Steve Isachsen
sisachsen@miracosta.edu
Steve
grew up in Northern California in the heart of Silicon Valley.
With his childhood home just a few miles from such computing industry
giants as Apple and IBM, computers were a part of everyday life from an
early age. In the late 1970s his elementary school classrooms were
some of the first in the nation to integrate the Apple II in to the
curriculum and afternoons were spent tinkering with early home video game
systems from Atari and what went on to become the world's best selling
personal computer model of all time, the Commodore 64.
Interested in ethical,
social, and governmental issues surrounding technology and its use, upon
graduating from high school in 1989, Steve enrolled in his local community
college, West Valley College, with his sights set on transferring to a
four year university where he could pursue studies in these areas in more
depth. With a personal passion for the outdoors, including surfing
and golf, Steve decided on the University of California, San Diego, and
transferred in the fall of 1991. While studying Political Science
was his primary focus, he spent as much of his free time as possible on
the waves at Black's Beach and on the links at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
Graduating with honors, over the next 3 years he went to work in various
computer and technology related positions at Franklin Templeton Investments
and Financial Profiles, Inc.
At the same time, on the recommendation of one of his professors, he began
teaching in the K-12 system on a substitute basis. Inspired by these
experiences, in 1996 he entered graduate school at San Francisco State
University with the hope of eventually teaching at a community college where he could blend
his interests in the fields of computing, politics, and teaching. After
completing his comprehensive exams, Steve taught for four years at the
community college and California State University levels as well as worked
in a Instructional Technology Services role as an analyst, instructional
designer, and trainer at San Diego State University,
before being hired in the fall of 2001 as a full time faculty member in
the Computer and Information Science Department at MiraCosta College.
As
a tenured faculty member now in his 9th year, Steve has found MiraCosta
to be a wonderful place to teach and learn. Having spent several
years developing the Flexible Learning instructional modality for
Computer and Information Science classes, his current focus is creating a comprehensive
Computer Applications Program within the Computer Studies Department.
In addition to academic computer application course offerings, this
program focuses on longer term outcomes such as certificate and degree
completion, professional level certification, transfer, and occupational retraining
and job preparation. Special emphasis is placed on offering
cutting-edge curriculum and pedagogy that encourages a connection
between classroom theory and real world skills and techniques so that
students are prepared for success in industry. During his time at
MiraCosta, Steve has also sought out varied governance assignments that
contribute to the overall function of the college. His
interest in this area has included work as a Academic Senate Council
Representative; Professional Development Committee Member; Lodestar
Coordinator; Planning and Budgeting Committee Member; Horticulture,
Architecture, and Applied Technologies Department Chair; Faculty Textbook
Affordability Committee Chair; District-wide Taskforce on Textbook
Affordability Member; and, as a Member of the Academic Affairs
Committee.
When not
on campus, Steve still occasional gets out in the ocean and on the golf
course. Most of his free time, however, is spent with his wife and
two children,
Ella and Owen, ages 5 and 6. Looking forward, Steve
is excited about the ever changing computing horizon and is especially
enthusiastic about developing new Computer Studies Department
curriculum in the emerging technology areas of Web 2.0; cloud computing
and web based Google applications; ethical, social, and culture
issues surrounding technology and computing; and comprehensive baseline
computer literacy initiatives.
Abdy Afzali
aafzali-online@miracosta.edu
Abdy
began his career in the information technology field in the early 1980s
and has worked in a variety of high level management roles while
continuing to teach as an Associate Faculty Member at the community
college level. He has a Master of Business Administration in
Information Systems and a Master of Science in Advanced Management from
National University.
Having taught his first computer applications class at Southwestern
College in 1986, Abdy enjoys showing students how they can apply what they
have learned in the classroom to industry based case problems. His
positions as Director of Graphic
Communications and then later as Director of Administration and
Information Systems at National University were instrumental in providing
the context for his early lesson plans.
In 1991 Abdy joined the
MiraCosta College Academic Information Services Department as the Computer
Lab Manager and over the years has taught various computer applications
courses in the Computer and Information Science Department, including
Introduction to Microsoft Word (CIS 150), Introduction to Microsoft Excel
(CIS 152), Advanced Microsoft Excel (CIS 154), Introduction to Microsoft
Access (CIS 164), and Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint (CIS 184).
Since 1994 Abdy has served as
MiraCosta's Instructional Technology Coordinator. In this
position he is responsible for managing several thousand computers and a
team of technical staff that keep the dozens of computer labs and computer
classrooms at all three District sites running smoothly. In
addition, he actively participates in governance and committee work,
most recently serving as Classified Senate President.
Andre Andersen
aandersen@miracosta.edu
Andre
Andersen received his Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State
University in Business Administration, with a major in Information Systems
and a Master of Science degree in Educational Technology from National
University.
He began
his career working as an educational technician in the San Diego
Community College District where he assisted instructors teaching
business office technology courses ranging from basic computer skills to
advance Microsoft Office applications. He moved on to work as a senior
telecommunications technician for Avaya Communications where he managed
telecommunication systems for various naval bases in San Diego. He
simultaneously served 5 years in the Navy Reserves as an information
systems technician supporting the Navy's global satellite
telecommunications systems, mainframe computers, local and wide area
networks, and micro-computer systems used in the fleet.
Andre
decided to apply his knowledge in the educational field and began
teaching computer applications in 2003 where he gained his experience in
online education, specializing in educational, business, and office
technology. He found his passion in educating a diverse range of
students by bringing the classroom to students in an online format. He
has since designed, taught, and maintained online courses ranging in
complexity from basic keyboarding to advanced business applications in
various community colleges.
His
professional interests include finding and creating new, exciting and
effective methods of online instruction. He also enjoys practicing yoga,
hiking and traveling.
Wahid Hamidy
whamidy@miracosta.edu
While
attending Torrey Pines High School, Wahid Hamidy took his first college
courses at MiraCosta College. Transferring to University of California,
San Diego and then Excelsior College in New York, he graduated with a
Bachelors degree in Mathematics and then a Masters degree in Mathematics
and Education from the University of Idaho. Currently he is in the last
stage of his Doctorate Degree in Educational Technology Management and
Online Teaching and Learning.
Wahid started his teaching career in the mid 1990’s working in both the
public and private sector. As an Education Director he provided support
for students and staff in use of applications and instructional software
and has completed the requirements for various professional certifications
such as Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Certified Professional.
Wahid is currently a Full-Time Faculty Member at San Diego Miramar
College. He has taught as well as developed curriculum for various
computer courses including beginning and advanced Microsoft Office Suite
Applications, Operating Systems, Web Page Design, and Computer Information
Systems in a multi-purpose lab, classroom based, and online. Wahid has
also been involved in various shared governance committees and has
received the President’s Achievement Award three times.
In addition to his professional career, Wahid enjoys various outdoor
activities including playing soccer, swimming, and snowboarding.
Wahid is very excited to come back to MiraCosta College to teach as an
Associate Faculty Member. By teaching at MiraCosta he believes that he
can give back to his community.
Jane Herrick
jherrick@miracosta.edu
Jane
began her career in computers in the early 1980s as a programmer, but
quickly discovered that she enjoyed working with people more than with
machines. She was able to transition into training clients to use the
programs that she once wrote. Jane created customized training courses,
traveling across the United States to deliver them.
Jane
moved to San Diego in 1984 and began teaching computer applications
classes for a private college and for the San Diego Community College
District. She developed curriculum and taught courses ranging from basic
computer skills to advanced Microsoft Office applications. Jane began
teaching computer classes for MiraCosta in 2001 at the Community Learning
Center and for the Computer and Information Science Department in 2005.
Jane also teaches for Vista Adult School at the North County Coastal
Career Center.
In
addition to being a graduate of MiraCosta College, Jane holds a California
Vocational Education Teaching Credential and a Computer and Business
Applications Software Teaching Credential. In June 2009, Jane earned a
certificate in Assistive Technology Applications from Cal State
Northridge. She is also a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Leadership
program.
Jane is
an educator with a passion for teaching and for people. She has a
straightforward teaching style and sense of humor that keeps her students
engrossed in the learning process. Her enthusiasm is contagious and her
commitment to empower her students evident in all of her classes. When she
isn’t teaching, Jane can be found kayaking, hiking, sailing or traveling
to an adventure-filled destination (she leaves her laptop at home).
Susie Lee
slee@miracosta.edu
Susie
is a graduate of Mira Costa College, and attended Baruch College in her
native city of New York. She has taught at in the Computer and Information
Science Department at MiraCosta College since 1999, earning a reputation
as an instructor who knows how to engage her students in the classroom.
Over the past several years, her students have personally requested her
presence during the graduation ceremony to present their diploma to them.
Susie has also taught the Microsoft Office Suite, Internet, and Web Site
Development at San Dieguito Union High School Adult Education School in
Encinitas. She has an extensive computer background working as a computer
lab facilitator with the same district. In addition to her teaching
position at MiraCosta, Susie currently works with a high school counselor
to help connect high school students with grants and scholarships to
enable them to continue their education at the college and university
level. On an average, 30% of the high school graduates Susie interacts
with begin their college career at Mira Costa.
Susie moved to Cardiff in 1971. She currently practices yoga, travels to
remote tropical paradises with her husband in quest of finding the perfect
beach, and especially loves spending time with her 3-year-old grandson.
Her biggest regret in life is not becoming a professional Hawaiian dancer.
Elaine Loughrey
eloughrey@miracosta.edu
Elaine
Loughrey was born and raised in New Jersey, where she attended Drew
University and graduated with a B.A. degree in Mathematics. Elaine also
holds an M.S. degree in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University,
has completed additional graduate work in Cognitive Science at UC Irvine
and holds a lifetime instructor credential to teach Computer and Related
Technologies for the California Community College system.
Elaine began her career as a programmer/analyst in Washington, D.C.,
providing consulting services for six years to government agencies such as
the Department of Defense and the Office of Naval Research, among others.
She then worked as a telecommunications software engineer for GTE
Laboratories (now Verizon) in Boston during the four years her husband
attended graduate school. After the birth of their daughter, Kate, they
moved to California, where Elaine worked as Software QA Manager and
consultant on a variety of projects for the telecommunications, imaging,
government and educational markets.
Elaine has taught Information Technology and Computer Science classes at
various colleges, including Bentley College, Palomar College, Chapman
College, and UCSD. She has been an instructor for the Computer and
Information Science Department at MiraCosta College for the past twelve
years. Classes taught include: Computer Applications, Fundamentals of
Computer Information Systems, Computer Literacy, Microsoft Excel (both
on-ground and on-line) and Microsoft Word.
In addition, Elaine has developed and taught the following classes for the
Computer Science discipline: Visual Basic Programming (on-line), C++
Programming (on-line), Data Structures & Algorithms.
In her spare time Elaine micro-manages her family, serves on the Board of
Directors of the local Chapter of the American Harp Society, visits New
Orleans and New York as often as possible, and wishes she weren't, but
apparently is, addicted to Sudoku and KenKen.
Gale Nelson
gnelson@miracosta.edu
After
growing up in Durham, North Carolina, Gale attended college in South
Carolina earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (1973).
Early on
there was no doubt she was going to be a teacher. From the age of five
years old Gale would line up all of her cousins and they would play
school. Guess who the teacher was....
As a
credentialed educator, Gale successfully taught students in South
Carolina, Colorado, and California. With a Master’s Degree in
Educational Technology (1994), Gale taught Web Page Design, Business
Organization, and the Microsoft Office Suite for Coleman College, San
Marcos campus. Gale began teaching as a MiraCosta Associate Faculty
Member in the fall of
2000. At MiraCosta she has taught Web Page Design (IMT 125), Microsoft
Office Applications (CIS 100), Computer Literacy (CIS 102), Excel (CIS
152), Access (CIS 164), Windows XP (CIS 185), and has worked as a Lab
Instructor in the Open Computer Lab.
On
three occasions Gale’s students have nominated her for National Awards.
Twice she has been listed in “Who’s Who Among American Teachers”, and
listed once in the “Cambridge Who’s Who Registry of Executives and
Professionals”. In October 2005 Gale received a MiraCosta College
Spotlight Award, given “For exemplary CIS Faculty Achievement."
She and
her husband John, also an educator, enjoy trips to Big Sur and the Grand
Canyon, digital photography, skiing and spending time on the ocean in
their small fishing boat.
Debra Sayble-Thornbrugh
dsayble-thornbrugh@miracosta.edu
A
native Californian educated at UCLA, Debra received her B.A. in Theater
Arts and her M.A. in Psychotherapy. After serving as a public school
elementary teacher and counselor in Los Angeles, she “discovered” the
world of personal computers and the Internet. Debra recognized and
embraced what they could do for people, business, and communities. She
integrated business software applications into her own small business for
several years, and she designed and delivered corporate training
workshops.
In the
mid-1990s Debra began teaching computer courses such as Computer
Literacy, Introduction to Windows, Computer Information Systems,
PageMaker, FrontPage, and all of the Microsoft Office Suite applications
such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. She taught at a
community college in rural northern Arizona, and spent a semester
creating the first computer lab for an elementary school on the Hopi
Indian Reservation. She also spent two years as the sole computer and
business teacher for the Grand Canyon Unified School District (right in
Grand Canyon National Park, just yards from the south rim). In 2003 she
returned home to southern California.
Over the
years Debra has developed into a well-respected, high-level computer
training specialist who designs, creates, and delivers her own
business-related computer courses (including Oracle PeopleSoft) for the
employees of one of the largest public school districts in the nation.
She also specializes in building online, interactive tutorials, as well
as developing other aspects of distance, or Web, learning.
Debra
continues to teach computer courses for MiraCosta such as the Microsoft
Office Suite applications, which is her first love. She quips, “I try to
use the right and left sides of my brain; I don’t like to play
favorites,” which is why she enjoys solving esoteric puzzles, exploring
the outdoors, playing guitar, and studying the fine arts.
Kathy Van Pelt
kvanpelt@miracosta.edu
Kathy
is a Carlsbad local and graduated from MiraCosta College and California
State University, San Marcos with degrees from both colleges in Social
Science with an emphasis in psychology and sociology.
Kathy
loves being involved in education and has worked at MiraCosta College for
20 years. Prior to MiraCosta, she worked at Eldorado Business College
teaching word processing and business courses.
Kathy’s
three jobs at MiraCosta include teaching computer applications and
keyboarding classes for the Computer Studies Department; teaching one- and
two-day computer courses through Community Services; and working as an
Instructional Assistant II for the Academic Information Services
Department. Kathy also teaches three online courses (PowerPoint 2007,
PowerPoint 2003, and Keyboarding) through Education to Go, a division of
Cengage Learning.
Kathy has
taken computer classes, but much of her computer knowledge is self-taught
or has been learned on the job and by assisting students and staff.
MiraCosta College Computer Applications Program