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Welcome New Faculty!

Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 New Faculty Cohort

Join us in welcoming the following faculty to the Hornet Community!

Group Photo

New College of Arts & Letters Faculty

Prof. Shalini Agrawal, Design Department.

Shalini Agrawal is an Assistant Professor in Interior Architecture. Trained in architecture, she facilitates multidisciplinary workshops between participants of all ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic statuses in community-engaged design. She has developed equity-centered trainings as founder/principal of Public Design for Equity, and Co-Director of Open Architecture Collaborative. She has taught at California College of the Arts in Critical Ethnic Studies and Interdisciplinary Studios, and was a Spatial Justice Fellow at University of Oregon, School of Architecture. Shalini received the AIASF Community Alliance Award in Education, and the Interior Design Education Council's award for Community Service. She is core organizer for Dark Matter U, and holds a Master of Architecture from University of Illinois at Chicago.

Prof. Hebatalla Nazmy, Design Department.

Hebatalla Nazmy received her Ph.D. in Planning, Design, and Construction with a concentration on Environmental Design from Michigan State University. Her research focuses on occupant-building interaction. She is specifically interested in studying energy-related occupant behaviors. Her research aims to enhance the buildings' energy performance without compromising the occupants' health, comfort, and well-being. She became a LEED-accredited professional for Building Design and Construction. Hebatalla received her master's and bachelor's degrees in Interior Architecture from the College of Fine Arts in Egypt and obtained a diploma in Computer Graphics for Media Production. She has over a decade of teaching experience and became involved in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

New College of Business Faculty

Prof. Yu Jiang, Information Systems and Business Analytics Department.

Hello, I am an Assistant Professor of Decision Sciences in the Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics at the College of Business, California State University, Sacramento. My research interests lie at the intersection of operations, marketing, and information systems, emphasizing understanding how firms can operate more effectively and responsibly in a rapidly evolving business environment. Before joining CSU Sacramento, I have earned my Ph.D. in business analytics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2025, MS in statistics from North Carolina State University in 2021, MS in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 2018, and BS in coastal engineering from Harbin Engineering University in 2016. Out of academia, I enjoy reading, cooking, and playing with my furry boy, Nicolas.

Prof. Kevin Gao, Management Information Systems Department.

I am a new faculty in the IS & Biz Analytics Department with an AI focus.

New College of Education Faculty

Prof. Md Mazadded Hossen, Counseling Department.

Md Mozadded Hossen is an assistant professor of rehabilitation counseling at California State University, Sacramento, with a Ph.D. in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley and an M.Ed. in clinical mental health counseling from Lamar University. Previously, Dr. Hossen served as an assistant professor of counseling at Kentucky State University. He has held various academic positions, including thesis committee chair, advisor for student organization, graduate advisor, counseling supervisor, counseling intern, and peer mentor. Hossen has also worked as a case manager for the Qatar-Harvey Scholarship Program at Lamar University.

New Health & Human Services Faculty

Prof. Alexandra Grandjean, Nursing Department.

I am a new Associate Professor of Pediatric Nursing in the School of Nursing. After teaching part-time in the School of Nursing for the last 3 years I am excited to transition to a full-time faculty position. Originally from the Midwest, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati. From there, I worked in adult and pediatric critical care units in Chicago, San Francisco, and Sacramento, specializing in trauma and neurosciences. I completed a Master of Science in Nursing from Sacramento State in 2023 and appreciated the opportunity to work as a lecturer during the program. I live in Davis with my husband, 3 young kids, dog, and chickens. I enjoy camping, crafting, and cooking.

Prof. Doria Thiele, Nursing Department.

I have been in nursing education since 2008 and have taught across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. My research interests revolve around creating trauma informed and inclusive environments for students. Improving student experiences and teaching excellence are my passions!

New College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics

Prof. Mackenzie Anderson, Chemistry Department.

New College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty

Professor Yajaira Núñez-Cortés, Anthropology Department.

Yajaira is an upcoming assistant professor in the Anthropology Department. She received her PhD and MA from the University at Albany, SUNY, and her Licenciatura and BA at Universidad de Costa Rica. Her research focuses on the archeology of southern Central America, the development of social complexity, economic inequality, and human diet and mobility in the past. She is a first-generation college graduate, and she is originally from Costa Rica. She loves sunsets at the beach, hiking, cooking, and reading.

Professor Jorge Lumbreras, Psychology Department.

I'm a first-generation Mexican-American who specializes in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. My current research focus is on first-generation professionals, social identity management (i.e., code-switching), and the Latine worker experience.

Prof. Saahir Shafi, Public Policy & Administration Department.