Cluster Hire for Tenure-Track Faculty
Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity and inclusion, especially in the classroom and among its areas of study. To promote inclusive teaching strategies across the university and increase curricular coverage of areas related to diversity and inclusion, a university-wide cluster of tenure-track faculty search was launched. Through this effort, we successfully hired sixteen new assistant professors across several departments in five colleges and are pleased to showcase our first cohort. These faculty will contribute to the university’s diversity and inclusion goals in their departments and colleges, the university and the community.
Meet the new diversity cluster hires for the 2019-20 academic year

Dr. Yun Lucy Bencharit
College of Liberal Arts
Psychology and Child Development - Assistant Professor, Diversity and Organization Behavior
Degree: Ph.D. in Psychology from Stanford University
Research Interest: Cultural variation in emotional expressions in work settings, teamwork, and group dynamics across cultures; diverse, equity and trust in organizations.

Dr. Tina Cheuk
College of Science and Mathematics
School of Education - Assistant Professor, Elementary Science Education
Degree: Ph.D. in Science Education from Stanford University
Research Interest: Language and Literacy Development in the context of science learning for linguistically diverse learners.

Dr. Deborah Donig
College of Liberal Arts
English - Assistant Professor, Global Anglophone Literatures
Degree: Ph.D. in English from University of California, Los Angles
Research Interest: Global Anglophone Literature, Human Rights, Comparative Genocide, and Humanistic Technology

Dr. Thanayi Jackson
College of Liberal Arts
History - Assistant Professor, African American History
Degree: Ph.D. in United States History from University of Maryland
Research Interest: Politics and Race in the U.S. from 1865; Civil War and Reconstruction; African American Activism; Partisanship and Political Culture.

Dr. Benjamin Lutz
College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering - Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Degree: Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech
Research Interest: Social Justice in Engineering Design, Equitable Curriculum and Course Design, and Learning & Development in Professional Engineering Practice.

Dr. Padma Maitland
College of Architecture Engineering and Design
Architecture - Assistant Professor, Architecture History and Theory
Degree: Ph.D. in Architecture from University of California, Berkeley
Research Interest: Modern Buddhist Art and Architecture of South and Southeast Asia, the Architecture of the Global South, New Materialisms, the History of Emotions, and Cultural Heritage and Conservation Practices.

Dr. Shanae Aurora Martinez
College of Liberal Arts
English - Assistant Professor, Indigenous Literatures
Degree: Ph.D. in English Literature and Cultural Theory from University of Wisconsin
Research Interest: Indigenous American Literatures, Indigenizing knowledge production, Decolonial Praxis, Transnationalism, Trans-Indigenous Resistance, Feminist Alliance and Tourism.

Dr. Stefanee Maurice
College of Science and Mathematics
Kinesiology and Public Health - Assistant Professor, Psychology and Sociology of Physical Activity, Exercise and Sport
Degree: Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from West Virginia University
Research Interest: The psychology of injury, dynamics of the coach-athlete relationship, gendered experiences in officiating and sport, education and training of sport psychology professionals.

Dr. Natasha Neumann
College of Science and Mathematics
School of Education - Assistant Professor, Education Leadership and Administration
Degree: Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education
Research Interest: Multilingual Education, Dual Language Immersion programs, Access and Equity for emergent bilinguals, and the preparation of educational leaders to serve a diverse student population equipped to thrive in the global market place.

Dr. Kylie Parrotta
College of Liberal Arts
Social Sciences - Assistant Professor, Criminology and Gender
Degree: Ph.D. in Sociology from North Carolina State University
Research Interest: Social Psychology of Organizational Change,
Race and Gender Disparities, Identity Work and Stigma Management, 21st Century Policing, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and Race & STEM.

Dr. Joni Roberts
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
Kinesiology and Public Health - Assistant Professor, Public Health
Degree: Ph.D. in Public Health from Loma Linda University
Research Interest: Maternal and child health issues surrounding the preconception, conception, and post-partum periods of a woman’s life. Cultural beliefs, implicit bias and health disparities impacting prenatal and maternal health care.

Dr. Jafra Thomas
College of Science and Mathematics
Kinesiology and Public Health - Assistant Professor, Psychology and Sociology of Physical Activity, Exercise and Sport
Degree: Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Oregon State University
Research Interest: Community- based health promotions, practices and partnerships.

Dr. Cindy Wang
Orfalea College of Business
Marketing - Assistant Professor, Marketing
Degree: Ph.D. in Marketing from University of Oregon
Research Interest: Marketing Communication, Advertising, Participative Pricing, Consumer Power, and Consumer Food Choices
Cluster Hire Steering Committee
Name |
Position |
|
Phone number |
Al Liddicoat |
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Personnel |
756-5217 |
|
Jozi De Leon |
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion |
756-2262 |
|
Julie Garcia |
Interim Associate Vice President, OUDI |
756-1603 |
|
Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti |
Associate Dean for Diversity and Curriculum, CLA |
756-2644 |
|
Camille O’Bryant |
Associate Dean for Student Success, Welfare and Issues of Diversity and Inclusion, CSM |
756-1787 |
|
Denise Isom |
Ethnic Studies Chair, CLA |
756-7388 |
|
Eric Mehiel |
Associate Dean for Diversity and Student Success, CENG |
756-7537 |
|
Mark Cabrinha |
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, CAED |
756-5988 |
|
Taryn Stanko |
Faculty Fellow for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, OCOB |
756-2680 |
|
Jane Lehr |
Faculty, Ethnic Studies, CLA |
756-6442 |
|
Lindsay Christiansen |
Faculty Program and Executive Recruitment Coordinator, Academic Personnel |
756-6097 |
(09/2019)
Related Documents, Forms and Information
- Cal Poly Advancing Faculty Diversity Proposal
- Cal Poly Final Report-June 2019
- Cluster Hire Information and Call for Proposals (pdf) rev. 6/1/2018
- Cluster Hire Search Proposal Form (doc) rev. 5/31/2018
- Cluster Hire for Tenure-Track Faculty (pdf) rev. 11/28/2018
- 2017 College of Liberal Arts Cluster Hire (webpage)
- Cluster Hire and Diversity Statement Recruitment Language (doc) rev. 8/20/2018