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: Darren Cifelli (Print and Mail Services), Danielle Dennis (Campus Support Services), Donna Pilenza (Campus Dining), Chris Warkala (Housing and Real Estate Services), Rie Yamauchi (University Services Administration)

Interviewers

Nathalie Jovain and Nick Lubrano interviewed by Danielle Dennis; Qin Lin (Lily) interviewed by Donna Pilenza; Bruce Yeagle interviewed by Chris Warkala; Daria Filloramo interviewed by Rie Yamauchi

Some responses have been edited for length.

What brought you to Princeton?

Daria: I heard great things from friends about working here – benefits are wonderful, great schedule, and job security, and it’s one of the oldest higher education institutions in the U.S. 

Nathalie: I was job searching and I heard about the Princeton Job Fair. They needed workers for Whitman as it was about to open. 

Lily: My children were young, I needed a job to get out of the house and do something different, so I applied to Tiger Refreshments to work Football games. That led to a part time position at night in the Frist Gallery as a Retail Foodservice Worker. 

For six years I worked from 6 pm to 2:30 am at Frist Campus Center, and now I leave at 12:30 pm. My husband works days and is going to school for his engineering degree. Our goal is to provide our family with a better future.

Nick: My two uncles and dad worked in Building Services. This was my first job. I started in Payroll and then I moved into this position. 

Bruce: I answered a newspaper ad for a sous chef position and was called back for my current position due to my extensive baking experience.

What do you like about your job?

Daria: I really enjoy my job. Job satisfaction is very important to me. Coming to work every day makes me happy. I enjoy working with my co-workers and my team. We all work well together. We are always here for each other, and this includes the management. People really appreciate me here, and being appreciated is a great thing. It’s not just a job. I consider everyone my second family. 

During the three hours when the servery is open, my favorite thing is the time I spend with the students. They know me by my name, and I know their names, too. I have conversations with them are always wonderful. And it’s not just about the food, I get to know them personally. 

Nathalie: The students! I love seeing their reaction to the food at the bar and just getting to engage in conversations with them.

Lily: Before it was just a job, but now that I am a cook it gives me opportunity to do what I like. I love cooking and seeing the kids after they get my food with their happy faces. It makes my day. I love food, and if people love my food, that makes me feel great.

Nick: You come into work, and it is like a family here. I also like numbers. I have worked with a lot of talented managers over the years and have learned a lot. 

Bruce: I really enjoy providing good quality baked goods for the students, staff and faculty. I know that when I get stressed, a piece of dessert can put a smile on my face, and I hope it does the same for them.

What do you do on your free time? / Are you part of any outside clubs, volunteer organizations?

Nathalie: Straight from work I go to my second job at ShopRite from 3-9 pm. In my spare time I like to watch true crime TV shows along with reality TV shows like America’s Got Talent. I also do work on the committee for Rewards and Recognition. 

Lily: I have no free time. While I take my son to piano, I read my book. My personality is I can’t sit down.

Nick: I spent time with my four grandchildren. All girls: Giuliana, Valentina, Stella, and Alessandra. I also love to garden. I have my own personal garden, and I have a community garden in Lawrenceville that I have worked on for over 30 years. My favorite thing to grow is Jersey tomatoes. 

Bruce: I enjoy gardening, woodworking, and restoring vintage items.

What is something people don’t know about you?

Daria: I love to ice skate and dance. One time I won $500 in a scratch-off lottery ticket. My son was born on my birthday – the best gift ever!

Nathalie: I am from Haiti, and I can speak Creole. I speak a little French too. I was born and raised there. Came here when I was thirteen and I haven’t been back since before Covid. I also help with  translating the surveys into Creole for University Services. 

Lily: I am a straight-forward person. I say what I think, but sometimes I can be quiet because I do not want to hurt anyone's feelings. People do not know how hard it was in China. For a while I lived in the UK and thought I would get a job and go to school part-time, but that was hard. 

Nick: I am very low-keyed and a reserved type of person. 

Bruce: I have driven laps on a NASCAR Cup series track.

What is your favorite movie, TV show, musician, and/or book?

Daria: I really enjoy comedies. A movie I particularly like is 50 First Dates starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. This movie always puts me in a great mood.

Nathalie: I don’t have a favorite movie or book. I love any type of competition type show like Dancing with the Stars. I also love listening to R&B music.

Lily: I love the book, Gone with the Wind, and I watched the movie many times. Scarlett O’Hara was one strong woman. When she saw her house burn down, the next day she looked around and with her eyes sparkling said everything will be all right.

Nick: I like to watch comedies but one of my favorite movies is The Quiet Man with John Wayne. Music: I like to listen to country or old folklore. I recently saw Andrea Bocelli, and I really enjoyed it. 

Bruce: The Godfather, M*A*S*H, Jimmy Buffet, Raise the Titanic by Clive Cussler.

What do you like to cook?

Daria: I cook chicken Alfredo at least once a week for my youngest son. My other son loves my beef stew. I also like to cook my favorite food, salmon.

Nathalie: I cook all day at work so by the time I get home I’m done. I like to get Chick-fil-A.

Lily: I like to cook my country's food (Chinese), but I also very much like Korean food. 

Nick: On Sundays, I like to cook my Bolognese sauce for the family. 

Bruce: Jambalaya, beef stew, homemade tomato sauce (especially Sunday gravy).

What is your favorite comfort food?

Daria: Chicken soup. I love cooking it from scratch. It’s my mother’s recipe from Poland. I also love chocolate – especially dark chocolate. 

Nathalie: Rice and beans. I can eat that for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Also, tacos.

Lily: My mother-in-law loves to cook Italian, so that makes me happy. I just like food. General Tso's is an American dish, I never heard of this. I am a perfectionist and will make things over and over again until I get the dish perfect. 
I always want to make sure the students have food they like.

Nick: I could eat pizza every day.

Bruce: Pasta.

Name one thing on your bucket list.

Daria: I love to travel. I’ve been to Poland twice, so now I want to go to Greece. I think it’s a spectacular country.

Nathalie: I want to go to Amsterdam or Vegas. I also want to buy my own house.

Lily: One day I want to relax. I want to write a book in Chinese when I have time. I have lots of experiences that I want to share with people. 

Nick: I’d love to visit Japan or any Asian country.

Bruce: Seeing the Aurora Borealis in person.

What brings you the greatest joy/satisfaction?

Daria: My family! In life, you have to appreciate all the little moments you have with family.  I love having Sunday dinners with my family. We sing Polish songs, and we dance. I’m also a grandmother – my “munchkins” are the joy of my life.  Babcia means grandmother in Polish, and I love it when they say, “I miss you baba.”

Nathalie: My three kids: Natyana is 24, Jermaine is 19, and Terah-Joé is 16. 

Lily: I want to try something different or learn something new and challenge myself. Maybe one day I’ll change jobs and try a career that has nothing to do with food. If you enjoy what you are doing no one can stop you. I am a person that loves food. After showing the managers what I can do, I feel supported 100%. They all really believe in me and I feel really lucky. I have been away from my country for 24 years, and I always feel that if someone helps me, I will give a 100% back. When I decide to do something, I will do my best.

Nick: My three kids. They are very respectful kids.  

Bruce: My two daughters.