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Social Sciences and Education welcomes new faculty

Meet CSUB’s latest faculty

By California State University, Bakersfield

September 1^st, 2020

This year the School of Social Sciences and Education (SSE) welcomes 12 new faculty members. Read below to learn more about each one.

Alejandra Barrera-Curiel

Alejandra Barrera-Curiel is a new assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology. She is from Mexico City and grew up surrounded by pyramids, delicious food, and weekly family gatherings. Barrera-Curiel came to the U.S. to study her master’s and stayed for her Ph.D at Oklahoma State University.

Regarding research, her long-term goal is to understand how motor control changes across the lifespan. She hopes to develop specific exercise training interventions to prevent falls and enhance quality of life of our senior citizens. She is very excited to be

Dr. Jonathan Basilio

Jonathan Leif Basilio is an alumnus of CSUB, who completed his Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. He will teach sociology at CSUB this fall. His research interests include intersections between migration studies, public policy, and moral and social frameworks and with a focus on Asian American experiences. A fun fact about Dr. Basilio is he used to play bass guitar in an amateur rock and roll band.

Dr. Heather Case

Dr. Heather Case is a professor in advanced education at CSUB this year.

Dr. Case said the state of California is in the process of updating the requirements for school counselor credentialing. Not only do the changes represent data-informed best practices, but they place students’ needs at the heart of the training process.

“While there are many universities and university systems in California that will be impacted by these changes, I was impressed with CSU’s ambitious goals related to eliminating the achievement gap that exits for historically underserved students,” said Dr. Case.

“And while my position is in the graduate school, my dissertation focused on the achievement gap that exists in post-secondary access for historically underserved students. I want to be a part of the progressive and engaged work the CSU is doing to address the needs of historically underserved students,” she added.

When searching for doctoral programs herself, she wanted one that would allow her to become a change agent, who is well-equipped to address problems facing the education system today. She chose an Ed.D. program in organizational change and leadership, as she wanted to develop strategies to address the systemic barriers for historically underserved students in attempts to access and post-secondary education.

“I have spent the last few years looking at this problem of practice from many different perspectives. I am incredibly excited to share my knowledge in this area with my students. I also look forward to modeling the skills I hope my students will develop and practice as they move into professional counselor roles,” she said.

As for what she hopes her students gain from the classes?

“I hope every student feels valued, heard, and celebrated for the strengths they bring to the program. I also hope they feel challenged to take risks and to grow as individuals and as counselors through the assignments and activities that we will tackle together.”

Dr. Adriana Cervantes-Gonzalez

Dr. Adriana Cervantes-Gonzalez is a professor in the Teacher Education Department this academic year.

“I wanted to work in a university setting and department that places emphasis on significance and belonging, supports our Dreamer students, is social justice oriented, and values the cultural and multilingual assets students bring to the table. Being a first-generation student from the Central Valley – I feel right at home at CSUB,” said Dr. Adriana Cervantes-Gonzalez.

Dr. Cervantes-Gonzalez enjoys learning about her students and their stories through teaching, noting that it is that foundation is what lays the groundwork for the courses throughout teacher education, from the rhetorical frameworks of education to the philosophical and practical elements.

“Seeing the connections students make between their ways of being and knowing and how their identities and lived experiences intersect with the art of teaching is an amazing journey to be a part of,” she added.

Dr. Cervantes-Gonzalez hopes that students will realize the value of implementing evidence-based practices to inform their work as teachers in curricular and pedagogical approaches, while teaching in ways that encourage them to be their authentic selves.

“I am excited to learn the stories of success and all the bright spots we have yet to discover about our students in this new academic year as they attend our virtual classrooms. Less the buildings and physical structures of our institutions, the stark reminder that it is the people who make up our educational institutions is a somber yet inspiring reminder of the importance of our work in education. I can’t wait for our students to discover their fullest potential, which they have yet to realize,” she said.

Dr. Tina Healy

Dr. Tina Healy, MSW, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist. From 2011 to 2018 she worked full-time in a locked inpatient psychiatric facility. Two years ago, she resigned as the program director to begin working in private practice doing psychological testing and assessment.

Dr. Healy wasn’t looking for a job when the opportunity to teach at CSUB arose in the social work department. She said she was “quite happy” doing two days a week private practice when two of her former professors, and people she considers her mentors reached out to see if she’d like to interview.

“I’ve been out of the MSW program for nine years and still believe in the profession and the work. I love passing on knowledge and skill to people who want to learn,” said Dr. Healy.

She hopes that her students understand they are getting more than a piece of paper when they graduate.

“They will solidify a love to advocate, provide support and help others,” she said.

Dr. Healy added that she has no doubt she will learn just as much as she will teach this year.

A fun fact about Dr. Healy is that she and her husband met playing on a co-ed baseball team and in 2015, we got married on a baseball diamond (his groomsmen wearing Giants jerseys and my bridesmaids wearing Dodger jerseys). They might be fans of rival teams, but have a great marriage, even during baseball season.

Dr. Matthew Kabel

Dr. Matthew Kabel has worked in education for over a decade. He began his career in education as an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter. Working as an ASL Interpreter allowed Matthew to work in both elementary and secondary education settings as well as general and special education classrooms. Being in these placements gave Matthew the opportunity to observe a wide variety of teachers in their roles and responsibilities.

This exposure was a catalyst for Matthew to later pursuing a special education credential and master’s in special education from CSUB. Matthew’s teaching experience includes Special Day Class (SDC) and Resource Specialist Program (RSP), including mainstreaming, inclusive and self-contained educational environments.

With a focus on data-driven decision making, Matthew helped write the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) grant in his district and subsequently lead the district in the California SUMS Initiative. Matthew is currently the President-Elect of the California Association of Resource and Special Educators Plus (CARSplus).

A fun fact about Matthew is that for 15 years he worked in the entertainment industry, where he hosted games shows, worked with celebrity performers, and was the master of ceremonies for thousands of events.

Dr. Jahyun Kim

Dr. Jahyun Kim earned his Ph.D. degree in exercise physiology from Iowa State University. Dr. Kim originally came from South Korea around 10 years ago to pursue his graduate degree. Through his training, he has engaged many cardiovascular physiology research projects using human and animal models and learned many essential things to conduct research independently.

Teaching in the Kinesiology Department, his current research agenda focuses on cardiovascular health improvement in special populations such as advanced age groups, cancer survivors, and cardiac rehabilitation groups using non-pharmaceutical interventions.

A fun fact about Dr. Kim is that he trained for Olympic weightlifting through junior high and high school in South Korea. At the time, his goal was to be an Olympian and was selected for a government supported special training camp.

“I was not good enough to move to the next level. After I quit the training I have not lifted much. But I am enjoying teaching lifting skills.”

Dr. Timothy Monreal

“Born in Madera, my folks still live there, it means so much to me to be part of a place and department that clearly values the strengths, assets, and possibilities of the very communities I grew up with/in. It’s an honor to be able to share in that work,” said Dr. Timothy Monreal.

Dr. Monreal will be joining the Teacher Education Department and said he was blown away during the interview process at the care and commitment toward students.

“I hope students will come to question why we accept some things as common sense and how even the best of intentions need to be examined and questioned. This constant reflection is necessary to problematize the underlying systems, structures and knowledge that produce inequity and injustice,” he said.

Dr. Monreal notes that his favorite part of teaching is getting to be around individuals who are committed to improving the lives of youth and community.

“What could be better than that?” he asked.

Dr. Juterh Nmah

Dr. Juterh Nmah, pronounced Ju-tay Ma, is an assistant professor in the Department of Advanced Educational Studies and also serves as a co-director of the Educational Counseling Program. His area of expertise includes school counseling, college and career readiness, college access and success and minority male achievement.

He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia State University, and a master’s degree in school counseling and Ph.D. in educational leadership and research from Louisiana State University.

“Geaux Tigers!” said Dr. Nmah. “I’m a huge sports fan and can’t wait to watch my favorite collegiate and professional sports teams compete again.”

Dr. Soeun Park

Dr. Soeun Park is excited to be an assistant professor of the M.S. in Counseling Psychology Program in the Department of Psychology. She earned her doctoral degree at the University of Iowa and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Park is teaching multicultural psychology for undergrad and courses about counseling theories and skills with diverse populations for graduate students.

“I enjoy teaching these classes as I can be who I am as a woman of color psychologist and share my clinical experiences. I strongly believe in integrating lived experiences into my classes,” said Dr. Park.

As a faculty member, she said her goal is to help students find who they are, amplify their voice and recognize their worth. She believes CSUB offers a lot of opportunities to work on this goal and cultivate her passion around social justice. Dr. Park also notes that those in the Department of Psychology were amazing during her interview. She can’t wait to meet more people at the university.

“As a researcher, therapist, and teacher, my interests focus on how sociocultural contexts impact one's mental health and work. My social justice orientation has cultivated my passion around intersecting identities, including immigrant youth and high ability learners with disabilities,” she said.

“I hope students develop their views about individuals, relationships and communities on a scientific base. I also hope they better understand about themselves. Whether they are going to be in a helping profession or not, I hope they continue to grow as a person who genuinely care about other people.”