Instructors

Dr Aaron S. Marks & Brian A. Marks, J.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Aaron S. Marks (pictured, left) teaches courses in business, consulting, leadership, and sports management. Brian A. Marks, J.D., Ph.D., Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics & Business Analytics (pictured, right), has over 30 years of experience in entrepreneurial and international business, as well as a background in government service. 

Oliver Aries

Olivier Aries is the founder of Thrive Labs, a consultancy that helps leaders drive business transformation through the power of behavioral intelligence.

Harshad Nawale

Harshad Nawale is an engineer turned academic, bringing a strong foundation in automotive design and systems integration to the classroom. He previously worked at Jaguar Land Rover and Lear Corporation, contributing to high-profile projects such as the Mercedes EV platform, Range Rover Autobiography, Velar, F-Pace, and Discovery Sport.

Samantha Hsieh

Sam is a designer and artist residing in the Bay Area. Sam holds her Masters in Architecture from UC Berkeley and her Bachelors of Fine Art from the School of Art Institute of Chicago. She specializes in interior architecture, furniture design and fine arts.

Chloe Lohmeyer, PhD

Chloe is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of an autonomous agricultural robotics company based in Costa Rica. She holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Physics from Northwestern University, as well as a BS in Physics from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her background is rooted in experimental physics, with a focus on applying scientific principles to real-world challenges.

Micajah Truitt

Micajah Truitt is a Professor of Photography & Digital Imaging at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California and a strong believer in education. He values how art can teach a person to think critically, and to develop a person to work hard and pursue his or her individual dreams.

Dr. Gerardo Montalvo

Dr. Montalvo is a postdoctoral research scientist and a research associate in the medical sciences at the Nuffield Department of Experimental Medicine and St. Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, whose expertise lies in the design and development of ‘state-of-the-art’ vaccines against neglected viruses.

Barry Horwitz

Barry Horwitz is a strategy consultant, entrepreneur, author, and educator. His career has been exceptionally diverse and varied, spanning a broad range of industries, organization types, and sizes, both domestic and international.

Paula Bejarano Carbo

Paula is a PhD candidate at the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on central bank and government responses to economic shocks.

Gilbert Gimeno

As a licensed Registered Nurse in both New York and the Philippines and a Registered Midwife in the Philippines, I hold an array of certifications including NREMT, California EMT, Phlebotomy Technician (NHA), Safety Officer 2, NAEMSE Instructor, and Offshore Safety Instructor.

Dr. Lara Scheherazade Milane

Dr. Lara Scheherazade Milane is a Bouvé College of Health Sciences Distinguished Educator and Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Northeastern University, Boston, MA. She recently designed and developed Anti-metastatic Communication Inhibiting Nanomedicine (A-COIN) for treating drug-resistant breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer (2025)

André van der Bergh

Before transitioning into a career as a facilitator of Team Business programs, André spent over 25 years deeply embedded in the retail industry in South Africa and the Middle East, where he specialized in process re-engineering and automation. His extensive experience in this field laid a strong foundation for his future work in education and leadership development.

Dr. Busi Mombaur

Dr. Mombaur has worked at the intersection of clinical neurology, research, and health policy, with a strong commitment to expanding access to neurological care in underserved communities. She is currently leading efforts to establish an Integrative Neurology Clinic in an underserved area of South Africa, integrating AI-driven diagnostics and community-based care to improve access to neurological services.

Darrell Jackson

Dr. Darrell Jackson is an Associate Professor at Washington State University, Spokane, since 2019, where he has been teaching pharmacology to pharmacy, graduate, and undergraduate students.

Vincent Phong

Dr. Vincent Phong had received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of California, Irvine, where his research area focused on methods of identifying and reducing noise from propulsion systems. 

Ben Davis Ph.D

Ben Davis is an Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia.

Caryn Rubanovich

Caryn Kseniya Rubanovich is a doctoral candidate in the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology receiving research training under the mentorship of Dr. Cinnamon Bloss.

Ekundayo Shittu Ph.D

Ekundayo Shittu is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering at GW’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Kevin McLin PhD

Dr. McLin holds his PhD in Astrophysics from University of Colorado, his MS in Astronomy from University of Washington and his BS in Physics from UC Davis.

Laurel Johnston

Laurel has been teaching Psychology for fifteen years at the community college and university levels in Santa Barbara as well as study abroad programs in Rome, Italy. She often shares with students that she has the best job in the world.

Dr. Kamal Ali

Dr. Kamal Ali is a distinguished AI and machine learning expert with over two decades of pioneering experience in Silicon Valley, where he currently serves as an industry consultant specializing in large language models, artificial intelligence, and conversational agents.

Hope Peterson-Sockwell

Hope Peterson-Sockwell is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). She received her B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Biomedical Sciences, and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Wake Forest University. Her research involves building brain networks from functional MRI data and exploring how different populations of people change their brain states while they complete cognitive tasks.

Dr. Charles Reid

Dr. Charles Reid is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Adrian College, specializing in Consumer Behavior, Ethics, and Sports Media. A native of Orlando, FL, Dr. Reid earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University and brings a wealth of experience from working in soccer at every level, including Major League Soccer (MLS).

Lisa Francis, MBA

Lisa Francis is an entrepreneur, business strategist, and educator with a deep passion for fostering growth in new ventures and organizations. With an MBA from American University, Lisa has built her career around entrepreneurship and business strategy.

Diosdado Sima (Dio)

Diosdado Sima (Dio) is a CEO, designer, and entrepreneur whose journey as an immigrant in the United States has deeply influenced his creative and business ventures. As the founder of Visionary Society, a streetwear brand launched in 2013 during his undergraduate studies, Dio has combined his passion for fashion with his mission to foster community and connection.

Meg Weck

Meg Weck is an award-winning cinematographer based in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA program. Meg was the recipient of the 2024 ASC Haskell Wexler Student Documentary Award and a 2022 recipient of the Panavision New Filmmaker Program Grant.

Dr. Ana Zea

Dr. Zea is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Departments of General Dentistry and Health Policy & Health Services Research at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, and she serves as the President Elect of the Hispanic Dental Association.

Dawn Gregory

Dr. Dawn Gregory is a highly accomplished business strategist, innovation leader and educator, specializing in creating synergy across strategy, customer experience, and technology. She holds a Doctor of Business Administration with a research focus on Industry 5.0 technologies, including AI and their cross-industry adoption.

Gabriela Rosenblau

Gabriela Rosenblau is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University (GWU). She is also affiliated with the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute at GWU. She is part of the Cognitive Neuroscience program and the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Cognitive Neuroscience BS major. Her research combines computational and neuroscientific methods to understand the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms underlying social interactions across development and clinical populations, especially Autism Spectrum Disorder.

David Jensen, MSN, RN

David is an experienced nursing educator and clinician, currently pursuing his Doctor of Education (Ed.D) specializing in Nursing Education at National University (expected graduation date of March 2026). He holds a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) specializing in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Oklahoma City University. His academic focus includes enhancing patient outcomes and advancing nursing education, as evidenced by his master’s project on improving care for CVA patients through augmented nurse education.

Charles D. Wilson

Charles D. Wilson is a seasoned musician and songwriter, with over 100 songs featured across commercial platforms, television, and film. For the past decade, he has been based in Los Angeles, where he’s collaborated with artists, digital influencers, and media makers, shaping music, entertainment, and socio-political campaigns.

Katie Futrowsky

Katie Futrowsky is a Ph.D. candidate in Georgia Tech’s Center for Relativistic Astrophysics studying massive black holes. She has a B.S. in Physics and a B.S. in Astronomy from the University of Maryland. She is a teaching assistant for undergraduates in physics and astronomy classes at Georgia Tech and tutors local high school students in physics.

Dr. Kuniko Ashizawa

Dr. Kuniko Ashizawa is a professorial lecturer at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, where she specializes in Asian politics and societies. Dr. Ashizawa has previously taught international relations courses at universities in the UK, Kosovo, and her home country, Japan. Her research interests include the USA and Japan/Asia relations, regional cooperation in Asia, and the role of international organizations in global governance.

Craig Persiko

Craig holds his MS in Computer Science from NYU and his BS in Computer Science from Harvey Mudd College. He teaches Computer Science full-time at City College of San Francisco, and has been teaching introductory programming classes for over 25 years, with a practical, hands-on approach. Before working for Summer Springboard, he taught a similar introductory Python programming class to high school students in San Francisco during the summer.

Brian Healy

Brian holds an MFA in Theatrical Design and a B.A. in Theatre. He has taught lighting design, scenic design, stagecraft, and dramatic theory for 23 years. is an Associate Professor of Stage Design and Technical Production, and Department Chair of Cal Poly Theatre and Dance.

Matthew Hopper

Dr. Hopper is Professor of History at California Polytechnic State University. His book, Slaves of One Master: Globalization and Slavery in Arabia in the Age of Empire (Yale University Press, 2015), was a finalist for the 2016 Frederick Douglass Book Prize.

Claudia Gwinn

Claudia Gwinn is from Barcelona, Spain. In addition to lecturing at Cal Poly, she teaches ESL to migrant workers through The Field Institute as a substitute and does translations and interpretations for local schools, like Family Partnership Charter School.

Christine Lee

Christine is an Assistant Professor with over two decades of industry experience at companies such as IBM, Amazon, and Dell EMC, she has led teams of designers and researchers in the U.S., Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and the Philippines.

G. Andrew Fricker

Dr. Fricker is a Biogeographer who teaches in the Social Sciences Department. He specializes in different mapping technologies like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, LiDAR mapping, urban forests, deep learning and artificial intelligence.

Dr. Marion Hart

Dr. Marion Hart is an experienced educator and program coordinator specializing in language instruction,  bilingual advocacy and civic engagement. With almost two decades in language education, Marion is also the Director of Spanish Language Debate.

Brooke W. Kammrath, Ph.D.

Brooke W. Kammrath Ph.D., ABC-GKE is a Professor of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven and co-Executive Director of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science. In addition, she works as a consulting criminalist where she is a qualified expert in both state and federal courts.

Michael Hirman

Michael R. Hirman is an attorney who has practiced privately for more than 20 years. In his practice he has litigated cases in civil court, family court and immigration court.

Dr. Nicole Johnson

Dr. Nicole Johnson is the CEO of TetraCore Consulting, a certified woman-owned small business based in Los Angeles. With a robust career spanning over 23 years in K-12 education, higher education, and business.

Dr. Anita Giraldo Ospina

Anita is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Caselle lab at UC Santa Barbara. Anita’s work has focused on the ecology of marine habitat-building species like kelp, seagrasses, and corals.

Narie Foster

Narie Foster is an entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and executive coach, and a Venture Partner at JAZZ, a VC firm based in San Francisco. Previously, Narie co-founded M.M.LaFleur, a direct-to-consumer fashion brand, and spent five years as Chief Operating Officer, helping to grow the company to $75M in revenue, 200 employees, and Series B funding. Narie led the build-out of M.M.LaFleur's e-commerce, customer experience, fulfillment operations, software engineering, product management, people operations, and company culture.

Dennis Clark, JD

Dennis Clark, currently serving as a prosecutor and instructor, brings over a dozen years of experience in the law field. With roles as a prosecutor in Maryland and Washington, D.C., Dennis has conducted nearly 50 jury trials and numerous bench trials, navigating a range of legal proceedings from suppression hearings to sentencing and violation-of-probation cases, including presentations to the grand jury.

Fernando Ellis

Fernando Ellis was born and raised in New York City, and attended Hunter College High School. After studying computer science, mathematics, German, and free and open source software at the Rochester Institute of Technology, he has worked for 9 years at Red Hat as a software consultant. Over that time his clients have included major banks, retail, public sector, healthcare, consulting firms, and startup organizations throughout central and eastern North America. Outside of work he enjoys reading books, watching movies, attending board game conventions, traveling, speaking other languages, bicycling, and cooking.

Carl Knowlen

Carl Knowlen received his Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Washington in 1991 and is currently a Research Associate Professor with the UW William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He has a strong background in modeling gas dynamics, chemical kinetics, heat transfer and fluid flow systems and extensive experience in experimental techniques for internal ballistics, subsonic and supersonic wind tunnel testing, cryogenic systems, rocket propulsion systems, and flow field diagnostics.

Andrea (Andi) Frank

Andrea (Andi) Frank is a Computer Science and Engineering PhD candidate studying robotics at UC San Diego's Contextual Robotics Institute.

Ernesto Escobar and Michael Schmitt

Ernesto Escobar is the Executive Director of the Master of Engineering in Game Design, Development, and Innovation at Duke University. Michael Schmitt is an independent game developer and community organizer based in North Carolina.

Kyle Lorenzo, MA

Kyle Lorenzo is an instructor of Psychology at Fordham University. He received his BAs in Psychology and Biological Sciences with minors in Cognitive Sciences and International Studies at North Carolina State University. He then received his MA in Applied Developmental Psychology at Fordham University.

Ernesto Escobar

Ernesto Escobar is the Executive Director of the Master of Engineering in Game Design, Development, and Innovation at Duke University. In this role he manages and oversees all the program’s curriculum development, students, faculty, staff, operations, and budget ensuring program excellence. He directs all marketing, admissions and recruiting efforts. Ernesto also teaches game design and development classes and mentors the students in the program. He connects and engages with internal and external partners regarding practicum projects, internships, career opportunities, seminars and oversees the industry advisory board.

Kevan Kidder

Kevan Kidder currently works as a Research Scientist at Basso Lab at the University Washington, where he delves into the investigation of neurodegenerative diseases and aging through the application and advancement of cutting-edge methodologies. Dr. Kidder’s professional focus lies at the intersection of neuroscience and technological innovation.

Christopher Elliot

Christopher “The Real Frii” Elliott is the visionary founder and CEO of Frii Branding LLC, a distinguished branding and marketing/communications agency headquartered in Connecticut, USA. With a remarkable track record as a world record-setting writer, branding consultant, and serial creative, Christopher brings a unique blend of talent and expertise to the industry.

Eric Hoff

Eric Hoff is a SLO County native who has worked in the Animation Industry in Los Angeles for 13 years. Eric has worked as a storyboard artist on several animated shows such as Rick and Morty, Bob’s Burgers, and the Great North.

Dr. Nikolas Webster

Dr. Nikolas Webster is a clinical assistant professor of Sport Management at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology. His research examines the cognitive, affective, and behavioral consequences of sport fandom as well as issues surrounding the economics and management of sport.

Anny Reyes

Anny Reyes, Ph.D. is a neuropsychology postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology specializing in neuropsychology at the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program and her neuropsychology internship at Emory School of Medicine.

Allan Lacayo, MA, Economics, UC Berkeley

Allan is a distinguished educator with a passion for economics and mathematics. Holding a Master's degree in Economics and a Bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics, both from UC Berkeley, Allan brings a wealth of academic expertise to his teaching endeavors.

Dr. Donna Templeton

Dr. Donna Templeton is an inspiring faculty member in the Graphic Communication Department, where she’s been lighting the way for students for over 15 years!

Leigh Weir, MBA, MAED

Leigh Weir is a multifaceted business leader, realtor, and seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience. Possessing both an MBA and MAED from the University of Phoenix and a BA in Advertising from Michigan State University, she excels in educating, training, and mentoring, with a focus on management, servant leadership, and intercultural relations.

Dr. Fabio Bendana

Dr. Fabio Bendana is a research scientist within the Propulsion Science department at The Aerospace Corporation. His primary role is to lead research, development, and testing efforts related to the advancement and application of chemical propulsion technology in support of national security and civil space programs.

Joy Bridges

Los Angeles-based fashion and celebrity stylist Joy Bridges, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, infuses her work with an innovative yet chic sensibility.

Nicholas Ferroni

Nicholas's innovative teaching methods and advocacy work have earned him recognition on national platforms like ABC's 'The View,' MSNBC, and The Huffington Post.

Gael Tarleton

Gael Tarleton is an international policy and national security expert with four decades of experience working in the public and private sectors to tackle public policy challenges at home and abroad.

Sarah Smith MPAS, PA-C

Sarah Smith MPAS, PA-C is a board certified physician assistant who currently practices at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She attended the University of South Carolina for her undergraduate degree and FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine for her Master in Physician Assistant Studies.

Dr. Alexandra Hochstetler

Dr. Alexandra Hochstetler is a postdoctoral fellow in the Lehtinen Laboratory at Children’s Hospital in Boston. She completed her PhD at Indiana University with a focus on the mechanisms by which aberrant ion channels in the choroid plexus can lead to hydrocephalus. Dr. Hochstetler’s primary research interest is in studying mechanisms of white matter damage in perinatal brain injury, with a specific focus on post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus of prematurity.

Dr. G. Gilou Agbaglah

Dr. G. Gilou Agbaglah, an esteemed professor of Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, brings a wealth of academic experience, including roles as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa, Cornell University, and the University of Michigan. Dr. Agbaglah's academic endeavors traverse continents, beginning with his Master's in Applied Mathematics in Lomé, Togo, followed by a Master of Science in Fluid Dynamics from Paris, France, and culminating in a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Sorbonne Université in Paris in 2011.

Dr. Marie Crawford

Dr. Marie Crawford holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from D'Youville University. She is a board certified orthopedic specialist & has also been certified to utilize the LSVT BIG protocol for individuals managing neurological diagnoses like Parkinson's Disease.

Dr. Laur Rubino

Dr. Laur Rubino received their Ph.D. at the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati and received their M.S. and B.S. in criminal justice and B.A. in psychology at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Their research focuses on inequities in the criminal/ juvenile legal system, voting rights of individuals in the legal system, program evaluation, wrongful convictions, the intersection of race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression in the legal system, and LGBTQ+ individuals in the system.

Pamela Giolito

An accomplished interior designer with a passion for teaching, Pamela brings a wealth of experience and creativity to our summer program.

Francisco de Leon

Brace yourself for a journey with Francisco, a graphic design virtuoso! As the president of FAD Graphics and a former graphic designer for The New York Times, Francisco brings a wealth of creativity to the table. But that's not all—his architectural background adds an extra layer to his artistic prowess.

Don Kassar

Meet Don, a powerhouse in interior design! A graduate of the New York School of Interior Design's BFA program, Don is not just an interior designer; he's the creative force behind Don Kassar Interiors.

Georgy Shukaylo, Ph.D.

Georgy Shukaylo, a lecturer and Ph.D. candidate in Sports Management at the University of Michigan, brings a wealth of expertise to our team. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts, as well as a Master's degree and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Arkansas, Georgy's research focuses on sports economics, the role of sports venues in urban development, and the impact of public policies on professional sports.

Janet Muro, MA

Janet holds her Master of Arts in Education from the University of the Pacific and her BA in Psychology from San Francisco State University. She also studied developmental psychology and research methods in psychology at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Keisha Winston

Keisha Winston is a Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology and Biology. She began her educational venture at Northeastern University and completed her doctoral studies at the University of Connecticut where she studied and conducted research in both the Neuroscience and Pharmaceutical Sciences departments.

Patrick Dowd, JD

Patrick Dowd has 38 years of experience defending clients in state and federal court in catastrophic losses throughout the United States.

Oren Katzeff

Oren Katzeff, CEO, Literally Media, the largest online publisher of humor and entertainment content, has spent over 20 years building and scaling content and operations for prominent brands. He joined Literally Media from Condé Nast, where as President of their entertainment division, he oversaw the film, TV, and video business for all Condé Nast brands, including Wired, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and The New Yorker.

Mark Hannum

Mark Hannum holds his MS in Applied and Engineering Physics from George Mason University and his BA in Mathematics and Physics. He is an accomplished educator and physicist, and has over 20 years of experience teaching both in high school and at American University.

Miranda Griffin

Miranda Griffin is a second year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Candidate at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. Miranda brings a wide variety of experiences within the veterinary medicine field, school extracurriculars, leadership positions, and knowledge about mentorship.

Anaïs Voski

Anaïs Voski is a PhD candidate in Environment & Resources (E-IPER) at Stanford University. She holds a MSc in Environmental Sciences from the Central European University and a Master of Philosophy in International Studies from the University of Cambridge.

Linh Dao

Professor Linh Dao specializes in interaction design and considers identity discourses essential for theorizing the development and implementation of creative and emerging technologies.

Dr. Alexandria Wilson-McDonald

Dr. Alexandria Wilson-McDonald is a professorial lecturer in the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C., where she is also a member of the Transatlantic Policy Center.

Dr. Steven Bogaerts

Dr. Steven Bogaerts is a dedicated computer science lecturer at the esteemed University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He graduated summa cum laude with a double major in computer science and math from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Dina Vees, MFA

Dina Vees earned her Bachelor of Science in Graphic Communication from Carroll University and a Master of Fine Arts in Media Design from Full Sail University. Her teaching and research interests are Prepress, workflow automation, variable data, marketing, and HTML/CSS/JavaScript.

Becca Lucas M.S., M.A.

Becca Lucas received her M.S. in Agriculture Food and Environment and M.A. in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University and her B.A. in Sociology and Italian from University of California, Davis.

Dr. Jorge Moraga

Dr. Moraga is the proud son of two selfless, loving Salvadoran immigrants who have called the San Fernando Valley home since the early 1980s. His parents’ tireless support and encouragement sustained each of their children to become first-generation college graduates; while the last of his siblings to obtain B.A. degrees in 2012, he became the first in his family to earn a graduate degree in 2017 when he received his Ph.D. in American Studies from Washington State University.

Dr. John Patrick

John Patrick, Ed.D., is a co-director of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s nationally acclaimed debate team and regularly brings debating workshops to developing nations where democracy is trying to flourish.

Morgan White

Morgan has been teaching writing and technical communications in the English department at Cal Poly for 10 years. She teaches Technical Editing, Writing Arguments about STEM, Technical Writing for Engineers, Writing & Rhetoric, and Argumentation and loves anything related to the field of technical communications.

Charmaine Martinez, MFA

Charmaine Martinez teaches graphic design, typography, and book arts in the Department of Art and Design at Cal Poly. She received a BFA in graphic design from the University of Notre Dame and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jeff Van Kleeck, MFA

Jeff has a range of photographic experiences including working as a professional custom photography printer, exhibiting photography in galleries, publishing in books and magazines, and photographing for clients like the Hard Rock Cafe.

April Elliott

April Elliott is a Graphic Communications department Cal Poly alumnus where she earned her Master of Arts in Education with specialization in Curriculum and Instruction. She also earned her BS in Graphic Communication with concentration in Web and Digital Media from Cal Poly.

Brady Teufel, PhD

Dr. Teufel teaches courses in multimedia journalism and is the adviser for mustangnews.net, the award-winning student media portal at Cal Poly.

Nick Bockelman

Nick has worked as an illustrator for over 10 years in the fields of entertainment design, technology, science, and manufacturing.

Ivan Bradley

Ivan Bradley has been an educator for 30 years, receiving several educator awards during that time.The past 15 years, he has taught various courses as a lecturer professor for the Graphic Communication department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Pat Howe

Patrick worked as an investigative reporter and political correspondent in Washington D.C. and statehouse newsrooms for outlets including The Associated Press and the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Emily Ryalls, PhD

Emily is an Associate Professor in the Interdisciplinary Studies in the Liberal Arts Department. She received her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in Communication Studies. Dr. Ryalls is a recipient of the 2022-2023 Distinguished Teaching Award.

Dr. Christiane Schroeter

Dr. Schroeter is a Professor in the Agribusiness Department at Cal Poly. With a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, her work has earned her numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Dissertation Award. Dr. Schroeter's research has appeared in prestigious journals like the Journal of Health Economics, and she's known for her inspiring teaching style.

Quemars Ahmed J.D.

Quemars Ahmed was born and raised in California and is honored to teach at one of its great public universities. Ahmed graduated with his J.D. from UCLA Law where he was editor-in-chief of the UCLA Law Review.

Annie Aguiñiga Frew

Annie received her MPP from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2014. Her research focused on the assessment of the environmental justice movement in California’s Central Valley and its political impacts on California policymaking institutions. Ms. Frew’s career spans over a decade working in the California legislature and politics, local community engagement and political advocacy. She also holds a certificate in Conflict Transformation from Emory University.

Michael Gilvary

Michael co-founded AION, a trailblazing health-tech company that led the charge in wearable technology for patient care. Beyond his role as an educator, he's a genuine pioneer in healthcare technology. Additionally, Michael serves as a faculty member at the Baruch School of Entrepreneurship, shaping the leaders and visionaries of tomorrow.

Shadreck Chirikure

Professor Shadreck Chirikure is an archaeological scientist who applies techniques from the hard sciences to study ancient materials and technologies.

Ambassador Jaime Aparicio-Otero

Ambassador Aparicio is a Professor of International Human Rights Systems at Elliot School of Foreign Affairs at George Washington University. He served as Ambassador of Bolivia to the Organization of American States (OAS), Special Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), and from 2002 to 2006, as Ambassador of Bolivia to the United States.

Leslie Jernegan MFA

Leslie Jernegan is the Summer Springboard instructor for the course Writing for College at Yale University. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing with a graduate Future Professoriate certificate.

Hannah Bernhard M.Sc

Hannah Bernhard is a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Maastricht University, The Netherlands. She obtained her M.Sc. in Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences cum laude at Maastricht University in 2016.

Dr. Christelle Scharff

Dr. Christelle Scharff is a Professor of Computer Science at Pace University. She has a Ph.D. in Symbolic Artificial Intelligence (Theorem Proving and Automated Deduction) from INRIA, the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology. Her current research focuses on global software engineering, mobile for social change, and machine learning.

Kyle Bergman

Kyle is Chief Swoveralls Officer and founder of Swoveralls, a direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand dedicated to creating the world's comfiest apparel products from sustainably sourced materials.

Lauren Reeves

Lauren has just taken on a Directorship role at Revgro Holdings and has experience as a Product Owner at Allan Gray, managing a team of software developers. She was previously part of group strategy and digital strategy teams. Lauren started her career as a management consultant at McKinsey. 

Dr. Peter B. Golbus

Dr. Peter B. Golbus is a Lecturer of Computer Science at Boston University. Prior to joining the CS department in the Fall of 2022, Peter was a data scientist focusing on eCommerce personalization for eight years.

Rudi Hechfellner

With over 25 years of experience in product development, systems engineering, and program management in the semiconductor, consumer, lighting, and IoT industries, Rudi Hechfellner brings expertise to this Design Thinking & Rapid Prototyping course.

Ashley Di Lalla, BSN-RN

Ashley Di Lalla, BSN-RN is a registered emergency nurse at Piedmont Atlanta. She is a Colorado University at Boulder (B.S. in Neuroscience) and Denver College of Nursing (B.S. in Nursing) alum.

David Romine, Ph.D.

David Tyroler Romine Ph.D. is a historian of the United States focusing on the intersection of race, social movements, and public policy. He received a Master’s degree from New York University in 2009 and a Ph.D. from Duke University in 2018.

Jennifer Wallace, MSN

Jennifer Wallace has a Master's in Nursing Education and a Bachelor's in Nursing and Psychology. Her 18 years in nursing have included bedside care of obstetrical patients and clinical coordination of the maternity service line.

Jae D. Kim, PhD

Jae D. Kim, PhD, is an associate professor and chair of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of San Diego. He teaches courses in operations research, data science, discrete-event simulation and energy sustainability.

Christopher J. Littel

Chris is a Lecturer in Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Poole College of Management at NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to joining NC State, Chris was Instructor in Entrepreneurship and Management at the Institute for Entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Mark Orlando, Ed.D.

Mark Orlando, Ed.D., is a professor, consultant, and coach of sport business and professional development with several years of progressive experience in both academic and professional working environments.

Kevin Willson

Kevin T. Willson has written and directed hundreds of narrative commercials, short films, and documentaries, internationally, for brands such as Jeep, P&G, Nescafe, Frito-Lay, Habitat For Humanity, and Ubisoft.

Greg Horowitt

Greg Horowitt is Founding Partner of T2 Venture Creation and a co-author of ‘The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley’. He presently serves as the Director of Innovation Design at the University of California, San Diego.

Ruby Bloom MPhil

Ruby received her MPhil in Economics at the University of Oxford, where her research focused on educational policy and its financing. Previous to this, she gained a first-class BSc in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Bristol. Ruby has enjoyed teaching Economics alongside her studies for the last 5 years.

Sade Owoye

Sade is passionate about entrepreneurship, business, and innovation. She enjoys advising and teaching students the skills needed to build sustainable ventures.  

Matthieu Meneghini

Matthieu, a graduate in environmental and food economics, is specialized in impact management, the discipline that aims to develop synergistic and regenerative interactions between human communities and natural ecosystems.

Dr. Tracy Smith

Dr. Tracy Smith holds a Master’s and Post-Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from Baylor University. She is fellowship trained in orthopedics/manual therapy and is a certified Athletic Trainer. Dr. Smith served as an active duty Army officer and physical therapist for 20 years, treating Soldiers and their families in many settings.

Dave Kesler, Architect, AIA

Dave is the principal of Dave Kesler Architecture and an award-winning San Francisco-based architect with over 30 years of experience and in private practice for 22 years. He is also an experienced industrial designer, watercolorist, and musician.

Fernanda Urrutia

Fernanda Urrutia is a highly motivated marine ecologist and environmentalist with a strong interest in marine mammal conservation issues. Currently, Fernanda is a Marine Biology PhD candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, where she focuses her research on the molecular ecology of fin whales in the North Pacific.

Dr. Carmen Pinon

Dr. Carmen Pinon is a Lecturer in Neuroscience at Brasenose College, University of Oxford. She is also a Senior Lecturer at the Medical School of the University of Buckingham.

Andrea Paolini, PhD

Andrea Paolini holds a PhD in Cultural Studies with a Graduate Certificate in Global Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She also holds MA’s in Human Rights (University of London), and English and Creative Writing (University of Windsor).

Sharmi Albrechtsen

Sharmi Albrechtsen is the CEO and co-founder of SmartGurlz™, a fast-growing startup company featured on Shark Tank that focuses on closing the gender gap in technology.

Dr. Gizem Kayar

Dr. Gizem Kayar holds an MSc and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, Germany. She later worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow with the MIT Geonumerics Group.

Juliane Hoss

Juliane is a psychologist, coach and management consultant based in Johannesburg, South Africa with a MSc in Psychology & another MSc in International Labour Relations. Savanna is a rising senior at Duke University where she is pursuing a major in Psychology, a certificate in Markets & Management Studies, and a minor in Visual Media Studies.

Rochelle Goodwin

Rochelle Goodwin joined the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale team in 2021 as the Communications & Marketing Director. As director, Rochelle oversees all aspects of both internal and external communications for the center, including brand strategy, media relations, advertising and marketing, and creative editorial and design services.

Dr. Salvador Brito

Salvador (Sal) Brito received his B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, along with his B.A. in Psychology from California Lutheran University, graduating with summa cum laude honors. Currently, he is a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Harvard University.

Dr. Talebinejad

Ali Talebinejad has done his PhD at MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in the area of Robotics and Computer Vision and has received his MS from MIT Mechanical Engineering in the area of System Dynamics and Control. His postdoctoral research was a pioneering work on Tracking Moving Objects Using Video Images at the Canadian Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems.

Dr. Andrew Eyre & Dr. Sean Kivlehan

This course is led by Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Dr. Andrew Eyre and Dr. Sean Kivlehan and course faculty from the internationally recognized hospital.

Dr. Luis Valentin Alvarado

Luis holds his PhD in Microbiology from UC Berkeley. He received his Bachelors in Microbiology and Chemistry from University of Puerto Rico. He is currently a microbial genomics and structural biology research fellow at Monash University in Australia where he is working with a group pioneering the exporation of CRISPR-Cas and other innovative immune systems.

Dr. Claire Davis-Reddy

Dr. Claire Davis-Reddy is the Data Science Team Lead at the South African Earth Observation Network (SAEON) – a long-term environmental monitoring facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF). Her primary directive as Team Lead is to improve South Africa's open data products, atlas portals and visualization tools in order to facilitate effective data- and evidence-driven decision-making.

Byron Ascott-Evans

Entrepreneur | Former Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company | INSEAD MBA | Dual Bachelors of Commerce and Business Science & Marketing, University of Cape Town

Gerard Slee

Gerard is a digital nomad, creative concluder and spatial prototypist. He has studied at various institutions throughout South Africa and worked on a number of large International architectural projects and competition proposals.

Dharti Desai

Global Business Leader, Marketing Strategist, Investor, Advisor, D&I Champion, and Multilingual Entrepreneur who was born and raised in India, Dharti has built businesses that generated hundreds of millions in revenue, funded and mentored Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) in sectors ranging from AI to fashion and hospitality, and impacted thousands of female entrepreneurs across six continents.

Rumana Ahmed, MPA

Rumana Ahmed has been a strategic planning, partnerships, and communications consultant. Her recent scope of work has included mobilizing global women leaders on key issues for Vital Voices and developing a framework for internet monitoring and intervention for civil society to use around elections.

Dr. Andrew Eyre

Dr. Eyre serves as the Medical Director for the STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts where he is also a practicing emergency medicine physician.

Max Kalnitz

Max Kalnitz is an award-winning multimedia journalist and social media strategist based in Brooklyn, NY, whose work has appeared in Billboard, The Nation, and Insider, among other outlets.

Dr. Adam John Ritchie

Dr. Adam Ritchie is the curriculum and course advisor for our Immunology program in Oxford. He is a vaccine developer and academic at the University of Oxford.

Romina Owolewa, BSN, RN-BC

Romina Owolewa received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the State University of New York, Brockport, in 2016. Immediately after graduating, Romina began her nursing career in an inpatient medical-surgical unit. Since then, she has worked in many healthcare settings, such as infusion centers, clinics, virtual nursing, and community health.

Patti Piburn

Patti Piburn is an assistant professor of journalism. She received her Masters of Arts in Journalism and Communication from South Dakota University in 2013, and has her Bachelors of Art in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science from Arizona State University

Colleen Twomey

Colleen Larkin Twomey is a Cal Poly Professor and Department Chair of the Graphic Communications Department. She received her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Delaware, and received her B.S. in Printing Management from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has taught for 22 years at Cal Poly SLO and has served as the Graphic Communications Department Chair for over 3 years.

Dr. Casey McDonald-Liu

Dr. McDonald-Liu received her PhD from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Florida; her Master of Art and Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University. Casey McDonald-Liu is a recent PhD graduate from the University of Florida in strategic communications specializing in how organizations communicate to publics using a tonality similar to that of humans on social media.

Rachel Ma, PhD

Rachel Ma earned her Ph.D. in Paper and Printing Science from Western Michigan University. Her teaching and research interests include printing electronics, inks and substrates interactions, smart packaging, and biodegradable materials.

Dr. Christina Kaviani

Instructor at Cal Poly SLO – Dr. Christina Kaviani is a lecturer in the Department of Communications, Women, Gender & Queer Studies at Cal Poly SLO and has over a decade of experience in the field of gender-based violence prevention education and response.

Allen Settle

Allen Settle is the former 4-term former mayor of the City of San Luis Obispo and is currently serving his fifth term as a City Councilmember. He also serves on the SLO Airport Land Use Commission (he is an aircraft owner and pilot), the Local Agency Formation Commission (in charge of county- and city land use entity), and the League of Cities Revenue and Taxation Committee.

Dr. Xiaoying Rong

Instructor for Cal Poly SLO - Dr. Xiaoying Rong earned her Bachelor of Engineering from Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, a Master of Business Administration from Beijing Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Printing from Western Michigan University. She is currently teaching printed electronics and product development, specialty printing technologies, and consumer packaging at Cal Poly SLO.

Jacques de Villiers

Jacques has been working professionally as a software engineer since 2013. After graduating from a BSc with honours from UJ in 2012, he started work as a communication driver developer at Adroit Technologies. In 2015 Jacques was poached by Entelect to work as a full-stack web developer on a project for Deloitte South Africa.

Camryn Okere

Camryn has extensive knowledge and industry experience within the world of marketing strategy, digital design, social innovation and design thinking. Her academic qualifications were completed at the Washington University - Olin Business School with a Bachelor of Science in Business, Leadership and Strategic Management. Having previously worked at companies like Mastercard, the Wall Street Journal, SoundCloud, Bumble, and Valentino, Camryn has a vast range of experience and impact within the industry. She taught iXperience Visual Design courses in previous programs. Currently Camryn runs her founding company, as it is scaling within the US and Canada.

Othalia Doe-Brucem, MBA

Currently, Founder InnovFin Consulting Inc., Committee Member at SCC, Canada and Founder & President of The Innovative FinancierOthalia is the founder of InnovFin Consulting Inc., a consulting and advisory firm helping finance companies leverage innovative technologies.

Duncan Stevens

As a multi-disciplinary designer and researcher, I aim to integrate the wider context of culture, design psychology, visual design, strategy and user experience in my work. Strategic minded, I look at the bigger picture and weigh problems by ascertaining their unintended consequences and potential benefits. I am a digital nomad, working across timezones and cultures.I have experience in conducting Qualitative research, participant recruitment, data synthesis and balancing business objectives & those of the end-user.

Donna Thomas

Friction Ridge Comparison. She has worked in the forensic science discipline since 2007, performing latent print comparisons as well as processing crime scenes. She has been with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for 35-plus years starting her career as a Sheriff’s Communication Operator and 911 Dispatcher.

Margie Ferris Morris M.S.

Margie Ferris Morris, holds an advanced degree in Nutrition Sciences having over 35 years of international development and relief experience, spending seven years overseas. Her expertise is in performance monitoring and evaluation, global  health and nutrition program design and management, training, emergency health operations and conflict mitigation.

Nina Hanning Ph.D.

Nina M. Hanning Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Researcher at New York University (NYU). She received her Ph.D. in Psychology and Systemic Neurosciences, graduating summa cum laude from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, in 2018. Over the past 10 years she has taught numerous courses on cognitive neuroscience, psychology, communication, and scientific practice, and is excited to share her knowledge and passion with the next generation of scientists.

Dr. Farhad Rostamian

Dr. Farhad Rostamian is currently a professor at UCLA teaching courses at both Anderson School of Management and Samueli School of Engineering.

Guido Zuliani

Guido Zuliani is an architect and an educator. He graduated summa cum laude from the Università IUAV di Venezia in the summer of 1980. In 1982 he became a registered architect. In the fall of 1985 Mr. Zuliani moved to New York and began to teach at The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union where is he currently a Distinguished Professor in Architecture. At Cooper Mr. Zuliani has taught Design Studios, Architectural History, and Seminars in the Theory and History of Architecture.

Dr. Henry C. Lee

Henry C. Lee is one of the world's foremost forensic scientists and founder of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven and currently serves as a Professor Emeritus. He holds a MS and PhD from New York University. Dr. Lee previously served as the Director of the Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Laboratory and commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Public Safety and the State Police.

Swati Singh, MBA

Swati Singh (she / her) is a professor of Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of San Diego and San Diego Community College District with over ten years of entrepreneurial and operations management experience. As an educator, Swati is passionate about teaching entrepreneurship as a vehicle for social change. She is currently building her own business in creative strategy and direction for food companies interested in social impact and sustainability. Swati has a BA in Economics from UC San Diego and an MBA from the University of San Diego. 

Dr. Daniel Frey

Daniel Frey is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. Prof. Frey’s research is in the field called “robust design”. Dr. Frey holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado and a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Dr. Ali Talebinejad

Dr. Talebinejad is an MIT educated Lecturer/Research-Scientist who has done his PhD at MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in the area of Robotics and Computer Vision and has received his MS from MIT Mechanical Engineering in the area of System Dynamics and Control. His postdoctoral research was a pioneering work on Tracking Moving Objects Using Digital Images at the Canadian Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems.

Dr. Laura Manyweather, Ed.D., MBA

With 29 years of experience with private corporations and 12 years in academia, Laura brings systems, processes and organizational structure to small and micro businesses.

Dr. Artem Joukov

Dr. Artem M. Joukov, a professor of Finance at Wenzhou-Kean University in China, initially pursued a legal career in the United States before transitioning to academia.

Violet Bagni, UCLA

Violet Bagni is an EMT Clinical Instructor at UCLA with over 20 years of experience teaching the fundamentals of emergency medicine.

Rob Cortes

Dr. Rob Cortes obtained his PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from Georgetown University, where he was a National Science Foundation and Patrick Healy fellow.

Dr. Tina Klein, UC San Diego

Dr. Tina Klein has taught at top business schools: UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management, USC’s Marshall School of Business, MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and UC San Diego's Rady School of Management.

Dr. Vicki Nienaber-Meadows, Ph.D.

Dr. Nienaber has over 30 years’ experience at large companies, mid-sized biotech, and her own biotech, Zenobia Therapeutics.

Brandon Murphy, MBA

Brandon Murphy, is an experienced drone pilot class instructor who has been in the film and video production industry for over a decade.

Christopher Faraone has over 13 years of experience in the field of education. Currently, he is a history teacher in New Jersey where he successfully conceptualized, authored and presented curriculum for new AP Comparative Politics class.

Dr. Enrique Valdespino, Doctors Without Borders

Dr. Valdespino, a Harvard trained instructor, has been recruited by Doctors Without Borders to provide medical care where it is most needed, and is awaiting mission placement.

George Muksian, Wesleyan University

George Muksian combines a lifetime of courtroom experience with teaching experience at some of the nation's top universities