WCU-LA Faculty Listing
The faculty listing was updated June 1, 2014.
General Education
Miriam Kahan, PhD, MPH
Academic Dean
University of California, Los Angeles
Doctor of Philosophy in Education
M.S., Public Health
B.A., Sociology
Mork, Anita, MS
Associate Dean of Academics
University of California, Los Angeles
M.S., Kinesiology
B.S., Kinesiology
Pepper, Evan, PhD, MS
Chair, Science Department
University of Southern California
Doctor of Philosophy, Molecular Biology
M.S., Molecular Biology
California State University, Northridge
B.A., Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
B.A., Sociology
Bakhtiari, Shahram, MD
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
Tehran Azad University
Doctorate in Medicine
B.S., Biology
Biggerstaff, Gerald, MA
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
Oklahoma City University
M.A., Psychology / Teaching and Counseling
B.S., Psychology
Gamo, Joel, MD
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
University of the Philippines College of Medicine
Doctorate in Medicine
University of the Philippines
B.S., Zoology
Kim, Hong, MSM
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
California State University, Los Angeles
M.S., Mathematics
University of California, Los Angeles
B.S., Mathematics
White, Anthony, PhD
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
University of Southampton
Doctorate of Philosophy in Cardiovascular
Physiology and Pharmacology
B.S., Physiology and Pharmacology
Nursing (Undergraduate)
Bickley, Belinda, MSN, RN
Associate Dean of Nursing, Academics
California State University, Los Angeles
M.S., Nursing
B.S., Nursing
Francis, Judith,
Associate Dean, Nursing Administration
New York University
M.A., Counseling and Guidance
Baruch College
B.A., Psychology
Bekkendahl, Sharlynn, MN, RN
Instructor II, Full-Time
University of California, Los Angeles
M.S., Psychiatric Nursing and Community Mental Health
California State University, Los Angeles
B.S., Psychiatric Nursing
Cross, Melanie, MSN, RN
Instructor II, Full-Time
Mount Saint Mary’s College
M.S., Nursing
California State University, Los Angeles
B.S., Nursing
Mount Saint Mary’s College
A.S., Nursing
College of the Canyons
A.A., Humanities
DaCosta, Brenda, MSN, RN, FNP
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
University of Phoenix
M.S., Family Nurse Practitioner
B.S., Nursing
Compton College
A.S., Nursing
Duncan, Owena, MSN, RN
Instructor I, Adjunct
California State University, Dominguez Hills
M.S., Nursing
B.S., Health Science
Dyer, Christine, MSN-Ed, RN
Instructor II, Full-Time
California State University, Dominguez Hills
M.S., Nurse Educator Role
University of Dayton, Ohio
B.S., Elementary Education and Allied Prof
Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
A.S., Nursing
Esmail, Karima, MSN, RN, ANP
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
California State University, Los Angeles
M.S., Nursing – Adult Nurse Practitioner Specialty
B.S., Nursing
A.S., Nursing
Hartman, Elizabeth, MSN, RN
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
Columbia University School of Nursing, New York
M.S., Nursing
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland
B.S., Nursing
Jamalpanah, Saba, MSN-Ed., RN
Instructor II, Full-Time
Mount Saint Mary’s College
M.S., Nursing
Oklahoma State University
B.S., Nursing
B.S., Microbiology
Jocson, Michelle, MSN-Ed., RN
Instructor II, Full-Time
University of Phoenix
M.S., Nursing – Healthcare Education
Holy Names University, Oakland
B.S., Nursing
Glendale Community College
A.S., Nursing
Joy, Jeny, MSN-Ed, RN
Instructor I, Full-Time
University of Phoenix
M.S., Nursing Education
Panjab University
B.S., Nursing
Khan, Khadeer, MD, MSN-Ed., RN, FNP,
Associate Professor, Full-Time
Bangalore Medical College
Doctorate in Medicine
California State University, Dominguez Hills
M.S., Nursing – Nursing Educator & Family Nurse Practitioner
Minasyan, Zoya, MSN, RN
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
Mount Saint Mary’s College
M.S., Nursing
Yerevan State University
B.S., Nursing
Mount Saint Mary’s College
A.S., Nursing
Mirzayan, Garen, MSN, MHA, RN
Instructor I, Full-Time
University of Phoenix
M.S., Nursing
Master of Health Administration
B.S., Nursing
Nwagwu, Gloria, MSN, RN, NP, PHN
Instructor II, Full-Time Faculty
California State University, Dominguez Hills
M.S., Nursing
B.S., Nursing
University College Hospital
A.S., Nursing
Ogaldez, Victor, MBA, RN
Instructor I, Adjunct
University of Phoenix
Master of Business Administration
B.S., Nursing
Los Angeles Valley College
A.A., Nursing, RN
Los Angeles City College
A.A., Liberal Arts
Paysan-Modina, Michelle, MSN, RN, NP
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
California State University, Long Beach
M.S., Nursing
California State University, Los Angeles
B.S., Nursing
Long Beach City College
A.S., Registered Nursing
A.S., Vocational Nursing
Rarang, Sasha, MSN-Ed., RN, ONP
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
Mount Saint Mary’s College
M.S., Nursing
Lyceum Northwestern University, Dagupan City
B.S., Nursing
Roces, Barbara, MSN, RN, ONP
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
University of California, Los Angeles
M.S., Nursing – Nurse Practitioner
University of Southern California
B.S., Nursing
Schaffer, Jeanne, MSN, RN
Instructor II, Full-Time
University of California, Los Angeles
M.S., Nursing
Mount Saint Mary’s College
B.S., Nursing
Taylor, Lynette, MSN, RN
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
University of Phoenix
M.S., Nursing
B.S., Nursing
White, Kiiyonna, MSN, RN, PHN
Instructor II, Full-Time
University of California, Los Angeles
M.S., Nursing
University of Southern California
B.S., Health Promotion &
Disease Prevention Studies
Nursing (Graduate)
Lincoln, Barbara, EdD, MBA, MPH, MSN, RN
Assistant Dean, Post-Licensure Programs,
Full-Time
Pepperdine University
Master of Business Administration
Doctorate of Education in Organizational
Leadership
University of California, Los Angeles
M.S., Public Health
M.S., Nursing
B.S., Nursing
Goldman, Linda, DNE, MSN, BSN
Associate Professor, Full-Time
Western University of Health Sciences
Doctorate in Nursing Practice
California State University, Long Beach
M.S., Nursing
Mount Saint Mary’s College
B.S., Nursing
Occupational Therapy (MSOT)
Van Den Heever, Nicolaas, OTD, BOT, OTR/L
Dean / Program Director of Occupational Therapy
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Bachelor Occupational Therapy
Gale, Diane, MBA, OTR/L
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator / Assistant Professor
University of California, Irvine
M.A., Business Administration
Wayne State University
B.S., Occupational Therapy
McDonald, Ann PhD, MA, OTR/L, SWC
Associate Professor, Full-Time
University of Southern California
Ph.D., Occupational Science
M.A., Occupational Therapy
Arizona State University
B.A., Education
Murray, Erin, OTD
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
Creighton University
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Quinnipiac University
B.S., Occupational Therapy
Thomas, Heather, PhD, MA, OTR/L
Associate Professor, Full-Time
Trident University International
Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Sciences
University of Southern California
M.A., Occupational Therapy
California State University, Fullerton
B.S., Human Services
Health Administration (MHA)
Ako, Justin, DC
Chair of Health Administration
Southern California University of Health Science
Doctor of Chiropractic
Creighton University
B.S., Business Administration
Abrego, Joe, MHSA, Ed.D.
Instructor I, Adjunct
Alliant International University
Doctorate in Educational Leadership and
Management
Mount Saint Mary’s College
M.S., Health Services Administration
B.A., Management
Lugg, Marlene, MHSA, DHSR
Assistant Professor, Adjunct
University of Pittsburg
Doctorate in Health Services Research
M.S., Health Services Administration
University of Wisconsin
B.S., General Science
Macias, Ron, MHA, Ed.D.
Instructor I, Adjunct
Alliant International University
Doctorate in Technology and Learning
University of La Verne
M.S., Health Administration
B.S., Health Care Management
Okpala, Paul, MHACA, DHSc
Instructor II, Adjunct
A.T. Still University
Doctorate in Health Sciences
Bellevu University
M.S., Healthcare Administration
B.S., Healthcare Administration
Ashworth University
A.S., Healthcare Management
Reed, Alaisen, MHA, MBA, Ed.D.
Instructor II, Adjunct
University of Southern California
Doctor of Education
University of La Verne
Master of Business Administration
Master of Health Administration
B.S., Healthcare Management
Silberling, Rosanne, EdD, MN, BSN, RN
Adjunct
Pepperdine University
Doctor of Education in Institutional Management
University of California, Los Angeles
M.S., Nursing
Mount Saint Mary’s College
B.S., Nursing
Physical Therapy (DPT)
Hartgraves, Stan, PT, PhD
Dean / Program Director of Physical Therapy
University of Southern California
PhD., Physiology & Biophysics
M.S., Physiology
M.S., Systems Management
Southwest Texas State College
B.S., Biology
The University of Texas Medical Brach at
Galveston
B.S., Physical Therapy
Brown, Teressa, PT, DPT, OCS
Director of Clinical Education
Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy Program
Simmons College
Doctor of Physical Therapy
B.S., Health Studies
Newstead, Ann, PT, PhD, GCS, NCS, CEEAA
Academic Coordinator, Part-Time
University of Texas-Austin
Ph.D., Kinesiology
University of Alabama-Birmingham
M.S., Community Health: Physical Therapy
SUNY College Potsdam
B.A., Biology/Chemistry
Leal, Michael, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
Regis University
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Mount Saint Mary’s College
Master of Physical Therapy
California State University, Long Beach
B.A., Health Development
Pharmacy (PharmD)
Blanchard, Nicholas, PhD, M.Ed
Dean, School of Pharmacy
University of Washington
Doctor of Pharmacy
Campbell University
M.Ed. Science
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.S., Pharmacy
Chen, Geneva, PHRD
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
University of Houston
Doctor of Pharmacy
Ph.D., Pharmaceutics
Beijing Union University / Institution Tourism
B.S., Chemical Engineering
Chou, Tony, PhD
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
Western University of Health Sciences
Doctor of Pharmacy
University of California, Los Angeles
B.S., Chemistry
Farris, Fred, PhD
Associate Dean, Assessment and Educational Effectiveness, Full-Time
Purdue University
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry
Central State College
B.S., Chemistry
Gunaseelan, Simi, PhD
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
North-Eastern Hill University
Ph.D., Physical Organic Chemistry
M.S., Organic Chemistry
B.S., Chemistry
Harieg, Sherwit, PhD, MSPH
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Touro University
Doctor of Pharmacy
M.S., Public Health
University of California, San Diego
B.A., Psychology
B.S., Biology
Hsu, Shih Young, M.Phil
Assistant Professor, Full-Time
University of Wisconsin
Doctor of Philosophy in Social and Administrative Sciences in Pharmacy
University of Illinois at Chicago
M.S., Pharmacy
National Taiwan University
B.S, Pharmacy
Islam, Mohammed, PhD, M.Phil, M. Pharm
Associate Professor, Full-Time
Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University
Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences
M.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Dhaka
B.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences
Taheri, Reza, PhD, MBA
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs and Instructional Effectiveness, Full-Time
University of Minnesota
Doctor of Pharmacy
B.S., Pharmacy
B.A., Microbiology
University of Southern California
Master of Business Administration
Truong, Hoai An, DP, MPH
Chair, Department Pharmacy Practice, Full-Time
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Doctor of Pharmacy
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Master of Public Health
Yang, Jae Wook, PhD
Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice, Full-Time
Western University of Health Sciences
Doctor of Pharmacy
Seoul National University
M.S. Pharmacy
Sahmyook University
B.S., Pharmacy