University Achievement Awards
We are proud of the accomplishments of ALL our 2026 University Achievement Award recipients.
Dr. Panadda (Nim) Marayong, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Dr. Panadda (Nim) Marayong joined the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at California State University, Long Beach (黑料网) in 2007 and was promoted to Full Professor in 2018. Alongside her distinguished achievements in teaching and research, her exceptional leadership and service in major campus-wide initiatives have made a lasting impact on the university.
Dr. Marayong earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, with Highest Honors, from the Florida Institute of Technology, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Her research focuses on robotics, haptics, and the design of human鈥搈achine cooperative systems. At 黑料网, she directs the Robotics and Interactive Systems Engineering (RISE) Laboratory and co-directs the BeachCAVE virtual reality laboratory, advancing innovative, interdisciplinary research and student engagement.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Marayong has made a meaningful impact on students through her mentorship and integrative teaching. She has secured over $25 million in external funding as a PI/Co-PI from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and NASA. From 2019 to 2025, she served as a PI of the NIH-funded 黑料网 BUILD II Initiative and as Director of its Research Enrichment Core, where she helped institutionalize undergraduate research programs that expanded student access to high-impact research opportunities.
Beyond her scholarly work, Dr. Marayong leads outreach initiatives that promote STEM education among K鈥12 students, including the Society of Women Engineers鈥 Women Engineers @ the Beach Day and Engineering Girls @ the Beach Day. She is also actively engaged in professional and campus communities, with leadership roles including Chair of the Engineering Faculty Council and Chair of the American Society for Engineering Education Pacific Southwest Section. She currently serves as Associate Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Dr. Marayong鈥檚 achievements and sustained commitment to excellence in teaching, research, service, and leadership truly embodies the spirit of the Outstanding Professor Award.
Submitted by Jalal Torabzadeh.
Dr. Claudia Ojeda-Aristizabal, Physics & Astronomy
Claudia Ojeda-Aristizabal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Her research is centered on low dimensional materials where the interplay of electronic correlations, topology and crystal field effects leads to exciting ground states, probed through electronic transport experiments at her lab at Cal State Long Beach and photoemission experiments at the Advanced Light source at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. The use of these fundamentally different but complementary techniques provides her group with a comprehensive understanding of the thrilling electronic structure of different quantum materials that are promising for the future of electronics.
Claudia received her BSc in Physics from Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota Colombia in 2004 before moving to Paris where she obtained a Master in Condensed Matter Physics at the Ecole Normale Sup茅rieure in 2007 and a PhD in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics at the Universit茅 de Paris-Saclay in 2010 (former Universit茅 de Paris-Sud Orsay) under Helene Bouchiat and Sophie Gu茅ron. She held postdoctoral appointments at Michael鈥檚 Fuhrer group at the University of Maryland and Alex Zettl鈥檚 group at UC Berkeley where she learned the photoemission technique in collaboration with Alessandra Lanzara鈥檚 group. She became a professor at Cal State Long Beach in 2015 and her lab is grateful to be funded by the US Department of Energy since 2017. Her group鈥檚 research has contributed to the understanding of a variety of quantum materials that are ruled by different physics, such as those promising for hosting quantum spin liquids, an exotic state of matter of promise for quantum computing, as well as three-dimensional topological materials that hold exotic particles prohibited in free space. Her group has also worked on ferromagnets in the two-dimensional limit, once thought impossible from a theoretical point of view, and fullerenes, molecules made or carbon that were first observed in the interstellar space. Her group鈥檚 recent work on a heterostructure of a molecular thin film with graphene, the thinnest existing crystal on earth, demonstrated the revival of a quantum effect in graphene, and was highlighted by a science news website.
Claudia has mentored multiple graduate and undergraduate students since the beginning of her appointment, giving them access to cutting-edge research, facilitated by her lab鈥檚 equipment at Long Beach, external funding and successful experiment time proposals at the Berkeley lab. Her students continue growing as successful PhD physics candidates at top physics schools and competitive scientists and engineers in industry.
Submitted by Jiyeong Gu.
Dr. Ga-Young Kelly Suh, Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Ga-Young Kelly Suh is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at 黑料网, where she joined the faculty in 2019. She earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. Then she completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Surgery 鈥 Vascular at Stanford, where she subsequently served as adjunct and consulting professor through 2022. At 黑料网, she teaches across the full curriculum from foundational courses to the senior design capstone, and was honored with the Early Academic Career Excellence Award in 2023.
Dr. Suh's research sits at the intersection of computational biomechanics, medical image analysis, and endovascular surgery 鈥 a multidisciplinary approach that bridges engineering and clinical medicine. Her work focuses on quantifying in vivo dynamics of the human aorta and cardiovascular implants using patient-specific medical imaging and computational modeling, generating essential data that directly informs vascular surgeons and medical device manufacturers. To date, she has published 37 peer-reviewed journal articles, 7 book chapters and proceedings, and given 52 conference presentations. Her scholarship has attracted substantial extramural funding: she is currently the PI on a NIH SuRE First (R16) grant ($752,500) investigating biomechanics and hemodynamics of aortic remodeling after endovascular repair, and on an American Heart Association Collaborative Sciences Award ($750,000) to develop real-time monitoring of peripheral arterial stents. She serves as Day 1 Chair, Student Session Organizer, and Board of Directors member of the CardioVascular Implant Durability (CVID) Conference, reflecting her leadership at the forefront of the field.
Dr. Suh has also built a distinctive research community at 黑料网 through the Cardiovascular Research Club (official name of Suh lab), which she founded to engage undergraduate students in hands-on computational modeling, medical device design, and cardiovascular biomechanics. She has mentored over 40 undergraduate researchers, many of whom have earned competitive honors, including first prizes at the 黑料网 Student Research Competition and Best Poster at ABRCMS. Her mentees have received U-RISE, LSAMP, ORED SSRA, McNair, and BUILD fellowships, and her alumni have gone on to positions at Edwards Lifesciences, Applied Medical, and Medtronic, as well as admission to doctoral programs at top-ranked universities and medical schools.
Submitted by Perla Ayala.
Dr. Jeffrey High, Romance, German, Russian Languages & Literatures
Jeffrey L. High received his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and teaches in Comparative World Literature & Classics, University Honors, and German Studies at California State University, Long Beach, as well as serving as Guest Professor at Portland State University鈥檚 German Summer School of the Pacific since 2017.
He has published widely on Schiller, Kleist, Thomas Mann, Sophie Mereau, and Mar铆a de Zayas. He is the author of Schillers Rebellionskonzept und die Franz枚sische Revolution (2004), the editor of Die Goethezeit: Werke 鈥 Wirkung 鈥 Wechselbeziehungen (2001) and Schiller鈥檚 Literary Prose Works (2006); the co-editor of Who is this Schiller Now? (2011), Heinrich von Kleist: Artistic and Political Legacies with 黑料网 alumna Sophia Clark (2014), Inspiration Bonaparte? German Culture and Napoleonic Occupation (2021), Heinrich von Kleist: Artistic and Philosophical Paradigms with 黑料网 alumni Rebecca Stewart-Gray and Elaine Chen (2022), Heinrich von Kleist: Artistic and Aesthetic Legacies with 黑料网 alumna Carrie Collenberg-Gonzalez (2024), and Thomas Mann鈥檚 Antifascist Radio Addresses: Listen, Germany! (2024) again with Chen, with coedited volumes forthcoming on German Gothic Literature with 黑料网 alumnus Curtis Maughan, Friedrich Schiller鈥檚 鈥淜allias Letters鈥 on beauty, and Heinrich von Kleist鈥檚 poetry in English translation, again with Stewart-Gray.
He is a 2018 recipient of the 黑料网 鈥淧resident鈥檚 Award for Outstanding Faculty Achievement in Scholarship and Mentoring,鈥 the 2019 recipient of the University Honors Program鈥檚 鈥淢ost Valuable Professor鈥 award, the 2020 recipient of 黑料网-wide awards for both Advising and for Scholarly Mentoring, and the 2022 award for 鈥淥utstanding Club Advisor.鈥
Of his scholarly collaborations with students Dr. High wrote, 鈥淩esearch activity is about being the kind of life-long learner who can serve as a dynamic model for students who want to learn how to move toward where it is they might like to be. [That students call him 鈥極ld School鈥橾 is a response to my telling them things they often do not want to hear about the hard-earned advantages of being a whole human being rather than a mere employee. Every lesson and every student-faculty co-production is on-the-job training to this end, every novella, poem, drama, opera is another arrow in the quiver of autonomy.
Submitted by Kathryn Chew.
Dr. Ava Hedayatipour, Electrical Engineering
Dr. Ava Hedayatipour joined California State University, Long Beach in Fall 2020 as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering. She earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2020), where she received the EECS Department Excellence Fellowship and the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. She was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in August 2025.
Since joining 黑料网, Dr. Hedayatipour has taught an impressive range of lecture and laboratory courses in microprocessor design and applications, circuits, solid-state electronics, and digital and analog design. She contributes to the electrical engineering, engineering technology, and general engineering programs, teaching at the lower-division, upper-division, and graduate levels, as well as through Extended Studies. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes reinforcing fundamental concepts through hands-on experience, an approach she has effectively implemented with the support of equipment grants from the National Science Foundation, SoCalGas, and Denso. Her SPOT scores are consistently near perfect and exemplary across all categories, and student feedback frequently highlights the effectiveness of her assignments, the value of her hands-on learning activities, and her dedication to supporting student success.
An example of Dr. Hedayatipour鈥檚 exceptional commitment to teaching is her work in the Introduction to Engineering course offered through a grant-funded dual-enrollment program for high school students, first launched in Spring 2025. Recognizing the unique needs of this audience, she adapted her pedagogy based on research in age-appropriate engineering education. Student feedback confirmed the success of this approach, with near-unanimous appreciation for the course content, activities, and instruction.
Dr. Hedayatipour鈥檚 mentorship of student research projects further exemplifies her teaching excellence. She has mentored 12 master鈥檚 and undergraduate honors students and supervised 16 undergraduate research projects through the LEAP, LSAMP, HSI, and UROP programs, while also serving on review committees for numerous additional projects. Her mentees have received awards at the 黑料网 Research Competition and at professional conferences in her field. Dr. Hedayatipour鈥檚 research lies at the intersection of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuit design, low-power ASIC development, bio-implantable and biomedical sensors, and hardware security, for which she has secured more than $750,000 in external funding.
Submitted by Jinny Rhee.
Dr. Douglas Pace, Biological Sciences
Dr. Douglas Pace joined the Department of Biological Sciences at California State University, Long Beach in January 2013. His teaching expertise lies in physiology, with a focus on Human Physiology for non-biology majors鈥攁 key General Education course he has taught continuously since his arrival.
Within the Biology major, Dr. Pace has taught a range of additional courses including Ecology and Physiology, Physiology at the Limit, and Research Design and Ethics, the latter a required course for all Master鈥檚 students in the department. In 2021, Dr. Pace developed a new upper-division course, Physiological and Biochemical Consequences of Climate Change. This course employs a flipped classroom model, allowing students to engage in active, collaborative learning during class time. Students work closely with Dr. Pace and their peers to explore the molecular and physiological impacts of climate-related stressors across diverse organisms. Dr. Pace鈥檚 teaching continues to evolve through participation in professional development initiatives at 黑料网 including the Beach Mentoring Community for which he later served as a facilitator. He also participated in the Faculty Learning Program.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Pace is dedicated to public science education. In Spring 2024, he collaborated with colleagues from the College of Engineering and the School of Design to create a multidisciplinary exhibit titled The Secret Lives of Sand Dollars, hosted at the 黑料网 Innovation Space. The exhibit featured immersive 360-degree films, live specimens, and fluid dynamics analyses to illustrate the life stages of a local marine organism and its responses to environmental change. Through his teaching and outreach, Dr. Pace draws on his expertise in organismal physiology to inspire curiosity and a deeper appreciation for how life functions. He is committed to helping students move beyond memorization to develop a broader understanding of the interconnectedness of life on Earth and its relevance to society.
Submitted by Jesse Dillon.
Dr. Erin Biolchino, Educational Leadership
Erin Biolchino, J.D., Ed.D., is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership Department (EDLD), and a colleague and friend. Erin graduated summa cum laude from Azusa University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She received her Juris Doctorate from UCLA before obtaining a doctorate in Educational Leadership from 黑料网. That's right; she an alumna of The Beach! Having served as a Social Studies Teacher, Instructional Coach, and Assistant Principal in PK12 education, she is now an Associate Professor in higher education.
Faculty life is comprised of many roles, and Erin is a teacher above all else. She enjoys teaching courses that prepare educational leaders in both the Educational Administration (EDAD) and Education Doctorate programs. She typically teaches courses in school law and instructional leadership, and she also teaches an advising course sequence across both programs.
I nominated Erin because I've spent years noticing her astute development of curricula, tireless planning, clear directions, and visionary yet detail-oriented implementation. Students and colleagues have also commented on the same. Erin鈥檚 areas of research include principal preparation and education law, especially special education, but again, come secondary to her excellent praxis.
Submitted by Devery Rodgers.
Josh Nathan, Theatre Arts
Josh Nathan is a long-time faculty member in the Department of Theatre Arts, where he has helped shape the department鈥檚 teaching and creative culture for nearly twenty years. Before joining the faculty, he worked professionally as a stage and screen actor. He was a member of The Groundlings Sunday Company, performed stand-up comedy, and worked as a writer and copywriter for television and film. After earning his MFA in Acting and Directing at California State University, Long Beach, he returned to the university as a faculty member and has since taught Theatre Studies, Improvisation, Comedy, and Acting Fundamentals.
As an instructor, Josh uses theatre-making as a powerful framework for developing broader intellectual and interpersonal skills. In his classes, students learn to think critically, listen closely, and respond thoughtfully to one another鈥檚 ideas. Through collaborative exercises, discussion, and performance-based exploration, he encourages students to take creative and intellectual risks while building the confidence to speak, present, and contribute in a supportive community. Theatre becomes a space where students practice communication, problem-solving, and collective creativity. By guiding students through processes that require attentiveness, collaboration, and reflection, Josh helps students grow not only as performers and scholars, but also as brave learners prepared to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
Colleagues frequently point to the energy and care he brings to the classroom. As one colleague writes, 鈥淛osh Nathan is a dynamic, well-informed, prepared, experienced, and charismatic teacher. Teaching is his stage, and he shines on it; his students respond accordingly.鈥 Another colleague reflects on his mentorship, noting, 鈥淗is greatest gift as a teacher is the vision he holds of his students. He sees each and every one as capable of tenderness, courage, and magnitude.鈥
Josh鈥檚 influence extends well beyond the classroom. Over many years he has helped cultivate a thriving improv and comedy culture within the department, inspiring student clubs, productions, and performance opportunities that continue to shape student life. His mentorship has had lasting professional impact, with former students continuing careers in stand-up, sketch, and improvisation across the country, including teaching at renowned companies such as The Groundlings and the Upright Citizens Brigade.
For nearly two decades, Josh has inspired students to take risks, trust their creative instincts, and support one another as collaborators and thinkers. Through his humor, generosity, and deep commitment to teaching, he has helped shape a vibrant culture of theatre-making on campus while empowering generations of students to find their voices. It is this enduring dedication to student growth, creativity, and community that makes Josh Nathan a truly deserving recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award.
Submitted by Michelle Gibbs.
Dr. Eun Jung Chae, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Dr. Eun Jung Chae joined the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at California State University, Long Beach (黑料网) as an Assistant Professor in 2017. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Prior to joining 黑料网, she served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in both the Department of Aerospace Engineering and the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Since Fall 2020, Dr. Chae has served as the undergraduate faculty advisor for the Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (BSAE) program, providing sustained academic and career advising to more than 400 undergraduate students annually (2020鈥2024) and currently advising over 250 students per year, including participants in the Beach Expedited Degrees in Graduate Education (EDGE) Program, 黑料网 Study Abroad Program, and Transfer Student Program. Her work integrates student-centered advising, research mentorship, and experiential learning to support student success in aerospace engineering. She is deeply committed to advising and mentoring, striving to build meaningful relationships with students and support their academic success and long-term career development.
In addition to her advising contributions, Dr. Chae is an active research mentor, having supervised multiple master鈥檚 theses, undergraduate honors theses, and numerous student research projects. Her students have received competitive research funding and recognition at both the university and national levels, including the AIAA Region VI Student Conference. She also serves as a faculty mentor for the 黑料网 Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Program and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), supporting underrepresented students in research and graduate school pathways.
Dr. Chae has served as the Faculty Advisor for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Student Chapter at 黑料网 since 2019, under whose mentorship the chapter received the 2021 AIAA Organization of the Year Award (Gold Distinction). Her AIAA teams have actively participated in national competitions, including Design, Build, Fly and NASA鈥檚 CubeSat Launch Initiative. In addition, she collaborates closely with industry partners and international institutions to expand student opportunities in research, internships, and experiential learning.
Submitted by Jalal Torabzadeh.
Dr. Fei Wang, Electrical Engineering
Dr. Fei Wang is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at California State University, Long Beach. She earned her B.S. in Electronics and Information Science from Peking University in Beijing, China, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Her research interests include non-volatile memory devices, as well as RF and microwave electronics, with particular expertise in the design and testing of Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) based on GaN HEMT devices.
Dr. Wang has served as Undergraduate Advisor for the Department of Electrical Engineering since 2011, where she has shown a deep and lasting commitment to student advising and mentorship. For more than fourteen years, she has supported students at every stage of their academic progress, offering thoughtful guidance in graduation planning, academic decision-making, and career preparation. As advising demands grew with rising enrollment and the challenges of the COVID pandemic, she remained consistently accessible, responsive, and student-centered. Her guidance has helped students move through a demanding engineering curriculum with confidence and clarity. Her efforts have resulted in a steadily improved graduation rate while maintaining the quality and integrity of the program.
Dr. Wang has also strengthened advising by introducing practices that improved both access and efficiency, including the department鈥檚 first program flowchart, an online appointment system, and flexible advising options to better meet student needs.
In addition, as chair of the curriculum committee, she has provided sustained leadership in curriculum development and ABET accreditation, helping uphold the quality and integrity of the Electrical Engineering program while advancing student success.
Submitted by Ebrahim Amiri.
Dr. Alejandra Priede, Educational Leadership
Dr. Alejandra Priede is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership Department at California State University, Long Beach (黑料网). Dr. Priede was born in Mexico, where she earned her B.A. in Economics from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM). She later received her Ph.D. in Social Research Methodology, specializing in program evaluation, as well as a master鈥檚 degree in Advanced Quantitative Methods in Educational Research from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Dr. Priede鈥檚 research focuses on strengthening research and program evaluation methodologies, advancing institutional effectiveness, and promoting the academic success and well-being of students and student teachers鈥攑articularly those from diverse backgrounds. She also examines identity development and career decision-making among student teachers and early-career educators.
During her decade at 黑料网, Dr. Priede has taught a range of courses at the master鈥檚 and doctoral levels, including statistics, quantitative research methods, program evaluation, survey design, institutional effectiveness, and diversity in education. She currently teaches a sequence of doctoral-level courses in quantitative methodologies that guide students through the design, implementation, analysis, and reporting of their research projects.
Dr. Priede has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students at 黑料网 as well as students affiliated with research-intensive universities in the United States and internationally. She is deeply committed to creating meaningful and rigorous research opportunities. Many of her mentees have presented at conferences, co-authored publications, or pursued advanced graduate study. She takes particular pride in supporting students鈥 academic growth and fostering their sense of belonging within the scholarly community.
Beyond her academic work, Dr. Priede has developed and facilitated wellness and mindfulness retreats, as well as racial justice and healing circles, for youth, undergraduate and graduate students, educators, and members of the broader community.
Submitted by Alejandra Priede.
Dr. Hen-Geul (Henry) Yeh, Electrical Engineering
Dr. Hen-Geul (Henry) Yeh received the B.S. degree in Engineering Science from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, Republic of China, in 1978. He earned the M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Irvine, in 1979 and 1982, respectively.
Since 1983, Dr. Yeh has been with the Department of Electrical Engineering at California State University, Long Beach (黑料网). He served as Department Chair from 2016 to 2022.
His research interests include machine learning, digital signal processing (DSP), communications, and control algorithm development and implementation using FPGA and digital signal processors. He has published more than 200 research articles, many co-authored with his students, in the areas of machine learning, DSP, communications, control systems, and smart grids.
Dr. Yeh is a licensed Professional Engineer in Electrical Engineering and holds eight U.S. patents in signal processing, communications, and control systems. He has received numerous honors, including the Northrop Grumman Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Engineering at 黑料网 in 2007, the Distinguished Faculty Scholarly and Creative Achievement Award from 黑料网 in 2009, and the Outstanding Professor Award from 黑料网 in 2015. He also received the IEEE Region 6 Outstanding Engineering Educator Award in 2019, the Best IEEE Systems Council Chapter Award in 2024, and the Best Paper Award at the IEEE International Systems Conference in 2025.
Dr. Yeh is the founder of the IEEE International Conference on Green Energy and Smart Systems (IEEE GESS, previously IGESSC) and served as its Organizer and Conference Chair from 2010 to 2021. Since 2022, he has been the Project Manager of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program in the College of Engineering at 黑料网.
He is a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors and a Life Senior Member of IEEE.
Submitted by Ebrahim Amiri.
Dr. Stephen Mezyk, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Stephen P. Mezyk, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at 黑料网, has demonstrated an extraordinary and sustained commitment to student-centered research mentorship for more than two decades. His RSCA interests are based in cutting-edge experimental research performed for wastewater recycling and nuclear waste chemistry remediation. Since 2001, Dr. Mezyk has mentored over 200 undergraduate and master鈥檚 students in research, which has resulted in 224 student co-authors on 185 peer-reviewed publications and over 450 student participants on 400 conference presentations. He holds continuous Joint and Visiting Scientist appointments at 3 Department of Energy national laboratories, where he takes his students to perform experiments on advanced research facilities, and has funded his research efforts with over $13.5 million dollars in research grants.
Central to Dr. Mezyk鈥檚 RSCA mentoring philosophy is his belief that student success is individualized and extends far beyond the classroom. He equips his students with essential research skills, ranging from experimental design and data analysis to scientific communication and ethical practices, while emphasizing independence and critical thinking. He works with his students to write manuscripts, give talks and posters at national conferences, and especially to apply for their own research funding. The long-term impact of his efforts is evident in their subsequent successes, with over 30 of them having matriculated from 黑料网 to some of the most prestigious MD/Ph.D., MD, Ph.D., and other professional programs in the country.
Dr. Mezyk鈥檚 dedication to lifelong mentorship and student achievement exemplifies excellence in research guidance and makes him a highly deserving candidate for the Distinguished Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity (RSCA) Mentoring Award this year.
Submitted by Lijuan Li.
Dr. Jesse Dillon, Biological Sciences
Dr. Jesse Dillon is a Professor of Biological Sciences whose leadership and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility have transformed student success and faculty development across the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM) and the broader 黑料网 campus.
From 2017 to 2025, Dr. Dillon played a central role in the nationally recognized BUILD program, first as Student Training Director and later as Co Principal Investigator. Through his leadership, the program secured millions of dollars in funding to expand research opportunities for historically underrepresented students across four colleges. He led summer and academic-year learning communities that supported students in developing research identities, navigating systemic racism, presenting at conferences, and preparing for graduate studies. His commitment is reflected in multiple co authored publications and numerous conference presentations on BUILD program outcomes. He has also strengthened campus research training pipelines through service on advisory boards for the RISE and MARC programs.
Since becoming Chair of Biological Sciences in 2022, Dr. Dillon has worked intentionally to diversify faculty hiring and create a department that reflects and supports the students it serves. His efforts have resulted in the recruitment of multiple underrepresented minority, first-generation, female, LGBTQ, and 黑料网 alumni faculty members. He also established the department鈥檚 involvement in the PREPP Fellows program, expanding mentorship for historically underrepresented doctoral scholars preparing for CSU faculty careers.
In 2023, Dr. Dillon founded and now chairs the first CNSM DEIA Committee, leading initiatives including creating the college鈥檚 first all gender accessible restroom and launching subcommittees focused on equitable hiring, student success, and inclusive campus culture. He also represents CNSM on the university-wide DEIA Collaborative and participates in the Inclusive Excellence Group.
Currently, as a 黑料网 Leadership Fellow, he is developing an innovative first year experience course to close equity gaps and strengthen belonging among pre-biological sciences majors. Dr. Dillon鈥檚 visionary, sustained, and deeply student-centered leadership exemplifies the spirit of the University Achievement Award.
Submitted by Ted Stankowich.
Dr. Melawhy Garcia, Health Science
Melawhy Garcia is the Katherine and Paul Johansen Endowed Chair in Health Literacy and Communication in the College of Health and Human Services. In this role, she is developing innovative interdisciplinary health literacy and health communication training opportunities for students to prepare competent health professionals to address health inequities among marginalized communities. She is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at California State University, Long Beach (黑料网) and the Director of the Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training.
She received a B.A. in Psychology and an M.P.H. in Community Health Science from 黑料网. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego/ San Diego State University (UCSD/SDSU) Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Women鈥檚 Cardiovascular Research Center in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at UCSD.
She has experience with multidisciplinary epidemiological and applied research through her work at the Center for Latino Community Health as well as SDSU鈥檚 Institute for Behavioral and Community Health and the South Bay Latino Research Center. Her research program includes a variety of methodological approaches to examine the multidimensional factors that contribute to health disparities among underserved racial/ethnic minority and low-income populations with an emphasis on cardiometabolic health risk factors and diabetes among Hispanics/Latinos. She has received external funding from numerous federal and local agencies to focus on chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention, tobacco education and cessation, and student experiential learning programs.
Submitted by Grace Reynolds-Fisher.
Dr. Jos茅 Miguel Palacios, Cinematic Arts
is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cinematic Arts at California State University, Long Beach. His work explores histories and theories of world cinema in a transnational framework, as seen in his first book (University of California Press, 2025). The monograph offers a history of Chilean exile cinema, from its emergence out of global networks of solidarity in the 1970s until the present, a moment marked by the return of some of these films to Chilean archives and museums. Exile and archives remain at the center of Dr. Palacios鈥 second book project, currently in progress and tentatively titled The Cinema to Come: The Archives, Writings, and Films of Ra煤l Ruiz. This project received a .
Dr. Palacios has published academic articles about Latin American film, documentary, Chilean cinema, and film archives and cultural heritage in journals like , , , and Jump Cut as well as in several book chapters included in edited collections. Beyond the academy, he has published short-form criticism, co-programmed film series, delivered public talks at cultural institutions like Filmoteca Catalunya in Barcelona or the EYE Filmmuseum in Amsterdam, and has led global exchange projects between film archives.
Since joining 黑料网, Dr. Palacios has served as co-head for the area of Critical Studies in the Department of Cinematic Arts, revamping a curriculum that now offers an appropriate balance between theory and practice and that addresses urgent topics in the critical study of the cinematic arts. He has also performed extensive service at the department, college, and university levels, with a special focus on curriculum.
Prior to coming to California, Dr. Palacios was a postdoctoral fellow in the Art Department at Universidad Alberto Hurtado in Santiago, Chile (2018鈥2020). He received a Ph.D. in Cinema Studies from New York University in 2017 and an M.A. in Film Studies from Columbia University in 2011.
Submitted by David Waldman.
Dr. Mortaza Saeidi, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Dr. Mortaza Saeidi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where he quickly established himself as an emerging scholar. He joined 黑料网 in 2022 after earning his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. His research integrates materials science and additive manufacturing, focusing on functional polymeric nanocomposites, advanced coatings, and flexible electronics to address pressing challenges in energy, defense, and next-generation devices.
Since joining 黑料网, Dr. Saeidi has developed a highly productive research program, securing over $2.4 million in internal and external funding. His work has received support from the U.S. Navy (PI) and the DEVCOM Army Research Office (Co-PI)鈥攃lear recognition of the innovation and national relevance of his research. His scholarly contributions have appeared in leading journals, including Nature, Energy & Environmental Science, Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Science, and Nanoscale, underscoring the impact of his work.
Dr. Saeidi is deeply committed to student mentorship and success. He has supervised more than 25 graduate and undergraduate students, fostering a collaborative and inclusive research environment. As Graduate Advisor for the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering program, he plays a key role in guiding students鈥 academic and professional development. His strong dedication to inclusive excellence is demonstrated through his proactive efforts to involve students from diverse backgrounds in research. Notably, he founded the MAE Annual Research Symposium in Spring 2024, establishing a vibrant and impactful platform for students to present, showcase, and celebrate their research achievements.
Along with research and teaching, Dr. Saeidi plays an important role in 黑料网 service through the Faculty Center Advisory Board, the General Education Evaluation Committee, and various college and departmental committees. A committed educator, he incorporates the latest research into his teaching to ensure students stay up to date with recent developments in the field. As an advisor to the Theta Tau Honor Society, he promotes student growth through industry involvement and hands-on learning.
Dr. Saeidi is a distinguished professor, scholar, and educator whose influential research, strong record of funding and publications, and dedication to mentorship and service make him a valued member of the 黑料网 community.
Submitted by Jalal Torabzadeh.
Dr. Shadnaz Asgari, Computer Engineering & Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Marwan Youssef, Civil Engineering & Construction Engineering Management
Dr. Marwan Youssef is an exceptional civil engineer, educator, and public servant whose career reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing both the profession and the communities he serves. He began his civil service journey with the City of La Habra before joining the City of Westminster as an Associate Civil Engineer, quickly rising to City Engineer and later serving 15 years as Public Works Director/City Engineer. In 2021, he was unanimously appointed Westminster City Manager. During his tenure, Dr.鈥痀oussef led many of the region鈥檚 most significant civic and infrastructure projects, including the Westminster Rose Center, the Sid Goldstein Freedom Park and Vietnam War Memorial, the Coastline Community College Le Jao Campus, a $70 million Police Department building, a four鈥憇tory parking structure, the City Corporation Yard, a police shooting range, and two 8鈥憁illion鈥慻allon water tanks. His leadership strengthened citywide systems from paving and drainage to parks and water infrastructure and his collaboration with agencies such as Caltrans, OCTA, and the County of Orange reflects his deep regional impact. He has also served in leadership roles within ACI, APWA, ASCE, and several engineering associations.
Dr. Youssef has made an equally profound mark as an educator and mentor. He has taught civil engineering at Cal Poly Pomona, UC Irvine, and for more than 13 years at California State University, Long Beach, where he now serves as the Professor of Practice and Beavers Endowed Chair. His passion for teaching is evident in his leadership of senior and graduate courses, his guidance of ASCE student teams, and his coaching of the Heavy Civil Team in the prestigious Reno competitions. Dr. Youssef holds bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette and a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from UC Irvine, and he has been a licensed Professional Civil Engineer in California since 1989. His excellence has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Outstanding ASCE Faculty Advisor Award from both the ASCE Los Angeles Section and ASCE Orange County Branch (2025), as well as the Cornerstone Excellence Award of Merit from the Southern California Ready Mix Association. Dr.鈥痀oussef exemplifies the spirit of the Lecturer Legacy Award through his unwavering dedication to student success, his distinguished public service, and his enduring contributions to the field of civil engineering.
Submitted by Joseph Kim.
Daniel Erdody, Biological Sciences
Daniel S. Erdody is a graduate student in the Master of Science program in Microbiology at 黑料网, under the direction of Dr. Berlemont, where he specializes in bioinformatics, computational biology, and enzymology. His research, in the Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics lab, focuses on developing computational tools and frameworks to better understand the functional diversity of microbial enzymes and their roles in environmental processes and biotechnology.
During his graduate studies at 黑料网, Daniel has demonstrated exceptional scientific productivity and innovation. He is the first author of a peer-reviewed publication in Nature Scientific Reports describing ez-CAZy, a bioinformatics reference database designed to link glycoside hydrolase sequences to enzymatic activity. This publicly accessible resource helps scientists accurately predict enzyme functions across microbial communities and supports research in microbial ecology, carbon cycling, and biofuel biotechnology.
Building on this work, Daniel is also the lead author of a second manuscript currently under revision in Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, where he proposes standardized strategies and curated datasets to improve functional annotation of carbohydrate-active enzymes. Together, these studies contribute a forward-thinking framework for computational enzymology and provide valuable tools for researchers working in industrial biotechnology and environmental microbiology.
Daniel has actively shared his research with the scientific community through numerous presentations at national and international conferences, including the Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes Gordon Research Conference, the International Precision Medicine TRI-CON meeting, and the CSU Biotechnology Symposium. He has also contributed to collaborative research as a visiting researcher at UCLA, where he worked on integrating single-cell proteomics and neural network modeling to advance enzyme discovery for biofuel applications.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Daniel is known for his collaborative spirit and mentorship within the lab, where he frequently supports fellow students with computational modeling, data analysis, and scientific visualization. His academic excellence has been recognized through several competitive awards, including the D.E. Gress Endowed Summer Research Fellowship and the Dr. Vern Eveland Memorial Award.
In Fall 2026, Daniel will continue his academic journey as a PhD student in the Mathematical, Computational, and Systems Biology program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he plans to further develop computational approaches to understand enzyme function and microbial metabolism. His long-term goal is to advance computational biotechnology by integrating bioinformatics, machine learning, and systems biology to accelerate discovery in sustainable bioenergy and environmental microbiology.
Submitted by Renaud Berlemont.
Sakol Bun, Computer Engineering & Computer Science
Alyssa Agudelo, Comparative World Literature and Classics, Sociology
Alyssa Agudelo will graduate from 黑料网 in May 2026 as a double major in Comparative World Literature and Sociology, and as a recipient of CLA鈥檚 Outstanding Baccalaureate Student award. Alyssa has had a robust undergraduate career at The Beach, serving as Senior Editor and research assistant of Comparative World Literature鈥檚 longstanding student-run journal, Genre, alongside its faculty advisor, Dr. Viola Lasmana. Alyssa is also Vice President of the Comparative Literature Club and a 2025-26 Conoley Fellow.
Alyssa has played a vital part in the Genre Editorial Collective, helping to revive the journal after a four-year hiatus, overseeing a set of subcommittees (editing, marketing and outreach, and graphic design), and ushering in the journal鈥檚 new life in a digital ecosystem. Given Alyssa鈥檚 singular combination of skills in writing, editing, creative production, and being a community leader, she has been instrumental in executing Genre鈥檚 textual, creative, and social elements at the highest levels worthy of public circulation.
Beyond editorial work, Alyssa has been indispensable in Genre鈥檚 outreach initiatives, including organizing popups on campus engaging fellow students (e.g., Care Cards event that allow students to contribute handwritten and hand drawn work to the journal), collaborating with student organizations on campus (e.g., a workshop in collaboration with Campus Couture), partnering with the Kleefeld Museum to host Comparative Literature Club鈥檚 Open Mic events, and more. Thanks to Alyssa鈥檚 innovative leadership and dedication, Genre has a rich growing community, with an energy and presence that is felt on campus and beyond.
Alyssa is a proud third-generation Filipino American and a first-generation college student. Alongside her stellar academics, she enjoys making jewelry, vending at flea markets, writing fiction and poetry, collecting CDs, and going to the movies. Alyssa looks forward to exploring a career in publishing and museum work in her post-undergraduate life.
Submitted by Viola Lasmana.
Ginger Chiu, Biological Sciences
Ginger Chiu is an undergraduate student in Biological Sciences at California State University, Long Beach, with a strong interest in molecular, developmental, and cancer biology. She joined the laboratory of Dr. Jiae Lee in her sophomore year, where she has conducted research on the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor cell dissemination, an early step in cancer metastasis, using the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as an in vivo model.
Her research focuses on the role of cyclins in Ras-driven tumor progression, where she identified a novel function for the non-traditional type, transcriptional cyclin CycT in suppressing tumor cell dissemination. Ginger has not only independently carried out her project through logical, hypothesis-driven research, but has also developed strong technical expertise in genetics, tissue dissection, and immunohistochemistry, consistently producing high-quality confocal microscopy images through careful optimization and attention to detail.
Ginger has presented her research at multiple conferences, including the West Coast Society of Developmental Biology Conference, where she received an Honorable Mention. Most recently, she was awarded a CSUBIOTECH Student Travel Grant, which supported her poster presentation at an international Drosophila research conference in Chicago, IL. In recognition of her accomplishments, dedication, and potential, she has received multiple fully funded offers of admission from PhD programs.
Beyond her research, Ginger plays an active role in mentoring new undergraduate researchers, providing hands-on training and fostering a supportive, collaborative environment. Outside the laboratory, Ginger enjoys drawing and design. She creates fruit fly-inspired illustrations and produces small sticker designs, often using art as a way to communicate scientific ideas in an accessible and creative form. Ginger is committed to pursuing a PhD, where she aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cellular signaling and how their disruption drives cancer progression, ultimately contributing to improved scientific understanding and therapeutic strategies.
Submitted by Jiae Lee.
