Fall 2022/Winter 2023 Edition
- Message from Vice President Chad Klaus >
- Rewards and Recognition Returns to In-Person
- Summer Reconnecting Event
- From Around Campus
- Staff Spotlights
- By the Numbers
- Congratulations!
- New Faces
- Job Opportunities
- Organization Announcements
Message from Vice President Chad Klaus
Featured Story
Rewards and Recognition Returns to In-person
University Services is excited to bring Rewards and Recognition back to in-person at Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Take a walk behind the scenes to see how the program works and why it's so meaningful to our team.
Featuring (in order of appearance)
- Courtney Massari, Committee Chair; Venue Services, Campus Support Services
- Sharon Maselli, Inaugural Committee Vice-chair and Chair; Performing Arts Services, Campus Support Services
- Michael Yoon, Inaugural Committee Chair, University Services Administration
- Aaron Sked, Mail Services
- Marguerite Vera, Venue Services, Campus Support Services
- Lynn Grant, Committee Member; US IT, University Services Administration
- Amanda Stevens, Communications and Engagement Subcommittee Chair; Transportation and Parking Services
- Maureen McWhirter, Committee Advisor; Office of the VP
- Sandra Parisi, Committee Vice-chair, University Services Administration
- Verita Murrill, Committee Executive Sponsor; Office of the VP
- Patrick Thompson, Committee Member; Retail, Campus Dining
- Marvin Vasquez, Residential, Campus Dining
Important Dates
- Nomination Period: Open now through December 29, 2022 (Nominate online!)
- In-person Celebration: Tuesday, March 14
Learn more at usrecognition.princeton.edu
Summer Reconnecting Event
Last chance to order your University Services pullover, as modeled above by Nikki Naidu. Use the online order form to place your order before December 23, 2022. Please note, due to supply issues, some orders may not yet have been delivered.
This past summer, the University Services staff reconnected for an end-of-academic year in-person celebration at The Forum in the Lewis Arts complex. Below are some highlights.
Special Thanks to the Event Planning Committee
Janine Aziz (Housing and Real Estate Services), Isaiah Crespo (Housing and Real Estate Services), Maria Datuin (Campus Dining), Debby Foster (Office of the VP), Marielisa Glass (Office of the VP), Brett Lawrence (Office of the VP), Vicki Lee (Campus Dining), Nikki Naidu (University Services Administration), and Rie Yamauchi (University Services Administration)
Additional event support provided by Darcy Cotten (Print and Mail Services), Dominique Davis (University Services Administration), Danielle Dennis (Campus Support Services), Dennis Fairburn (Print and Mail Services), Dino Palomares (University Services Administration), Nick Robinson (Campus Support Services), Jim Taylor (Campus Support Services), Inkyung Yi (Campus Support Services), and Michael Yoon (University Services Administration)
Photos from the event
Photos taken by members of the Planning Committee and support team
Photo booth fun!
From Around Campus
Visit the Community and Regional Affairs website for a listing of holiday outreach opportunities.
Princeton's 2022 United Way Campaign may have ended, but you can still make a gift through February 2023. Learn more on Princeton's United Way website.
Wintersession 2023 will be January 16-29, 2023. Undergraduate students, graduate students, staff and faculty can participate as teachers, learners or both. Registration opens on December 1. Learn more at winter.princeton.edu.
University Services staff members can enjoy a 30% discount on purchases at The Coffee Club for the 2022–2023 academic year. To redeem, just inform the barista that you work for University Services and your discount will be applied. Locations: Campus Club Tap Room, 5 Prospect Avenue; Addy Hall, New College West
Staff Spotlights
The staff spotlight is a project that the Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee (DISC) developed as a way to get to know some of our colleagues a little better. Many thanks to Danielle Dennis, co-chair, who championed this project and the subcommittee members, who compiled and chose the questions.
DISC Communications & Engagement Subcommittee members: Brandon Bates (Campus Dining), Darren Cifelli (Print and Mail Services), Danielle Dennis (Campus Support Services), Renae Hill (Campus Dining), Donna Pilenza (Campus Dining), Chris Warkala (Housing and Real Estate Services), Rie Yamauchi (University Services Administration)
Years at Princeton: 5
Typical Day: Managing external programs and events at the University—summer programming is a big part. Each day really isn’t the same. Meeting with colleagues to go over their events on some days while other days stuffing signs or doing sight walk-throughs of a space on campus.
Years at Princeton: Over 6½ years
Typical Day: I start my day usually around 6–6:30 am. I drop off any paperwork at the Public Safety kiosks, and I then peruse the campus for any cars in “disarray” until around 8–9 am. I also check the garages to make sure everything is in working order. After 9 am I give tickets, boots and occassionally, tow. This all happens until around 3 pm.
Years at Princeton: 4
Typical Day: I print large format items at the Nassau Street location. We are the presence on campus for students, faculty, and staff. We print everything from lawn signs, A-frame posters, banners for McCosh Walk, the new wayfinding signs, and more.
Years at Princeton: 23½
Typical Day: Working on emails and EMS mostly, meeting with clients in-person or via Zoom to figure out their tech logistics for events.
Spotlight Interviewers:
- Emily Crosby, Dennis Fairburn, and Kris Kauker interviewed by Danielle Dennis
- Lionel Dance interviewed by Rie Yamauchi
Some responses have been edited for length
Q: Why do you like working at Princeton?
Emily: The people are great! It is a beautiful place to work at every day. I get to do work that I enjoy doing.
Lionel: There’s a family-oriented feeling when I’m here. That’s important to me.
Dennis: I’m just happy here! I love what I do and love my boss. It’s a great group of people.
Kris: There are a lot of reasons, but since day one, it feels like a family.
Q: What path led you to Princeton University?
Emily: I am a N.J. native from Middleton who studied higher education. The opportunity came up to expand my professional experience in university hospitality.
Lionel: My job here is a career change for me. Previously, I had a job with a vendor that worked for Princeton and enjoyed being on the campus. So I applied for a job here.
Dennis: I came from Triangle Blueprint Company. I worked there for 22 years. My experience was in small format printing. When I started here, I was crossed-trained in large format printing.
Kris: I used to work at a bicycle distribution center but they shut down. Someone I worked with said to me, "give me your resume, I know someone who knows someone…." and that landed me a freelance job at Bristol Myers Squibb doing video conferencing. From there, I worked for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey doing video conferencing. Then, I saw the ad for Princeton’s Media Services department, applied and here I am almost 24 years later.
Q: When you are not working, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Emily: I love to bake. I’m a big cookie person. I’m more of a dessert baker. Christmas cookie season is coming up. I’ll make close to 1,000 cookies to give out to friends and family.
Lionel: I’m actually a homebody. When I’m not working, I like to slow down, relax, talk to my kids and help them with their homework, and just be with my family.
Dennis: I love golfing and fishing. Since 1994, there is a group of us that go on a golf trip each spring or summer. It can be anywhere between 6 to 16 people on the trip.
Kris: I am the Technical Director and ADA Coordinator of a community theater group called Bridge Players Theatre Company, located in Burlington City, NJ. My Zoom knowledge came in really handy as we went from stage productions to virtual Zoom productions. My whole family is involved, so I get to spend time with both at the same time.
Q: What is a surprising fact about you or what are some things people don’t know about you?
Emily: I biked across country as a teenager back in 2006. I was in high school. It was with a bicycle touring company. It took six weeks to do. I loved seeing all the small towns. My favorite spot was Minco, Oklahoma.
Lionel: I grew up in North Jersey and attended the high school from the movie, Lean on Me. I was an extra in the movie and got paid for it! I was in two scenes, the auditorium scene and cafeteria fight scene.
Dennis: I have been in this industry since I was 16 years old!
Kris: A couple of weekends a year, I wear a pink tutu. Since 2008, me and my brother take part in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk. My brother and I ride bikes to make sure that the walkers stay safe. As a joke, I said to my brother that our mom was making us pink tutus to wear. People started calling us "the tutu brothers." In 2006, my mom was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. We do this in honor of her memory and a way to give back. Susan G. Komen has now become our 3-day family.
Q: What brings you joy?
Emily: Throwing a party! I like the planning and creating an environment that makes people feel happy.
Lionel: I’m very family-oriented. My kids make me happy. When they are happy, I’m happy.
Dennis: My wife, Jackie, and our three girl dogs, Madison, Riley, and Britain. They are all beagle mixes. Madison is a beagle/bulldog mix. Riley is a purebred, and Britain is a lemon Brittany beagle.
Kris: Helping others and being able to give back.
Q: What is the best gift you ever received?
Emily: I’d have to say my American Girl doll when I was in the 4th grade. It was Felicity!
Lionel: My family, my kids.
Dennis: My dog, Britain. We got her at Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue.
Kris: In 2013, we were doing the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk in D.C. Our bikes were stolen overnight out of my brother’s truck. I posted on Facebook what happened, and a local bike shop loaned us bikes to use for the 3-day walk. Little did I know that on Facebook, people were raising funds for us to buy new bikes. We were given checks to purchase new bikes, and we still use those bikes today.
Q: What is your favorite vacation spot or dream destination?
Emily: My parents live in Cape May. Even though its not new to me, it is still my favorite place. Dream Destination would be Curacao. I saw it in a United Airlines magazine.
Lionel: My favorite vacation spot is Hawaii. My dream destinations would be to travel around Africa and Asia.
Dennis: Favorite would be Walt Disney World. We have been a part of the Disney Vacation Club since 2011. Dream destination would be Bermuda.
Kris: Favorite vacation would be Bar Harbor, Maine. Dream destination would be the Grand Canyon.
Q: What is your favorite movie, TV show, book, or musical performer?
Emily: It’s a Wonderful Life (movie); Pysch (TV)—It’s my comfort show; To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee (book)—I read that sometimes twice a year; James Taylor (musical performer)
Lionel: I’m a fantasy film nerd. I love all the Lord of the Rings movies. Whenever the film series is on television, I can binge watch the entire three movies every time.
Dennis: Forrest Gump (movie); This is Us (TV); Sci-Fi books like Game of Thrones; Yes (musical performer)
Kris: Jurassic Park (movie); The Goldbergs (TV); Peter Gabriel (musical performer)
By the Numbers
The new EV fleet has begun to arrive!
- Fleet consists of 17 fully electric, 35-foot buses
- Can travel roughly 200 miles per charge (longest current route travels 150 miles per day)
- Eliminates around 500 metric tons of CO2 annually
- Seats 26 with room for 18 additional standees
Of the 3,137 students who have Dining Points as part of their meal plan:
- 2,294 students (73%) have made at least one Pay With Points transaction
- 511 students (16%) have a balance of 1 Dining Point (value $1) or less
Nearly 44,000 transactions (Dining Points) as of November 30:
- (41%) Campus Dining retail locations
- (29%) Non-Campus Dining locations that are on campus
- (30%) Selected off-campus merchant locations
The Campus Dining Bake Shop, in operation since 1923, makes over 5,000 items each day. More than 80% of residential items (75% for retail) are made from scratch.
Mail Services processed 49.1% more packages in 2022 during Move In when compared to 2019.
Conference and Event Services hosted 1,204 participants in campus dorms with roughly another 1,000 commuting participants during its summer programming.
Congratulations!
Jonathan started his new role as Cook at Whitman College on November 7.
Danora started her new role as Cook at Butler College on November 21.
Kayla started her new role as Baker for the Bake Shop on September 26.
Marcia started her new role as Residential Food Service Worker at Yeh/New College West on September 12.
Emily started her new role as Sous Chef 2 at Yeh/New College West on June 27.
Marlene started her new role as Cook at Yeh/New College West on August 22.
Anthony Cordero started his new role as Chef de Cuisine at Whitman on August 22.
Elda started her new role as Residential Food Service Worker at Yeh/New College West on July 18.
Chef Michael DiLiberto began his new role as Executive Pastry Chef at the Bake Shop on August 29.
Manolo started his new role as Operations Manager at the Frist Campus Center on September 26.
This summer, Debby was appointed Deputy Vice President for University Services in the Office of the VP for University Services
Chef Jared Gierisch started his new role as Executive Chef II at Butler on July 11.
New Faces (6/6/22–12/8/22)
Job Opportunities
University Services Announcements
