New Faculty
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Rana McReynoldsAssistant Professor, African American Studies Assistant Professor of African American Studies Rana McReynolds is a first-generation college student who received her Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Davis. Her research examines intersectionality, gender stereotypes, sexism, and misogynoir in U.S. politics. Continue reading |
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Kimberly MirandaAssistant Professor, Chicana & Chicano Studies Assistant Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies Dra. Miranda Kimberly is a first-generation xicana from East Los Angeles. She's a proud non-traditional transfer student and has a A.A. in Art History and B.A. in Chicana/o Studies. Her research focuses on community healing justice, abolition, critical race geography, transnational feminisms, and QTBIPOC cultural productions. Continue reading |
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Bianca HinojosaAssistant Professor, Psychology Bianca Hinojosa earned her Ph.D. in psychological sciences with an emphasis in health psychology at the University of California, Merced. Her research program broadly focuses on stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination toward the Latinx population and its effects on Latinx peoples’ health and well-being. Continue reading |
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Desiree RyanAssistant Professor, Psychology Assistant Professor of Psychology Desiree Ryan earned her Ph.D. in social psychology
at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her research examines classism in political
contexts, media portrayals of classist stereotypes, and the implications of rising
political polarization and economic inequality. Continue reading
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Juan PeñaAssistant Professor, Psychology Dr. Juan Peña completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of New
Mexico. Dr. Peña’s research focuses on the social determinants of health that contribute
to physical and mental health disparities among populations most underrepresented
in research, with a focus on Hispanic or Latino/a/x people and immigrant communities.
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Li Shen (Jesslyn) ChongAssistant Professor, Psychology Dr. Li Shen (Jesslyn) Chong received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University
at Albany, State University of New York in 2024. Her research utilizes a biopsychosocial
approach to understand how life adversities and stress response systems influence
the risk of socio-emotional and health problems and racial/ethnic health disparities.
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Wayne JopandaAssistant Professor, Asian American Studies Wayne Jopanda is an Asian American Studies Assistant Professor and received his PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of California, Davis, researching Filipinx student experiences with burn out, trafficked Filipinx teachers, and the education’s commodification of Filipinos’ labor. Continue reading |
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Laureen HomAssociate Professor, Urban & Regional Planning Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning Laureen Hom’s scholarship examines community development, gentrification, and political organizing in racialized spaces. She has published a book, “The Power of Chinatown: Searching for Spatial Justice in Los Angeles” (UC Press), along with articles in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Journal of Urban Affairs, Public Integrity, and Urban Affairs Review. Continue reading |
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Sophie KelmensonAssistant Professor, Urban & Regional Planning Sophie Kelmenson earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in city and regional planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Royster Distinguished Fellow, and Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grant recipient. Broadly, she is interested in natural resource and food systems planning and their interaction with economic development and equity considerations. Continue reading |
