Faculty Mentorship
Peer mentorship is a collaborative, learning relationship between colleagues. Ideally, all participants contribute ideas and insights to help each other grow. Examples of peer mentoring include assisting new employees with onboarding, providing advice to seasoned employees in the areas where they have a challenge, and helping one another with work-related problems or innovations. Peer mentorship can provide a sense of purpose at work, create a positive culture that is based on sharing or collaboration, and demonstrate good communication skills.
PAR Mentors
The Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) program requires probationary faculty to participate in peer mentorship with appointive faculty. To get started with peer mentorship, it is important for both peers to align their expectations.
Complete this form to indicate your interest in being a faculty mentor as part of the PAR process.
Click on the names below to learn more about MCC faculty that are interested to participate in peer mentorship and eligible to be a PAR mentor.
Applied Sciences and Technology
Kimberly Focht, Veterinary Technology Faculty
Why mentor? “I feel it is important for new hires to have an experienced faculty member to collaborate with to make sure they feel confident as they learn all the college policies, practices and best practices in teaching.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, Reflective writing
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Hybrid, Live Online
Courses taught: VET101LL, VET150, VET151, VET220, VET240, VET250AC
Committees: Learning Communities Committee, Student Outcomes Committee, IACUC
Special projects and/or service experience: IC-Agriculture/Equine Science Chair
Areas of interest: Education in Veterinary Technology
Art
Lindsey Pedersen, Art Faculty
Why mentor? “Peer mentoring relationships have been a highlight of my time at MCC. I remember how I felt as a new employee, eager to be part of the community but unsure how to navigate MCC and the district. The advice and examples my more experienced colleagues offered made a massive difference for me inside and outside the classroom. I have had extensive opportunities to engage at the college and district levels and want to share what I have learned to help our new faculty. I love connecting and collaborating with colleagues. Each mentorship relationship brings me new knowledge, reinvigorates my teaching and service, and enhances my ability to serve students and colleagues.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, College culture and networking, College/District policy or shared governance
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online
Courses taught: ARH100, ARH101, ARH102, ARH202, FYE101, ARH 112, ARH217
Committees: Guided Pathways, Curriculum, Instructional Council, SOC, Shared Governance, Faculty Senate, Achievement Team, Honors, Women’s Studies, SENDAS Grant Core Team, CTL Advisory
Special projects and/or service experience: Study Abroad Program Director, PARC, various interdepartmental collaborations between art and other departments, student club advisor,
Areas of interest: culturally-responsive pedagogy, OER development, intercultural competencies, authentic assessment, and all the things
Center for Teaching and Learning
Megan Garvy, Education Support Service Faculty
Why mentor? “I recognize the formal and informal mentors that have impacted my professional growth and networks. As a PAR mentor, I have been energized by newer to MCC colleagues to apply their curiosity and expertise to my work. Also, as faculty that completed the PAR process, I understand the potential stress in finding a mentor. So, I am sharing info on this page to make it easier for PAR faculty to learn about my work and see if I might be a good fit for mentorship.”
Strengths: Course Design, Active Learning Strategies, Assessment, Canvas, Google Sites, Service-faculty Essential Functions Documentation, Dual Enrollment
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online, Hybrid, Live Online
Courses taught: EDU220, EDU221, EDU101, EDU250, EDU222, EDU233, EDU282, EDU243 + ASU-TEL711: Strategies for Inquiry and ASU-TEL709: Directed Field-based Study
Committees: Student Outcomes Committee, Learning Communities Committee, Dual Enrollment Faculty Advisory Committee, Undergraduate Research Committee
Special projects and/or service experience: Federal Grant Writing and Administration, Guided Pathways, Community Advisory Boards, Qualitative Research
Areas of interest: Assessment, Learning Communities, Meditation, Holistic Wellness
Education and Reading Studies
Tawn Hauptli, Education Faculty
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online
Course taught: EDU221, EDU222, EDU230
Committees: Student Outcomes Committee
Special projects and/or service experience: Service-learning and Club Advisor
Anna McWhirter, Reading Faculty
Why mentor? “I learn a lot, and I also believe I have something to give.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, Reflective writing
Preferred teaching modality: Online, Hybrid
Courses taught: ALT100, RDG100, RDG100LL, CRE101, EDU291, PSY101
Committees: CSFAC, CEAB, SOC, DevEd, eLearning
Special projects and/or service experience: Horizon Grant, FSS grant
Areas of interest: Service learning, innovative practices
English, Humanities, and Journalism
Nadine Arroyo Rodrigo, Journalism Faculty
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Innovative practices, Reflective writing, College culture and networking
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online, Hybrid, Live Online
Courses taught: JRN101, JRN105, JRN201, JRN205, JRN210, JRN212, JRN225, HUM205, MCO120, MCO220
Committees: MCC Hiring, HSI Hiring Ambassador, Instructional Council, MCC Mapping, Mesa Fire Department Asst. Chief hiring committee
Special projects and/or service experience: PTK Advisor, Mesa Legend Advisor, Travel/Chaperone with Student Org, Interim Director Center for Community and Civic Engagement
Areas of interest: DEI, HSI, Hispanic Leadership Institute, Investigative Reporters and Editors Fellow @ M
Lutfi Hussein, English Faculty
Why mentor? “I have served in this capacity several times, and I have found this to be a professionally rewarding experience, for me, as an employee and a faculty member. I would also like to support my new colleagues in their journey at the College.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, Reflective writing, Revision of professional writing, College culture and networking
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online
Courses taught: ENG213, ENG108, ESL240, ESL202
Committees: Mentor, Peer Assistance and Review (PAR), College Research Review Committee (CRRC), Institutional Review Board (IRB) Member, Team for Accreditation through The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Member and Co-chair, hiring committees for faculty, staff, and administrators, Coach, Guided Pathways to Success Team
Special projects and/or service experience: Faculty Advisor, International Education Office Coordinator, English Language Program
Areas of interest: Teaching the English language, linguistics, and writing, Human subjects research, Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Amelia Rodriguez, Reading Faculty
Why mentor? “I love supporting new faculty. I love that working with new faculty helps my stay up to date and in the know of new best practices.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Reflective writing
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online, Live Online
Courses taught: ENG101/107
Committees: As a department chair, I served as a PAR evaluator and met with PAR teams.
Special projects and/or service experience: Faculty Supervisor for Center of Community & Civic Engagement
Areas of interest: Anything HSI, Social Justice, ESL, helping students develop academic reading study skills
Lupco Spasovski, English Faculty
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online
Courses taught: ENG101, ESL201, ESL210, ESL240, ESL250,
Committees: College Faculty Staffing Advisory Committee, Multiple HR search committees, Neutral Third Party for Chair Evaluations, English Language Program Coordinator, MCC Joint Collaborative Inquiry, SSCS Full Strategic Team Meeting, Mesa Community College, PARc Team, Technology Advisory Committee, Emerging Technologies Subcommittee
Special projects and/or service experience: Multiple departmental projects and departmental service
Areas of interest: ESL, English Composition
Paulette Stevenson, English Faculty
Why mentor? “To learn from new faculty and to help new faculty grow.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, Reflective writing, Revision of professional writing, College culture and networking, College/District policy or shared governance
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online, Hybrid
Courses taught: ENG 101, ENG 101LL, ENG 111, ENG 102, HUM 201, HUM 209, HUM 251, HUM 210, ENH 220
Committees: Senate, CTL Advisory, Humanities Committee, FEC, Composition Committee
Special projects and/or service experience: MILRF, Department Assessment Coordinator
Areas of interest: Ungrading, Writing Intensive Classes, Gender in Higher Ed, Shared Governance, Advocacy
Chris Vassett, English Faculty
Why mentor? “To be of use to others in the community.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, Reflective writing, Revision of professional writing, College culture and networking, College/District policy or shared governance
Preferred teaching modality: In-person
Courses taught: ENG 101, ENG 102, ENG 216, ENG 214
Committees: 15 years at MCC district, campus, department
Areas of interest: Faculty Education and Development, Community
Stacy Wilson, English Faculty
Why mentor? “Teaching is hard. It can be a little easier when you have someone to talk, think, learn, and grow with.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, Reflective writing, Revision of professional writing, College culture and networking
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online, Hybrid
Courses taught: ENG 101, ENG 101LL, ENG 102
Committees: Composition Committee, Foundations for Student Success, Hiring Committees, Developmental Education Committee
Special projects and/or service experience: Director of District’s Literacy Partners Program
Areas of interest: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Threshold Concepts, Decoding the Disciplines, Teaching for Transfer and Transparency, AI in the Classroom
Mathematics
Seth Daugherty, Mathematics Faculty
Why mentor? “I find it rewarding and I usually end up learning something new.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, Reflective writing, Revision of professional writing
Preferred teaching modality: In-person
Course taught: MAT150, MAT206, MAT213, MAT220, MAT241
Committees: OER Committee
Special projects and/or service experience: MOER coordinator
Areas of Interest: OER, Active Learning, Writing
Dilshad Haleem, Mathematics Faculty
Why mentor? “One of the reasons I want to be a peer mentor is personal fulfillment. I want to see junior faculty navigate academic challenges and succeed. In addition, I will find this a way of giving back. As a mentor, I also learn from the mentees, leading to mutual learning and growth. Peer mentoring can help me advance in my career. It expands networks, as you connect mentors with colleagues across departments and disciplines.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, College culture and networking
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online, Hybrid, Live Online
Courses taught: CSC100, CSC110AB, CSC205AB, CSC230
Committees: OER Committee, eLearning Committee, Hiring Committees, and Department Assessment Coordinator
Special projects and/or service experience: Develop and maintain the Canvas course for the Computer Science Boot camp. Started the Computer Science club at MCC in 2020 and it is very successful to date. I also started Computer science learning community. However, due to the lack of time, it is on a halt. I’ve been doing presentations GGIT events for a past couple of years not including last year.
Areas of interest: OER, improving diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM fields, student engagement, use of technology in pedagogy
Tara Jones, Mathematics Faculty
Why mentor? “I have been a mentor for several years. I enjoy helping new faculty and I always learn so much from being in their classrooms!”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online
Courses taught: MAT146, MAT151, MAT156, MAT220
Committees: E-learning, College Plan, Red Mountain Leadership Team
Special projects and/or service experience: Dual Enrollment Faculty Liaison, Red Mountain Assistant Chair for Math, volunteer in the Learning Enhancement Center, iBelong instructor
Areas of interest: mindfulness, active learning in math, collaborative activities, engaging students in productive math struggle, growth/fixed mindsets in math
Life Science
Nicola Plowes, Life Science Faculty
Why mentor? “To help the next generation of faculty.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Technology use in the classroom, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online, Live Online
Courses taught: BIO116, BIO100, BIO181, BIO182
Committees: Heerf funds, Senator at large, eLearning, Undergraduate Research
Special projects and/or service experience: Hyflex coordinator
Areas of interest: Project management and online learning
Nursing
Elizabeth Allen, Nursing Faculty
Preferred teaching modality: In-person
Courses taught: NUR283
Committees: PARC, Student Outcomes Committee, Student Success
Special projects and/or service experience: Student Success
Nicole Bartreau, Nursing Faculty
Why mentor? “Inspire and encourage others.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, Reflective writing, College culture and networking
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online
Courses taught: NUR172, HCR210, HCR230
Committees: Vet tech, dental hygiene, women rising, risk evals
Special projects and/or service experience: SIRVA risk mgmnt
Areas of interest: OER, course design
Elizabeth Crandall, Nursing Faculty
Why mentor? “Pass it along!”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Assessment techniques
Preferred teaching modality: In-person
Courses taught: NUR252
Committees: On Line learning, FIM
Special projects and/or service experience: Clinical Coordination, Block Lead
Areas of interest: Maternal Child Health, Simulation
Charles “Wes” Foster, Nursing Faculty
Why mentor? “I love watching new faculty find their niche in teaching. I love learning with them. I also learn great tips and tricks from them as well. It is a wonderful collaboration.”
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, Assessment techniques, Reflective writing
Preferred teaching modality: Hybrid
Courses taught: NUR152
Committees: PARc, Advisor to the Student Nurses’ Association
Special projects and/or service experience: Board member for outside organizations
Areas of interest: Healthy work environments
Social Science and Justice Studies
Sylwia Calvacant, Social Science Faculty
Strengths: Teaching and learning practices, Student engagement or inclusivity techniques, Technology use in the classroom, Innovative practices, Assessment techniques, College/District policy or shared governance
Preferred teaching modality: In-person, Online
Courses taught: ECN 211/ECN 212
Committees: Department Assessment Coordinator (DAC), Study Abroad, e-learning
Special projects and/or service experience: DAC, Study Abroad