Meet Our Staff
Meet our Staff
Alie Ivie
Lead Career Coach, College of Engineering
Alie 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.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialties and Interests
College of EngineeringBeth Lee
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 students to not wait, now is the time to start the journey toward success.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialties and Interests
College of Business AdministrationCherrie Peters
Lead Career Coach, College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
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 assists students, faculty, employers, and staff by way of online tools and 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/Hers
Specialties and Interests
College of Letters, Arts, and Social SciencesDr. DeVoneia Jordan
Lead Career Coach, College of Science
Dr. Jordan, since 2017, has been an integral part of the Career Center at Cal Poly Pomona.
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, Dr. Jordan 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 and looks forward to assisting you in all aspects of your professional journey.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialties and Interests
College of ScienceLillian Nguyen
Lead Career Coach, College of Education and Integrative Studies (CEIS)
Lillian Nguyen joins the Cal Poly Pomona Career Center as the new Lead Career Coach for the College of Education and Integrative Studies (CEIS). She brings over a decade of experience in higher education and the nonprofit sector, with a strong focus on equity, access, and student development.
Most recently, Lillian led national career readiness programs for underrepresented youth at a national nonprofit organization. She has also held career services roles at Harvey Mudd College, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Illinois.
Lillian holds a Master’s degree in Education Policy and is SHRM-CP certified. Her equity-driven approach and systems thinking will be a great asset to CEIS and the broader campus community.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialties and Interests
College of Education and Integrative Studies (CEIS)Xiomara Tapia
Lead Career Coach, Collins College of Hospitality Management
Xio (See-Oh) Tapia Ruvalcaba joined the Bronco family in 2015 as a staff member in the College of Business and has dedicated a decade to supporting student success through various roles within Academic and Student Affairs.
Xio has served as a lecturer in the CBA, teaching business communications. She also provides support in managing department budget, assessment, and implementing career technologies. Beyond her primary roles, Xio has been an active participant in various committees, including the 2024 CPP Summer Conference and the MPA thesis committee.
She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Cal Poly Pomona and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Cal State Fullerton.
Her passion is career development and helping students navigate their career paths.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialties and Interests
Collins College of Hospitality ManagementLaKisha Torrence
Employer Engagement & Events Specialist
LaKisha Torrence has worked with Cal Poly Pomona for several years within different departments on campus.
During the pandemic, she joined the Career Center 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/Hers
Specialties and Interests
Employer Relations, Career EventsGerard Russo
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 employers looking to hire our highly capable and skilled students.
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Specialties and Interests
Employer RelationsAlexis Lopez
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 the department’s social media marketing and outreach.
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/Hers
Specialties and Interests
Information Desk, Center Services, Social Media MarketingLydia Chen Shah
Career Center Faculty Associate
With a passion for equity-driven education, Lydia Chen Shah focuses on providing students the best possible experiences in and outside of the classroom. This includes real-world application of knowledge and developing relevant skills desired by employers.
Her industry experience ranging from startups to Fortune companies plus community-based organizations turns diverse perspectives into actionable plans. She fosters excellence in others through a culture of collaboration.
Since 2012, Lydia has taught International Business and Marketing at Cal Poly Pomona. She also serves as faculty at Long Beach State. Prior to CPP, she taught at Loyola Marymount University’s College of Business. She holds an MBA in Management and Marketing from LMU and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Cal Poly Pomona.
Tracee Passeggi
Director
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. She assumed the additional role of Interim Executive Director of the Career Center in 2021 and was named to the post permanently in 2022.
Her 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/Hers