About

Past Faculty and Staff

Dr. Marcella "Marcy" De Veaux, Professor of Journalism, is a Depth Psychologist and Liberation Psychologist. She facilitates workshops for companies and educational institutions on diversity-related initiatives, including strategies to eradicate unconscious bias. Dr. De Veaux joined OSSI in 2017.

Javari Fairclough (M.A., General Experimental Psychology, California State University, Northridge, expected May 2020) is a graduate student assistant for OSSI.  Javari graduated from CSUN with a B.A. in Psychology. 

Mirna Girgis (B.A., Graphic Design, California State University, Northridge, expected May 2020) is a graphic design student for OSSI. 

Kristy Michaud, Professor of Political Science, joined the the Office of Student Success Innovations in 2016 as the Director. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2007 and her B.A. in Political Science from San Diego State University in 2011. Prior to joining OSSI, Kristy served as the Associate Director of Faculty Development.

Courtney Brubaker (B.S. Kinesiology, California State University Northridge, 2017) served as the Administrative Support Assistant for OSSI from Fall 2017 through Summer 2018. Prior to joining OSSI, she worked as a student assistant for the University Student Union Events Department and the Associated Students Accounting Department. 

Sophia Chang (M.A., General Experimental Psychology, California State University, Northridge, expected May 2019) served as a data analyst for OSSI. Sophia graduated from CSUN with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology. Her research interests involve understanding racial microaggression and its impact on self-identity.  

Mónica G. Garcia (Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago, 2011) is an assistant professor in the department of Secondary Education. Mónica grew up in the communities of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, were she worked for several years as a middle and high school teacher. At CSUN, she teaches courses in the areas of multicultural and multilingual education. Mónica's scholarly interests include Latinx secondary schooling, issues of equity and access for historically marginalized students, gender as curriculum, and women of color feminisms.

Virginia Huynh received her Ph.D. and Master’s degree from the Department of Psychology at UCLA. She is originally from Beaverton, Oregon and attended college at Loyola Marymount University. Her research focuses on understanding social and cultural factors–such as discrimination and ethnic socialization that influence the academic, psychological, and physical well-being of ethnic minority and immigrant children and adolescents.  

Kyung (Esther) Hwang (M.A., General Experimental Psychology, California State University, Northridge, 2018) served as a data analyst for OSSI.  Esther graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a B.A. and a B.S. in Psychology and Child Adolescent Development respectively.

Ryan McManus (M.A., General Experimental Psychology, California State University, Northridge, 2018) served as a data analyst for OSSI.  Ryan graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in psychology. His primary research interests are in moral judgments and decision-making to understand what causes and facilitates moral disagreement.

Mary-Pat Stein (Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 2000) is a Professor in the department of Biology. Mary-Pat grew up outside of Philadelphia and went to the University of Pennsylvania as an undergraduate studying the Biological Basis of Behavior. While working for the Army at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Stein earned a M.S. in Biomedical Science from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

Yarma Velázquez Vargas (Ph.D., Florida State University, 2008) is an Associate Professor of Communication in the Chicanx Studies Department. Yarma’s areas of research interest include Media Studies, Performance Studies, and Cultural Studies. Her work is dedicated to cultivating social justice and diversity through her research, teaching, and service.

Mikhael Wijaya (B.A. Graphic Design, California State University, Northridge, 2018) served as a visual designer for OSSI.    

2016-17 Staff 

Alvaro Castillo (M.A., English, California State University, Northridge, 2018) served as a student assistant for OSSI.

 Angelina Finau (B.A., Political Science, California State University, Northridge, 2017) served as a student assistant for OSSI.

 Claus Offersen (B.S., Marketing, California State University, Northridge, 2017)  served as a student assistant for OSSI.