All staff and faculty, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin, who are interested in the DEI Scholar Collective are welcome.

The DEI Scholar Collective is open and available to all staff and faculty who are interested to apply and/or participate, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

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The Collective: Mentors Page

To request a mentor:

Please click the mentor you are interested in contacting, and scroll down to their email address. If the email address is not a "live link," it means that the mentor's spots are filled. Questions, email: diversity@calpoly.edu

Learn About our Mentors

Anuraj Dhillon, PhD Department: Communication Studies (CLA) Position: Associate Professor Degree: PhD in Communication At Cal Poly Since: 2018 Research Interests: Interpersonal Communication Health Communication Human-Machine Communication (Technology and AI) Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Work/Life Balance RPT Process Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc) Campus Culture and Community Building Editing a Book Textbook Development Professional Advice Leadership Advice Grant Writing Professional Networking Personal Background: Cisgender Woman, Born and Raised in India, Resided in the US for over a Decade Availability: 30-60 minutes every month Email: adhill06@calpoly.edu	Ahmed Deif, PhD Department: Industrial Technology and Packaging (OCOB) Position: Professor Degree: PhD in Industrial Systems with Specialty in Manufacturing Management At Cal Poly Since: 2008 Research Interests: Supply Chain Innovation and Sustainability Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Work/Life Balance Campus Culture and Community Building Writing a Book Professional Advice Leadership Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Grant Writing RPT Process Applying for Sabbatical Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Professional Networking Personal Background: DEI Fellow Experience and Social Justice Activism Availability: 30-60 minutes once per quarter Email: adeif@calpoly.edu	Nikhil Deb, PhD Department: Social Sciences (CLA) Position: Assistant Professor Degree: PhD in Sociology At Cal Poly Since: 2022 Research Interests: Global Political Economy and Environmental and Climate Justice Development Global South Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Leadership Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Grant Writing Professional Networking Writing a Book Editing a Book Professional Advice Work/Life Balance RPT Process Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc) Campus Culture and Community Building Community-Based Research or Similar Endeavors Personal Background: Grew up as a Religious Minority in Rural Bangladesh without Electricity Availability: 30-60 minutes twice per quarter Email: ndeb@calpoly.edu

Bwalya Malama, PhD Department: Natural Resources Management & Environmental Sciences (CAFES) Position: Professor Degree: PhD in Hydrology with Specialty in Groundwater Flow Dynamics At Cal Poly Since: 2014 Research Interests: Groundwater Contaminant Transport Hydrogeophysics Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) RPT Process Applying for Sabbatical Professional Advice Grant Writing Work/Life Balance Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Professional Networking Community-Based Research or Similar Endeavors Availability: 30-60 minutes twice a quarter Email: bmalama@calpoly.edu	Aydin Nazmi, PhD Department: Food Science and Nutrition (CAFES) Position: Professor Degree: PhD in Epidemiology MSc in Public Health Nutrition At Cal Poly Since: 2009 Research Interests: Food Systems Food Security Ultra-Processed Foods, College Health Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Leadership Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Grant Writing Work/Life Balance RPT Process Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Community-Based Research or Similar Endeavors Professional Advice Applying for Sabbatical Campus Culture and Community Building Personal Background: Immigrant, Grown Up All Over the World, Extensive Lived Experiences in the Middle East, Europe, and South America, and Big Fan of Music and Food as Key to Uniting People Availability: 30-60 minutes every other week 30-60 minutes every month Email: nazmi@calpoly.edu	John Paniagua, PhD Department: History (CLA) Position: Assistant Professor Degree: PhD in History with Specialties in Colonial Latin America/Indigenous Americas At Cal Poly Since: 2023 Research Interests: Colonial Latin America and the Caribbean/Comparative Indigeneity and Racialization Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Professional Advice Leadership Advice Grant Writing Work/Life Balance RPT Process Professional Networking Campus Culture and Community Building Personal Background: Latino and First-Gen Availability: 30-60 minutes every month Email: jpp@calpoly.edu

Martha Galvan Mandujano, PhD Department: World Languages and Culture (CLA) Position: Associate Professor Degree: PhD in Spanish Latin American Literature & Women and Gender Studies Certification At Cal Poly Since: 2018 Research Interests: Public Memorialization in Coordination with Civil Society Organizations in Guatemala Latin American and Spanish Women Writes During Dictatorial Regimes Mentoring Areas: RPT Process Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Writing a Book Grant Writing Work/Life Balance Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Professional Networking Campus Culture and Community Building Community-Based Research or Similar Endeavors Personal Background: Mexican and First-Gen Availability: 30-60 minutes twice a quarter Email: mgalvanm@calpoly.edu	Jay Bettergarcia, PhD Department: Psychology and Child Development (CLA) Position: Associate Professor Degree: PhD in Counseling Psychology At Cal Poly Since: 2017 Research Interests: Queer and Trans Mental Health Radical Healing Community-Based Participatory Research, DEI Training in Healthcare Systems Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Professional Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Work/Life Balance Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Campus Culture and Community Building Community-Based Research or Similar Endeavors Leadership Advice Grant Writing RPT Process Applying for Sabbatical Professional Networking Personal Background: Queer, Trans, Biracial Latinx, and First-Gen Availability: 30-60 minutes every month 30-60 minutes once per quarter 30-60 minutes twice per quarter Email: jbetterg@calpoly.edu	Javier Gonzalez-Sanchez, PhD Department: Computer Science (CENG) Position: Assistant Professor Degree: PhD in Computer Science At Cal Poly Since: 2022 Research Interests: Human-Computer Interaction and Software Engineering Mentoring Areas: Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Writing a Book Obtaining Patents Professional Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Grant Writing Professional Networking Personal Background: Hispanic and First-Gen Availability: 30-60 minutes every month 30-60 minutes once per quarter 30-60 minutes twice per quarter Email: javiergs@calpoly.edu

Jess Lee, PhD Department: Social Sciences (CLA) Position: Assistant Professor Degree: PhD in Sociology At Cal Poly Since: 2020 Research Interests: Race/Ethnicity/Panethnicity Sexualities/Gender Focusing on Queer POC and Asian Americans Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Work/Life Balance Writing a Book Editing a Book Textbook Development Professional Advice Leadership Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) RPT Process Professional Networking Campus Culture and Community Building Personal Background: Asian American, Queer Availability: 30-60 minutes every month Email: jlee938@calpoly.edu	Bing Qu, PhD Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering (CENG) Position: Professor Degree: PhD in Structural Engineering At Cal Poly Since: 2008 Research Interests: Seismic Testing Analysis Design and Retrofit of Civil Structures Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Professional Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Grant Writing Work/Life Balance RPT Process Applying for Sabbatical Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Leadership Advice Professional Networking Campus Culture and Community Building Community-Based Research or Similar Endeavors Personal Background: Chinese Immigrant, Non-Native Speaker, and First-Gen Availability: 30-60 minutes every month 30-60 minutes once per quarter 30-60 minutes twice per quarter Email: bqu@calpoly.edu	Ramón Esquivel, MFA Department: Theatre and Dance (CLA) Position: Assistant Professor Degree: MFA in Creative Writing At Cal Poly Since: 2020 Research Interests: Playwriting Script Analysis Latinx Theatre Theatre for Young Audiences New Play Development Drama-in-Education Mentoring Areas: Maintaining a creative and/or artistic practice as part of scholarship and creative activity OR solely for personal enjoyment. Creative Endeavors (Art, Music, etc) Professional Advice Leadership Advice RPT Process Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc) Professional Networking Personal Background: Latinx (Mexican-American) and First-Gen Availability: 30-60 minutes once per quarter Email: resqui05@calpoly.edu

Alejandra Yep, PhD Department: Biological Sciences (COSAM) Position: Associate Professor Degree: PhD in Biological Chemistry with a Focus on Bacterial Metabolism At Cal Poly Since: 2014 Research Interests: Microbiology Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance, UTI Pathogens Mentoring Areas: Student success and modifying your research to work with undergraduates, and interdisciplinary collaboration Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Work/Life Balance RPT Process Applying for Sabbatical Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Campus Culture and Community Building Obtaining Patents Professional Advice Leadership Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Grant Writing Professional Networking Personal Background: Argentinian and Multiracial Availability: 30-60 minutes every month 30-60 minutes once per quarter 30-60 minutes twice per quarter Email: yep@calpoly.edu	Mohammad Sadek, PhD Department: BioResource and Agricultural Engineering (CAED) Position: Associate Professor Degree: PhD in Biosystems/Agricultural Engineering At Cal Poly Since: 2018 Research Interests: Advanced machinery system Automation in agriculture Mentoring Areas: Housing/International ScholarsPublishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Professional Advice Work/Life Balance RPT Process Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Obtaining Patents Leadership Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Grant Writing Applying for Sabbatical Professional Networking Campus Culture and Community Building Community-Based Research or Similar Endeavors Personal Background: Bangladeshi/Canadian/Muslim Availability: 30-60 minutes twice per quarter Email: mosadek@calpoly.edu	Joyce Lin, PhD Department: Mathematics (COSAM) Position: Professor Degree: PhD in Math At Cal Poly Since: 2013 Research Interests: Applied Math Math Biology Fluid Dynamics Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Professional Advice Leadership Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Grant Writing Work/Life Balance RPT Process Applying for Sabbatical Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Professional Networking Campus Culture and Community Building Availability: 30-60 minutes every month Email: Jlin46@calpoly.edu

Anurag Pande, PhD Department: Cal Poly Civil and Environmental Engineering (CENG) Position: Professor Degree: PhD in Civil Engineering (Transportation Engineering) At Cal Poly Since: 2008 Research Interests: Traffic Safely Before-After Evaluation Transportation Data Scholarship of Teaching Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Writing a Book Editing a Book Textbook Development Professional Advice Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc) RPT Process Applying for Sabbatical Professional Networking Campus Culture and Community Building Community-Based Research or Similar Endeavors Leadership Advice Work/Life Balance Applying for Cal Poly Funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Personal Background: Asian Indian and Immigrant Availability: 30-60 minutes every month Email: apande@calpoly.edu	Kelly Bennion, PhD Department: Psychology and Child Development (CLA) Position: Associate Professor Degree: PhD in Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration) At Cal Poly Since: 2018 Research Interests: The impact of sleep, stress, and emotion on memory, with implications for education and affective disorders. Mentoring Areas: Publishing in Journals or Similar Outlets Research and Scholarly Projects (IRBs, etc.) Work/Life Balance RPT Process Applying for Cal Poly funding (e.g., RSCA, Mini-Grants, Excess Service, etc.) Campus Culture and Community Building Professional Advice Leadership Advice Grant Writing Applying for Sabbatical Creative Endeavors (Art, Music, etc) Community-Based Research or Similar Endeavors Personal Background: Multiracial (Korean/White) and First-Gen Graduate Availability: 30-60 minutes once per quarter 30-60 minutes twice per quarter Email: kbennion@calpoly.edu