Faculty receive tenure and core status
A select group of dedicated instructors was recognized for their service to the college during a ceremony last month.
This year, nine faculty members were awarded tenure for their commitment to quality instruction at Seattle Central, granting them permanent teaching positions. During the three-year tenure process, tenure candidates are observed and evaluated by a committee comprised of students, staff and fellow faculty members. Candidates must continually meet criteria determined by the committee and must be recommended by both the President and the Chancellor. Last month, they were formally recognized for their achievements during a reception hosted by the Board of Trustees.
Additionally, two Institute of English (SCIE) faculty members have earned core status, granting them permanent annually-contracted teaching positions. The core status process is new this year and is meant to acknowledge the outstanding achievement of SCIE faculty. Core status candidates are observed and evaluated by a committee comprised of a program administrator, an international student and fellow faculty members. Candidates must continually meet criteria determined by the committee and must be recommended by the Executive Dean of International Education Programs, the Vice President of Instruction and the President of Seattle Central College. The faculty who have received tenure this year are:
Erik Fadiman
BITCA Division
Erik began at Seattle Central as a part-time instructor in 2004 in the Business, Information Technology and Creative Arts Division, and became a full-time instructor in 2014. As an integral part of the Graphic Design program, Erik teaches classes in Web Design, WordPress and Motion Graphics. He employs his significant experience as a designer in the private sector to teach his students relevant knowledge and skills required in the industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Melanie King
Humanities Division
Melanie served as part-time faculty member in Art History and Humanities at the college since 2009 before becoming a full-time instructor. She teaches art history courses and coordinated studies programs at Seattle Central and has served on the college’s Instructional Assessment Committee and its Learning Communities Committee. She also works with the Seattle Central Foundation on its annual art auction and serves as the District coordinator for the League for Innovation Student Art Competition. Recently, Melanie spearheaded efforts to preserve the Tsutakawa Fountain at Seattle Central, making art history come alive for students and encouraging them to engage in broader campus life. Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree in History, Asian Studies, and Japanese Language and Literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a master’s degree in Art History from the University of Washington and
Ricco Bonicalzi
Science and Math Division
Ricco taught as a part-time faculty member in 2000 and served as a tutor before leaving to pursue a doctorate degree and research with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He returned to Seattle Central in 2013, where he teaches Physics, Math and Astronomy. Ricco is patient when explaining material and has a great way of simplifying complicated topics such as quantum mechanics. He continually develops and tests new teaching tools and ideas, such as introducing “Science in the News,” using online demos and interactive technologies. Ricco is part of the Ready! Set! Transfer! team, which helps the Seattle Central Foundation award scholarships and manages Seattle Central’s participation in the Washington NASA Space Grant. He also volunteers with local science fairs and high school programs. Ricco holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Occidental College, a master’s degree in Physics from SUNY at Stony Brook and a doctorate degree in Physics from the University of Washington.
Marina Halverson
Science and Math Division
Marina has taught in the Science and Math Division since 2013. In her classes, Marina creates an open and participatory learning environment, enhanced with field trips and hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Outside of the classroom, she works with students for the District-wide, National Science Foundation-funded “Research Experience for Undergraduates,” where community college students from the region participate in Oceanographic research as part of a year-long cohort. Marina’s office door is always open, welcoming students and creating an environment of collaboration with students, faculty and staff. Marina holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s in Biological Oceanography.
Rebecca Hartzler
Science and Math Division
Rebecca was tenured at Seattle Central in 2006 and served as the Dean of Science and Math, but she left the college to work on student achievement projects. She served as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, where she worked to expand community college developmental math initiatives that have become the national model. Since returning to the college in 2013, Rebecca has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellent and inclusive teaching while serving as a collaborative and productive member of the college community. She has authored several proposals to fund undergraduate research projects in partnership with the University of Washington, NASA and the National Science Foundation. Additionally, Rebecca fosters relationships with other community colleges, community-based organizations and non-profits with a focus on broadening student participation in STEM. Rebecca holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Physics from Kansas State University.
Edwyna Ho
Social and Human Services Division
Edwyna joined the Social and Human Services Division after serving as a part-time instructor at both Seattle Central and the University of Washington. Edwyna is a Qualified Chemical Dependency Counselor and teaches many of the required courses for the Chemical Dependency Certificate. In addition, she has served as a mental health practitioner for Harborview, Medical Respite, and Community Mental Health for many years. She has a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Colorado State University.
Barbara Jarrett
Seattle Vocational Institute
Barbara has taught Adult Basic Education and GED prep classes at Seattle Vocational Institute for 15 years. Since 2003, she has served as the program coordinator for the GED Academy at SVI, where she advises students about their and career academic options. She was instrumental in developing and implementing the new High School 21+ program at SVI, and looks forward to teaching several classes in the program this summer. Barbara holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Seattle University and a Master of Public Administration from Kittrell College in North Carolina.
Teresa Ferguson
Seattle Vocational Institute
Teresa, who has taught at Seattle Vocational Institute for 12 years, was hired into a tenure-track position in 2013. She teaches both general business and accounting classes, as well as business classes for Allied Health students. During her time at SVI, she has also served as a program administrator for the Business and Computer Applications Division. In the classroom, Teresa strives to be a resource for the many first-generation college students she teaches. She continually works to make her content more accessible. She holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from City University.
The following faculty have received core status with the Seattle Central Institute for English (SCIE):
Liese Rajesh
Seattle Central Institute for English (SCIE)
Liese has taught part-time in SCIE since 2007, and full-time since 2013. During her time at the college, she started a program for international students to engage in community service learning projects. She has also served as the faculty coordinator of academics, curriculum and assessment, as a chief organizer of SCIE’s faculty collaboration day, and has served on the faculty senate. In the classroom, she continually works to make her lessons more accessible and effective, and recently organized a faculty training book club on best practices for teaching vocabulary. She recently worked with library faculty to develop a level appropriate research project for her class. Liese earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Washington and a master’s degree from the TESOL School for International Training.
Emily Castillo
Seattle Central Institute for English (SCIE)
Emily has taught ESL in SCIE, as well as in the Basic and Transitional Studies division as a part time instructor since 2008, and full-time since 2013. During her time at the college, she has implemented a variety of vocational ESL and intensive English classes. She has served on numerous committees to support the continued advancement of SCIE and the college, including as the faculty coordinator for the IBEST program. She continually works to develop and update SCIE course content to make it more engaging and relevant to students. In the classroom, she incorporates examples from popular culture to excite her students about learning English. She serves as a CANVAS coordinator for SCIE and has developed innovative tools that streamline learning activities for both ESL instructors and students. She holds a master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and a bachelor’s degree in Music from Northern Arizona University.