Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), a Maricopa Community College, has hired three new faculty members who will begin teaching classes this fall. The college’s enrollment has seen a significant increase this year, and these new faculty members will support the college’s growth as well as continuing the college’s focus on student learning and success.
“Residents of the West Valley deserve the best from their local college, EMCC,” said Dr. Bryan Tippett, EMCC vice president of academic affairs. “The three new permanent faculty members will help prepare students who are seeking a liberal arts education, or one that will prepare them to go directly into the workforce. We are very excited to bring new scholarship to the West Valley.”
Estrella Mountain’s new faculty hires for 2009 are as follows:
-Ernest Chavez, Mathematics Faculty, holds a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education Mathematics from Arizona State University, and a Master of Education in Math Education from Northern Arizona University. In his ten years of community college teaching experience, Chavez has taught at both Gateway Community College and Chandler-Gilbert Community College. He has been an active member of each campus, participating in several campus committees as well as serving as faculty advisor for Phi Theta Kappa, a community college honor society.
-Holly Dison, Mathematics Faculty, holds a Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics from the University of New Mexico, and a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington. Dison has taught mathematics at a variety of higher education institutions including Arizona State University, Scottsdale Community College and most recently at Estrella Mountain Community College for the past year as a “one year only” faculty member. She has been a collaborative addition to the college, as she has been working with other faculty members to develop new curriculum for intermediate algebra.
-Shannon Manuelito, Biology Faculty, holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with a minor in Environmental Management, as well as a Master of Science in Biology, both from New Mexico State University. Manuelito has worked at Estrella Mountain Community College during the past year as a “one year only” faculty member and has been hired as a full-time residential faculty member this year. She has taught several courses in biology and chemistry and has participated in a number of campus activities including the Maricopa Community College District Student Conference, where she led an electronics recycling drive.
To arrange interviews or photo opportunities with the new residential faculty, please contact Carissa Pool at 623-935-8054.