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Current Instructors
Instructors are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Charles Arokiasamy, Rh.D., is Chair of and Professor in the Counseling, Special Education, Rehabilitation Department at California State University, Fresno.
Melissa Bandy, M.A., is a developmental specialist with a master’s degree in Early Childhood studies. She has 10 years of experience in early childhood education classrooms with children ranging in age from birth to eight years.
Amy Bengtson, B.S., works as a veterinary assistant.
Mary Bennett, M.A., has spent the last twenty-plus years in the field of education, both in and out of the classroom. She is Director of Curriculum Services Associates, which develops and provides graduate-level, professional development courses to elementary school teachers throughout the United States. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies, an M.A. in Teaching with an Educational Technology emphasis, as well as a certificate in Online Teaching and Learning.
Shirley Bruegman, Ed.D., is former Vice Chancellor of the State Center Community College District and Director of California State University, Fresno’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).
Catherine Caballero, B.S., has been dedicated to the field of forensic science since 1994. Most recently she worked for Applied Biosystems where she was responsible for providing training and troubleshooting support of forensic DNA scientists. She also gained extensive experience developing and delivering hands-on training programs, conducting technical workshops, and presenting on forensic DNA technology at seminars and tradeshows. Catherine is considered to be a leader in this arena and is a mentor to many of her colleagues.
Alejandro Calderon-Urrea, Ph.D., came to Fresno State in the fall of 1997, after conducting Ph.D. work at Yale University and post-doctoral work at the Plant Gene Expression Center USDA-UC Berkeley. Since his arrival he has excelled on teaching, research, and his interactions with the local community.
Aumony Dahl, M.Ed., received her Master’s degree in Exceptional Children from Western Washington University. She is certified to teach in K-12 Special Education with an additional endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education.
Darcie Donegan, M.A., Ed.D., received her B.A. at the University of Washington and her Master’s degree from Pacific Oaks College in Human Development, specializing in Early Childhood Education and Adult Education. She has worked with young children and their caregivers for over 25 years in a various capacities, including preschool teacher, center director, parent educator, trainer, and consultant.
Toni DuPont-Morales, Ph.D., has worked as a probation officer in Pima County, Arizona, which included the Tohono O’odham Nation and the Pasqua Yaqui Indian Reservation. She is an assistant professor in Victimology at California State University, Fresno.
John Dussich, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Criminology at California State University, Fresno.
Lisa Ferretti, DVM, specializes in veterinary radiology.
Kenneth Froelich has a doctorate in music, and is an Assistant Professor of Music Composition and Technology at California State University, Fresno. He earned his Doctorate of Music in Music Composition from Indiana University, and is a certified Pro Tools operator and instructor.
Wade Gilbert, Ph.D., has expertise in sport psychology, coaching science, physical education, and talent development. He is an Associate Professor in the Kinesiology Department at California State University, Fresno, and is a member of a United Nations Expert Panel on Sport and Physical Education. He also coordinates a regional physical education collaborative.
Patricia Gomes, M.S. is an instructor in the Nursing Department at California State University, Fresno.
Joan Halverstadt has been a school counselor since 1994, working with at-risk preschool and elementary age students. She has more than 30 years of experience working in early childhood education with children and families, including working with children affected by family issues, abuse, or trauma.
Jaime Handlesman, B.H.S., has over seven years of experience developing training courses, lectures and workshops on the latest forensic DNA technologies. Jaime has trained hundreds of forensic analysts from crime laboratories across the United States and has given numerous technical presentations at industry meetings and conferences. Her experience and extensive understanding of the forensic DNA workflow enabled her to become a domain expert on the development of forensic STR data analysis software at Applied Biosystems where she has worked as part of their forensic team in various roles since 2001.
Susan N. Holland has a bachelor’s degree in Business with a minor in Geography. She has been a teacher for 12 years and has worked in grades K-12 and special education. For the past three years she has worked as an aide and an instructor in the Science Adventures camp program for elementary students at Fresno State.
Erika Hultquist, RVT, CVPM, works as a veterinary practice manager.
Mick R. Jackson, M.S., Ed.D., is a Special Education Teacher/Behavioral Intervention Specialist.
Joseph S. Kaplan, Ed.D., has over 40 years of experience in education as a special education teacher, school psychologist, and teacher trainer at both the pre- and in-service levels.
Karen Lea, Ph.D., has over 12 years of experience teaching in culturally diverse settings in classrooms that reflect every area of diversity. She is the Dean of the School of Education at Olivet Nazarene University.
Florah Luseno, Ph.D., received her doctorate in administration and supervision of special education from Virginia Polytechnic State University. Her background experience is in the area of special education,
with special interest in emotional and behavioral disorders, mental retardation, and inclusion.
Sue Lynch, DVM, specializes in exotics and zoo animal health.
Charlene McLauchlan, DVM, District Sales Manager, Elanco Animal Health, specializes in dairy cattle.
Kevin Miller, Ph.D., RVT, has worked cases for state and local law enforcement as well as the FBI, and is an Assistant Professor of Forensic Science at California State University, Fresno.
Bernadette Muscat, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Criminology, at California State University, Fresno.
Elizabeth Payne earned her MFA in Design for Stage and Theatre from New York University. A working costume designer, Ms. Payne teaches both Costume Design and Makeup at Fresno State.
Achuthan (Bob) Pillay, Ed.D., is a doctorate level instructor who has been teaching in the field of special education for the past 30 years. He has received numerous national and international awards for his research in the field and has headed boards and committees in more than five countries to develop and strengthen special services.
Peggy Rapp, MSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience in the field of mental health, substance abuse and the elderly. She currently is the Assistant Dean of Professional Studies at Concordia College, New York and works as a consultant for the Southern Westchester Board of Education. Prior to her career in higher education, she provided services to dually diagnosed individuals through New York University’s program for the homeless in New York City. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at NYU in Clinical Social Work.
Michael Sedler, D.Min., has presented seminars and classes throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada. He has worked as an administrator, behavior specialist, teacher, and social worker within the public school setting. He is an adjunct professor for two universities in the state of Washington and has been a professor for a college in Georgia.
Dianne Sharples, Ed.D., is an educational consultant and trainer. She taught nursing for 15 years at College of the Sequoias and was then Dean of Academic Services for 18 years. She also taught with the CSU Statewide University for ten years. She has been very active at the state level in community college educational issues.
Donna Shepard, B.S., is a Registered Veterinary Technician. She has nine years of emergency and critical care veterinary nursing, has taught veterinary nursing at the college level, and works as a veterinary technician supervisor in Fresno.
Harold Silvani, M.A., has been involved in the field of education for more than 40 years. He is CEO of Curriculum Services Associates, which provides graduate-level professional development opportunities to teachers throughout the United States. He taught for over 20 years in the School of Education at California State University, Fresno, and is one of the founders and owners of Creative Teaching Associates. He has authored and published more than 100 curriculum manuals and activities that are currently in use in classrooms throughout the nation and around the world.
Kay Sole is extensively trained and experienced in classroom instruction and management strategies for a diverse population. She has completed course work for a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. As a long-time consultant for the Education and Learning Trust, a professional development program for New York State teachers, she is an adjunct instructor for several colleges in New York State and has co-authored several three-hour graduate courses including Inclusion: Education for All.
Jeff Spalsbury, M.L.S., is president of an educational and training consulting firm. Previously he was the director of a college library media center and professor at a small California college. He uses his experience as an educator, trainer and instructional designer to create a dynamic, motivational course based on real-world teaching skills, multimedia technologies and techniques. He fills each class with stories and examples to make a lasting impression on all who attend and to inspire each person to be the best they can be.
Cheryl Waterhouse, DVM, owns a
successful veterinary hospital and won the Fresno Bee’s People’s Choice Award in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 for Best Veterinarian.
Ralph Waterhouse, B.S., Biology, has 33 years of zoological management and has led African safaris for 21 years.
Arthur Wint, J.D., is a Professor in the Criminology Department and is Chair of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at California State University, Fresno.
Marrea Winnega, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with more than 14 years of experience in the field of autism spectrum disorders. She is a consultant to schools and agencies serving individuals with autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger’s Disorder. Three years ago, Dr. Winnega developed the Autism Dynamic Beginnings classroom, an intensive, multimodel classroom for three- to six-year-olds with autism.
Esteban Yáñez, B.A., has been a contract interpreter with the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno, and various agencies for five years. He also worked for the Fresno County Office of Multilingual/Multicultural Education for five years as a proficiency assessor for grades K-12.
Norma L. Yáñez has been a certified court interpreter with the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno, for three years. She has also owned and operated her own interpreting agency, working as a contract interpreter for various state agencies and private law firms for nine years.