Transforming Student Experience & Success in Gateway STEM Courses FLC: Introductions and Community Connection by Shradha Tibrewal

Nhu Y Stessman

2024-01-16 17:57:10 UTC

Kerry Byrne

2024-01-16 21:23:48 UTC

Hello! I am an Associate Professor at Cal Poly Humboldt in Environmental Science and Management. I love to run and won a small half marathon in Boise this fall. I'm signed up for Ave of the Giants half marathon in May 2024. I just got back from a trip to Costa Rica with my family (parents, husband, and 2 young daughters). I'm a biologist and it was so fun to see my kiddos get excited about leafcutter ants, 2-toed sloths, tropical birds, etc.

Tahereh Arabghalizi (She, Her)

2024-01-17 00:59:06 UTC

Hello! I am a full-time lecturer in the Computer Science department. I joined SJSU in August 2023 and had my first amazing teaching experience last semester! I have a passion for hiking and camping, with my most cherished trip being to Alaska! The book I enjoy revisiting time and time again is "Living Untethered" by Michael Singer.

Joshua Steimel (he/him/his)

2024-01-17 02:01:19 UTC

Hi I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering and support the Mechanical Engineering Program at Cal Poly Humboldt. I love to surf and am really passionate about Materials Science and research.

Ho Yi Wan

2024-01-17 07:30:10 UTC

Hello everyone! I go by Ho Yi. I am an Assistant Professor of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt. My expertise is in Landscape Ecology and Spatial Ecology. I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I came to the U.S. when I was 17, and I was the first member in my family migrating to the U.S. I love to go hiking with my beautiful wife and children.

Hello! My name is Inez (she, her)

2024-01-17 07:35:10 UTC

I’m a part time lecturer in the Biology department at SJSU. I just came back from my maternity leave and couldn’t think of any adult songs or books… I could name a bunch of nursery rhymes, nowadays, the most recent one, my daughter’s favorite: The Itsy-bitsy Spider.

I usually teach general Bio (which is why I’m very curious about this program and see how I can improve a general course meant for freshmen). The goal is to keep ALL of them interested in Biology after all! :)

Nora Hallquist Hulse, CSU Stanislaus

2024-01-17 13:38:20 UTC

Hi, I'm Nora, a part-time lecturer at CSU Stanislaus. My husband, Pete, and I got to enjoy a beach vacation this year. We happened to go to Fiesta Days in Santa Barbara, where we visited one cousin. Then we went to LA where we visited another cousin.

We have 2 college-age sons, one at UC Merced, one at Stan and MJC. I think their struggles help me to understand my students better.

My Ph.D. in in Nutrition and Immunology. It's hard to find such a specific niche in the central valley, so I teach Biology, Physiology, and Genetics.

I love anything outdoors; hiking, camping, kayaking, walking. I also do hot yoga and want to get back to ballroom dancing.

I like to travel. I also like to read, but I don't read any book over an over.

Nice to meet you all!

Navrati Saxena (she/her)

navratisaxena1_1 — 2024-01-17 17:03:09 UTC

hey everyone, I am Navrati Saxena, Associate professor at the department of computer science, San Jose State University. I like travelling, reading, and drinking coffee :)

Kamal Dulai (he) Stan State Biology

2024-01-17 17:07:29 UTC

Hello Everyone. I am a part-time lecturer at Stan State, in the Biology department. I pretend to exercise by acting as a youth soccer (football) referee in the Modesto area.

Patrick Talbot

2024-01-17 17:08:46 UTC

Hi, I'm Patrick Talbot. I'm a full time staff member (Instructional Staff Support) and a part-time lecturer in the Physics department at CSU Stanislaus. My primary responsibilities are managing the labs, but I am working individually and with other faculty to improve student outcomes in the labs. In my personal life I spend most of my time working on projects around the house and backpacking.

Lynda Wynn, Stan State (she, her)

2024-01-17 17:09:40 UTC

Hi! I'm Lynda, an associate professor of mathematics. In June 2023, I had the opportunity to join my mom, sister and her family on an amazing trip to Disney World followed by a Disney Cruise. This photo is from Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. During the break, I've been reading and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Cash Bortner (he/him/his)

2024-01-17 17:10:03 UTC

Hi all! I am a second-year Assistant Professor in the Math Department at CSU Stanislaus! I love listening to music while I work and even have a "Math" playlist that I am constantly adding to (always taking suggestions)! My wife Megan and I love traveling, and last summer we went to Banff, Canada with our two dogs, Fred and Daphne (pictured above). I grew up on a farm in Nebraska, and love being outdoors. I'm looking forward to working with you all!

Amy Sprowles (She/Her)

aes54 — 2024-01-17 17:10:40 UTC

Hello! I have spent the majority of my career focusing on programs that engage and inspire STEM students from diverse backgrounds. This semester I am teaching upper division cell biology, supporting the growth of our first-year learning communities, and coordinating the Cal Poly Humboldt Graduate Education Task Force. I am looking forward to working with you.

2024-01-17 17:11:19 UTC

Hello! I am Curtis Pro, I am an Associate Professor of Math at Stan State. I love California, I like music, and I am learning Spanish.

Mostafa Mortezaie

2024-01-17 17:11:43 UTC

Hello, I am a lecturer at San Jose State University (SJSU) and teaching in the area of Electrical Circuit Analysis and Semiconductor Devices. I am IEEE Educational Activities Chair and STEM/K-12 Chair for Region 6, which includes Western US including Hawaii and Alaska.

Tricia Van Laar

2024-01-17 17:13:57 UTC

Hi everyone,

I'm an Assistant Professor of Microbial Genomics at Stan State. My favorite hobby is birding. I have 2 year old twins and we're trying to get them excited about it as well. We recently traveled to Cancun for our first international family vacation.

Jae Chung (he/him/his)

2024-01-17 17:29:19 UTC

Hello! I'm Jae and a part-time lecturer in the Biology department at San Jose State University. I teach mostly upper division and graduate-level courses in the molecular and cell biology track. I love to travel and try to travel internationally at least once a year. I'm currently writing this from Japan (Kyoto specifically!) where I'm visiting for the first time!

Tawanda Gara (he/him/his)

2024-01-17 18:13:42 UTC

Hi, I'm Tawanda Gara, an Assistant Professor at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Dpt of Environmental Science and Management. My interests are in the application of geospatial technologies in natural resources management. I enjoy travelling with my family (beautiful wife and two kids), flying drones, and doing fieldwork.

Jianmin Zhong

2024-01-19 06:14:08 UTC

I am a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt, dedicated to unraveling the intricacies of tick-bacteria symbiosis and tick-pathogen interactions in my research. Japan is my favorite travel destination, not only for its rich culture, food, and scenic beauty but also for its unique blend of tradition and modernity.

Silvia Pavan

2024-01-19 17:29:53 UTC

Hello everyone!

I am Silvia Pavan, I am an Assistant Professor at the dept. of Biological Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. Besides teaching Mammalogy, I am also the curator at the Vertebrate Museum. My expertise is systematics and evolution of small-mammals, with the use of morphological and genetic data to uncover species diversity. I am relatively new on teaching for undergrad students, especially for large groups of students, so I have a lot to learn about teaching (I am from Brazil and I moved to Humboldt with my family on Jan 22). I would like to improve my abilities to engage students, and to include and help students from different backgrounds succeed in the classes I teach.

Jun Liu

2024-01-29 20:59:25 UTC

Hello. I'm Jun Liu, an Assistant Professor in the Computer Engineering department at San Jose State University. I like traveling and looking forward to meeting you all in the class.