Â鶹AV

How long have you been at Â鶹AV? What drew you here? 

I started in August 2024, and before that I was at California State University, Dominguez Hills, working as the Associate Director of the Faculty Development Center and a Professor and Chair in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. And I was drawn to Â鶹AV because the job was a really good fit. I was interested in working on a macro level on equity and faculty hiring and on faculty retention.  

What are some of the issues you encounter with faculty retention?  

Here in Southern California, there’s a lot of competition—with private industry, especially—and the cost of living is very high, so there are salary pressures. But I find that a sense of belonging and feeling valued is why faculty stay at a particular institution. Faculty want friends and community. Sometimes people don’t realize how important positive interpersonal relationships are. If you don’t have these connections, work can be a very lonely place. This is why creating opportunities for connection and building community is essential for faculty retention.  

What are your plans to foster that sense of connection here at Â鶹AV?  

I was previously at a very small campus, and I knew most of my colleagues. Here, it’s different but I think it benefits faculty to meet people from other colleges on campus. Â鶹AV is a much larger campus! I think it is important to meet people outside of one’s department and college. So, my first event was a 3 x 2 (three minutes-two slides) held in October. It was an opportunity for mid-career faculty to present new research in a friendly environment, make connections with other faculty, and consider how they can work collaboratively.  

What are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of?  

At CSUDH I oversaw a degree completion program for working adults that was one of my most gratifying experiences as a faculty member. It was a significant component of my work for more than a decade. To help folks to reinvent themselves and pursue their college degree, no matter how old they are was a great privilege.  I have also had the good fortune to mentor and support students to pursue graduate school.