Congratulations to professor Stacey Allen (faculty) and EOPS Student Services Adviser Lizet Salazar (staff) who were recently named 2019 El Camino College Distinguished Faculty and Staff Award honorees. Allen and Salazar will be recognized at the 23rd Annual Distinguished Faculty and Staff Award Reception on May 2, where they will be honored for their contributions to student success, the college and their colleagues.
Stacey Allen has been a professor of sociology and women's studies at El Camino College since 1999. For the past two decades she has served the college and its students by implementing a student-centered teaching philosophy and organizing campuswide events and activities that advance the college mission to make a positive difference in people's lives.
Known for supporting, mentoring and motivating students and her fellow instructors, Allen strives to create a classroom environment that is engaging, collaborative, rigorous, accessible, accommodating and culturally responsive. She works to ensure students connect their life experiences to the class material. Allen is also committed to collegiality and campus involvement. To that end, she is the chairwoman of the Faculty Development Committee and the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award Selection Committee, in addition to being an active member of the Professional Development Planning Committee, the Women's History Month Committee, First-Gen Task Force, Title IX Task Force, and is the Academic Senate vice president for faculty development.
Allen's colleagues note that she often goes out of her way to encourage and help everyone she can, from students to employees. Her commitment to working with the design team of the PRIDE Leadership Academy, the accreditation team, and the Calendar Committee are just a few examples of her impact on the campus community. She also coordinates the Informed & Inspired Faculty Development Series, the Tenure Reception, "Getting the Job Workshops," and the Wellness Warriors program, among numerous other activities. Allen earned a bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach and a master's degree in sociology from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Lizet Salazar is an EOPS student services adviser who specializes in helping students with financial aid. She is widely recognized as a "team player" who goes above and beyond to collaborate with other departments to make sure students have the information and support to achieve their academic goals. Likewise, she guides colleagues, so they are able to advise students when financial aid concerns arise. She is always available to answer questions and works tirelessly to motivate students to succeed.
An El Camino College alumna, Salazar joined the CARE staff as a student worker in 2002. She later moved on to a position at the front desk in ECC's CalWORKs/CARE office and then worked in outreach for the CalWORKs program. After graduating from El Camino College, she continued to work at ECC while attending California State University, Dominguez Hills, where she earned a bachelor's degree in human services. Salazar then took a position off campus as a case manager to help low-income families, but soon found her way back to El Camino College to focus on helping students navigate the college system and find success.
Her welcoming approach and energetic performance in her duties are matched by her high level of knowledge in financial aid and the operations of the EOPS/CalWORKs/CARE offices. Known as an expert in her area, she constantly keeps updated on the complex rules, regulations and processes connected to financial aid and is extremely diligent in her work to ensure students have grants, book vouchers, and all the tools they need to be successful in their classes. A member of the First-Gen Task Force and founding member of the Dreamer's Task Force, she gives presentations and workshops regarding AB540 resources to students and staff. She is also an undocumented student ally and regularly attends conferences, workshops and webinars to increase her knowledge to better serve students.
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