Jonathan Diaz
English
Diaz graduated from Biola University, earned an MFA from the University of Notre Dame and expects to complete a doctorate in English from Baylor University this year. His latest research — the subject of his dissertation — examines religious identity and Latino literature. “I consider how authors in Latin America and the United States use their writing to explore questions about the nature of God, the self and community,” he says. “I’ve discussed with students how colonial Americans and Mexican authors used scripture to establish principles of justice in the New World.” He has published a chapbook, “Rumors of Rain, poems,” and more than a dozen poems in magazines and literary journals. “I hope students see the influence of my Christian faith in every part of my teaching, which provides a purpose for literary study,” he says. “It’s a truth-seeking endeavor to which the God of truth invites us.”
Kevin McGuire
Economics and Business
McGuire, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Oklahoma Christian University and a doctorate in business administration from the University of Oklahoma. He has published several research articles, including “Brand Animacy: Applying Linguistic Theory to Social Media Communications.” “I look forward to bringing the social, cultural and spiritual contexts that shape the relationship between modern marketing and society in a way students can engage with and connect to their other classes,” he says. McGuire says his faith informs his teaching style. “I want to equip students with the knowledge and resources to work in business and social environments that will often challenge their convictions,” he says. “I have a sense of obligation to give my students the best education I can based on the principle of doing everything to the glory of God.”
Sara Morrisset
History
Morrisset graduated from UCLA before earning both a Master of Philosophy and a doctorate in archaeology from the University of Cambridge. She has conducted archaeological fieldwork in the Ica Valley of Peru since 2016 and has written about the sociopo- litical organization of the Ica people from 1000-1476 A.D. as well as their cultural identity, memory and political collapse. “We’ve discovered aspects of daily life in the past, such as how the people who lived in the ancient city ate chili peppers and lima beans,” she says. Someday she hopes to involve Westmont students in this excavation project on the Peruvian south coast, which collaborates directly with the local Peruvian community and their regional museums. “As a teacher, I believe the experience of learning about cultural contexts and histories heightens the ability to love others, especially those from different cultural backgrounds,” she says. “The knowledge and appreciation of difference help create a true community.”
Jada Willis
Kinesiology
Willis earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University before becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist and earning a master’s and a doctorate in nutritional sciences from Texas Tech University. She spent nine years teaching at TCU and specializes in nutritional sciences and women’s health. Her research interests include body composition, culinary medicine, metabolism and sports nutrition, reflecting her commitment to advancing health and performance. An associate professor at Westmont, she has dedicated her expertise to advancing the fields of nutritional sciences, kinesiology and inter-professional education during the past decade. She seeks to integrate her knowledge of nutrition with kinesiology in her classes. “I’ve focused my work on the design and conduct of controlled clinical trials that manipulate diet and physical activity to modulate performance, appetite, macronutrient oxidation and energy expenditure,” she says.
Stephanie Cowell '04
Chemistry
Cowell, who returned to her alma mater to serve in the chemistry department in 2019, will serve in a more permanent position teaching in both classes and the lab, doing pre-health and academic advising, and managing the chemistry lab. She earned a teaching credential and a Master of Science degree at UC Irvine and worked at the Environmental Charter High and Middle Schools in Inglewood and Lawndale before returning to Westmont. “I love interacting with so many students each year who plan to pursue a variety of scientific disciplines,” she says. “I have the privilege of introducing students to chemistry and supporting them in their learning to develop joy and wonder in the subject and instill confidence and persistence in chemistry or other sciences.”
Mike Ryu
Computer Science
Ryu, an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, says he enjoyed serving as an adjunct professor and working with the Center for Applied Technology (CATLab) during the summer. “I witnessed firsthand the dedication to sincerely upholding Westmont’s mission to cultivate ‘thoughtful scholars, grateful servants and faithful leaders.’ I cherish the relationships I’ve built with students and colleagues and look forward to seeing those blossom further in the coming years.” Ryu earned a Bachelor of Science in software engineering and a Master of Science in computer science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before working at a for-profit corporation in the San Francisco Bay Area. “There’s huge potential in programs such as Westmont’s Center for Applied Technology to bolster and better equip aspiring computing professionals,” he says.
Laura Drake Schultheis '06
Biology
An ecologist, Schultheis came back to Westmont as a full-time biology instructor in 2020. “Returning has felt like coming home,” she says. “A tenure-track position allows me to explore research and teaching practices that benefit this commu- nity.” Schultheis earned a master’s degree in plant ecology and a doctorate in plant ecophysiology from UC Santa Barbara. Last summer, she and Isabella Garcia ’25 presented a paper, “Purpose- ful Planting: Characterizing Plant Flammability Using Functional Traits for Defensible Space,” at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, one of the largest ecology conferences in the nation. “Westmont students have played a crucial role in helping collect data for two summers, and one will be first author on a paper we hope to publish,” she says. “I’m passionate about helping students connect with the natural world by exploring ecology.” Her research interests include plant disease ecology, restoration ecology and fire ecology.
Leanne Dzubinksi
Dean of Faculty Development and Global Education
Dzubinski, who has taught for more than 15 years, joins West- mont in a new, innovative role as dean of faculty development and global education. She has served as a dean and gained extensive experience in Christian higher education and mission organiza- tions. She most recently served at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky after being an interim dean at Biola University. She has lived and taught internationally and speaks Spanish and German fluently. Dzubinski has written “Women in the Mission of the Church” and “Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work.” Her research on gender bias has been published widely in scholarly and practitioner journals for Christian and secular audiences. She graduated from Emory University and earned a Master of Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, and a doctorate at the University of Georgia.
Nicole Marsh
Biology
Brett Shagena
Kinesiology
Nicole Marsh (biology), Brett Shagena (kinesiology), and Dana Wong (nursing) will serve in full-time, one-year appointments with the faculty.
Nicole Marsh
Biology