It’s that time of the year again! Students are scrambling through the list of classes and deciding who will be their professors for next quarter. Working out schedules is not nearly as daunting as the mission to pick the right professors. Cal State LA is filled with professors full of passion and knowledge and the diversity among them cannot be compared. There is no doubt that we would need several issues to recognize all the amazing individuals that make this university great, but we figured we start with 10. Each and every single one of the following individuals bring something special to Cal State LA’s education and have been recognized as “absolutely amazing” and “must take” before you leave Cal State LA.
1. Dr. Melvin Armstrong Jr. is a Pan African Studies professor who focuses on Critical Race Philosophy. A lot of his classes are centered around breaking down this sense of race and its impact on everyday life, and how the perception of race influences humans and human behavior. His classes will make you question your values and frame of thought, which is what college is all about. Besides his academic curriculum, Dr. Armstrong has a mad love for rap and cigars. Very appropriate for a philosopher and a great professor. (Pic: http://www.melvinarmstrongjr.com)
2. Dr. Acevedo is one of the most interesting and eye-opening Political Science and Economics professors at Cal State LA. All of her students will tell you that there is an immense amount of reading and material that she covers but they will also tell you that at the end of the day there has been a lot of learning and a whole lot of eye-opening experiences that prepare you for the future. In one of her classes she tackles the 2008 Recession, the causes and the results, which is extremely important for us students who are dealing with the aftermath and the recovery from this period. (Pic: http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/emily-acevedo)
3. Dr. James Brady is one of the most noted professors among Anthropology Students. When asked, all students without hesitation said, “Brady, you have to take Brady!” This unanimous pick is due to Dr. Brady’s knowledge, and his inclination towards writing. All students in his classes are required to write a few papers per quarter, and although students say that was by far the hardest part of the class, they all recognize writing is an essential part of Anthropology, as is graduate school. His dedication and availability as a professional and a mentor makes him a must take in the Anthropology department. (Pic: http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/anthro/james-brady)
4. If you’re major is Accounting, Dr. Gregory Kunkel is one of the must take professors. Students agree; there is no other professor who is more invested in the success of their students as he is. He focuses on making sure his students are ready for the real world while stressing the value of having people skills, helping others and building relationships. His passion, knowledge and connections extend beyond the classroom, as his doors are always open for guidance and help in time of need. (Pic: https://www.google.com/search?q=Dr+Gregory+Kunkel&biw=1086&bih=613&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMI0Nvn74KDyQIVlTKICh0xJgB2#tbm=isch&q=Dr+Gregory+Kunkel+CSULA&imgrc=JxmDEq5qT0dEJM%3A)
5. Remi de la Rocha is a Cal State LA two-time graduate and professor. After obtaining his Masters in Health Care Administration, he has returned as a professor of a special topic upper division class in the College of Business and Economics. Past students recommend his classes regardless of major because he teaches so much more than management; he teaches his students how to be effective leaders and organizers and that can be translated across majors. As a student De La Rocha was a very involved individual and as such he makes sure he returns to his alma matters and helps the upcoming generations of leaders. (Pic: http://www.calstatela.edu/sites/default/files/users/u14616/DistAlumni/remi_de_la_rocha.pdf)
6. In the Charter College of Education, Joseph Staub is a distinguished professor. He is a Special Education teacher by day and a college professor by night. He focuses his lectures on what to expect in the classroom after college. He is notorious for assigning endless amounts of work but students agree the work is topic related and incredibly helpful when they go out and begin their journey as teachers. Beyond the classroom he extends his expertise and genuine concern as students come to him for help with career related questions and how-to’s in the teaching world. (Pic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-staub-b957479)
7. If you are a Philosophy major or simply looking to fulfill a theme class, Mohammed Abed is a must. This Philosophy professor is one of the most enlightening professors in the field, very knowledgeable and encourages student discussions. Some of the topics covered can be very controversial but he makes sure that class discussions are inclusive and diverse. Professor Abed heavily comments on the impact of technology and the damage such creates if used inappropriately and participates a cell phone free life. This in turn gives him a very different perspective and allows him to share with his students his vast knowledge in a wide array of topics. As a side note he is an impeccable dresser and British, which is nothing but a plus. (Pic: http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/mabed/)
8. Be prepared to enter the world of Marketing and Psychology with Dr. Pei-Shiuan (Lilly) Lin. Her class always starts with a short marketing video, and because this is her forte, the videos are nothing but great. Her use of media in the classroom to teach marketing makes her class a must. While many professors stray away from technology, she embraces it. Laptops and cellphones are a constant distraction but she makes her class that much more entertaining and engaging that other technology becomes secondary and an aid to learning. The use of videos, reading, class discussion and well-organized lectures really make Marketing an engaging subject from which we all can benefit. (Pic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-lin-915aa874)
9. Nobody knows more about computers and Computer Information Science than the man Knox Wasley, partly because he has been in this field for a long time and partly because he is constantly learning new technologies. Although he can pass off as short, he is a very direct, straight to the point type of guy. He focuses on punctuality and making sure his students are ready for life after college. He relates all his lectures to actual life experiences and tries really hard to make sure his students are informed about school policies and changes if any. If you are in the field of CIS he is a must! (Pic: http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/kwasley/)
10. Dr. Nina O’Brien is by far the most rad Communications professor, not to mention that “rad (radical)” is her favorite word. It is very unlikely to hear professors use words that we use as students in our everyday language, but she does and that makes her classes so much more relatable. Communication, whether its written or verbal, can be very intimidating but Dr. Obrien has the ability to break it down and show her students how it’s done. In addition to her awesome lectures she also provides some very interesting activities at the beginning of every quarter that will allows student to explore their collaborative skills as well as their leadership skills. Totally rad! (Pic: http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/communication/obrien.php)