Introduction

I am an Associate Professor of Engineering with specialization in thermal and fluid sciences.  I have experience in both aerospace and energy industries.  I led a team of researchers who created one of the first fuel cell powered uninhabited air vehicles (UAV) at California State University, Los Angeles.  Our UAV named “Pterosoar”, because it looks like a Pterodactyl, broke a world record in the “goal to point and return” category for electric powered aircraft of 5 kg or less.  I co-authored five conference papers from the project before finishing my masters in mechanical engineering.

Education

• MS California State University, Los Angeles
• BS California State University, Los Angeles
• BA State University of New York (SUNY) Stony Brook
• AA Nassau Community College, Garden City Park, NY

Engineering Experience

I have a California professional engineering license, number M 34433, and have worked in the energy industry as a Heat Transfer engineer at a company called WorleyParsons (now Worley).  I worked on large oil refinery projects that focused on producing low sulfur fuels in El Segundo Chevron and Saudi Aramco Exxon Mobil refinery in Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, I conducted research at the University of Southern California on the effects of micro pulse lasers on retinal tissue during cataract surgery.

Currently, my work includes teaching engineering courses as well as developing curriculum and programs in engineering and engineering technology.  I specialize in issues of articulation and transfer of engineering students from the community college to university programs.  I am a member of the California Engineering Liaison Council (ELC) and am a C-ID engineering course curriculum reviewer for engineering courses.  I am also serving as a member of the Faculty Discipline Input Group (FDRG) for the Engineering Technology Model Curriculum and C-ID course descriptors.  As a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), I advise student groups for both organizations at Glendale College. I am currently assisting in the creation of a Society of Women Engineers (SWE) student group chapter at GCC.

Courses that I Teach at Glendale Community College

• ENGR 100 Introduction to Engineering
• ENGR 101 Basic Drafting and Engineering Design
• ENGR 122 Engineering Graphics
• ENGR 152 Engineering Mechanics - Statics
• ENGR 230 Dynamics
• ENGR 241 Strength of Materials
• ENGR 156 Programming and Problem Solving in MATLAB
• ENGR 111 Computer Aided Design, SOLIDWORKS
• ENGR 109 Computer Aided Design, AutoCAD
• ENGR 130 Introduction to Robotics
• ENGR 140 Materials Science and Engineering

University Courses Taught

• Technical Writing
• Computer Aided Calculations for Engineers
• Thermodynamics
• Aerodynamics
• Heat Transfer
• Thermal Systems, Strength of Materials, Fluid Mechanics, and Materials Science Laboratories
• Economics for Engineers

Engineering Education Philosophy

Increasing access and participation in engineering for underrepresented students is a central focus of my work at GCC.  The inclusion of social justice, equity and environmental sustainability into engineering education is essential to improving opportunities in engineering for all students at Glendale Community College.

Hobbies

In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, gardening, and reading science fiction.