Cal State LA proudly welcomes an exceptional group of new tenure-track professors.
Cal State LA's New Faculty - Fall 2023
Phung Xian Huynh, MFA
Art
Education
- BFA, Illustration, Art Center College of Design
- MFA, Studio Art, New York University
Research Interests
Southeast Asian Studies, Women and Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies, Social Justice, Restorative Justice, Repatriation of Art, and Refugee Critical Studies.
Final Project Title
Fortune Cookie Works
Hometown
Los Angeles, Ca
Matthew Gonzales, Ph.D.
English
Education
- B.A., Comparative World Literature (Cultural Studies emphasis), California State University, Long Beach
- Ph.D., Comparative Literature, University of California, Berkeley
Research Interests
Latinx Literature and Culture, Comparative Modernisms, Hemispheric-American Studies, Modern Poetry and Poetics, and Critical Theory.
Dissertation Title
Acción Poética: Poetic Art's Critiques of--and Alternatives to--an Americas of Conquest
Hometown
Chino, Ca
Mercedes Chavez, Ph.D.
Television, Film, and Media Studies
Education
- B.A., English, The Ohio State University
- M.A., Humanities, (Cinema concentration), University of Chicago
- Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Research Interests
Film Studies, transnational Latin American cinemas
Dissertation Title
Origin Stories: Transnational Cinemas and Slow Aesthetics at the Dawn of the Anthropocene
Hometown
Born in Albuquerque, NM (the homeland), but raised all over the southwest, west, and east coasts before settling in Columbus, OH
Nika Qjao, Ph.D.
Accounting
Education
- B.A., Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley
- M.S., Finance, University of Southern California
- Ph.D., Accounting, University of California, Berkeley
Research Interests
Financial Reporting
Dissertation Title
The Impact of R&D Classification Shifting in High-Technology Industries.
Hometown
Los Angeles, Ca
Anwesha Choudhury, Ph.D.
Management
Education
- B.Tech., Computer Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Silchar, India
- M.A., Human Resource Management and Labor Relations, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
- Ph.D., Leadership and Organizational Sciences, Binghamton University
Research Interests
Leadership, Teams, Social Networks
Dissertation Title
To share or not to share: How shared leadership impacts individual team members
Hometown
A small town called Silchar in North Eastern India
Sharmin Attaran, Ph.D.
Marketing
Education
- B.A., Economics, University of California, Los Angeles
- MBA, Marketing, California State University, Bakersfield
- Ph.D., Business Administration (Marketing), University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Interests
I research digital marketing, sustainability marketing, and the digital transformation process— to help businesses adapt and integrate digital technologies to enhance their operations, strategies, and customer experiences.
Hometown
Bakersfield, Ca
Muhammad Mollah, Ph.D.
Marketing
Education
- B.A., Business Administration, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
- MBA, Marketing, Western Michigan University
- Ph.D., Marketing and International Business, Saint Louis University
Research Interests
Principles Marketing, Marketing Research, and International /global business
Dissertation Title
Product Innovation, Marketing Alliances, and Firm Performance: Investigating the Effects of CEO Regulatory Focus and Individual and Structural Boundary Conditions
Hometown
Tangali
Serdar Yayla, Ph.D.
Marketing
Education
- B.A., Business Administration, Ege University
- MBA, Purdue University
- Ph.D., Marketing, Rutgers University
Research Interests
International Marketing, Sociocultural Marketing Online Word of Mouth
Dissertation Title
Two Essays On Consumer Consensus On Perceived Quality
Hometown
Kutahya, Turkey
Ramar Henderson, Ph.D.
Special Education and Counseling
Education
- B.A., Sociology, California State University, Sacramento
- M.A., Kinesiology, California State University, Long Beach
- Ph.D., Rehabilitation Counseling, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Research Interests
Multicultural Factors that impact the clinical relationship, Mentorship, Sport Psychology
Dissertation Title
Examining Cross-Racial Mentorship through the Lens of Graduate Student Human Service Professionals
Hometown
Carson, Ca
Denice Rios Mojica Ph.D.
Special Education and Counseling
Education
- B.A., Psychology, California State University, Northridge
- M.A., Psychology, emphasis on Behavioral Clinical Psychology, California State University, Northridge
- Ph.D., Behavior Analysis, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo
Research Interests
Culturally responsive mentorship practices, addressing microaggressions in the workplace, use of behavior analytic strategies via telehealth, and assessment and treatment of problem behavior
Dissertation Title
Assessment and treatment of elopement occasioned by transitions
Hometown
San Fernando Valley
Salvador Rojas, Ph.D.
Mechanical Engineering
Education
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
Research Interests
Robotics, Adaptive structures, Bioinspired materials
Dissertation Title
Multistable Bioinspired Origami with Reprogrammable Architectures for Actuation and Adaptive Materials
Hometown
Whittier, Ca
Maritza Sanchez, Ph.D.
Mechanical Engineering
Education
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
- M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego
- Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego
Research Interests
Ceramic materials for extreme environments
Dissertation Title
A Study on Faceted Particle Formation of Perocskites and Oxidation Behavior of Carbides
Hometown
Fontana, Ca
May Fu, Ph.D.
Asian and Asian American Studies
Education
- B.A., History and English, University of California, Los Angeles
- M.A., History University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- M.A., Ethnic Studies, University of California, San Diego
- Ph.D., Ethnic Studies, University of California, San Diego
Research Interests
Asian American social movements; women of color feminisms; comparative ethnic studies
Dissertation Title
Keeping Close to the Ground: Politics and Coalition in Asian American Community Organizing, 1969-1977
Hometown
Los Angeles, Ca
Jason Chiu, Ph.D.
Asian and Asian American Studies
Education
- B.A., History, California State University, Los Angeles
- M.A., History, California State University, Los Angeles
- Ed.D., Educational Leadership, California State University, Los Angeles
Research Interests
Faculty-student mentorship, cross-racial mentorship, mentorship pedagogy, ethnic studies curriculum, racial and working-class identity, and educational issues in minority-serving institutions.
Dissertation Title
Showing up for Students: Exploring an Emergent Asian/Asian American Mentorship Pedagogy at Minority Serving Institutions
Hometown
Taichung, Taiwan
Tarisi Vunidilo Ph.D.
Chicana(o) and Latina(o) Studies
Maritza Morales-Gracia, Ph.D.
Child and Family Studies
Education
- B.A., Child Development and Psychology, California State University, San Bernardino
- M.A., Developmental Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University
- Ph.D., Education (Human Development & Education Policy), University of California, Irvine
Research Interests
Community partnerships, policies, programs, and practices that support minoritized parents with young children living through financial hardship or poverty.
Dissertation Title
Pursuing Well-Being and Upward Mobility: College Parent Scholars’ Aspirations, Trajectories, and Outcomes
Hometown
Riverside Ca
Kimi Waite, Ph.D.
Child and Family Studies
Education
- B.A., Child and Family Studies, Portland State University
- M.A., Education, University of California, Los Angeles
- Ph.D., Sustainability Education, Prescott College
Research Interests
Critical Environmental Education; Critical History; Social Justice Education
Dissertation Title
Growing Roots of Resistance: Portraits of Environmental Science Agency
Hometown
Seattle, WA
Tanja Baum Low, Ph.D.
Nursing
Education
- B.S., Nursing, California State University, Fullerton
- M.S., Nursing, University of San Diego
- Ph.D., Nursing, University of San Diego
Research Interests
Critical Care, Palliative Care
Dissertation Title
Utilizing Clinical Decision Support Within the Electronic Health Record to Screen for Palliative Care
Hometown
Bamberg, Germany
Ronda Harden, DNP
Nursing
Education
- B.S., Nursing, California State University, Los Angeles
- M.S., Nursing Education, California State University, Los Angeles
- DNP, San José State University
Research Interests
Obstetrics
Dissertation Title
Pain Management after Cesarean Birth to Decrease Opioid Exposure
Hometown
Southern California
Colette Spencer, DNP
Nursing
Education
- B.S., Psychology, Leeds University, West Yorkshire, England
- B.S., Nursing, California State University, Dominguez Hills
- M.S., Nursing, California State University, Long Beach
- DNP, California State University, Fullerton (Consortium Program)
Research Interests
Sepsis
Dissertation Title
Use of the NEW TOOL to detect early sepsis
Hometown
Birmingham, England
Keirstin Uomoto, DNP
Nursing
Education
- B.S., Nursing, University of Southern California
- M.S., Nursing, Mount Saint Mary's University
- DNP, Mount Saint Mary's University
Research Interests
Depression, Older Adults, Primary care and Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Dissertation Title
Increasing Identification and Follow-up of Older Adult Depression in Primary Care
Hometown
Allentown, PA
Benjamin Vincent, Ph.D.
Biological Sciences
Education
- B.S., Biology and Neuroscience, Amherst College
- Ph.D., Genetics and Genomics, Harvard University
Research Interests
Developmental Genetics
Dissertation Title
Enhancer Function and Evolution in Drosophila Embryos
Hometown
Cleveland Heights, OH
J. Travis Shutz, Ph.D.
History
Education
- B.A., Philosophy, Northern Illinois University
- M.A. Chinese Studies, Valparaiso University
- M.A. History, University at Buffalo (SUNY)
- Ph.D., History, Binghamton University
Research Interests
History, Asian Studies, Chinese Studies
Dissertation Title
"Raising Tigers Courts Disaster:" Maritime Marauding and Violence Control in Sixteenth-Century Ming China
Hometown
Springfield, IL
Margaret Lazzarini, Ph.D.
Physics and Astronomy
Education
- B.S., Astronomy & Physics, Yale University
- M.A. Urban Education, Loyola Marymount University
- M.S. Astronomy, University of Washington
- Ph.D., Astronomy, University of Washington
Research Interests
The evolution of massive binary stars, particularly X-ray binaries
Dissertation Title
Accreting Compact Objects in Technicolor: Multiwavelength Characterization of High Mass X-ray Binaries in the Local Group
Hometown
San Marino, Ca
Emilie Royer, Ph.D.
Physics and Astronomy
Education
- B.S., Science of the Earth and the Universe, University of Brest, France
- M.S., Science of the Earth and the Universe, University of Nantes, France
- M.S., Planetary Science, Sorbonne University Pierre and Marie Curie, France
- Ph.D., Astronomy/Astrophysics, Sorbonne University Pierre and Marie Curie, France
Research Interests
Planetary Science, Astrophysics
Dissertation Title
Analysis of Ultraviolet Nitric Oxide (NO) airglow emissions observed in the upper atmosphere of Venus by the Venus Express spacecraft
Hometown
Morlaix, France (Brittany)
Jared Abbott, Ph.D.
Political Science
Education
- B.A., English Literature, Indiana University
- M.A. Liberal Studies, Indiana University
- Ph.D., Political Science, Harvard University
Research Interests
Participatory democracy, Latin American politics, social movements, political parties
Dissertation Title
The Paradox of Participatory Institutions
Hometown
Fairfax, Virginia
Dana Saifan, Ph.D.
Psychology
Education
- B.A., Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles
- M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles
Research Interests
Mental health in marginalized communities; Muslim American mental health; mental health equity
Dissertation Title
Determinants of mental health in the context of multiple minority status: An examination of Muslim American young adults
Hometown
Antioch, CA to Overland Park, KS to Westlake Village, CA
Zhe (Meredith) Zhang, Ph.D.
Sociology
Education
- B.A., Sociology, Susquehanna University
- M.A., Sociology, The Ohio State University
- Ph.D., Sociology, The Ohio State University
Research Interests
Health, Families, Gender & Sexuality, Aging & Life course. Longer version: I'm interested in studying how intergenerational and cross-generational relationships matter for health and well-being across the life course, especially for people who are subject to substantial family-related or identity-related stress, including women as well as sexual and gender minorities.
Dissertation Title
Midlife Parenthood and Well-being: How do Coresidence and Relationship Quality Matter?
Hometown
Antioch, CA to Overland Park, KS to Westlake Village, CA
Brigid Fennell, Ph.D.
University Library
Education
- B.A., History, Georgetown University
- MLIS, University of California, Los Angeles
- M.Ed, Educational/Instructional Media Design, University of Southern California
Research Interests
Information Literacy, Accessibility
Dissertation Title
Design Blueprint for a Course on Metacognitive Strategies in Information Literacy
Hometown
Media, Pennsylvania