Tilahun Eneyew
Professor, Physics
Education and Employment
I received the B.Sc. in Physics from Haile Selasie I University in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in June 1971. After teaching physics and mathematics to 11th grade students at Teferi Mekonen High School in Addis Ababa for a year, I came to the USA in August 1972 to go to graduate school. I received the MA in physics from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan in August 1974. I continued my graduate studies at Purdue University and received the Ph.D. in physics with a specialty in Theoretical Particle Physics in May 1980.
Otto Figueroa
Assistant Professor, Geology
Education and Background
I started college as a liberal arts major at Cypress College and spent the first year taking courses in many different disciplines. I took my first geology course during my second year and found that it combined many of my academic interests because geology is a field that draws on an understanding of the physical sciences, biological science, history, economics and political science. I used this diverse background to focus on environmental sciences and water resources.
Amy C. Fredericks
Assistant Professor, Astronomy
Education and Background
I am a third generation California native, hailing from Surf City (Huntington Beach). I was also a Navy civil service brat, so I moved away at a young age. My family spent time in Guam, Spain, and Florida before settling in the Washington DC area, which I consider a second home. But I couldn’t resist the siren call of Southern California: I graduated in 1996 from USC with a B.S. in Astronomy. The East Coast tugged back and I received my M.S. in Astronomy from the University of Maryland in 1999.
Joanna Haan
Assistant Professor, Chemistry
Education and Background
My fascination with chemistry goes all the way back to childhood, when my mom taught me how to bake and then gave me freedom to mix and cook in the kitchen. My dad made a game out of finding solids, liquids, and gases, and he brought puzzles and problem solving into just about every adventure he took us on. Both of my parents taught me that learning was really fun, and was just a part of everyday life.
Kim Hatch
Professor, Geography & Environmental Science
“Man is always marveling at what he has blown apart, never at what the universe has put together, and this is his limitation.” Loren Eiseley Instructor for Physical Geography and Environmental Science: M.A., B.A. Geography CSULB. Minor Environmental Studies and Geology. As far back as I can remember I have always had an interest in nature and distant places. As a kid I had collections of shells, rocks, foreign stamps, postcards, and maps. I also liked listening to short-wave radio and building my own weather instruments.
Dr. Mary Perrot
Dept. Head & Professor, Chemistry
Academic Background
B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison
Industrial Background
Gillette Co. (patents in silicone polymers & consumer products)
Avery Inc. (patents in acrylic polymers and repulpable adhesives)