JCU’s Invisible Thread: The Maintenance Staff – Part 1

It’s easy to overlook the people who help facilitate our experience at JCU – the ones who prepare the classrooms before we arrive, keep the spaces clean and safe, and bring ease to our daily routines without asking for recognition. The maintenance staff at JCU plays a vital role in everyday life.  

Corrine Sabbatucci has been Administrative Facilities Manager for eight years and acknowledges that her team’s hard work often goes unnoticed. “Just because we don’t always see what goes on doesn’t mean it’s not there. Even with the simplest request, my team shows a lot of dedication to ensure it’s taken care of,” Sabbatucci said. The maintenance staff is the University’s invisible thread, each with different stories and backgrounds to share.

Read about Alicia, Philip, and Samuel’s stories in part one of two.

Alicia Soni (The Philippines)

“JCU’s Mama” 

I moved to Italy in 1986, and before coming to JCU in 2013, I was a domestic worker for a family for 22 years. I’ve been part of the cleaning staff at the Critelli Campus since 2017, when it first opened. My role is to manage the entrance, the courtyard, the classrooms downstairs, the kitchen, the computer lab, and the Admissions offices. 

My son and my husband work at JCU as well. We are so fortunate to be a part of this University because the people here — not only the students, but also the faculty, the staff, and my colleagues — are so nice and they keep on smiling. They are a part of my family. When the students come and go, it can be so sad because I see them as my children. Especially when I worked at the Gianicolo Residence, they would call me “mama.” I have a good job and a good opportunity. I believe if you love your work, you must give it your all.

Outside of work, I love to travel with my husband. We joined a tour group that allows us to meet people from different countries. My favorite place I’ve traveled to is Paris. I enjoyed going up the Eiffel Tower and seeing Disneyland. I also love cooking. I make good arrosto (“roast”) and love to eat lasagna. From my country, I make spring rolls. 

I hope people know me for my kindness. I am good to other people, and if you treat me with respect, I will give you the same respect back. I want students to remember me as their “mama.” I also want others to be happy and brave for whatever life brings. 

Philip Nalin (Sri Lanka)

“A Link in the Chain” 

I came to Italy in 2010, and it was a little challenging for me, but I was able to go to an Italian school to learn the language, and I found work in an art gallery. I return to Sri Lanka once or twice a year to see my mother and my dog, Brownie. It brings me joy to see them, especially when Brownie howls when she hears music, as if she were singing to me. 

In 2023, I started working at the Guarini campus. I am in charge of the front office, the Web Communications office, the IT office, and the library. My favorite part of my job is working in the library. The staff there is very nice, and the students always make sure to say “ciao.” There was a student I saw almost every day who always greeted me with a smile. It is a nice thing to have a familiar face around and be able to interact with the students. Overall, the library will always be a part of my heart. 

I also appreciate my colleagues and the memories we share. My favorite memories at JCU are the Christmas parties for faculty and staff we throw every year. There is always good food and a lot of dancing, and it is nice to see colleagues and friends come together. I consider us a tight-knit community even though we all come from different countries. 

I would like people to know that I am a friendly face around JCU. If there is ever a task that needs to be fulfilled that another cannot do, I will always volunteer and help out. I also think it is important to have a good team, because I consider my team and me a chain. If you have a chain, you can do many things. 

Samuel Dimas (El Salvador) 

“Amistad and Confianza” 

I started working as a dishwasher in the Tiber Cafe three years ago. I came to JCU because I saw a job offer online for a cleaning position. I had only been in Italy for two months before starting. 

I start my day by washing everything from the night before, then I go upstairs to clean the floors, the stairs, and the bathrooms. Throughout the day, I wash whatever comes into the kitchen. My work is very rewarding. I like what I do and appreciate how friendly my colleagues are. 

I love the memories I have made working at JCU. My boss is a good person and treats me like a son. She is like family to me, and I see her as a mother figure. I know this is a job, but it has become my family. I see my colleague from Sri Lanka like a brother, as he has become more than just my friend. We talk and even fight like brothers do. It’s nice working in an environment like this. 

Outside of work, I like learning about Rome and going out. Before coming to Italy, I couldn’t even imagine how beautiful it would be here. Whenever I have the time, I like to explore and visit other cities like Milan and Naples. 

Words from my country I hold close to my heart are amistad and confianza, which mean “friendship” and “trust.” These things are everything, and I like to carry them with me.