CDO advisors are happy to meet with Sagehens individually to address their specific needs, both in-person and virtually. Additionally our office offers career and skill building workshops, employer and fellowship/awards information sessions, and graduate and professional programming.
Hazel Raja
Wanda Gibson
Susanne Filback
Jason Jeffrey
Elizabeth Contreras
Kerry Martin
Natalia Zafferano Peragine
Andee Choi
Leandra La Fon
Jasmine Lockhart
Cristina Ruiz
Celeste Garton
Jay Li
Associate Dean & Senior Director of the CDO
Hazel Raja (she/her/hers) joined Pomona College in January 2020 and oversees the strategy and administration of the Career Development Office. Hazel has worked in college career services for 20+ years across three continents. She has served at New York University (NYU), NYU Abu Dhabi (UAE), and the University of Southampton (UK).
Hazel enjoys learning and experiencing different cultures and has traveled to more than 30 countries around the globe. She equally enjoys being a soccer mom on the weekends.
Assistant Dean & Deputy Director of the CDO
Associate Director of Preprofessional Programs and Prelaw Advisor
Susanne Mahoney Filback (she/her/hers) is the Associate Director of Preprofessional Programs and Prelaw Advisor at Pomona College, an undergraduate liberal arts institution within the Claremont Colleges Consortium. Prior to joining Pomona College she was Associate Dean of Students & Director of Career Services at Claremont McKenna College and a corporate recruiter for McKinsey & Company in Los Angeles. She currently serves on the boards of PLANC (prelaw advisors national council) and PCAPLA (Pacific Coast Association of Prelaw Advisors) and enjoys working with and advising Pomona students and alumni as they consider pursuing graduate study.
Susanne lives in Pasadena, California with her husband Rob and their 3 children – two of whom are now in college. She loves cooking, traveling, & attending concerts with her daughters and may love Harry Styles almost as much as they do.
Associate Director, Fellowships & Career Advising
Jason Jeffrey (he/him/his) joined the CDO in 2019. Since then, Jason has served as Pomona’s fellowships advisor, helping students pursue external awards and overseeing the endorsement process for multiple fellowships, including Fulbright, Truman, and the major UK scholarships. Jason is also a Career Advisor with 15+ years’ experience, having previously worked at Harvey Mudd’s and Claremont McKenna’s career centers.
Jason’s abiding passion is music, listening to, collecting, and performing it. He’s played drums for numerous bands ranging from hardcore punk to roots rock over his two-decade musical career. These days, Jason enjoys playing with his five-year-old son, reading The Atlantic, and lunch-hour swims at Haldeman.
Assistant Director, Experiential Learning & Career Advising
Elizabeth Contreras (she/her/hers) supports the Career Development Office by managing experiential learning programs including the Pomona College Internship Program (PCIP). Her role extends to advising and supporting students through their career development journey. She has previously served in career services at CSU San Bernardino and academic departments at Pomona College. Elizabeth holds a B.A. in Accounting from CSU Fullerton and an M.S. in College Counseling and Student Development from Azusa Pacific University.
After hours, Elizabeth enjoys exploring coffee shops with friends, attending live sporting events with her family, and traveling.
Assistant Director, Alumni Services & Career Advising
Kerry Martin (she/her/hers) has 20+ years of experience working in college career services in private colleges and public university settings including Cal Poly Pomona and University of Southern California. She holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and an Masters degree in College Student Development. Kerry especially enjoys working with a liberal arts population and has been a part of the Pomona CDO team since 2002. She provides individual and group advising for student and alumni career concerns including career exploration and planning, networking strategies, job and internship search, and graduate school application processes.
Kerry is originally from Oregon but makes her home in the Claremont area. She enjoys singing with a local community chorale, camping and hiking with her family, and visits with her son who is in college in the Pacific Northwest. You can schedule an appointment with Kerry through Handshake or contact her directly to find a time to connect.
Career Advisor
Natalia Zafferano Peragine (she/her/hers) joined Pomona College in September 2023 and has experience working in a variety of educational settings: research, non-profit, and higher education. She received her Master’s in College Counseling at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and has worked in both disability services and career services in higher education.
Natalia finds joy in cooking/baking and sharing yummy food with friends and family! She loves spending time in nature (hiking and backpacking) and hopes to continue traveling to new countries and visiting U.S. national parks.
Graduate Assistant
Andee Choi (she/her/hers) joined the Pomona College CDO Office in August 2025 as a Graduate Assistant. In her role, she mainly supports the creation, facilitation, and execution of employer events. She also takes appointments with students to discuss various professional development topics, including interviewing, resume review, and career planning.
Currently, Andee is in her second year at Cal State Long Beach’s Student Development in Higher Education Master’s program. In her studies, she learns about the foundations of higher education and student developmental theories in order to ultimately inform her work of supporting student growth and flourishing.
In her free time, Andee enjoys reading, cooking, working out, and spending time with her family and friends!
Graduate Assistant
Manager, Communications and Digital Media
Leandra La Fon (she/her/hers) joined the team in August 2023. Leandra builds out all communications and digital media for the CDO. She gained experience in digital media and communications while working for non-profit organizations in Orange County and the greater Los Angeles area. Prior to returning to her hometown of Claremont, she was in a two-year teaching fellowship in NYC. She attributes her grit and passion to her beloved liberal arts degree.
She enjoys sharing her love for all things history and art. In her free time, Leandra enjoys printmaking and painting, hanging out with her toddler niece, and attending concerts.
Administrative Coordinator for Experiential Learning Programs, Fellowships, & Career Advising
Administrative Coordinator, Operations & Data
Communications Intern
Celeste Garton (she/her/hers) is a senior from Chicago studying environmental analysis and economics. She is passionate about increasing student engagement with the Career Development Office through approachable platform building. After graduating, she is excited to apply her communications background to help environmentally forward companies and organizations improve their communications approach. Outside of the CDO, Celeste is a captain of Claremont Football Club and works as a clerk at the Coop Store.
Data Intern
Jay Li (he/him) is a Sophomore at Pomona College from San Jose, CA studying Computer Science and Mathematics. As a Data Intern at the CDO, he commonly creates reports from and analyzes datasets related to student employment outcomes. He is excited to discover how he can understand the world through numbers and apply math in the real world in new and interesting ways. Outside of the CDO, Jay can often be found in concert venues, on scenic hikes, or in LA adding cafes and restaurants to his Beli profile.