A.J. Faas is an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, the Organizational Studies Program and a member of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center. His research addresses disasters and environmental crises, with attention to cooperation, reciprocity and mutual aid; postcolonialism and the anthropology of the state; humanitarianism; and displacement and resettlement. Faas’s research includes an ongoing longitudinal study of disaster recovery and resettlement in the Ecuadorian highlands; a collaborative study of COVID-19 and the cumulative effects of successive disasters; and participatory action research projects on disaster preparedness, vulnerability and community-based leadership in San José, California. He holds a doctorate degree in anthropology from the University of South Florida.
Author: Marc Montenegro
Ching Ching Tan
Ching Ching Tan is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies, specializing in communication for English learners. Drawing from her personal experience of learning English as an adult, she is passionate about raising awareness of linguistic diversity. Tan holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies – Linguistics from the University of California, San Diego, and two master’s degrees from San Jose State University: one in Communication Studies and another in Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Nonfiction).
Denise Dawkins
Dr. Denise Dawkins is an assistant professor at The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San José State University. She teaches undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students and coordinates simulations. Her expertise is in the healthcare needs of marginalized groups and communities who have historically been oppressed, overlooked and discriminated against. Dr. Dawkins has been a registered nurse for almost 40 years and a healthcare simulationist, researcher, and educator for 20 years.
Erin Woodhead
Erin Woodhead is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on substance use disorders and treatment across the lifespan, particularly among middle-aged and older adults. She is a licensed psychologist and holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from West Virginia University.
Étienne Brown
Étienne Brown is an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy, where he teaches the ethics of technology. His work focuses on the regulation of speech on social media, and he has published several essays in academic journals on the relationship between misinformation, fake news, internet trolling, hate speech and freedom of expression. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from the University of Ottawa, a master’s degree in philosophy from the same university and a doctoral degree in philosophy from the Sorbonne.
Indumathi Jayachandran
Indumathi (Indu) Jeyachandran is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a member of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center. She is a certified mapping scientist in the area of remote sensing and also a LEED-accredited professional with a specialization in building design and construction. Her research interests include sustainable urban infrastructure planning using remote sensing, GIS, modeling and observation techniques. She also uses remote sensing data and techniques for wildfire risk analysis and water issues including drought. She holds a doctorate degree in civil engineering from the University of Utah.
Jim McMillin
Jim McMillin is a lecturer in the Department of Marketing and Business Analytics at the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business. He has expertise and professional industry experience in automotive, aerospace, high-tech, medical devices, construction and engineering services. McMillin holds a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University, a master’s of science in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from San José State University.
Katherine Wilkinson
Katherine Wilkinson is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. She runs a neurophysiology research lab focused on understanding how your body senses muscle movement, a sense essential for normal movement and balance, which is perturbed in many diseases. Wilkinson holds a doctoral degree in biomedical sciences from the University of California, San Diego. She is also the current chair of the American Physiological Society’s Science Policy Committee.
Libra Hilde
Libra Hilde is a professor in the Department of History. Her focus is on race and gender in the 19th century United States, with an emphasis on the antebellum period, slavery, The Civil War and Reconstruction. She also has a strong background in 19th and 20th-century Native American history. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and Native American studies from the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s in history from UC Berkeley and a doctoral degree in history from Harvard University.