Meet Our Staff
Meet our Staff
Meet our Staff
Lead Career Coach
Alie Ivie is the Lead Career Coach for the College of Engineering and the College of Environmental Design. In her role she assists students with all aspects of the career planning process, including determining their career goals, providing guidance and mentorship, and facilitating innovative career development programs. Her goal is to be a facilitator of career readiness on campus while ensuring that students are in a degree program that provides a foundation for their future paths. As reflected in her over seven years of experience, Alie is passionate about her work and helping students achieve their greatest potential and find their path to success.
Lead Career Coach, Huntley College of Agriculture
Amber Freeland is a first-generation Portuguese American, who is an alumna of Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Business. Amber is passionate about student success, agricultural education and business. She joined the Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture in 2018, where she has held several roles, including being a staff member, faculty member for two departments and has led or assisted with many college events (L.A. County Fair, Pumpkin Fest, Commencement, etc.) Amber continues to serve as a mentor for the I AM FIRST program for first-generation students. She is the club advisor for the following clubs on campus: Livestock Show Team, Equestrian Show Team, and the Animal Welfare Club (brand new!). Her commitment to student success drives her efforts to ensure that all College of Agriculture students have access to the resources, skills, and support necessary for their success.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Lead Career Coach, College of Business Administration
Beth is dedicated to helping others thrive and navigate pathways to success. Drawing on her extensive experience in higher education, instruction, coaching, and business she is committed to helping students craft a personalized career development plan that aligns with their unique goals. She encourages them to practice being strategic, open-minded, and grounding themselves in confidence as they explore together. While on this journey she’s excited to facilitate dynamic conversations between students, alumni, staff, faculty, and employers that will lead to valuable insights and innovative solutions. She advises to not wait, now is the time to start the journey toward success.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Lead Career Coach
As Lead Career Coach for College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, and formerly College of Business, Cherrie brings a wealth of experience to the Career Center. Her extensive knowledge of the many facets of Career Centers in higher education is an asset to Cal Poly Pomona. Cherrie provides assistance to students, faculty, employers, and staff by way of online tools, in person communication. She has certifications for Success Coaching, Career Coaching, Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Strong Interest Inventory and Gallup Strengths.
Pronouns: She/Her
Lead Career Coach
For the past five years, DeVoneia has been an integral part of the Career Center at Cal Poly Pomona, where she has served as a liaison to the Huntley College of Agriculture. As the Lead Career Coach for the College of Science, she guides students in preparing for job interviews, creating compelling resumes, and expanding the pool of internship opportunities. With her diverse background and commitment to student success, DeVoneia is excited to bring her enthusiasm and expertise to the College of Science at Cal Poly Pomona. Her goal is to empower students to unlock their potential, build strong foundations for their future careers, and thrive in the competitive job market. She is committed to assisting you in all aspects of your professional journey and looks forward to assisting you!
Pronouns: She/Her
Lead Career Coach, Collins College of Hospitality Management
Xio (See-Oh) Tapia Ruvalcaba is the Lead Career Coach at The Collins College of Hospitality Management. She joined the Bronco family in 2015 as a staff member in the College of Business and has dedicated nearly a decade to supporting student success through various roles within Academic and Student Affairs. In addition to her role as a career coach, Xio serves as a lecturer in the CBA, teaching business communications. Xio also provides support in managing department budget, assessment, and implementing career technologies. Xio holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Cal Poly Pomona and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Cal State Fullerton. Beyond her primary roles, Xio has been an active participant in various committees, including more recently the 2024 CPP Summer Conference and the MPA thesis committee. Her passion is career development and helping students navigate their career paths.
pronouns: She/Her
Career Coach
David is a Career Coach for the College of Letters, Arts and Social Science and serves as a career counselor for all majors and disciplines. David also teaches CPU 1100 – Career and Personal Exploration. Other roles David has served in at the Cal Poly Pomona Career Center include Liaison to the Veteran’s Resource Center, Career Center Graduate Intern Program Coordinator, and Advising Task Force Committee. David’s passion is teaching, counseling and mentoring students to help them create a successful future. David has been a staff member with Cal Poly Pomona for the past 17 years.
Pronouns: He/Him
Employer Relations & On Campus Recruiting Specialist
Gerard has been a staff member with the Career Center for several years. During his time with the Career Center and he has been vital to the relationships built between employers and the Cal Poly Pomona Community. Serving as the main contact for our employers to schedule on campus interviews, information sessions, and public relations tables, Gerard aims to help maintain and build relationships with the employers looking to hire the bright minds within our student population.
Pronouns: He/Him
Employer Engagement & Events Specialist
LaKisha Torrence joined has worked with Cal Poly Pomona for several years within different departments on campus. During the pandemic, she joined as a member of the employer relations team and assisted with the resources available to connect our students with hiring employers. With a return to on campus Career Fairs in 2022, LaKisha took on the responsibilities of Events Coordinator.
Pronouns: She/Her
Career Services Specialist
Alexis joined the Career Center as an Information Desk Student Ambassador during her second year at Cal Poly Pomona in 2017. During her time as a student employee, Alexis learned the importance of utilizing campus resources and how to best assist other students in doing the same. After working with the center up until her graduation in 2021, she was hired on full-time to oversee the information desk team and Career Center’s social media marketing and outreach. As a member of the Career Center’s team, she is here to offer her assistance and expertise in the services provided by the center to best help the Cal Poly Pomona Community.
Pronouns: She/Her
Director
Tracee Passeggi currently serves as the Director of the Career Center. Tracee came to Cal Poly Pomona in 2008 and served as the Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics before joining the Disability Resource Center as Director in 2013. Tracee assumed the additional role of Interim Executive Director of the Career Center in 2021 and was named to the post permanently in 2022. In her role with the Career Center, Tracee’s focus is on aligning the Career Center with Cal Poly Pomona’s Strategic Plan, in particular as it relates to Future of Work and Career Readiness Initiatives. Throughout her time at Cal Poly Pomona, Tracee has chaired and served on numerous committees, participated in Campus and Division-wide initiatives, and served as the Behavioral Intervention Team coordinator. Prior to joining Cal Poly Pomona, Tracee spent almost 10 years working in Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Oregon, Yale, and San Francisco State University. She holds her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon and her B.A. from San Francisco State University.
Pronouns: She/Her