New Tenure-Track Faculty

Melissa K. Wrapp Anthropology

DR. MELISSA K. WRAPP joins the anthropology department this fall, where she is teaching Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, the Anthropology of Design, and Economic Anthropology. Dr. Wrapp holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Notre Dame, a master of philosophy in social anthropology from the University of Cambridge, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from UC Irvine.

She has completed two main research projects: her dissertation, on urban design and housing in Cape Town, South Africa, in which she studied racial anxiety and the politics of efforts to transform the city; and a study focusing on the design of financial technology in the U.S. In the future, Dr. Wrapp hopes to combine these two projects and bring her research closer to home by exploring “the relationship between the design of financial technology, real estate, and urban inequality in Southern California,” she says.

In the classroom, Dr. Wrapp aims to create a sense of community. “My philosophy is that teaching is a way of engaging in collective critical thinking, and I design my courses to be accessible and student-centered,” she says. “I strive to create a learning environment that fosters inclusion and studentdriven dialogue.”

Ashley Hopkins Journalism and Public Relations

DR. ASHLEY HOPKINS joins the journalism and public relations department this fall, where she is teaching courses in news writing, design, and research methods.

Dr. Hopkins holds a B.A. in journalism from James Madison University, an M.S. in magazine journalism from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in journalism from Ohio University. Her main area of research is data mining and privacy, and she has published articles discussing the intersection of technology and journalism and its impact on consumers in Electronic News and the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media.

Dr. Hopkins obtained her doctorate after working as a reporter and copy editor covering county politics for Miami Today, a business publication in South Florida. In the classroom, she will encourage her students to apply the skills they have learned in their studies.

“Through a step-by-step approach that focuses on passion-based learning and discussion, I aim to equip my students with the skills necessary to educate and inform audiences with the news they need, as well as the news they want,” she says.

She is most excited to be involved in the growth of young journalists “I am absolutely most looking forward to getting to know and work with the journalism students on the CSULB campus,” she says. “This upcoming generation of passionate reporters and writers is going to make waves, I can feel it. They get it.”

Briac Halbout Psychology

DR. BRIAC HALBOUT, who holds a bachelor’s degree in life science, master’s degrees in neuroscience and neuropsychopharmacology and addictology, and a Ph.D. in natural sciences, joins the psychology department this fall.

His main area of research focuses on behavioral neuroscience, and he has published articles in Nature Neuroscience and the Journal of Neuroscience. Before pursuing a career in academia, Dr. Halbout worked in research and development at a pharmaceutical company, where he gained experience in drug development and pre-clinical models of psychiatric diseases.

Dr. Halbout looks forward to facilitating growth in his students both as learners and as good community members. “I strive to help students tap into the knowledge and strengths they bring to the classroom and help provide the tools they need to take hold of their education so that they can flourish on an individual level and as members of their communities,” he says.

He is most excited to teach psychobiology and hopes to create a course that addresses climate change. “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the world is confronting at the moment,” he says. “I think it would be very neat to develop and teach a course on how climate change affects the brain, and how our brain contributes to, and might help mitigate, the climate crisis.”

Daniela Suárez Romance, German & Russian Languages & Literatures

DR. DANIELA SUÁREZ has been a lecturer at CSULB since 2014 and has taught in the comparative world literature, Chicano and Latino studies, and Romance, German and Russian languages and literature departments. This fall, she joins the tenure track in the RGRLL department.

Dr. Suárez holds two bachelor’s degrees, in Spanish and linguistics; a master’s degree in Hispanic literatures and cultures; and a Ph.D in Latin American literatures and cultures, with an emphasis in critical theory. Her research focuses on the literary representation of the United States by Latin American writers and on the construction of Mexican nationalism and identities in literature.

In addition to teaching 1492 and Beyond and a graduate seminar on Latin American narrative this fall, Dr. Suárez will be creating new courses to incorporate 20th- and 21st-century Mexican and Central American perspectives into the curriculum.

Dr. Suárez prioritizes a student-centered classroom.“This requires a pedagogical approach that de-centers dominant perspectives and that, instead, engages the viewpoints of communities historically underrepresented, like those of women, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ+ folks, Afrolatines, immigrants, and other marginalized communities,” she says.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Suárez is an active advocate and works for ORALE (Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation & Empowerment), a local NGO that fights for immigrant justice, as a volunteer and board member. She looks forward to bridging her community work with her work at the university.

Blanca-Azucena PachecoChicano and Latino Studies

DR. BLANCA-AZUCENA PACHECO joined the Chicano and Latino studies department this fall, where she is teaching Introduction to Racial and Ethnic Studies and Health Status and Health Care Access. She holds a bachelor’s degree in health promotion and disease prevention, master’s degrees in public health and Latin American studies, and a Ph.D. in Latin American studies. In addition to her degrees, Dr. Pacheco completed training in medical anthropology at the Center for Research and Graduate Studies in Social Anthropology in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Shaped by her upbringing in South Central Los Angeles and rural Guatemala, Dr. Pacheco’s main area of research is in community health, an area of study where she exercises her background in ethnic studies and public health. “My research in community health centers Indigenous and local knowledge on health, illness, and medicine in order to design truly culturally relevant health interventions,” she says.

Throughout her academic and professional career, Dr. Pacheco has contributed to community research projects serving various communities, including Indigenous populations in Guatemala and im/migrant communities in California.

In the classroom, Dr. Pacheco prioritizes critical thinking and hopes to help students use their real-life experiences to make personal connections to the larger “social, historical, and political factors that create health inequities for historically marginalized communities.”

Viola LasmanaComparative World Literature

DR. VIOLA LASMANA joins the comparative world literature department this fall, where she will teach Digital Narrative and Culture, Representing the World: Literature and Culture in Contact and Conflict, and CWL 495, the course in which students produce Genre, a comparative world literature journal.

Dr. Lasmana holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in English with a focus on digital media and culture, and her main area of research is at the intersection of transpacific studies, transnational feminisms, critical theory, digital humanities, and global media arts.

“I have always been drawn to ways of thinking about the world that reflect the interconnectedness of cultures, histories, and communities,” she says. “I believe in multidisciplinary scholarship that brings together theory and praxis, in order to work toward better futures and to build communities in solidarity.”

Dr. Lasmana has published multiple articles in journals such as Alternative Historiographies of the Digital Humanities, Film Quarterly, Visual Anthropology, and more.

In the classroom, Dr. Lasmana values community. “I practice a pedagogy and ethics of care in my classroom in order to foster and protect what matters most: a generative learning environment for my students,” she says. “This foundation is key in building a space where learning is shared between teachers, students, and the community at large.”

Kairon Shayne Dumalag Garcia Economics

DR. KAIRON SHAYNE DUMALAG GARCIA joins the economics department this fall. Holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of the Philippines and a Ph.D. in economics from Washington State University, Dr. Garcia focuses on labor economics and the economics of education in her research.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Garcia will continue her research in applied microeconomics and econometrics, areas of study that are deeply personal to her. “Growing up, I observed firsthand how access to quality education can transform communities and open up opportunities,” she says. “By researching these topics, I aim to contribute to policies that enhance educational access and equity and foster a more efficient and fair labor market.”

This fall, Dr. Garcia is teaching Principles of Microeconomics and Advanced Microeconomics. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes the diversity of her students, as she understands that each one brings unique expectations and needs to the classroom.

“I have developed my teaching approach based on three core principles: offering flexible learning opportunities, creating an open and inclusive environment, and prioritizing the development of critical thinking skills to foster a comprehensive approach to learning,” she says.

Outside the classroom, Dr. Garcia looks forward to collaborating with colleagues on innovative projects and contributing to new and interesting research.

“I value continuous learning and personal growth,” she says. “Looking ahead, I aspire to make a meaningful impact through my work and continue exploring new opportunities for personal and professional development. I am excited about the future and always on the lookout for ways to enjoy life and grow.”

Jonathan Pando Ocón Geography

DR. JONATHAN PANDO OCÓN joins the geography department this fall, where he is teaching courses in geospatial science and technology, as well as computer programming.

Dr. Ocón holds a B.S. in urban planning from USC and an M.A. and Ph.D. in geography from UCLA. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he worked as an urban planner on projects focused on gentrification abatement, community engagement, and urban design.

Through this work, Dr. Ocón discovered a passion for what is now his main area of research: the urban heat island effect and global tropical dry forest conservation. “I am currently working toward incorporating traditional and local knowledge into the more hegemonic Western approach to studying humans and the environment,” he says.

In the classroom, trust will be a driving force for Dr. Ocón and his students. “I have to trust that students want to be in my class, and the students in turn will need to trust that I will do everything in my power to ensure the course objectives are met,” he says.

As a second-generation Chicano, Dr. Ocón is eager to work at CSULB and join the university’s diverse community. “You mean to tell me I have the chance to join a minority-serving institution ranked highly in prioritizing social mobility with a focus on teaching and an opportunity to continue my research program at the same time?” he says. “Sign me up!”