Celebrating the 2025 SJSU Faculty and Staff Awards

Every spring, San José State recognizes faculty members and staff for their noteworthy achievements in service of student success at SJSU.

This year's faculty winners represent the departments of economics, physics and Astronomy, anthropology and child and adolescent development. Our staff honorees come from our Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Facilities and Operations, Finance and Business and the Registrar's Office.

This impressive group will be honored at the 25th Annual Faculty and Staff Service Recognition and Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, April 16 in the Student Union Ballroom beginning at 2 p.m.

Faculty members with milestone anniversaries spanning 15 to 45 years of service will also be honored.

"These remarkable individuals embody our commitment to innovation, service and student success," says SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson. "Their contributions make SJSU a place of possibility, transformation and pride."

Faculty awards

Outstanding Lecturer
Ninos Pierre Malek, '95 BA, '97 MA Economics, lecturer in economics

Malek is an SJSU alumnus and has been a faculty member in the economics department for more than 25 years. He was the first recipient of the Department of Economics Rodolfo Gonzalez Award for Outstanding Alumni in2001, and he was awarded the College of Social Sciences Teaching Excellence Award for the 2018-19 school year. Last year, Pearson Education named Malek a finalist for the Excellence in Higher Education Award, which celebrates faculty who recognize that non-traditional methods of learning can deeply engage students and adopting assistive technologies or other modern advances can help students expand their learning experience.

Malek is a first-generation Hispanic-Middle Eastern American. He spoke both Spanish and Assyrian at home and learned English by watching educational television shows and in school. He later learned Italian at SJSU. Malek has taught four different lower and upper-division courses both in-person and online. His multicultural background, fluency in four languages and extensive travel experiences are assets he brings to his diverse and international group of students, many of whom are also first-generation college students.

Outstanding Professor
Neil Switz, professor of physics and astronomy

Neil Switz, who has been at SJSU since 2016, specializes in optical imaging, which is considered central to multiple areas of science and technology, from mobile phone cameras to medical endoscopes to the Hubble Space Telescope. Optical microscopy remains a primary method of medical diagnosis for many diseases, especially in remote and/or low-resource areas.

The breadth of teaching Switz has undertaken at SJSU includes electives and core lower- and upper-division theory and lab classes in physics? as well as a graduate theory class. That experience helps him to connect concepts for students across their classes, allowing him to preview the work they will encounter going forward, and how the current material ties in with that work, creating a more seamless academic experience. Switz owns 18 US patents, many issued since his arrival at SJSU, and has contributed to the design and deployment of multiple products and medical devices. This research activity, along with his years of experience in industry (as director of R&D and founder of a now-public company) demonstrate his currency in his discipline and provide him with an unusual breadth of experience which helps him to advise students.

President's Scholar Award
Roberto J. Gonzalez, professor of anthropology

Roberto J. González joined the anthropology department in August 2001 and has consistently produced outstanding scholarship that has been widely recognized nationally and internationally. In 2018, he was granted the Austen D. Warburton Award by the College of Social Sciences in recognition of his research and scholarship.

The author of eight books and edited volumes who has served on multiple committees at the department, college and university levels, González's academic work lies at the intersection of science and technology studies, historically grounded anthropology and epistemological theories of knowledge. His research explores how science and technology are shaped by and integrated into specific cultural contexts. His most consequential work has been driven by an enduring interest in the causes and consequences of American militarization, and by a commitment to public scholarship - communicating ideas to broad non-specialist audiences. As a public intellectual his work contributes to timely and important debates about the political, ethical and social implications of new technologies.

González has successfully balanced research and scholarship with heavy teaching loads and administrative duties. His colleagues elected him department chair for two consecutive four-year terms from 2015-2023, following eight years of service as graduate coordinator. During his years as department chair, González maintained an active research agenda.

Distinguished Service
Cara Maffini, associate professor of child and adolescent development

Maffini co-founded and currently directs SJSU's Healthy Development Community Clinic (HDCC). As an interdisciplinary university training clinic, HDCC advances health equity, supports healthy development and enhances mental and physical wellness for at-risk children, youth and families across San José.

The clinic provides undergraduate and graduate students in health, mental health and education-related fields with invaluable, community-engaged training experiences. These experiences play a vital role in preparing the next generation of providers to serve our community effectively. This work has also elevated the profile of SJSU and drawn attention at the local, state and national levels with visitors including Congressman Jimmy Panetta, and funding support championed by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg.

Maffini's commitment to service is central to her personal and professional identities and evident in her work at SJSU and in local communities. She devotes significant time and energy to mentoring students, leading community-centered initiatives that promote mental health and wellness through culturally-sustaining practices and creating hands-on learning opportunities that connect students with communities.

Staff awards

Spartan Spirit Award
Jahmal Williams

Honorable mentions
James Ursin, Case Management
Katrice Gibson, Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations

Jahmal Williams, who has been a vital part of the SJSU community since 2014, currently serves as the director of advocacy for racial justice at SJSU. Williams joined the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion during the summer of 2023. In this position, he is tasked with developing a strategic approach to the university's efforts to intentionally collaborate with BIPOC communities throughout the area to address racial historical harms. He previously held positions as the program director of the Black Leadership and Opportunity Center(BLOC), and as one of the assistant directors at Peer Connections, the campus hub for tutoring and mentoring.

In his more than 10 years at SJSU, Williams has helped create the following programs:

• Early alert/warning system for at-risk students (formerly called Spartan Connect)
• Black student retreats
• A number of programs at the BLOC, including creating the new name
• The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)
• The Black Spartan Advisory Council
• Transforming Communities: A Movement to Racial Justice, a two-week racial justice and equity campus/community initiative
• Cultural-themed nights for SJSU football and basketball
• The Black Male Collective
• The Institute for Racial Health Justice (coming soon)

Williams is the epitome of a service leader who has "put good into the world," as he likes to say.

Distinguished Service Award
Darcel Wood

Honorable mentions
Annie Nobuhiro, Child and Adolescent Development
Maggie Morales, Veterans Resource Center

Darcel Wood, who began her career at SJSU more than 30 years ago, is the assistant registrar for records and registration in SJSU's Registrar's Office. She has long been admired for her relationships with colleagues and the care that she provides to students.

As assistant registrar (AA/S II), she expertly directs a team of professional operational staff, finding ways to improve processes, streamline workflows and ensure accuracy in student information handling. Her willingness to embrace change and her resilience in the face of it have been key to keeping the Office of the Registrar efficient and student-centered.

Beyond her technical expertise, Wood is celebrated across campus for her warmth, unwavering support and for being everywhere. She can be spotted daily walking around campus and in downtown San José as she takes her walking lunches.

Colleagues across San José State know her as the "go-to" person in the Office of the Registrar who can solve a problem with a professional and friendly approach, and who can do so efficiently and thoughtfully. When new team members arrive, Wood is the first to make them feel at home, sharing her deep institutional knowledge, guiding them through policies and offering context that only her years of experience can provide. Wood creates a welcoming environment that fosters a strong sense of belonging and collegiality. She is also an excellent resource for communicators on the University Marketing Communications team, who rely on her speedy fact-checking skills when crafting SJSU stories.

Critical Employee Award
Regino Garcia

Honorable mentions
Diane Alissa Mamaril, Research Foundation Central Office
Brenjielyn Cuneta, Case Management

Regino Garcia, who has 28 years of distinguished services to SJSU, supervises the utilities shop that provides service to every building on all campuses. This includes responsibility for fire alarm systems and their functioning 24/7, 365 days a year. Additionally, he is responsible for campus distribution for steam in tunnels to heat buildings and provide hot and chilled water to the HVAC systems.

He is considered an "encyclopedia of university infrastructure."

"Gino,"as he is known, is always available for an after hours call to ensure utilities and fire safety . He shares his deep knowledge of the campus and technical trades to assist his fellow employees' development. He is always ready to ensure that our campus is operational and ready for students, faculty and staff.

Staff of the Year Award
Janet Sundrud

Honorable mentions
John Douglas, Moss Landing Marine Labs
Subrina Martin, Student Athlete Resource Center

Janet Sundrud has been at San José State for nearly two decades, including 13 years as a full-time staff member in Finance and Business Services, where she currently serves as the finance systems and operations senior analyst. Sundrud's leadership in creating shared governance opportunities for SJSU staff has been critical to both the university and the work of the Academic Senate. As a result of her leadership, staff members are now seated on the Academic Senate.

Sundrud co-chaired the Committee on Senate Representation, which worked to formulate amendments to the constitution and bylaws of the SJSU Senate. She presented these amendments and successfully advocated for her proposals, chairing several meetings as well as many information discussions to achieve her goal. Sundrud's work on SJSU's Staff Council speaks to her passion for including staff in decision-making.

The 2025 faculty and staff award recipients will be recognized on April 16 at 2 p.m.