Prof. Amari Pollard, Communication Studies Department.

My name is Amari Pollard, and I’m a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Multimedia Journalism. Before launching Amari Dawn Creative in 2023, I worked for media organizations such as the New York Times’s Wirecutter, The Week, and Syracuse.com. When I’m not busy working with clients, I’m writing. My work has appeared in NYMI SOJO, Inside Lacrosse, MindbodyGreen, VeryWell, and more. Formerly, I co-hosted ESPN’s Sound On with Tari & Amari, Athletes Unlimited’s Draft Off with Tari & Amari, and the independent podcast Sufficiently Black. I studied journalism at Le Moyne College and earned my M.A. in media and communication from UNC Hussman. Becoming a teacher wasn’t a part of my plans, but I jumped at the chance to teach a Communication Ethics course at my alma mater and quickly fell in love with teaching and working with students.

Prof. Jake Hoskins, Marketing & Supply Chain Management Department.

Jake D. Hoskins, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at California State University, Sacramento. Jake received his PhD in Marketing from the University of Utah. His industry experience includes Retail Management (Walgreens) and Financial Services (UBS Financial; Umpqua Bank), where he most recently worked as a Data Scientist. His academic research utilizes rigorous econometric modeling techniques on Big Data to empirically address managerially relevant questions in the topical domains of product management and retailing. Publications from these research efforts have appeared in various outlets, including: Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Interactive Marketing, and Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science.

Prof. Juan José Bueno Holle, Teaching Credential Department.

I'm an Assistant Professor in the College of Education, Teaching Credentials Branch. I've been working as a Lecturer here since 2020 and have also been advising students through the Educational Equity Office as a Faculty Fellow. I hold an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the UNAM in Mexico City and a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Chicago. I am especially interested in multilingualism, language reclamation, and language justice, and have teaching experience at elementary, middle school, high school, and university levels. I work mainly with with pre-service teachers and bilingual teacher candidates. I was born in Mexico City and grew up in Los Angeles. I live with my partner and our 15 year-old daughter.

Prof. Addison Duane, Undergraduate Studies in Education Department.

My name is Addison Duane, and I am thrilled to be joining the College of Education as an Assistant Professor of Child & Adolescent Development. I conduct community-based research to investigate trauma in schools, with a particular emphasis on Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to center and amplify children’s brilliance. I earned my M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on Critical Pedagogy from University of Colorado, and my Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Wayne State University. I just completed a postdoctoral fellowship with UC Berkeley’s Innovations for Youth working with CalHOPE Student Support. I’m a Sacramento native, former Sacramento City Unified elementary teacher, and so grateful to be back in my hometown with my fiancé. In my free time, I love doing puzzles and going to comedy shows.

Prof. Mathew Espinosa-Castro, Teaching Department.

Dr. Mathew Espinosa-Castro (he/him/él), new hire to the Teaching Credentials Department Mathew grew up in Sacramento, attending Sac State before transferring to Vanderbilt University (B.S. Elementary Ed, Spanish, & Theater). He is a first-gen college grad from a multiracial family who spent 19 years working in K-12 education as an elementary and secondary teacher, instructional coach, and administrator, most recently serving as the Director for Equity at Berkeley Unified School District. His research focuses on language development and social justice education to decolonize pedagogies and policies for multilingual learners (M.A. in Second Language Teaching from Univ. of Hawaii @ Manoa; Ed.D. in Ed Leadership for Social Justice from SFSU). His personal interests include movies, art, dogs (especially basset hounds), travel, and beaches.

Prof. Kelly King, Graduate & Special Studies in Education Department.

Counselor in California and North Carolina. She loves teaching and supervising counselors in training. Special areas of interest include culturally responsive counseling (broaching skills, cultural immersion) and grief and loss experiences surrounding incarceration. As a counselor, Kelly has worked in a variety of settings: from group practices to university counseling centers, school-based settings, therapeutic communities, and crisis centers. Kelly enjoys being in the company of friends and family, cooking and sharing meals with others, and getting outside. Her family includes husband, Juan, and son, Mateo. Mucho gusto!

Prof. Abeer Abdel Khaleq, Computer Science Department.

My name is Abeer Khaleq, I hold a PhD degree in computer science and information systems from the University of Colorado Denver, and a Masters degree in foundations of advanced information technology from Imperial College, London. I am passionate about education and computer science in particular; I love sharing my knowledge with students and learning from them. I held multiple positions in academia for over 20 years. My research focuses on emergent technology, cloud computing, and data analytics with applications in the humanitarian domain. Outside teaching and research, I enjoy spending time with my family (my husband and three grown up children and their pets), and friends. I enjoy hiking, walking, nature and the outdoors. I appreciate art, and love to travel.

Prof. Mohammed Alsharqawi, Construction Management Department.

I was born and raised in the UAE, where I studied and worked in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. In 2014, I moved to Canada, gaining further experience in Quebec and Ontario. My education includes a Ph.D. from Concordia University, a Master of Engineering Management from the University of Wollongong, and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the American University of Sharjah. With over 14 years of experience in construction management, infrastructure planning and delivery, asset management, operational management, and academia, I am dedicated to advancing our cities and civilization. I am passionate about teaching, research, and mentoring students and young professionals. I see myself as an Empowered Educator, Research Collaborator, Digital Transformer, Municipal Leader, Lifelong Learner, and, above all, a Husband & Father.

Prof. Garima Bhandari, Mechanical Engineering Department.

I was born in the northern part of India, in the Himalayas, where nature instilled in me a love for adventure. I pursued a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in CAD/CAM, specializing in Robotics. My PhD, focused on soft robots and UAVs, included enriching exchanges at Kyungpook National University in South Korea and Queen’s University in Canada, leading to two patents. My husband, an Army veteran, and our son, Tenzin, are my world. I’m passionate about reading, travel, and exploring new cultures. Guided by the Bhagwat Gita’s wisdom, I focus on effort, not outcomes, embracing every challenge with balance.

Prof. Maria Jose Echeverria, Civil Engineering Department.

I'm Maria Jose, a proud first-generation college graduate from Ecuador. My early passion for mathematics earned me a National Gold Medal in the Ecuadorian Mathematical Olympiads. I pursued Civil Engineering at Escuela Politécnica Nacional and later obtained a Law degree from Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja. My academic journey led to dual PhDs in Engineering Sciences and Civil Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and the University of Colorado Boulder. I am dedicated to mentoring and advocating for women’s access to higher education. Outside of academia, I enjoy biking, hiking, and exploring the mountains.

Prof. Peng Kang, Computer Science Department.

My name is Peng Kang. I earned my Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Before that, I spent two years working in the industry, gaining valuable hands-on experience. My research interests focus on Cloud/Edge Computing and Machine Learning for Systems. I’m originally from Northwest China, a place defined by endless loess high slopes with no rivers or trees in sight. That’s why one of my favorite things about Sacramento is the American River—I love hopping on my bike and cruising along it. When I’m not deep into programming, you’ll likely find me on the tennis court, hiking up a mountain, taking road trips to explore national parks, or experimenting with Chinese cuisine in the kitchen.

Prof. Bonaventure Chidube Molokwu, Computer Science Department.

I hold both a PHD degree in Computer Science and a University Teaching Certificate from the University of Windsor and my Research Area resides within the domain of Artificial Intelligence with Research Specialization in Social Network Analysis. Professionally, I am a Certified Internet Professional with respect to Web Development; and I hold additional certifications in C++ programming, PHP 5 programming, JavaScript-JQuery Programming, HTML 4.0, etc. Also, I am currently enrolled with Professional Engineers Ontario.

Moreover, outside the confines of the classroom and academia, you will most likely find me in the company of my dearest family and friends. During my leisure time, on the one hand, if I am in the company of my friends and/or family members, I enjoy playing either Chess, Draughts, or Soccer with them; on the other hand, if I do not have company, I enjoy reflecting on how I can better contribute to making the world a better place for humanity.

Prof. Amy Wyman, Civil Engineering Department.

Amy Wyman is excited to be joining Sacramento State as a new assistant professor of transportation engineering. Amy is passionate about engineering a transportation system that provides all users with safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation options. She recently graduated with her PhD from Oregon State University, where she studied how vulnerable road users—like pedestrians and bicyclists—interact with automated vehicles and roadway infrastructure. Before that, Amy worked as a traffic engineer at a civil engineering consulting firm in Phoenix, Arizona. When she is not teaching or doing transportation-related things, Amy can be found exploring the outdoors, trying out new recipes, painting, and spending time with her partner and their cat, Bean.

Prof. Sarah Brown Blake, Nursing Department.

Sarah Brown Blake (she/her) is an Associate Professor in Community Health Nursing. She comes to Sacramento State from Chico State’s nursing program, and she is thrilled to be here. Sarah received her BSN from the University of San Francisco and her MS and PhD from UC Davis. Her professional nursing experience is grounded in community and public health practice, and her scholarly work focuses on environmental health, climate justice, and anti-racist pedagogy in nursing education. She lives in Davis with her family.

Prof. Abdullah Cihan, Criminal Justice Department.

Prof. Megan Ngo, Nursing Department.

I am a Sacramento native and “double alumna” of Sacramento State, having received both my Bachelor and Master of Nursing degrees here. I also recently completed my Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Pittsburgh as an Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. I enjoy staying active in the gym, learning new recipes, and reading when I have time (everything from fantasy & horror to memoirs & classical literature). I have an exceptionally large Siberian cat that sheds constantly. I am excited to bring my experience in critical care and quality improvement into my teaching!

Prof. Michael Francisco, Department of Public Health.

I am a new Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health here at Sacramento State University. Prior to my current appointment, I was a postdoctoral fellow in Geriatrics at the Utah Vascular Research Lab, which is part of both the Salt Lake City Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Prior to this, I completed my BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Human Physiology at the University of Oregon in 2020, 2016, and 2013, respectively. Go Ducks! Here at Sac State, my long-term research goal is to develop thermal therapy (e.g. heat acclimation) as a viable noninvasive therapeutic intervention for relevant patient populations (e.g. metabolic syndrome, heart failure, mTBI, and various neurodegenerative disorders). I am excited to get to work!

Prof. Varci Hansen, Nursing Department.

Varci Hansen, MSN, RN, FNP is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Sacramento State. Previous to this appointment, she worked as a credentialed school/district nurse in the Roseland School District in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg Unified School District. Varci's past experience includes working in the areas of family practice, adult/pediatric neurology, college-level student health and occupational health.

Prof. Christine Morse Fitch, Criminal Justice Department.

I strive to be a lifelong learner and traveler. I served in the Governor Davis Administration and for the California Legislative Committee on the Master Plan for Education. I’m a defense attorney, focused on clients suffering from poverty, drug addiction, and mental illness. In 2010, I co-founded the Ascend Program, Inc., a nonprofit that helps the criminal justice involved get on a positive life track and never return to crime. (My picture was taken on Aug. 20, 2024 in Paris, in the restaurant “Le Procope” that was founded in 1686 and became a gathering place for artists, writers, philosophers, and revolutionaries. Ben Franklin is said to have written elements of the future Constitution of the U.S. there. I mentioned this restaurant in my novel, “The Prancestor Project,” and my novel is now displayed there).

Dept. Chair Glen Stone, Social Work Department.

Prof. Sarah Allison, Head of Special Collections/University Archives.

Prof. Brenda Carrillo, Head of Collection Management.

Prof. Erik Haroldson, Geology Department.

I'll be joining the Geology department this Fall as an Assistant Professor. I grew up in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and after undergrad I bounced around the gold exploration industry in southwestern US, Mexico and Canada for 7 years. I then attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a MS and PhD. After a stint at a 2-year school I moved to and spent 6 years at a 4-year state school in Tennessee.

Prof. Jessie Loucks-Tavitas, Math Department.

Hello! I am an assistant professor in the Mathematics & Statistics Department. My research area is algebraic and multi-view geometry. I received my PhD from the University of Washington in June 2024 and my BA from Sacramento State in 2018. Outside of academia, I enjoy rock climbing, the NYT Crossword, and sewing. I also dream of becoming an espresso connoisseur—coffee shop recs are always welcome!

Dept. Chair & Professor Shane Nordyke, Public Policy and Administration Department.

I am the new chair of the Public Policy and Administration department. I earned my PhD in Public Policy from Indiana University and my BS in Aerospace Studies from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. I have just moved to Sacramento State after teaching for 16 years at the University of South Dakota where I was the Allene R. Chiesman Distinguished Professor of Democracy and the Director of the Chiesman Center for Democracy. I love teaching courses on Public Policy and Research Methods. My husband and I are both originally from Arizona and we have two kids and two dogs. In my free time I love to hike, read, and knit. I also love finding new local coffee shops and breweries.

Prof. Alfonso Aranda, Environmental Studies Department.

Prof. Sigride Asseko, Environmental Studies Department.

I am an assistant professor in the department of Environmental Studies at California State University, Sacramento. I am an environmental epidemiologist whose research focuses broadly on environmental health literacy, exposure assessment, and epidemiology with applications to air pollution. I love to collaborate as I believe that the most pressing environmental health issues must be addressed with interdisciplinary team science. I received a BS in environmental studies and a dual master’s degrees in public administration and global studies from the university of Oregon and a doctorate in environmental health from Oregon State University. During my free time away from work, I like to dance, sing, and hike with my family.

Prof. Vanessa Guzman, Ethnic Studies Department.

Vanessa is an incoming assistant professor in the Ethnic Studies Department. She received her PhD in American Studies from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She also received her M.A. in Cultural Studies from Claremont Graduate University and her B.A. in History and Chicana/o Studies from UCLA. Her research attends to crimmigration, or the convergence of the criminal legal system and immigration enforcement system. Her research interests include social and labor movements and the politics/ethics of care.

Prof. Melina Juarez, Ethnic Studies Department.

Prof. Alyssa Maples, Family & Consumer Sciences Department.

Alyssa is excited to join the Family Sciences and Human Development program in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. Her research centralizes around flourishing, mental health, and belonging among college students with an emphasis on social justice and inclusion through volunteerism and campus involvement. Alyssa received her PhD from the University of Minnesota in family social science with an emphasis on couple and family therapy. She was previously a faculty member working with clinical graduate students, and is a practicing therapist focusing on trauma, addiction, and ambiguous loss.

Prof. Yajaira Nunez-Cortes, Anthropology Department.

Prof. Erika Salinas, Ethnic Studies Department.

Erika Salinas joins the Department of Ethnic Studies as an Assistant Professor in the Native American Studies program. She is an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation and is also Kiowa. Salinas’ educational background includes a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) with a minor in Native American Studies from Sacramento State, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Her research interests include the implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act as well as behavioral health outcomes of Tribal youth. As a Sac State Alumna, Salinas is excited to return to campus- go Hornets!

Prof. Kehan Shen, Psychology Department.

Dr. Kehan Shen joins the Psychology Department as an Assistant Professor with a specialty in Counseling Psychology. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas and completed the clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. His research interest includes psychotherapy process and outcome, multicultural counseling, and psychosocial factors in chronic medical conditions. He has many years of clinical experiences at various university counseling centers and has provided a wide range of mental health services to a diverse clientele. In his spare time, he likes traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Prof. Joyhanna Yoo, Anthropology Department.

My name is Joyhanna “Joy” Yoo (she/they) and I’m a linguistic anthropologist of transnational Korean (popular) culture. My research examines the meanings generated by language as it pertains to race and gender, and my fieldwork has focused on the consumption of Korean genres in Mexico and the US. I also have research interests in Asian American racialization and linguistic appropriation in mediatized contexts, an area that remains somewhat undertheorized. As an alumnus of the CSU system, I’m most excited to work with the students at Sac State. On and off-campus, I am passionate about community- and world-building, especially as it pertains to anti-imperialist and decolonial work, and I look forward to connecting with people with similar interests and goals. I’m passionate about being an aunt, food/cooking, & organizing for a better world.