens up the office with his positive attitude,” adding that he “makes sure everyone in the office feels included and valued.”