Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), a Maricopa Community College, welcomes eight new faculty members starting this fall semester, bringing extensive and varied backgrounds in the areas of nursing, psychology, counseling, English, reading, computer science and mathematics. These new faculty will support the college’s continued enrollment growth as well as continuing to expand the opportunities for student-centered learning and success in educational advancement and career development.
“Fall semester is always an exciting time on the campus,” say Dr. Bryan Tippett, EMCC vice president of academic affairs. “Not only do we have new students, but we have new faculty joining our family to help energize the students’ learning experience! We have such motivated and committed faculty/staff here at EMCC, and it is evidenced by our enrollment growth and fall opening of the new Buckeye Educational Center. And, as EMCC begins the celebration of our 20th year anniversary, we are now seeing some of our alumni returning as professional presenters and faculty. We are so proud to be a part of the communities we serve and to our students’ success.”
Estrella Mountain’s new faculty hires for the 2011-2012 academic year are as follows:
Erika Aguirre, Nursing, holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Nursing from University of New Mexico, Las Cruces. Aguirre is a practitioner, clinician and educator; a Registered Nurse and Certified Clinical Specialist in Adult Health, and instructs students in the classroom as well as managing clinical rotations for applied learning.
Anastasia Amabisca, English, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from Arizona State University (ASU), a Master of Arts degree in Education from Stanford University and a Doctorate in Education from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Amabisca’s focus is on bilingual education, being credited for numerous national scholarly publications and presentations while finding time for community service and leadership.
Shireen Berg, Nursing, holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Nursing from ASU, is a Registered Nurse and a Certified Nurse Practitioner licensed in Arizona, California and Colorado. Berg is dedicated to patient care, staff development, utilization management and patient/family advocacy, and proficient in effective staff supervision, the diagnostics and management of diabetes, and emergency room management.
Jan Binder, Psychology, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix, a Master of Education in Human Relations and Master of Arts in Counseling from Northern Arizona University (NAU) and is currently working on a doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Walden University. Binder has extensive experience and service in the areas of mediation, adult probation and domestic conciliation.
Laura Fry, Sociology, holds a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism, Master of Education in Counseling, Graduate Certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies and a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from NAU. Fry has extensive experience in education and teaching at the college level and devotes time for continued research, professional development and engagement in the areas gender, diversity and workplace effectiveness.
Eugene Holloway, Counseling, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts in School Guidance Counseling from Ottawa University. Holloway has also taught at Glendale Community College and Phoenix College, served as a K-12 guidance/counselor and a recovery services director in the greater Phoenix area.
Steven Peist, Reading, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education from State University of New York, Albany, a Master of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing from Queens College, New York, doctorate studies in Instructional Leadership from St. Johns University, with extensive doctoral work in English Education and Curriculum Development in Higher Education from New York University and graduate work in Reading Methodology from University of Phoenix. In addition to college instruction, Peist has grades 6-12 teaching experience in diverse and at-risk educational environments, while finding time for professional service and writing poetry.
Meha Trivedi, Computer Science/CIS, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from Maharishi International University and a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from California State University, Long Beach. Trivedi has a strong instructional background in database design, configuration, development and installation, as well as in private sector consulting.
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