Instructional Staff and Academic Coordinators

Business

Accounting and Tax Seminars

Coordinator: Dr. Richard Lau	Dr. Richard Lau is a Professor in the Department of Accounting at CSULA. He received his doctorate from the University of Louisiana in accounting. He has 19 years of teaching experience and has been the Program Coordinator for the Accounting and Tax Seminars for ten years at the Division of Extended Education at CSULA.

 

Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) Certificate Program

Steven Lebit

Steven Lebit, C.E.B.S., graduated from The City College of New York and received the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist Certification in 1993. He is currently a supervisor in the Human Resources Department and has over 10 years experience teaching in Certified Employee Benefit Specialists courses. In addition, he is a member of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists.

 

Certified Financial Planner

Mr. Martin J. Bauer

Mr. Martin J. Bauer, III, CFP®, CPA/PFS, holds a Master of Science Degree in Accounting from California State University, Long Beach. Mr. Bauer is a Certified Financial Planner Practitioner and an American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Personal Financial Specialists. Mr. Bauer has experience in financial and estate planning and tax preparation services for small and medium size corporate businesses.

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Engineering Programs

Engineer-In-Training (EIT) Review Course

Coordinator: Dr. Young C. Kim	Dr. Young C. Kim, emeritus Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, CSULA. He received his doctorate from the University of Southern California. He has over thirty years of teaching experience and has been a program coordinator for the EIT Program for over thirty years.

 

PE Review Course in Electrical Engineering (PEEE)

Coordinator Dr. Lili Tabrizi	Dr. Lili Tabrizi is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at CSULA. She received her doctorate from Michigan State University.

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International Programs

English Language Program (ELP)

Maria de Nicolo	Maria has over 15 years of experience in teaching Academic Reading, Composition, and ESL to students of all cultural backgrounds and ages.  Holding a Bachelor’s degree from her native Argentina in English and English Literature, she received her Master’s Degree in Education from Cambridge College, Boston, MA.  Before coming to the ELP in 2008, she taught for 10 years at City University of New York.
Andy Hong	Andy received his M.A. in TESOL from BIOLA University, and has taught in the ELP, and its predecessor program, since 2001.  Andy has traveled and studied the cultures in more than 20 different countries.  Along the way he has studied Japanese, Korean, Russian, Hebrew, and Greek.
Paul Knobloch	Paul is a language teacher and literary translator.  After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from U.C. Irvine, Paul pursued a second Bachelor’s and M.A. degree in French from CSU Long Beach.  He received a teaching certificate in TESOL and has taught at university level, community college, and in Intensive English Programs, the ELP and its predecessor, for some 15 years.  Paul is currently working on the first English translation of the French text Gainsbourg by Gilles Verlant.
Kathy Koupai	Kathy has taught in the ELP since 2007. She received her Bachelor’s degree from U.C. Irvine in English, and holds an MA in Journalism and Near Eastern Studies from New York University.  She has taught for over 10 years in ESL settings in both the K-12 public school systems and  in higher education; she is completing work on a doctoral degree in Education through Claremont Graduate University.
Undarmaa Maamuujav	Undraa was born and raised in Mongolia, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in English and Education in 2000.  Thereafter, she moved to the United States to pursue an M.A. in TESOL at CSULA.  Upon receiving her degree in 2005, Undraa began to tutor in the University Writing Center and to teach the Writing Proficiency Exam alternative course, University 400.  She joined ELP the same year, and often teaches Advanced level Reading and Writing and Structure courses.
Denise Minin	Denise received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Diploma in Applied Linguistics from the University of Victoria (1992).  Her thesis work was in “Raising Children Bilingually,” and she has successfully raised her own two children to be completely bilingual.  She has taught EFL overseas in Greece, and speaks several European languages, as well as Russian.   She has taught in the ELP and its predecessor program at CSULA since 2002.
Veneza Angel Pablico	A versatile teacher in our program since 2005, Angel holds an M.A. in TESOL from CSULA, and a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Oklahoma.  She teaches a variety of skill areas in ELP, from Reading and Writing, to Structure, to Speaking, and has developed courses in TOEFL preparation, and Listening and Speaking for the TOEFL iBT.  She is also currently studying in a Master’s program in Library Science.
Nicholas Renton	Dr. Renton holds a Ph.D in Germanic Languages from UCLA.  He also serves as a German professor in the Department of Modern Languages at CSULA.  A holder of a British Passport, Nick was born in San Francisco, and grew up in Berkeley, California.
Steven Stanley	Steven is the ESL teacher of longest standing in our program.  He received his MA in TESOL from Georgetown University, and has taught at Cal State L.A. since 1979.  He has also taught English as a Foreign Language overseas in Morocco, Mexico, and Ecuador.  An avid theater-goer, Steven edits the website StageSceneLA.com.
David Warner	David holds M.A. degrees both in English Literature and in Theater Arts and Film.  He also holds a California teaching credential in English, ESL, and Basic Education.  David has specialized in teaching Speaking, Listening, and oral skills courses at CSULA since 1989; and has taught concurrently in that interval at community college.  He has developed an innovative classroom curriculum for developing Listening and Pronunciation skills using contemporary movies.
Joseph Wei	Joseph was originally educated in his native Taiwan, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in German Language and Literature.  Thereafter, he completed an M.A. in Historical and Comparative Linguistics at Freie Universitat, Berlin, and worked for a time as a German language translator.  Upon coming to the U.S. and pursuing a graduate degree in TESOL, Joseph joined the ELP and its predecessor program.  While he awaits the Chicago Cubs’ return to a World Series, he enjoys classical music, reading, and sabre fencing.

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Interpreting

Legal Interpretation & Translation

Jorge Hernandez	Jorge Hernandez, B.A., is a practicing Certified Court Interpreter (CCI). He is also qualified as a medical interpreter by the Judicial Council of California and experienced in the areas of medical, telephonic and freelance translation.
Cynthia Parker	Cynthia Parker is both Court certified by the Judicial council and the Federal Certification as well. She graduated from UCLA, B.A.,M.A. Departmental scholar and Cum laude, with Phi Beta Kappa as well.She studied at both the Universidad de Madrid and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. She has been a practicing criminal and civil interpreter for over 30 years.
Alicia Rankin	Alicia Rankin, B.S., is a practicing Certified Court Interpreter (CCI). She is also a freelance translator with many years of experience in the criminal court system.
Baldomero A. Estevez	Baldomero A. Estevez, B.S., is a practicing interpreter with twenty years of experience in the field. He is a Certified Administrative Hearing Interpreter, Spanish and English, (C.A.H.I.) from the State of California’s State Personnel Board.
Monica Almada	Monica Almada (CCI) is a California Certified Court Interpreter and graduate of the CSULA LIT program. She also coordinates interpreting, translation and logistic services for a Los Angeles law firm.
Aldo Ruiz Rivero	Aldo Ruiz Rivero (M.A., Lic.) is a Bolivian career diplomat based in Los Angeles. He is a lawyer, an expert in contract translation and a trained legal interpreter. He has taught comparative law at several universities.
Patricia Torres	Patricia Torres (CCI) is a practicing California Certified Court Interpreter. She also has considerable experience in the use of computers and laboratory equipment for language purposes, from transcription to film dubbing.

Medical Interpreting

Soraya Alamdari	Soraya Alamdari (PhD, UCLA) is a certified medical interpreter and an experienced professor of Spanish who has taught at several universities in California and on the East coast.

 

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Paralegal Studies

Elizabeth Pace	Elizabeth Pace, B.A., ABA- approved Paralegal Certificate, Paralegal with L.A.U.S.D.
Peter Hong, J.D	Peter Hong, J.D., Attorney and Member of the State Bar of California, litigation, specializing in defense of workers’ comp, and employer discrimination claims.
Viken Mouradian, J.D	Viken Mouradian, J.D., Attorney and Member of the State Bar of California, 12 years in active law practice till 2000, extensive experience in real estate law.
David Wiggins, J.D	David Wiggins, J.D., Attorney with 21 years in private litigation practice, Member of the State Bar of California and of Hawaii and holder of an active secondary California teaching credential.
K. Kerry Ayazi, J.D.	K. Kerry Ayazi, J.D., Attorney and Member of the State Bar of California.
Beverly Biggs, Ed.D.	Beverly Biggs, Ed.D., Administrator, Legal Support, California State Department of Justice.
Eric Davis, J.D.	Eric Davis, J.D., Attorney and Member of the State Bar of California.
Bruno Genovese, J.D.	Bruno Genovese, J.D. in France, Concordance CCST (Trainer), CCFA (FYI Admin.), CaseMap Certified Trainer, Executive Director, Technology and Operations, Keystone FYI Hosting.
Lauralee Gooch, J.D.	Lauralee Gooch, J.D., Attorney at Law, Member of the State Bar of California, Associate in Corporate Practice Group, Ervin Cohen & Jessup, LLP.
Maryetta Hall, J.D.	Maryetta Hall, J.D., LL.M. in Taxation, Paralegal for the Country of Los Angeles.
Hudena James, J.D.	Hudena James, J.D., Litigation Paralegal, 25 years of experience in personal injury and medical malpractice, workers’ comp, and in bankruptcy and corporate law.
Jacqueline James, J.D.	Jacqueline James, J.D., Intellectual Property and Litigation Paralegal, Discovision Associates, with over 20 years of paralegal experience in litigation and IP law.
Deborah Lewis, M.B.A.	Deborah Lewis, M.B.A., ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate, twenty-nine years experience as a Corporate and Litigation Paralegal, currently with Bingham McCutchen LLP, previously with various corporate, and litigation firms locally.
Nicole Lucy, J.D.	Nicole Lucy, J.D., Attorney at Law, Member of the State Bar of California, Program Director-Community College Paralegal program.
Helen Morales, M.P.A.	Helen Morales, M.P.A., ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate, over 15 years experience as a paralegal in Bankruptcy Law in such firms as Weinstein, Eisen & Weiss LLP, Arthur Anderson, and Angel & Neistat.
Julie Sparks, J.D.	Julie Sparks, J.D., Licensed Attorney, State Bar of Texas, also a licensed teacher, in private practice as a specialist in immigration law.

 

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Music Programs

Orff Schulwerk

David N. Connors	David N. Connors, D.M.E., Program Coordinator, for Orff Schulwerk Certification Program is an Orff specialist and Professor of Music (music education) and Chair at Cal State L.A. He is Past-President of the Los Angeles Chapter of AOSA and has presented at several AOSA National Conferences.

Master of Music in Choral Conducting

Sebastien Vallee

Sebastien Vallee, Active conductor, scholar, clinician, and adjudicator, Dr. Sébastien Vallée is one of the nation's leading new figures in the world of choral music and has conducted over thirty ensembles in Canada and the United States. Dr. Vallée is Director of Choral Studies at Cal State, L.A. Visit Professor Vallee's home page for further information.

Donald Brinegar

Donald Brinegar, Co-Director of Three-Summer Master of Music Program is Professor of Music and Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Pasadena City College, visiting Professor of Choral Music at the University of Southern California and Adjunct Professor of Voice at Pomona College of the Claremont Colleges. He has performed extensively as a conductor and soloist in the United States and more than 20 countries. He directs the Donald Brinegar Singers, in Pasadena, which performed at Western Division and ACDA conventions, and recorded for Koch International, RCM, and Walton Record labels.

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Online Classes

Online Certificate in Business Management

Debra M. Balazs

Debra M. Balazs received her degree from Cleveland State University and has over 12 years of teaching experience.

William Belan

William Belan, Co-Director of Three-Summer Master of Music Program, serves as Professor and Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. He has also served as guest lecturer on the choral faculty of California State University, Long Beach and the National University of Costa Rica. Since 1987, Dr. Belan has directed the Roger Wagner Center for Choral Studies.Professor Stephen Pollard, Ph.D. received his Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in 1982. Dr. Pollard has been a Professor of Economics and Statistics at Cal State L.A. since 1982. He has extensive experience in banking and finance, project management and macroeconomic policy having worked with USAID, FAO, USDA, IFAD, and WOCCU in the following countries: Honduras, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, The Gambia, Poland, and South Africa. He has extensive experience in using the Internet and the Web in delivering curriculum.