Community Member Milestones
- Welcome to Caltech:
Susan Hatchett
Susan joined Caltech as an international student advisor in International Student Programs in March 2025. In this role, she provides expert immigration advising, ensures institutional compliance with federal regulations, and supports international students through personalized guidance and educational programming. Previously, Susan was the interim assistant director of International Student Programs at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. She also has 16 years of experience in international education including curriculum development and English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Kevyn Garcia
Kevyn joined Caltech on April 28, 2025, as the audience services manager in the Office of Communications and External Relations. In this role, he will supervise audience services for Caltech’s auditoriums, train front-of-house staff to provide exceptional guest service, and assist with event operations as well as the Friends of Beckman Auditorium donor group. Previously, Kevyn served as front-of-house and special events manager with Irvine Barclay Theatre.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Chris Kalaw
Chris joined Caltech as the new recycling and materials coordinator in October 2024. In this role, he is helping to manage the Institute’s recycling program and prioritize cost-effective, local, and sustainable purchases. Chris also works at USC as a sustainability assistant and holds a BS in public health.
- Celebrating a promotion:
Lauren Breeyear
On April 7, 2025, Lauren was promoted to division chair assistant and faculty affairs manager in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE). She has been with BBE since 2016, first as the divisional events coordinator and then options manager for computation and neural systems and neurobiology. In her new role, Lauren will manage, direct, and oversee all administrative functions for the division chair’s office and faculty affairs.
- Celebrating a promotion:
Christopher Barragan
In April 2025, Christopher was promoted to director of the Center for Student Success, a new office designed to integrate student support services including Caltech Accessibility Services for Students (CASS) and the CARE team, where Christopher formerly served as the case manager. Under Christopher’s leadership, the new center will ensure that these programs and their associated staff members are effectively coordinated to provide all students with the resources they need to achieve their goals at Caltech and beyond.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Michael Soriano
Michael joined Caltech as director of hotel operations at The Athenaeum on April 28, 2025. Michael previously served as director of housekeeping at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, and he brings extensive experience in high-end hotel services at various various properties throughout California, including Napa, Hollywood, downtown Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills.