Current Student Profiles - Leadership Studies Doctoral Program

Robyn Adams

Email: robyn-09@sandiego.edu

Michael Arnold has over 18 years of active duty service in the United States Army. Commissioned as a logistician, Mike has help several command positions and has had the privilege of serving in Europe, the Balkans, Asia, and the Middle East. In addition to traditional military roles, Mike had the opportunity to teach as an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point and is now the Professor of Military Science for the Army ROTC Program in San Diego. Mike is currently pursuing his PhD at USD in hopes of continuing in higher education after retirement from the military.

M.A., Military History, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
M.A., International Relations, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University
B.A., Psychology, La Salle University, Philadelphia

Email: michaelarnold@sandiego.edu

Fabiola Bagula

Email: bagula@sandiego.edu

Rich Bakken has a wide background in education and technology, and his work has included time as an adjunct professor in communications, and serving as a Director of Media Services. He also produced on-air at 620 WTMJ in Milwaukee for hosts including Bill Michaels and Mark Reardon, and was part of the broadcast team for the Green Bay Packers Radio Network. He became certified for on-air news anchor in his last year. Rich currently is Coordinator of Instructional Resources and Technology Systems at SDSU. He works closely in instructional technology development along with personnel management, and also oversees video conferencing, the campus closed circuit TV system, and faculty checkout counter. Rich has a passion for travel, and enjoys taking trips overseas whenever able. His research area of interest is Higher Education Administration.

M.A., Education, University of Phoenix
B.A., Music Education, Wisconsin Lutheran College

Email: rbakken-14@sandiego.edu

Abigail Berk

Email: aberk@sandiego.edu

Kathryn Bingham

MBA, Pepperdine University
B.S., Business Administration, Management, California State University, Bakersfield

Email: kbingham@sandiego.edu

Karen Briggs has over ten years of experience working in higher education administration. She spent seven years helping aspiring K-12 teachers obtain state certification before transitioning to the human resources field where she focuses on employee recruitment and professional development. She currently serves the University of San Diego as the Director of Employment and Training. Karen is actively involved with the College and University Professionals Association (CUPA-HR) and the American Society of Training and Development, serving on various committees and speaking at local and national conferences on topics centered around employee retention and development as well as human resource assessment systems. Karen is committed to furthering the field of education by researching effective strategies for retaining and developing faculty, administration and staff in K-12 and higher education.

M.Ed., Cross-Cultural Teaching, National University
B.A., History, U.C.L.A.

Email: karenbriggs@sandiego.edu

Christopher Brown

Email: cpbrown@sandiego.edu

Sarah Burnett

Email: srburnett@sandiego.edu

Julie Cantillon is originally from Boston, Mass, but has lived in San Diego since 2002 where she has enjoyed teaching fifth grade at Stella Maris Academy in La Jolla. Julie is also the technology coordinator at her site, and serves on several school committees. In addition, Julie teaches technology integration courses to teachers and is training to become a facilitator in the Schools Attuned program. Her research interests include teacher preparation, metacognition, and curriculum and instruction. Julie enjoys training for marathons, working on her classroom website and spending time with friends and family.

M.A., Teaching, 2002, Simmons College, Boston, MA
B.A., Psychology, 2000, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH

Email: jcantillon@sandiego.edu

Tom Cesarini is a research assistant at the school’s Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research. Tom has served as a longtime proponent of the culture and history of San Diego’s Italian community; in this role, he continues to preserve and promote Italian culture and heritage through research and education. In 2004, noting an absence of a singular point of reference for the local Italian community, he founded Convivio Society for Italian Humanities as well as its auxiliary, the Italian Historical Society of San Diego, with the express goal of establishing a local Italian cultural and historical institute to serve the community. Tom currently serves as the organization’s executive director.

Tom’s research interests include human development and human relations; group dynamics; moral elements of leadership; applied leadership in the nonprofit sector and in education; and the philosophical and psychological components of leadership theory. Within his Italian-community emphasis, Tom’s interests include the historical narrative of San Diego’s Italian immigrants, biculturalism and identity, and innovative, educational models for cultural and historical preservation and advancement.

M.A., Nonprofit Leadership and Management, University of San Diego
B.A., Communications, National University

Publications:
Quinney, K. M., & Cesarini, T. J. (2009). San Diego’s Fishing Industry.
San Francisco: Arcadia Publishing.
Quinney, K. M., & Cesarini, T. J. (2007). San Diego’s Little Italy.
San Francisco: Arcadia Publishing.

Email: tcesarini-08@sandiego.edu

Sam Chung is a doctoral candidate who is working on a dissertation about student virtual (technology-assisted) teamwork. Sam has more than 16 years of work experience in online learning, educational technology, and multimedia development. He has worked at Pomona College, UGA, UNLV, and National University, and is currently the Assistant Director for Distance Education at USD's Master of Science in Global Leadership program.

Sam's career goals are to gain more management and leadership experience at universities or corporations, either in the U.S. or overseas. While at Pomona College, Sam studied abroad in Zimbabwe and Germany. Before starting graduate school, Sam taught English in South Korea for a year. Sam grew up in the U.S., but also speaks Korean, German, some Spanish,and hopes to also learn Mandarin.

In his free time, Sam likes to socialize, cook, exercise, watch TV and movies, and learn more about business and leadership. To get connected with Sam, please visit:

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/samchung
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/samkchung

M.B.A., Marketing and Finance, 2005, UNLV
M.A., Internet Technology, 2002, UGA
M.Ed., Instructional Technology, 2001, UGA
B.A., German Studies, 1998, Pomona College

E-mail: schung@sandiego.edu

Julie Zoellin Cramer is currently working as a Research Associate for the Center for Education Policy and Law (CEPAL) at USD. Julie's research interests include K-12 public education reform and group relations.

M.A.,Leadership Studies, University of San Diego
B.S., Business Administration, University of California Berkeley

Email: jcramer-15@sandiego.edu

Cynthia Davalos began her career in higher education in 1998. After working at the University of San Diego in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, Cynthia began working for the University of California, Los Angeles in 2000. In 2005 she took her experiences working in outreach, admissions, student orgs, and alumni relations to UC San Diego where she currently serves as the Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor-Student Affairs. Cynthia is part of the Vice Chancellor's senior leadership team that works collectively on issues of outreach, yield, and retention. In her role she oversees Student Affairs campus and community relations, and special projects and initiatives directed by the Vice Chancellor. She is a member of the Student Affairs professional organizations, NASPA and ACPA. Her research interests include, access and diversity in higher education, university and community partnerships, and higher education leadership.

M.A., History, University of San Diego
B.A., History, UC Santa Barbara

Email: cdavalos@sandiego.edu

Travis Degheri

M.A., History, University of San Diego
B.A., English, University of San Diego
B.A., History, University of San Diego

Email: travis-09@sandiego.edu

Giovanni DeMeo comes to USD with more than a decade of experience creating innovative business strategies in the CPG industry where he developed an acumen for conceptualizing and implementing multi-functional, global business models that result in long-term growth and capital maximization. In addition, Giovanni has a proven track record of developing large and diverse groups into productive, high-functioning corporate leaders. Giovanni is pursuing his PhD research in Global Economic Leadership in an effort to allow him to not only positively impact his own corporate leadership model, and to position him to share that knowledge with other global industry leaders (through academia and/or corporate consultation). His current research interests include the applicability of western leadership theory in eastern cultures.

M.B.A., Clemson University
B.S., Business, Florida International University

Email: giovannidemeo@sandiego.edu

James Dobbs is a Major in the United States Air Force. His fourteen year military career includes deployments throughout South America and the Middle East in support of the War on Drugs, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Most recently he served as a Commander and Adjunct Professor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs where he taught Foundations of Leadership. Prior to his assignment at the Air Force Academy he was stationed at the Pentagon where he was responsible for articulating requirements, policy and program budget status for Air Force fighters, bombers, engines, and weapons systems. He is a 1995 graduate of the University of New Mexico and holds two master’s degrees with distinction from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Colorado. He resides in Coronado with his wife Alison and is the proud parent of three daughters.

M.S., Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
M.A., Counseling and Leadership, University of Colorado
B.A., Business Administration, University of New Mexico

Email: dobbsj@sandiego.edu

Crystal Dujowich is a graduate assistant in the Department of Leadership Studies, where she teaches in the undergraduate Leadership minor. Formerly, Crystal served as the SOLES Global Center graduate assistant, and service-learning coordinator for San Diego State University. She has traveled to 22 countries and organized over 100 community events. Her research interests span international education, service-learning, and the intersection of leadership and human development.

Originally from New York, Crystal has enjoyed all San Diego has to offer. She is an avid runner and has taken to surfing, biking, and rock climbing since moving to southern California.

M.A., Postsecondary Education Leadership, San Diego State University
B.S., Biology, Wagner College

Email: crystald@sandiego.edu

Nathaniel Dunigan is the Founder of Aidchild (www.aidchild.org), a largely self-sustained organization that cares for 3,000 children living with AIDS in Uganda, East Africa. He lived in rural Uganda for nine years before attending Harvard University where he completed a Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in Human Development and Psychology. He was also a Reynolds Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, and winner of the 2010 Harvard HDP Marshal Award. Nathaniel has testified before the United States Congress as an expert witness in the identification of best practices of care for orphans and vulnerable children in Africa. His love of cooking and of the arts led to the creation of several businesses under the Aidchild corporate label in Uganda. Aidchild’s Ten Tables restaurant was called the best in the nation by The Eye magazine, and Actress Emma Thompson called Aidchild’s Equation Café & Gallery, possibly the best shop on the planet. Before moving to Uganda, he served as Deputy Director of the Office of the Governor of Arizona. At SOLES, Nathaniel is the Dammeyer Fellow in Global Education Leadership in the SOLES Global Center. His research is driven by a firm belief that real social change can only be achieved through a better understanding of human development.

Ed.M., Human Development and Psychology, Harvard University Graduate School of Education
Reynolds Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School
B.A., Political Science and Spanish, University of Arizona

Email: dunigan@sandiego.edu

Roxanne Eisermann began the PhD program in 2008 and has lived in San Diego since 1997. Roxanne earned her B.A. at UCSD, where she organized with a collective of women to create the first UCSA sponsored Women of Color Conference. At UCSD she received was a “Campus and Community Involvement Award” recipient. She earned her M.S. at National University, receiving honors on her Master Thesis, “Restoring San Diego’s honor”, an in-depth review into the ethical violations of its city government sector.
 
Roxanne is currently serves as the Director of Instructional Services and Research Compliance at National University where she oversees curriculum development and review, programmatic strategic scheduling, academic services, and the Institutional Review Board. Roxanne is also a Core Adjunct Faculty in their Organizational Leadership program. Courses she has taught include Introduction to Leadership, Ethics and Decision Making in Leadership, Classic Studies of Leadership, Organizational Development, Team Building, Negotiation, Bargaining, and Conflict Resolution. She also designed the online course, Leading in Diverse Groups and Teams, a core class in the undergraduate organizational leadership program.
 
Roxanne has worked with the Jenna Druck Foundation’s Young Women’s Leadership Program, San Diego CHOICE Program, the San Diego Juvenile Court and Community School's Counseling Center and Polinsky Children's Center, building leadership and identity development with teens through mentorship and counseling.
 
Roxanne’s primary research interests include biculturalism and biracial identity development from a critical race theory perspective, group dynamics and organizational culture, and leadership inquiry and systems thinking.
 
M.S. Organizational Leadership, National University
B.A. History, Minor in Ethnic Studies, University of California - San Diego
LEAD Graduate, LEAD San Diego
Recipient of the San Diego Union Tribune “Emerging Leaders” Award
EQ-I Emotional Quotient Assessment Administrator, Multi-Health Systems

Email: roxannel-15@sandiego.edu

David Facer

Email: davidf-13@sandiego.edu

Ruben Fontes began his doctoral studies at USD in 2008. Born and raised in San Diego, he has operated an engineering and construction firm for the past 10 years in Tijuana, Mexico, working primarily in the industrial and commercial sectors and, more recently, with the United States Department of State in the construction of a new U.S. Consulate compound in Tijuana. He also co-founded an electrical contracting firm based in San Diego in 2005, which primarily operates in the commercial sector. His primary research interests include organizational design, business ethics, strategic management, and cross-cultural leadership. Of particular interest are the unique leadership challenges presented by increasingly diverse, multi-cultural workforces. He hopes to eventually specialize in organizational management consulting and join a university faculty teaching international business and business ethics courses. He resides in Bonita with his wife of 12 years (Anne) and two children, son Ruben (10) and daughter Anna (6). Any and all available free time is spent coaching and following the athletic careers of his children as well as remaining a faithful and loyal follower of his beloved Padres, Lakers and Chargers.

M.B.A., University of San Diego
B.A., English, Columbia University

Email: rfontes-13@sandiego.edu

Nicholas Franco

M.A., Women's Studies, San Diego State University
B.A., Women's Studies, California State University, Sacramento
B.A., Social Work, California State University, Sacramento

Email: franco@sandiego.edu

John Franey is a doctoral student in the K-12 School Leadership specialization. The native San Diegan spent his undergraduate years at Harvard University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Celtic Mythology and playing baseball for the Crimson. After graduation, he returned home to complete single subject teaching credentials in Physical Education, English, & Literature at San Diego State University. His work at SDSU earned him acceptance into the international educational honor society, Kappa Delta Pi. John received a Master’s degree in the Teaching, Learning, & Leadership Program at Cal State San Marcos where his dissertation on school district emergency preparedness coincided with his position as his district’s Coordinator of Emergency Preparedness. As coordinator he led the revamping of the district emergency preparedness process to be compliant with the federally mandated National Incident Management System. He earned his California Administrative Services Credential in 2007 and currently teaches Physical Education and Language Arts at the elementary school level.

B.A., Folklore & Mythology, Harvard University
M.A., Teaching, Learning, & Leadership, Cal State San Marcos

Email: jfraney-13@sandiego.edu

Kathleen Gallagher

Email: kgallagher-10@sandiego.edu

James Gonzales

Email: jgonzales-12@sandiego.edu

Maureen Guarcello is originally from Palm Springs, California, with a majority of her academic and professional career placing her within five miles of the nearest shoreline. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts at CSU, Long Beach with a communication studies major and marketing minor, Maureen went on to work in fundraising, marketing and operational capacities at CSU, Long Beach, University of Hawaii, Kaplan Inc., and UC San Diego. Her work experiences revealed a strong interest in the nonprofit sector and higher education, prompting Maureen to attain a Master of Arts degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. While earning her degree, Maureen witnessed and worked within higher education environments succumbing to deep budget cuts, furloughs and layoffs. The events prompted Maureen to continue her educational pursuit, turning her research interest entirely toward leadership studies and higher education, specifically the intersections between nontraditional universities, community colleges and the CSU and UC systems. When she is not at USD, Maureen spends time with her husband Rob and Boston terrier Ziti running, hiking, biking, camping, traveling, and enjoying time at home in Chula Vista. When she is at USD, you can find Maureen in the Leadership Studies Department as a Graduate Research Assistant, happy to be of assistance.

M.A., Nonprofit Leadership and Management, University of San Diego
B.A., Communication Studies, California State University, Long Beach

Email: mguarcello-10@sandiego.edu

Kacy Hayes

Email: khayes@sandiego.edu

Leslie Hennessy was born and raised in Montreal, Canada and immigrated to the United States following her undergraduate studies. Her professional career has involved diverse management positions in operations, information systems, and marketing. She has welcomed numerous international assignments in Asia and Europe, and is currently Vice President of New Business Development for an international manufacturing company. Leslie also serves as a cleared advisor for the U.S. Department of Commerce, and advises with the Industry Trade Advisory Committee 2 (Capital Goods and Autos) that works with U.S. negotiators on Free Trade Agreements. In the last decade her work with nonprofits (domestically and internationally) has been especially rewarding. She has been an active member of National Boards of Directors for three professional manufacturing associations, with an emphasis on strategic planning and business development. Most close to her heart, Leslie is a nine-time puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence, serves on the Southwest Regional Board, is a member of the National Board of Directors, and serves on the Fund Development Committee. Leslie envisions her future serving in the critical field of nonprofit leadership. During her doctoral studies at USD, she intends to study and research ethics, integrity, how leadership is impacted by conditioning and value systems, and critical life strategies for optimal leadership effectiveness.

M.A., Global Studies, University of Denver
M.B.A., Business, University of San Diego
B.A., English Literature, University of Colorado

Email: lesliehennessy@sandiego.edu

Melanie Hitchcock is a research assistant at the University of San Diego's Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research, and is also enrolled as a doctoral student in Leadership Studies at USD. Prior to coming to USD, Melanie completed a 20 year career in the United States Navy.

Email: melanie.hitchcock-11@sandiego.edu

Holly Hoffman

Email: hghoffman@sandiego.edu

Sean Horrigan serves as the Director of Student Conduct and Graduate Student Life at the University of San Diego. In this role he is interested in ways of promoting reflection, meaning-making, and values clarification with students who are struggling with the difficult choices and big questions presented by the college experience. He also co-teaches the Student Affairs seminar course in the M.A. Higher Education Leadership program. Additionally, Sean holds a position as a Core Adjunct Faculty in Organizational Leadership for National University where he teaches both online and onsite courses in leadership theory, group dynamics, and organizational change. This experience has helped develop a research interest in the ways in which leadership is taught and learned with a focus on pedagogies that are informed by group relations and Tavistock traditions. Sean’s other research interests include college student leadership development, future issues and professional orientation to Student Affairs practice, and the use of group relations in the leadership preparation of Student Affairs professionals.

M.A., Leadership Studies, University of San Diego
B.A., Education, University of Northern Iowa

Email: horrigan@sandiego.edu

Lamont A. Jackson has spent more than 20 years working in k-12 education, serving as a mentor, workshop presenter, educational consultant, teacher, site administrator, and district level administrator. In addition to his school site work, Lamont has facilitated learning as a presenter with California League of Middle School and has participated in the middle school reform work through the EDNA McConnell Clark Foundation.. Lamont also served as a keynote speaker for the NSDC conference in Washington DC in 2006.Mr. Jackson was featured on several national broadcasts including Making Schools Work and To The Contrary, for his efforts in improving student achievement through Professional Development. Lamont is in his tenth year as a secondary school administrator. Lamont would like to become a K-12 superintendent in order to support ALL students achieve at the highest level.

M.A., Leadership Studies, University of San Diego
Credential, Professional Administrative Services, University of San Diego
B.A., Sociology, San Diego State University

Email: lamontjackson-08@sandiego.edu

Jennifer Jones

Email: jjones@sandiego.edu

Michael Kelley is originally from Clarksburg, West Virginia . Upon graduation from Miami University, he entered into the United States Marine Corps where he served twenty years as a supply/logistics officer. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Mike went back to school and received an MBA. He has spent the past eight years working for the Marine Corps on business/process reform and redesign within their supply chain.

Mike currently lives in Vista with his wife Nora and kids (Shawn, Shannon and Jennifer).

M.B.A., California State University, San Marcos
B.S., Applied Science, Miami University

Email: mkelley-11@sandiego.edu

Leilah Kirkendoll is currently a Principal with the Juvenile Court and Community Schools. She has been in the position for over 8 years, and prior to that, a teacher with the system for over 7 years. Leilah is involved in the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and the Association of African American Educators (AAAE). She continues to be an advocate for underserved youth in the San Diego area and her area of emphasis is K-12 Public/Private Schools.

Email: leilahk@sandiego.edu

Megan Krone

Email: megan.krone@gmail.com

After earning his secondary English teaching certification at the University of Colorado-Boulder, Ron worked as a Language Arts teacher in Nederland, CO, coaching both girls’ and boys’ basketball and soccer. He is earning his PhD in Leadership with a focus in Literacy, and currently teaches 11th grade American Literature at Mission Bay High, mentoring young people in the classroom and on the basketball court. Besides his beloved high school students, Ron draws most of the inspiration in his doctoral study of Leadership from his Father, whom he calls his greatest teacher and friend.

M.Ed., Curriculum and Teaching, University of San Diego

Email: rlancia-12@sandiego.edu

Alexander Lehman

Email: alehman@sandiego.edu

Anna Leskinen

Email: aleskinen@sandiego.edu

Elaine Lewis

Email: elaine_lewis@sandiego.edu

Valerie Livesay is the graduate assistant in the Office of Admissions and Outreach for the School of Leadership and Education Sciences focusing on the use of social media to engage prospective SOLES graduate students. She is also a USD SOLES alumna, having earned her master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. Her particular research interest is in the ways in which human development impacts leader development. Prior to joining the SOLES family in a professional role, Valerie served as Director of Annual Giving and the President’s Club for the University of San Diego. Livesay began her career in the nonprofit arena as director of marketing for the American Heart Association (AHA) in San Diego, and later the director of corporate relations for the Western States Affiliate of the AHA. She transitioned to higher education fundraising heading up the Chancellor’s Associates leadership annual giving program at the University of California, San Diego before coming to USD in 2006. Valerie has sampled life across the U.S. with stints in Memphis, Indiana, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, and even spent a year in Australia. For more than a decade, San Diego has been home for Valerie who lives with her husband, Sonnie, son, Townsend, and their three cats.

M.A., Nonprofit Leadership and Management, University of San Diego
B.A., Telecommunications, Indiana University

Email: vlivesay@sandiego.edu

Michael Lovette-Colyer serves as the Director of University Ministry at the University of San Diego. In that role, he is most passionate about helping undergraduate students to ask the big questions regarding how they will live authentically, guided by a sense of vocation, while offering their gifts in service of the world. Prior to his two years at USD, Michael spent eight years working on behalf of Santa Clara University in the office of Campus Ministry and the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education. While at SCU, Michael directed the DISCOVER Project, a university-wide initiative funded by the Lily-Endowment designed to engage the university community in the theological exploration of vocation. For his dissertation, Michael is interested in researching the impact of community-based learning and immersion experiences on undergraduate students, as well as how those experiences communicate institutional values.

B.S., Business Administration, John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio
M.Div., Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, California
M.B.A., Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California

Email: mlovettecolyer@sandiego.edu

Jessica Luchesi

Email: jessicalu@sandiego.edu

Douglas Luffborough serves as the Executive Director of Turning the Hearts Center, a youth and family empowerment center serving the San Diego County communities. His academic areas of study include non-profit management, consulting, and teaching.

M.Ed., Administration, Planning, and Social Policy, Harvard University Graduate School of Education
B.A., Business Management and Human Resources Management, Northeastern University

Email: douglasluffborough@sandiego.edu

Jay Marquand

Email: jmarquand-08@sandiego.edu

Stuart B. Markey was born in Springfield, Massachusetts and served in the USN for 27 years retiring at the grade of Captain. Stu served in various positions ashore and afloat. He lives in Poway California with wife Linda and their two children Robert and Allyson. He is currently employed by the San Diego Unified School District as the Executive Director of the Capital Improvement Bond Program.

M.S., National Security Strategy, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
M.B.A., Adelphi University, Garden City New York
B.S., Economics, 1976, University of Massachusetts

Email: smarkey-11@sandiego.edu

Cynthia A. Martinez has ten years of experience working in higher education as a student affairs administrator and was also a part-time instructor at USC before she began her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at USD. Courses taught include the Politics of Difference, which explores strategies for restructuring institutions of higher education to improve student support and achievement among historically marginalized groups; and Theories of Career Development, which is an exploration into the theories, literature, and techniques in the field of career development and the impact of psychological, sociological, economic, and other variables on career decision-making.

Cynthia is currently the coordinator at the SOLES Global Center. As coordinator, she is responsible for assisting with the administration, outreach, and student services associated with the international education section of the SOLES Global Center. Her current research interests include Global Leadership and Intercultural Competency Models. She is involved in the International Leadership Association (ILA), National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the Association of International Educators (NAFSA).

M.Ed., Postsecondary Administration in Student Affairs, University of Southern California
B.A., Biology California State Polytechnic, Pomona

Email: cynthiam-11@sandiego.edu

Emily Marx is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Emily moved to San Diego in 2001. Emily has worked in Student Affairs at UCSD for the past 8 years. She spent four years in the area of co-curricular civic engagement and student organizations advising. One of her passions is facilitating student engagement in service and learning experiences. She has facilitated student involvement in 46 national and international Alternative Break trips, and has accompanied students on 11 AB trips around the world. Emily currently serves as the Director of the Center of Student Involvement at UCSD, which houses registered student organization advising, Greek life, community service initiatives, leadership development programs, and campus wide events. Her research interests include college student engagement, development, and satisfaction.

M.P.A., Public Affairs, University of Missouri, Columbia
B.A. Philosophy, University of Missouri, Columbia

Email: emarx-12@sandiego.edu

Cara grew up in San Diego and is elated to be moving back with her husband, Matt and their black pug, Dr. Pepper.

M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary
B.A., Sociology of Religion, University of California Santa Barbara

Email: miller@sandiego.edu

Tammy Moriarty

Email: tmoriarty-11@sandiego.edu

Robert Newson

Email: newsonr-10@sandiego.edu

Corey Pahanish is originally from Michigan but has lived in San Diego since 2001. He has over six years of experience working within the non-profit sector and social services. He has dedicated his professional career to advocating for and supporting the families of and individuals with developmental disabilities. Corey teaches a competency based course for direct support professionals working with individuals with disabilities in the Regional Occupation Program at the San Diego County Office of Education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, a paralegal certificate, and a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership Studies. He has also completed the Special Education Advocacy Certificate Program at USD. Corey is a current doctoral student in the Leadership Studies Program with an interest in non-profit management and spiritual leadership. In addition to teaching, Corey started his own business in special education and service advocacy for children with disabilities and works collaboratively with parents and educators to create the most appropriate educational plans for them and their children. Corey’s interest in special education comes from his personal experience in high school where he struggled academically, and graduated with a 1.4 GPA, due to lack of the support services he now advocates. Corey believes in student empowerment and access to appropriate services and supports for all children regardless of income.

Email: cpahanish-08@sandiego.edu

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Cyrus Parsa

Email: cyrusparsa-12@sandiego.edu

Fran Przechacki resided in Lawrenceville, NJ. the majority of his life. He moved to Philadelphia, PA. in 2000, and relocated to San Diego in September, 2005. His move to San Diego was the direct result of his acceptance into the School of Leadership and Educational Science, Ph.D. program. His program focus is Organizational Leadership and Consulting. His current research involves the use of Positive Psychology and Appreciative Inquiry in relationship with strengths based leadership performance. Fran is the past President and Chairman of the Board of an east coast manufacturing company. He is currently practicing in the field of Performance Consulting, specializing in leadership through behavioral change, identifying adaptive challenges, organizational interventions and the implementation of change initiatives.

M.S., Training and Organizational Development with a concentration in Organizational Psychology, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA.
B.A., Economics, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA.

Email: Francis-08@sandiego.edu

Vivian Quandt

Email: vivianquandt@sandiego.edu

Pressley Robinson Rankin, IV comes to us from North Carolina. He has lived in San Diego since 2003 and graduated from San Diego State with a Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. During his program he worked for the San Diego Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GSDBA) as the Operations Administrator. Pressley did two internships during his masters program, one at San Diego Hospice and the other at the San Diego State Clinic. He has a strong passion for relationships and group dynamics.

Pressley's undergraduate degree was in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. His writing helps him to express his creative side. He has written a novel which is in the editing process and he has published two academic papers in the field of counseling. His research interests involve the increased use of technology on university campuses and how that affects traditionally disenfranchised and underserved groups.

B.A., English, North Carolina State University
M.S., Marriage and Family Therapy, San Diego State University

Email: pressleyr-11@sandiego.edu

Patricia Rhodes is an author and speaker and has written six books on Christian spiritual formation. With a background in social research, her Master’s Thesis involved a quantitative study focusing on the sociological factors affecting the issue of plea bargaining as it pertained to detainees in the criminal justice system. She comes to SOLES with a desire to explore the relationship between personal spirituality and leadership effectiveness, particularly in nonprofit organizational structures. Tricia and her husband Joe, give pastoral oversight to a church in Rancho Penasquitos, a suburb of San Diego, where they have lived and ministered for 30 years.

M.S., Applied Social Research, Texas Christian University
B.A., Psychology, California Baptist University

Email: prhodes@sandiego.edu

Rachel Homel Rice has been teaching for SDUSD for the past eight years. Rachel currently teaches high school advanced placement English courses and is a leader of student mentorship programs on her campus. During the pursuit of her Master’s Degree from SDSU, Rachel discovered a need for change not only in instructional methods/curriculum, but also educational policy for a technologically driven generation. Rachel sets an example in the classroom by continuing her pursuit for higher education while placing an importance on the democratic process. She aspires to use her Ph.D. to write educational policy at the state and federal levels.

M.Ed., Secondary Curriculum and Instruction, San Diego State University
B.A., Theatre Arts, Whittier College
CLAD Single Subject Teaching Credential in English, Diego State University

Email: rrice-15@sandiego.edu

Taylor Peyton Roberts currently serves as a research assistant in The Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research. Prior to joining USD, Taylor worked as a Research Analyst for Sempra Energy (SDG&E) where she partnered with company leadership to progress selection initiatives and conduct surveys measuring departmental performance, employee satisfaction, internal communications, and reasons for turnover. Her research focuses on nonprofit effectiveness and organizational leadership. Taylor’s previous research includes papers and conference presentations on the following topics: work stress, organizational citizenship behavior, perceptions of diversity climate and discrimination, workplace ethnic composition, emotional labor, and emotional deviance of service employees. Taylor earned her M.S. degree in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology from San Diego State University (SDSU) in 2008. Throughout the course of the program, she gained experience applying job analysis techniques, designing selection and performance appraisal systems, constructing tests, analyzing organizational culture, and creating training programs. Other coursework involved program evaluation as well as advanced and multivariate statistics. As a teaching assistant at SDSU, Taylor led undergraduate students in data analysis classes. She serves on the Special Events committee of the SOLES Graduate Students Association and on the Junior Board of a networking program sponsored by After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles. Taylor remains involved with the local I/O Psychology networking group, San Diego I/O Professionals (SDIOP), where she was formerly elected to serve as SDIOP’s Secretary/Webmaster for the ’08-’09 term. Outside of the classroom, Taylor enjoys living in San Diego. You might find her hiking a mountain, relaxing in a coffee shop, playing volleyball on the beach . . . or trying to figure out how to do all of the above while reading a textbook.

M.S., Industrial/Organizational Psychology, San Diego State University
B.A., Psychology, California State University, Long Beach

Email: tpeyton@sandiego.edu

Karen Robinson is studying Higher Education Administration. Karen is originally from Walnut Creek, CA and currently resides in San Marcos with her husband Chris, her five year-old son, Owen, and assorted neurotic pets. Her Master’s thesis explored common law countries’ conflicting applications of automatism as a defense to violent crime. Karen has worked as a design engineer for the past eight years and currently interns as a Human Resources Analyst for Palomar College. A CCLDI Doctoral Fellow, Karen’s research interests focus on the strategic use of dissent as a leadership mechanism and conflict resolution in higher education administration, specifically within the community college setting.

B.A., Psychology, University of California at Davis
M.S., Criminal Justice, California State University, Sacramento
J.D., Civil Dispute Resolution, Santa Clara University School

Email: krobinson-09@sandiego.edu

Juan Roche

Email: juanroche@sandiego.edu

Nicki Schuessler is originally from Ontario, Canada and has also lived in Nova Scotia, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. before moving to California in 2003. Nicki currently serves as Director of Residential Life at the University of San Diego.

M.A., Counseling and Personnel Services with an emphasis in College Student Personnel, University of Maryland

B.S., Business Administration; minor in Sociology, Elizabethtown College

Email: nschuessler@sandiego.edu

Pete Sciabarra is a native of New York City, where he graduated from Xavier High School in Manhattan in 1976.  Pete is a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1981 and was accepted to the Doctoral  program in Leadership Studies in 2005, starting the program while still on active duty.
 
Designated a naval aviator in 1983, Pete amassed more than 3,300 military flight hours (primarily in helicopters).  From 1997-1999, he served as Commanding Officer of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Eleven at NAS North Island, the Navy’s largest helicopter squadron with more than 500 personnel and 23 aircraft.  His military career included service as Executive Officer of the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center in Point Loma (2002-2006) and Executive Officer of the U.S.S. Peleliu (2006-2008).  He retired from active duty as a Captain in the U.S. Navy on April 1, 2008 after 27 years of service.
 
Pete is currently the Vice President of Field Operations for Vistage International headquartered in Del Mar. Vistage is the Leading Chief Executive membership organization in the world with over 15,000 members in 16 countries. Pete is a level 3 USA Hockey certified Ice Hockey coach, and continues to play for the CHIEFS in the adult league at the San Diego Ice Arena.
 
 Pete is married and the father of two sons; Torey (1991) has autism and is a graduate of Scripps Ranch High School. Nick (1994) is at Cathedral  
 Catholic High School.  He lives with his wife, Carol and sons in Rancho Penasquitos.

B.S., Resources Management, U.S. Naval Academy
M.S., Global Leadership, University of San Diego

Email:  psciabarra-10@sandiego.edu

Ole-Kristian Setnes

Email: osetnes-09@sandiego.edu

Andria Shook

Email: ashook@sandiego.edu

Jeffery Simmons

Email: jsimmons@sandiego.edu

Lori J. Sipe worked at Sea World for more than 20 years, most recently as the director of business analysis and strategic planning, until she became one of the first instructors in the Hospitality and Tourism Management degree program at SDSU. Lori enjoys designing innovative curriculum, and she currently teaches service leadership development, strategy, and managerial accounting.

Lori has a passion for connecting business and education as evidenced by her recent work with Kaleidoscope, an innovative approach to service leadership development. Students in the Kaleidoscope leadership development workshop participate in team based business simulations that are observed by industry professionals. At the conclusion of two 6-hour simulations, participants receive one-on-one feedback regarding their leadership competencies. This unique approach has received attention from educators outside the United States, and Lori has traveled to three international conferences to present related research papers.

Lori plans to continue to research leadership development methods as well as exploring the role of leadership in innovation while pursuing her doctorate at USD. She enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her husband, Allen, and children, Lindsay and Tristan.

M.B.A., San Diego State University
B.A., Business Administration, USD

Email: lsipe-11@sandiego.edu

Steven Smith is a PhD student in Leadership Studies focusing on Organizational Leadership and Consulting. His professional career includes being a Leadership and Executive Development Specialist, a small business owner, and a division manager for a top 5 insurance company. He is also been an adjunct professor for over 12 years in both Organizational and Business Management programs and will continue teaching while earning his doctorate. He moved to California in 2002 from Lexington Kentucky and has lived both in San Diego and the Bay Area. His goal is to become a full time professor within an Organizational Leadership program.

M.B.A., Business Management, Xavier University in Cincinnati
B.B.A, Insurance Studies, Eastern Kentucky University
B.B.A., Finance, University of Kentucky

Email: stevensmith-13@sandiego.edu

Kedir Assefa Tessema

Email: tessemak@sandiego.edu

Denise Bethan Theunissen moved to San Diego from Burnaby, BC Canada in Fall 2008. She has been working as a minister within the United Church of Canada for the last 12 years. She is interested in how congregations moving from decline and 'survival' to being thriving communities who are changing the world for the better.

Bethan was born in South Africa, and shaped by opposition to the apartheid policies of the Nationalist government. She has worked and studied and sought to create communities of diversity and justice in 3 different countries.

I am excited to be part of a program that brings together students practitioners and scholars from many different disciplines to explore leadership and change together. I particularly like the openness to the spiritual, the opportunities to explore group dynamics, and the commitment to being both excellent scholars and practitioners.

B.A., Psychology and Theology, 1991 University of South Africa
M.Div., Congregational Ministry and Ethics in 1994, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries

Email: dbethant@sandiego.edu

Daniel Tillapaugh is currently a third-year doctoral student in the Higher Education Leadership program in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego. As an instructor in USD¹s leadership minor, Dan co-coordinates the campus's Emerging Leaders class as well as teaches various leadership minor core courses.

Most recently, Dan served as the assistant dean of student affairs at Sixth College, one of the undergraduate colleges at the University of California, San Diego. He has worked professionally within the field of student affairs administration for the past 10 years in various capacities, including residence life, student activities, multicultural affairs, and career services. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Dan earned his M.Ed. in Counseling and Personnel Services in the College Student Personnel program. He is also a proud alumni of Ithaca College where he graduated from the School of Music.  Active within ACPA (College Student Educators International), Dan has been extensively involved with the Commission for Student Involvement and the Standing Committee for LGBT Awareness. 

This past year, Dan served on the planning team for the Leadership Educators Institute, a national conference for higher education professionals working within leadership education. Dan also serves as secretary of the San Diego Armada Rugby Football Club's Board of Directors and is an active member of the team. His research interests include the intersections of masculinities and sexuality among college men, student development and leadership theory, and leadership as opportunities for meaning making for college students.

M.Ed., Counseling and Personnel Services, University of Maryland
Mus.B., Music with an Outside Field of Sociology, Ithaca College

Email: danieltillapaugh-15@sandiego.edu

Rafael Tovar y Lopez-Portillo is originally from Mexico, but has lived several years in Paris, London, Rome and San Diego. He attended the University of San Diego, from where he received his B.A. in Political Science and his M.A. in History. Rafael worked at the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana, in Mexico City, where he was in charge of the institutional relations of the university, creating links with other educational institutions and organizations. He has also worked for the Fundación Carmen Romano de López-Portillo, a non-profit organization, which promotes artistic and cultural activities such as concerts, publications, art exhibitions and scholarships.

B.A., Political Science, University of San Diego
M.A., History, University of San Diego

Email: rafaelt@sandiego.edu

Don Trinh is from Los Angeles and earned undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Theology at Saint John’s Seminary College in Camarillo, California. He obtained Bachelor’s (S.T.B), Licentiate (S.T.L.) and Master’s degrees (M.A., M.A.S.) in Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. His thesis was titled: Deacons and Diakonia: The Spirituality and Ministry of Service – A Critical Study of the Permanent Diaconate. Don has worked for the international student magazine of Leuven and was the billing manager of Myrient Inc., an internet-DSL company in Aliso Viejo, CA. He joined the University of San Diego and the SOLES Development Office in January 2006 and is currently the dean’s assistant at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace. Don began the Leadership Studies doctoral program in September 2007 and his interests include higher education, Catholic universities and administration, history of leadership, city government, urban planning, and public service.

B.A., Philosophy, Saint John's Seminary College
B.A., Theology, Saint John's Seminary College
MA., Religious Studies, Katholiek Universiteit Leuven
M.A.S., Theology and Religion, Katholiek Universiteit Leuven

Email: don@sandiego.edu

Darren Tune

Email: dtune@sandiego.edu

Denene Twyman-Soares

Email: danene-09@sandiego.edu

Mara Vicente is originally from Argentina but has lived and traveled all over the world. Her research interests include: spirituality and leadership; social constructivist learning; teaching methodologies; and international cooperation of learning. Mara has been in the classroom for the past few years as a high school teacher. In addition to Southern California, she has worked in non-profit organizations and taught in New Orleans, Italy, North Carolina, Spain, Delaware, Virginia and Kenya.

M.A., Education, Loyola University, Chapman University
B.A., College of William and Mary

Email: maravicente@sandiego.edu

Marianne Waldrop hails from the "Tarheel" State of North Carolina, but has been calling San Diego home since 1995. She retired as a Colonel from the United States Marine Corps with 24 years of service in 2011. While serving, she had the opportunity to live in northern Japan and has traveled extensively throughout Asia, the Middle East and Europe. She is passionate about leadership and plans to pursue a path to combine her interests in organizational theory and community service through this program. In her spare time, she loves to play golf.

M.S., Computer Science, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
B.A., Mathematics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Email: waldrop@sandiego.edu

Cecilia Wandiga is a self-described Responsibility and Empowerment Catalyst. Her professional career includes work in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors with industries as diverse as education, city government, real estate and small business development. An entrepreneur in her own right, Cecilia founded and owns www.GlobalEctropy.com. Her passion lies in using her skills to enable others to improve social and economic conditions for the less fortunate as well as contributing to our greater understanding and acceptance of each other as human beings. Cecilia maintains a personal blog at http://ceciliawandiga.wordpress.com/ and is a regular contributor for Sustainable Life Media http://www.sustainablelifemedia.com/about/contributors/ceciliawandiga. Her column is focused on successful sustainable business models from developing countries.

M.S., Public Policy & Management, Carnegie Mellon University
B.A., Political Science, University of Connecticut

Email: cwandiga@sandiego.edu

Hamse Warfa is a Senior Program Officer with Alliance Health Care Foundation, manages a portfolio of grants worth 12 million dollars, and provides technical assistance to grantees and prospective grantees. He is currently working towards his PhD in Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego. In 2008, Hamse completed an advanced graduate-certificate program on the Foundations of Conflict Analysis and Preventing World Deadly Conflicts at the United States Institute of Peace. Mr. Warfa was born in Somalia and moved with his family to the United States in 1994, after escaping Somalia's civil war, spending almost three years living in a refugee camp in Kenya.

He attended Crawford High School in San Diego, graduated from San Diego State with a degree in political science and obtained a Master of Science degree in Organizational Management and Leadership from Springfield College. Hamse spent eight years as Associate Executive Director for Horn of Africa, a refugee assistance organization whose mission is to provide culturally and linguistically relevant services to East African refugees and immigrants. He continues his affiliation with Horn of Africa region as a founding president of the Institute for Horn of Africa Studies and Affairs.

From 2006 to January 2010, Hamse was the chairperson for the San Diego Refugee Forum, a professional association of organizations and advocates serving all populations fleeing violence and persecution and taking refuge in San Diego. In 2009, San Diego Metropolitan Magazine selected Hamse as one 40 of San Diego's outstanding young business and civic leaders. This year, Hamse received San Diego's Channel 10 Leadership award.

M.S., Organizational Management and Leadership, Springfield College
B.A., Political Science, San Diego State University

Email: hamsew@sandiego.edu

Jessica Williams began her career in Higher Education as a work study student in the College of Communication and Information during her first year at the University of Tennessee. From there she served in the role as Resident Assistant at both UT and the University of West Georgia, and went on to become a Graduate Research Assistant, Coordinator of Curriculum and Training for a Federally Funded Suicide Prevention Grant Today Jessica is a Graduate Assistant at USD's Center of Inclusion and Diversity.

Jessica intends to continue working in Higher Education and towards increasing the recruitment and retention of minority student populations. She possesses a strong interest in researching identity development, arrested or otherwise, in minority students in college. She describes herself as having, " grown quite fond of helping the students with odds stacked against them". Her MA degree is in counseling and she loved working in the college counseling center, but now she is interested in the administrative side of student development and support.

While Jessica is very excited to be a temporary California girl, she was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. While she is in California she plans on learning to surf, doing qi'gong in Balboa park, and taking Hwy 1 up to San Francisco, in addition to finding all the music, art, and good (vegetarian) food in San Diego.

M.Ed., Professional Counseling, University of West Georgia
B.A.,Psychology, University of Tennessee

Email: jjwilliams@sandiego.edu

Alan Yu is a second-year PhD student in Leadership Studies at University of San Diego. His research interests are in creative leadership processes, arts-based and action learning education methodologies, and international policy. While at USD, Alan had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala to learn about nonprofit work in that country and also to Spain to learn about democratically organized enterprises operating under a participatory leadership model. He wants to return to Guatemala next year to do a small project on multi-cultural mental health counseling. Alan is currently working as an innovation intern at the Center for Creative Leadership while also acting as Operations Director for the SOLES Community College Leadership Academy and is part of the production team responsible for the SOLES Action Research Conference. He hopes to eventually conduct research and teach in either an organizational consulting or an academic research setting.

Prior to his studies at USD, Alan spent nine years living in Seattle and working in the hi-tech industries as a graphic designer and information architect for major corporations such as T-Mobile and AT&T. While living in Seattle, Alan enrolled in an outdoor leadership training course and became hooked on the subject matter of leadership. In addition to his degrees, Alan also holds certificates in Web Design and Flash Application Development from The University of Washington in Seattle.

In his spare time, Alan plays piano, spends time at the beach with his three dogs (a large Golden Retriever, a medium American Eskimo, and a small Pomeranian), and practices foreign languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese).

M.A., Asian Civilizations, University of Iowa
B.A., Asian Studies, University of Iowa

Email: alanjyu@sandiego.edu