Administrative Staff

Debi Lyn Esquivel
Acting Director

Debi Lyn began her career at CSUF in 1994 as an English instructor; she has taught a variety of classes for the departments of English, Child and Adolescent Studies, Freshman Programs, and Summer Bridge and currently still teaches a section of Advanced College Writing each semester. She also served as Reading Coordinator for Summer Bridge in 1998. In 1999, she became the Assistant Director for the University Learning Center (ULC) and in 2010 the Acting Director. 

In her position at the ULC, Debi Lyn trains and supervises about 40 instructional student assistants who tutor in approximately 35 different subjects. She has recently completed a text book for tutor training titled Peer Tutoring from Theory to Practice.

As an active staff member of Cal State Fullerton, Debi Lyn sits on the Student Affairs Staff Development Committee, teaches workshops for the Student Leadership Institute, is involved with the University Leadership Academy, and has presented at numerous conferences on topics regarding learning center administration and assessment.

In her free time, Debi Lyn travels to Guatemala where she is involved in a humanitarian education project called Proyecto Educativo de Xela. The objective of this project is to provide underprivileged children in an indigenous Mayan village with academic assistance. Furthermore, she has presented at several conferences on her ongoing ethnographic research of the people in this community.

Dannaca Lynn Daniel
Administrative Support Coordinator
& Sociology Teaching Assistant

Dannaca is the Administrative Support Coordinator at the University Learning Center as well as a Sociology Teaching Assistant. She transferred to Cal State Fullerton in the spring of 2008 and earned her Bachelor's degree in Sociology with a concentration in Family in the spring of 2010. She will be pursuing her Master's degree in Criminology, Law & Society in the fall of 2010 at the University of California, Irvine. Dannaca's future goals include going to law school to get a Juris Doctorate in Family Law and, ultimately, become a Family Law judge. Her hobbies include football, music, and movies, cooking, and going to the beach. If you have any questions for Dannaca, stop by her office anytime!

Helen Alexander
Graduate Learning Specialist
Lecturer, American Language Program

Helen completed her undergraduate studies in English Language and Literature and French, just one class short of a minor in Political Science. She came to CSUF to complete a Master's in French, but found her real love lay in teaching English. She completed her M.S. Ed. TESOL, and has since taught on campus for the American Language Program and for the Modern Languages Department. She also currently teaches for Santiago Canyon College's Continuation Education Department.

Helen believes that learner autonomy is the key to making learning a life-long habit, and structures her lessons to build strategy-use competence, the conscious and efficient use of strategies in order to achieve one's goals. She completed the Postsecondary Learning and Reading Certificate program at CSUF, which enriched her knowledge of learning strategies as well as academic coaching.

As an active participant in CATESOL, the professional organization for California ESOL teachers, Helen acted as the Publicity coordinator for the CATESOL 2010 LA Regional Conference. She is the Poster coordinator for the Orange County chapter of CATESOL, and is a member of the College Reading and Learning Association and the American Association for Applied Linguistics as well.
 

Dr. Gerardo Arellano
Graduate Learning Specialist
Lecturer, Chicano/a Studies

Gerardo completed his undergraduate studies in Comparative Ethnic Studies at UC San Diego. While at UCSD he was a Ronald E. McNair scholar, student activist, and co-founder of Spiderwebs (i.e. a multicultural student zine). At its peak, Spiderwebs had the largest alternative media budget at UCSD.

Gerardo went on to receive his M.A. and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in the department of Ethnic Studies. As a true interdisciplinarian, he currently researches and publishes in the areas of human rights, U.S. immigration policy, Latina/o subcultures, border studies, music, historical blocs, and subaltern movements. Equally important to his breadth as a scholar is his love for teaching. Gerardo believes in critical pedagogy and teaches at different universities in Southern California. Some classes that he teaches are Critical Race Theory and Marxism for UC Riverside. He also teaches Chicana/o and Latina/o history for the department of Chicana/o studies at UC Irvine. He teaches history courses for the Chicana/o studies department at CSU Fullerton.

In addition to presenting his research at both national and international conferences and being a part of numerous associations, Gerardo is in the process of working on his book manuscript. Besides being academically productive, Gerardo enjoys spending time with his loyal companion, Maya (i.e. his beloved Chihuahua) and riding horses with his brothers and friends. His horse is named Pancho. Gerardo loves going out with Pancho on the trail. He finds that spending time with little Maya, Pancho, and being on the trail with good company helps him stay centered and happy.
 

ULC Student Staff

Olga Altamirano
Reception

My major is Sociology. I have lived in Pomona all of my life. I plan on graduating within the next two years. After college I plan on travelling and then finding a job in social worker. My hobbies are just relaxing and watching a good movie or simply being in the outdoors.

Ashley Arana
American Studies (AMST)
English (ENGL)

My Major is Communications with a focus on advertising. My hometown is West Covina, but I currently live in San Dimas, California. I plan to graduate in 2011 and get a steady job after graduation. My goal is to work for an advertising company somewhere close to home. I love to play the piano, and I also love to dance. Piano and dance are my passions and have been a part of my life since I was young. I have traveled to places such as Mexico, New York, and Washington D.C. I love to travel and I enjoy meeting new people.

Jesse Arraiga
Reception

Hey, my name is Jesse. I am a freshman here at CSUF. I am currently an undeclared major, but I have a pretty good idea of what I would like to do. I would eventually like to teach in Japan. I am originally from Pomona, and I have lived there most of my life. I'm not sure when I will graduate, but when I do, I hope to work in a stable career. I would like to meet new and exciting people.

David Donley
American Studies (AMST)
English (ENGL)
Mathematics (MATH)
Philosophy (PHIL)

I was born and raised in Orange, CA. Before attending CSUF, I graduated as Valedictorian from Santiago Canyon College with two Associate of Arts degrees: one in History and the other in Liberal Arts. At CSUF, I am a double major in Philosophy and American Studies. Hopefully, I will be graduating in spring 2011. Afterward, I will obtain a graduate degree in either Philosophy or American Studies; eventually, I would love to have degrees in both. My long-term goal is to become a teacher at the college level. My interests outside of school include hiking, running, basketball, going on road trips, and wine tasting.

Alec Dotzer
GEOL (Geology)

Hello, my name is Alec. I’m Geology major in my senior year. I have taken many geology courses and have done well in each of them. If you are having trouble in your geology class or you just want to learn more about this awesome subject, feel free to come see me. If you want to know more about me, I grew up locally in La Mirada and still live there today. I’ll be graduating at the end of summer 2012 and will be pursuing grad school in the hopes of working in the petroleum industry.

Francisco Gonzales
English (ENGL)
Japanese
Pronunciation (PRON)
Teach English Speakers Other Language (TESOL)

My name is Francisco Gonzales and I am from Bakersfield, CA. But as you can tell by my name I am Hispanic. My mother came from Mexico when she was 7 years old to California and my father is from Texas; however, his family came from Mexico before he was born. I graduated from CSUF with a degree in Japanese language and now I am a graduate student majoring in TESOL. I will graduate in the fall of 2011 and I plan to teach English abroad afterwards. I've been to Japan twice once for travelling and the other for studying abroad. My hobbies include martial arts, working out, listening to music, and video games.

Manny Gonzalez
Chemistry (CHEM)
Civil and Environmental Engineering (EGCE)
Mathematics (MATH)
Spanish (SPAN)

My name is Emmanuelle Gonzalez; my friends call me Manny. I am 19 years old, majoring in Civil Engineering. I was born in the U.S.; raised in Mexico. I am graduating in 2013. After college, I want to come back for my Master's as I'm working in a company to get my license. Some hobbies I love to do are to work out, listen to music, and play sports; hanging with friends is a must too. The best advice I can give is "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Karen Guerrero
Reception

My name is Karen Guerrero. I am a sociology major. I was born and raised in Anaheim, CA. I hope to graduate in the spring of 2013 and transfer to USC to get my license to become an occupational therapist, specializing in mental health. My hobbies include camping, watching horror films, and as much traveling as I can possibly do.

Alfredo Higuera
Computer Science (CPSC)
Mathematics (MATH)
Physics (PHYS)

My name is Alfredo Higuera and I am working on my Master's in Computer Science. I've lived in Orange County for the past 10 years or so but growing up , I moved frequently between the OC and Sinaloa, Mexico. I plan on graduating in the spring 2013 semester and to work as a software developer/engineer. I go to Mexico every year during the holidays and other than that I don't travel much. Last summer, I did an internship with the National Science Foundation in Arlington, VA and also got to go to New York City and Niagara Falls. I love to play soccer and my favorite team is F.C. Barcelona.

Jules Krimm
English (ENGL)
Linguitics (LING)
Mathematics (MATH)
Teach English Speakers Other Language (TESOL)

A native of Los Angeles, I now live in Barstow area. I am a Master's student in linguistics, and I am also in the TESOL certificate program. After I graduate in December 2011, I hope to teach ESL at a college in the High Desert. When I'm not studying, I love to waterski, hike, read, and study foreign languages.

Tuan Le
Chemistry (CHEM)
Civil and Environmental Engineering (EGCE)
Mathematics (MATH)
Physics (PHYS)
Vietnamese (VIET)

My major is Civil Engineering with architectural emphasis. Vietnam is where I came from and this is a beautiful country. I will graduate in spring 2011 hopefully and my desire is gaining Master's degree in University of Chicago. I love reading romantic stories and playing the guitar; it helps me release my mind in the free time. I always say to myself, "I can do it and I'm gonna make it."

Viet Le
Economics (ECON)
Mathematics (MATH)

My name is Viet. I am a graduate student in Economics. I tutor math and economics. I am from Vietnam and I came here a year and a half ago. It hasn't been a long time, but I love it here. I love traveling, going to a totally new place, meeting new people, and learning new languages. In the future, I may continue my education and become a professor or work as a data analyst.

Bryan Moore
Computer Science (CPSC)
Electrical Engineering (EGEE)
Mathematics (MATH)
Physics (PHYS)

What's up? I'm Bryan Moore. I am a Computer Engineering major. Raised in Compton, I now live in Riverside. I tutor math, physics, computer engineering and computer science. In my off time, I like perfecting my sniping skills on Call of Duty (The Barrett is beautiful, I call her Carmen), playing basketball, and working on my computer. After school I plan to do something with my knowledge that helps people or at least puts a smile on their face. Deuces!

Mitra Mostowfi
Electrical Engineering (EGEE)
Music
Mathematics (MATH)
Persian

My name is Mitra. I am from Iran and I'm doing Master of Electrical Engineering. My concentration is signal processing and communication. I'll be graduating in 2012 and planning to do PhD after. I play the piano during my free time and I love to go to classical concerts. I also love skiing and playing table tennis. I enjoy meeting different people and spending time with my friends. I have a lot more hobbies like reading, watching movies, swimming…

Jesse Palao
Electrical Engineering (EGEE)
Mathematics (MATH)
Physics (PHYS)

My name is Jesse Palao, Electrical Engineering major, Math minor, 22 years old, and from Fountain Valley, CA. My hobbies are mainly billiards, some tennis, soccer, and video games. I've been to Guatamala when I was 7 years old for about 2 years. I'm in several organizations on campus: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Mexican-American Engineers & Scientists (MAES), and National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). I plan to graduate in 2012. Although the studies in my discipline are overwhelmingly demanding, I continue on working hard.

Chris Pimentel
Reception

Hello, my name is Chris. My major is still pending but I believe I want to do something medical. I'm from Pomona, CA and during my down time, I like to play my drum set.

Amanda Potchanatayparuk
Art (ART)
Biology (BIOL)
English (ENGL)
Mathematics (MATH)
Pronunciation (PRON)

My major is Civil Engineering with an emphasis in architecture. I am also working on a minor in Art History and mathematics. I plan on graduating in the spring of 2013. After graduation, I want to teach English abroad for one year and return to work and go to graduate school. I like to travel, photography, drawing, and learning languages.

Anthony Rodriguez
CAS (Child and Adolescent Studies)
PSYC (Psychology)

Hello, my name is Anthony. I’m currently working on my Masters in Psychology and have an undergraduate B.S. in Child and Adolescent Studies. Within Psychology my focus is on quantitative methods ranging from research design and methodology to statistical analysis through advances and multivariate statistics. I am from Huntington Beach, CA where I have lived for the past ten years. When I graduate I will pursue a PhD in Quantitative Psychology preferably with a developmental focus. After college is complete, I intend on teaching and conducting research. Some hobbies I enjoy include: mountain climbing, hiking, kayaking, fishing, and biking.

Amissi Sadiki
BIOL (Biology)
CHEM (Chemistry)
MATH (Math)
PHYS (Physics)

Hello, my name is Amissi and I am biochemistry major. I love chemistry because it makes sense of what we see such as air or even life. I am planning on graduating in the spring of 2013. After graduating, I hope to get accepted into a medical school and fulfill my dreams of becoming a physician. I love playing basketball, watching movies, and reading interesting scientific discoveries.

Evelyn Sam
Reception

Hi, my name is Evelyn and I am from a city near the San Gabriel Valley. I am currently a second year (Spring 2011) and my major is Psychology. I plan to take up a minor during my third year possibly in Women Studies or Human Services. After I graduate, I would like to travel because I have never been outside of the country. Also I would like to establish a career in social work. My ultimate goal, however is to become an academic adviser in either a college campus or at a high school. Some of my hobbies are hiking, going on food runs, and relaxing at home while watching multiple seasons of shows on my laptop.

Alonzo Williams
Computer Science (CPSC)
Mathematics (MATH)

I am a Computer Science Major and I am from Pomona, CA. My expected graduation date is May 2011. I plan to work in the defense sector and specialize in situational awareness. I've had my share of academic woes and by no measure am I the perfect student. But you can receive good grades with the right mentality. As far as my personal life I like to play basketball, wrkout, and play Xbox live (mainly COD4).

Melanie Yamabe

English (ENGL)
Pronunciation
Conversation
Reading (READ)

Hi, my name is Melanie Yamabe. I am a President's Scholar, as well as a CSUF gymnast. I am originally from Santa Clarita, near Magic Mountain, but I am definitely loving the Fullerton area. I am majoring in Business with an emphasis in Finance and Business Law. After I graduate, I plan on working as a financial manager at a large firm. In addition to gymnastics, I love to read, swim, and eat sushi. And, thanks to gymnastics I've been able to travel to Utah, Washington, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. Please come by to see me, I'd love to help you out!

Jose Zamora
Afro-Ethinic Studies (AFRO)
Chicana and Chicano Studies (CHIC)
Comparative Religion (CPRL)
English (ENGL)
History (HIST)
Political Science (POSC)
Sociology (SOCI)

My name is Jose Manuel Zamora and I am a double major in Chicana/o Studies and Afro-Ethnic Studies. I am the proud father of a beautiful baby girl and a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and strive to obtain my phD in Ethnic Studies. I want to teach at the college level in the inner city, preferably at the community college. I tutor a variety of subjects including: English/Writing, Ethnic Studies, History, Sociology, and Political Science. Aside from individual tutoring I am also a study group leader for Chicana/o Studies and Political Science classes.