Meet the Team

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.

Denisse Jover (she/her/hers) joined Pomona College in November 2022 where she supports the Career Development Office with employer relations, student employment and career advising. With over 15+ years of experience working in a wide-range of collegiate and community-based programs, she has found it critical to support students on their path to higher education as well as elevating their personal and professional goals. As a first-generation college graduate and professional, her identities largely influence her love for building community and supporting others to be the best version of themselves. On her downtime, she enjoys the peace of being in nature, practicing yoga and cuddling with her furbabies!

Elizabeth Contreras (she/her/hers) supports the Career Development Office by managing the Pomona College Internship Program (PCIP) and promoting campus student employment initiatives. 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.

After hours, Elizabeth enjoys exploring coffee shops with friends, attending live sporting events with her family, and traveling.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 with her fiancé.

Jaidyn Ramirez-Oda (she/her/hers)  joined Pomona College in October 2023 and is new to higher education. She is responsible for managing the office’s administrative services by providing clerical support and leading the logistics of CDO events. Jaidyn has 3 years of Human Resources experience and is passionate about helping people reach their full potential and be their authentic selves. Although she’s still unsure of what career she’ll pursue, Jaidyn is happy to have found her place at Pomona College. She is planning on pursuing higher education at Cal Poly Pomona next fall with a major in Sociology.

When Jaidyn isn’t working, she enjoys working out at the gym, finding new recipes to cook/bake for her family & friends, and exploring new places with her boyfriend, Andres.