Pictured above: STAR Award recipients with Dean Daniel Abebe (Left to Right) Pictured above: Ernesto Colorado, Dean Daniel Abebe, Amanda Roden and Jennifer Torres.

STAR Program Recipients Spring 2026

The STAR Program offers Columbia Law School administrative staff a way to acknowledge and express appreciation for co-workers who make a difference in their everyday work life.

Pictured above: STAR Award recipients with Dean Daniel Abebe (Left to Right) Pictured above: Ernesto Colorado, Dean Daniel Abebe, Amanda Roden and Jennifer Torres. 

Spring 2026

These are the recipients of the Staff Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) Program for the Fall 2025. Winners  receive a $2,000 award and a standing crystal STAR as a signal of the school’s appreciation.

Picture of Ernesto Colorado holding his STAR Award.

Ernesto Colorado
Executive Director, Building Services & Capital Planning 
Building Services  

Ernesto has become a cornerstone of the Law School’s recent transformation, serving as the guiding force behind several critical infrastructure enhancements. Most notably, he spearheaded the installation of the new Lobby turnstiles and the Library security booth.  He also played a pivotal role in the renovation of the Li Lu Law Library in Jerome Greene Hall. Ernesto navigates complex projects with a collaborative mindset, bridging the gap between faculty/administrators and contractors to overcome every challenge head-on. His unwavering dedication is best seen in his work ethic; he frequently goes above and beyond, confirming details throughout the project and working extended hours to ensure every goal is completed with precision and care.

Picture of Amanda Roden holding her STAR Award.

Amanda Roden 
Director of Graduate Admissions and Executive LL.M.
Office of Graduate Degree Programs   

Amanda Roden embodies the spirit of innovation and leadership at Columbia Law. Over the past seven years, she has scaled her role to lead admissions and marketing for three major degree programs while becoming our resident expert in Slate and data analytics. She revolutionized the Graduate Degree Program application process by merging duplicative systems into a single "dual" application, significantly increasing candidate engagement. Amanda is known for her "no-room-for-error" precision and her proactive approach to team culture—from advocating for shared community spaces to perfecting the onboarding experience. She leads with a commanding executive presence and a tireless work ethic, yet remains a humble, head-down contributor who consistently prioritizes the excellence of the Law School and the well-being of her team.

Picture of Jennifer Torres holding her STAR Award.

Jennifer Torres 
Assistant Director of Recruiting
Office of Private Sector Careers 

Jennifer Torres is a driving force of innovation within the Office of Private Sector Careers. Faced with an aggressively accelerated hiring timeline, Jen spearheaded a complete digital transformation of OPSC’s resources. She transitioned the student outreach from the legacy Symplicity platform to a streamlined, intuitive hub on CLS Connect, centralizing critical recruiting data and templates. Most notably, Jen created the first-of-its-kind "Law Firm Look Book," a searchable virtual resource that allows 1Ls to compare firms across diverse metrics instantly. In light of the quickly changing private sector legal market, her efforts proved​ to be​ both extremely timely and deeply appreciated, both by the OPSC staff and students​ alike.  Her ability to remain calm under pressure while approaching complex logistical roadblocks with a solution-oriented approach makes her a true STAR who continues to elevate the professional presence of the Law School.