Meet the Admission Staff

Thomas A. Gutto
Associate Vice Provost, Undergraduate Admission
Contact Tom Gutto

In collaboration with the Vice Provost of Enrollment Management, Tom leads the creation and implementation of the undergraduate admission strategic recruitment and enrollment efforts. His primary focus is supporting students and their families through the admission process from aspiring college students to admitted LMU Lions.

Tom is an active member in the following professional associations: The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS), The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), The Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC), and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO).He was honored with the Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion Rising Star Award (2016) from the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students for his exceptional advocacy and leadership in the development and implementation of transfer-focused activities in support of transfer student access to and success in higher education.

Tom earned his Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Counseling from LMU.  

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Radia Alouache
Senior Director, Undergraduate Admission
Contact Radia Alouache

Radia Alouache brings to her role as Senior Director a degree in Finance and International Business and a Master in Education with a focus in counseling. She combines this background with over 30 years of admission experience. Radia oversees the recruitment and decision process for first year applicants. She is a long-time member of NACAC and WACAC and is actively involved in these two admission professional organizations. In her spare time she likes to read, travel, and try new restaurants.

Jenelle Abbattista
Assistant Director
Contact Jenelle Abbattista

Jenelle Abbattista received her B.S. in Marketing from Fairfield University. As a New Jersey native, she is excited to cover the Mid-Atlantic territory and introduce prospective students Loyola Marymount University. She came out to California for a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and is excited to stay on the west coast at LMU as an Admission Counselor in order to recruit students and familiarize them to our Jesuit identity. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, and exploring all that Los Angeles has to offer!

Territories: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia

Christine Parra
Assistant Director
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Although Chris now considers herself an LMU Lion after 17 years in Admission, she attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas where she obtained both a B.A. in English Communication Arts, as well as an M.A. in Community Counseling.  Being an out-of-state college student from Omaha, Nebraska, Chris has had a special interest in both introducing and recruiting prospective students from the Midwest. In her free time, she enjoys time with her children and supporting causes of those with special needs.

Territories: California (West LA, South Bay), Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Beth Calkins
Admission Counselor
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Beth received her B.A. in Communication Studies with a minor in Philosophy at LMU. She went on to earn an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Boston College, but the Boston winters were too much for her, and she has happily spent most of her career back at LMU. Beth grew up in Sacramento and currently resides in San Diego. She feels incredibly fortunate to continue her work with the admission office by engaging with students from both of these "hometowns." In her spare time, Beth loves the beach, baking, reading, hiking with her family, and volunteering at her children's school.

Territories: California (Sacramento, San Diego)

Jennisa Casillas
Admission Counselor
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Territories: California (Covina & West Covina, Central Coast & Santa Barbara and Central Valley)

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Nathan Faust
Admission Counselor
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Nathan Faust is a proud Loyola Marymount alum, earning his B.A. in English in 2019. Born and raised in Portland, OR, he came to Los Angeles looking for adventure, and found it the first moment he stepped onto the LMU campus. After short stints in finance and ghostwriting, he is back home as an Admissions Counselor, passionately introducing future Lions to the Bluff. Outside of work, Nathan sits on the board of an open adoption agency, loves to cook both in the kitchen and on the basketball court, and travels whenever he gets the chance.

Territories: California (San Fernando East Valley, Riverside, SB, Ontario, Imperial Valley, Palm Desert), Oregon, Washington

Brian Felix
Admission Counselor
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Brian is an LMU graduate with his degree in Business Administration. He has a variety of experiences in the fields of fire administration, fitness, and business. He spent two years in Japan with his family teaching English at public elementary schools. In his spare time he loves to be outside swimming, biking and running. Brian loves to read, listen to music and spend time with his family.

Territories: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming

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Caeli Koizumi
Admission Counselor
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Caeli Koizumi is an alumna of Loyola Marymount University, earning her B.A. in Dance in 2017. LMU is where Caeli first fell in love with higher education and she is passionate about empowering students to celebrate and live into their authentic identities. As a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, she is thrilled to return to LMU to serve as an Admission Counselor and support prospective students as they explore all that the university has to offer. Caeli is a proud auntie and in her free time, she enjoys knitting, staying active, and trying new recipes.

Territories: California (Far Northern California, Valley of the Moon, Marin, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Oakland, San Mateo County, San Jose, Santa Clara)

Chelsea Passamano
Admission Counselor
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Chelsea received her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and 200 hour Teacher Training Certificate within the Yoga and Healing Sciences Program at Loyola Marymount University. In her free time she enjoys teaching yoga at a farmer’s market, spending time in nature and traveling. 

Territories: Arizona, California (Whittier, Orange County, Anaheim, Santa Ana)

Elizabeth Waner
Admission Counselor
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Elizabeth Waner received her B.A. in Education Sciences with a minor in Sociology at the University of California, Irvine. She completed her M.A. in Higher Education Administration at Loyola Marymount University. Prior to joining LMU, she worked in college access and success in the South and East Los Angeles areas. As a first-generation Latinx college graduate, Elizabeth prioritizes addressing issues of inequity in education and providing a holistic, social justice-oriented approach when working with students and families. She is excited to continue this work at LMU while supporting all prospective students! In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys hiking and spending time with her family, friends, and dogs.

Territories: California (East Los Angeles, Hollywood-Wilshire), New Mexico, Texas 

Vanessa Miranda
Director of Transfer Admission and Enrollment Services
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As Loyola Marymount University’s Director for Transfer Admission and Enrollment Services, Vanessa Miranda is responsible for collaborating with community college partners and across the institution to create partnerships, programs, and initiatives that best support prospective and current transfer students. She is a strong advocate for transfer students in all stages of their academic journey and ensures their success from the application process through enrollment. In addition to serving transfer students, she assists continuing students who are navigating enrollment barriers during their time at the University by providing support and working with University partners on their behalf. Vanessa and the Transfer Admission and Enrollment Services team are committed to creating and refining clear pathways for transfer student success at LMU, as well as serving students holistically and providing the utmost customer service throughout the enrollment process.

Vanessa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Augustana College and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Loyola University Chicago. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and trying out new recipes.

Charles Mason
Associate Director
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Charles Mason serves as an Associate Director of Transfer Admission. He received his B.A. of Ethnic Studies and Political Science from California State University, Los Angeles. Charles has shown demonstrated commitment to advocacy for social justice and the mentorship of young people throughout his career. He enjoys his work in Transfer Admission because it is the perfect blend of challenge, change, and helping others.

Matthew Mangione
Assistant Director
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Matthew Mangione is a proud transfer alumnus of Loyola Marymount University, earning his B.A. in Theatre Arts in 2018. While not originally from Los Angeles, Matthew fell in love with the city while at LMU and now considers it his home. He always advocated for and supported transfers as a student and continues that work as the Assistant Director for Transfer Admission & Enrollment Services. In his spare time, he enjoys going for walks, playing tennis, cooking new recipes, and relaxing at the beach with friends.

Karen Arizmendi
Admission Specialist
Karen Arizmendi

Karen Arizmendi earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish at the University of La Verne. She is currently a Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling candidate at Loyola Marymount University. Having worked as part of the LMU admission team for some time, she is excited for the opportunity to now directly assist transfer students and be an additional support for them. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, going to concerts, and going on walks.

Dan Marschner
Director of International Admission
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Dan Marschner has worked at LMU since 2016 and received his Ph. D. from the University of Cincinnati with a focus on the cultural acclimation process for international students to the U.S. As a student, Dan participated in classes in Australia, Italy, and Nicaragua, and lived in Chile for two and a half years where he worked as a Jesuit Volunteer after completing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Xavier University. He also holds a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy and Development from Fordham University. He enjoys meeting with students from around the world who want to learn more about LMU. 

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Christie Culp
Assistant Director
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Christie Culp earned her bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Communication at Pepperdine University and studied abroad as an international student. She went on to complete a master’s degree in Italian Literature at UCLA, where she discovered a love for working with students. Christie has enjoyed working with international students since 2012 and currently serves as the Assistant Director of International Admission and Outreach at Loyola Marymount. In her free time, she enjoys playing fetch with her Italian greyhound, learning languages and traveling to obscure locations.

Paul Kim
International Admission Counselor
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Paul Kim serves as an International Admission Counselor at Loyola Marymount University. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and worked abroad in education for three years in Shanghai. He completed his master's degree in education policy at Teachers College, Columbia University focusing on K-12 and higher education. Paul is now back in his hometown of Los Angeles and after working extensively with international students in China and New York, Paul continues to work with this vibrant community at LMU.

Veronica Marinez
International Admission Counselor
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Veronica “Ronni” Mariñez serves as an International Admission Counselor at Loyola Marymount University. She received her B.A. in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach where she studied abroad as an international student. She completed her M.A. in Higher Education Administration from LMU’s School of Education where she furthered her passion of working with international students. As an LMU alumna, she is excited to introduce prospective students to LMU. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her loved ones, exploring new places, and playing her ukulele.