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.