College of Arts and Sciences Welcomes 15 New ‘Game-Changing” Faculty

Fifteen distinguished and diverse new tenure-track faculty members have joined the University of La Verne’s College of Arts and Sciences this fall, bringing bold ideas and fresh perspectives that will broadly redefine the college’s approach to teaching and research.

The new professors span 10 academic disciplines ranging from health science to theater, as well as  graduate and undergraduate programs. Two will fill prestigious endowed chair positions in biology.

“We have some real game-changers in this group,” said Lawrence Potter, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Each of them is engaged not only in their fields, but also in their communities. They are collaborative, they are pushing the boundaries of their disciplines, and they will prepare our students to succeed in the 21^st century.”

The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most diverse college at the university. It includes programs that encompass arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Both of the endowed chair positions are supported by The Fletcher Jones Foundation. Dr. David Bickford will serve as the Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair in Biology. Dr. Tatiana Tatarinova is the Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair in Computational Biology.

Tatarinova’s field of computational biology relies upon mathematics to describe and explain processes that occur inside of cells, which, she says, “has the potential to become the most important science of the century.” The professor, who comes to the University of La Verne from the University of Southern California (USC), has researched cancer and other diseases, as well as ancient DNA.

Bickford, most recently an assistant professor at National University of Singapore, is an evolutionary ecologist, a conservation biologist, and a tropical herpetologist. He has lived most of his adult life in tropical and developing countries, and among indigenous people.

“I think that these experiences enable me to bring a fresh perspective to many issues – both as a scientist and as a citizen,” he said.  “I would like to see society make science-based policies a main focus for meeting the challenges we face, such as climate change.”

The incoming professors are diverse in ethnicity and thought. Many are experienced in research grant writing and publication. Some hold patents for their discoveries. All view their work through creative and innovative lenses.

Dr. Elaine Padilla is an expert in liberation theology – a movement that rose initially in Latin America in the 1960s and 1970s. The discipline focuses on the plight of oppressed and marginalized people.

“It arose side by side with black liberation thought and has continued to carry its torch in dialog with it,” said Padilla, who comes from New York Theological Seminary. “Today, we can speak of multiple marginalizations that are being addressed as a result of the birth of liberation in theological education, religious studies, and communities of faith beyond Christianity as well.”

Dr. Karlita Warren, most recently an instructor, internship coordinator, and academic advisor at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC, will apply her expertise in minority success in athletic training toward boosting college enrollment, retention, and completion for first-generation and underrepresented students. She chose the University of La Verne, in part, because of its inclusive environment.

“What resonates most with me is the university’s commitment to excellence and its commitment to embracing and encouraging diversity, all while developing the whole person,” Warren said.

Additional professors starting at the College of Arts and Sciences this fall are:

• Nicolas Athey, assistant professor of sociology, criminology, and criminal justice, previously taught criminology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. He is researching the international smuggling of performance and image-enhancing drugs as well as medical cannabis use in Canada and the United Kingdom.
• Jane Beal, associate professor of English, has served as associate researcher in English and faculty member at UC Davis since 2014. She won the UC Davis Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Research Award for research and seminars on the mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien.
• Gilbert Benitez, assistant professor for the physician assistant program, also serves as a faculty member for Southern California University of Health Sciences and a physician assistant in urgent care and occupational medicine.
• James Garcia, assistant professor of psychology, has research and teaching interests in racial and ethnic health disparities, multicultural considerations in psychological science, and other areas. He previously served as associate faculty member for the Collin Community College District in Texas.
• Lindsey Hoffmann, assistant professor for the physician assistant program, also serves as a physician assistant for Glendora-based Woodglen Medical Group.
• Yesim Keskin, assistant professor of marriage and family therapy, is researching issues surrounding substance abuse and psychotherapy outcomes. The former Texas Tech University professor co-authored the peer-reviewed article “Painting all Muslims with a broad brush: The need for perspective, a larger frame, and a kinder heart,” published in 2016.
• Alma Martinez has been an artist-in-residence for the Theatre Arts Department since 2013 and is now associate professor of theatre. She has been a professional actor since 1978, appearing in films such as “Zoot Suit” and “Born in East LA.”
• Thomas Ontiveros, assistant professor of theatre, previously served as assistant professor of lighting design at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. He won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award in 2015 for best lighting design in the play “My Barking Dog” by the Boston Court Theatre.
• Ahmad Abu Shanab, assistant professor of information technology, most recently served as assistant professor of computer science at Emporia State University in Kansas. His research interests include data mining and machine learning, and cyber security and intrusion detection.
• Quinn Tang, assistant professor for the physician assistant program, previously served as an assistant professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences. He has been a state licensed physician assistant since 1999 and a licensed acupuncturist since 2003.
• Michael Warren, assistant professor of psychology, has presented on issues ranging from interpersonal relationships to adolescent behavior at conferences throughout the world. He most recently served as an adjunct faculty member in psychology at Cal State Fullerton.

Photo: From left, Tom Ontiveros, Jane Beal, Yesim Keskin, Gilbert Benitez, David Bickford, Alma Martinez, Tatiana Tatarinova, Michel Warren, Karlita Warren, Quinn Tang, Elaine Padilla, Lindsey Hoffmann, James Garcia, Ahmad Abu Shanab, and Nicholas Athey.