Meet Our Team!

Demiana Hanna, SI Mentor

Email: hanna055@csusm.edu 

Demiana is a 2^nd Year Cellular and Molecular Bio Major with a Minor in Chemistry. She plans on becoming a pediatric oncologist one day. In her free time, she loves to go to the gym, hang out with family, or just relax and watch TV.

Nissa Jamalian, SI Mentor 

She/her

Email: jamal005@csusm.edu 

Nissa is a psychology major with a minor in biology. Apart from being a supplementary instructor, she works as a data coordinator and manager in Dr. Pulver's NIH-funded study, as well as a research assistant in Dr. Sherafat's rodent lab. She's super passionate about research and educating others on the brain! Her current research projects focus on the interaction between nicotinic modulators and implications on learning and memory in the hippocampus, as well as getting her manuscript with Dr. Pulver's finalized and published. 

Savina Walker, BIOL 178 SIL

She/her

Email: walke245@csusm.edu 

Savina is in her 3rd year at CSUSM with a Major in Kinesiology Movement Science with the hopes of becoming a Doctor of Physical therapy for both elders and pediatrics.

Maggie Dunn, BIOL 177 SIL

She/her

Email: dunn060@csusm.edu 

Maggie is in her fourth year at CSUSM as a Kinesiology-Health Science major and she is hoping to pursue a Masters Degree in Physician Associate Studies (MPAS). She just became a certified phlebotomist and enjoys helping others through hands-on clinical experience. When she is bored she's probably doing photography, shopping, or at the gym.

Jacob Badillo, CHEM 160 SIL

He/him

Email: badil029@csusm.edu 

Jacob is a second-year biochemistry major. He plans on becoming a General dentist in the future. On his own time, he enjoys playing basketball, going to the beach, and hanging out with friends and family.

Nathan Sutor, CHEM 160 SIL

He/him

Email: sutor001@csusm.edu 

Hello, I am Nathan Sutor, a Biology Major and an SI Leader for Chem 160.

Julianne Calaguian, CHEM 160 SIL

She/her

Email: calag004@csusm.edu 

Julianne is a third-year Biological Sciences major with a concentration in Molecular Cell Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She hopes to move on to Medical School after her fourth year. In her free time, she loves to draw, bake, play video games, hang out with her friends and family, and watch her favorite shows!

Jerrvin Cendana, CHEM 201 SIL

He/him

Email: cenda003@csusm.edu

Jerrvin is a 5th year Chemistry major. He plans on becoming a teacher in the future. He loves long walks on the beach and rides a motorcycle if you couldn’t tell.

Symphony Rutkowski, CHEM 201 SIL

She/her

Email: rutko005@csusm.edu 

Symphony is a second-year biological science major with a minor in literature. She dreams of becoming an astrobiologist and conducting research in space. Her days consist of reading, listening to music, and hiking.

Kiera Ramirez, CHEM 201 SIL

She/her

Email: ramir1121@csusm.edu 

Kiera is a 2nd year biochemistry student with a minor in psychology. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, reading a good book, watching trashy TV, and hanging out with friends. She plans to join an MD/PhD program funded by the US Navy in pursuit of becoming an officer anesthesiologist and doing research.

Emily Pham, CHEM 202 SIL

She/her

Email: pham201@csusm.edu 

Emily is a third-year Biological Sciences major with a Chemistry minor. She hopes to continue pursuing a health career pathway as she has always had a passion for making a difference in lives, whether it's through working in the hospital or helping those in nursing homes. Apart from being a supplementary instructor, she is also currently in Dr. Kolosov's research lab researching the voltage-gated ion channels in osmoregulatory epithelia of larval mosquitoes. In her free time, she loves spending time with her friends and family, as well as her dogs! 

Stephanie Cabrera, CHEM 202 SIL

She/her

Email: cabre097@csusm.edu 

Stephanie is a fourth-year biotechnology major and is applying to dental school upon graduating. She enjoys staying active, whether it be running by the beach in the morning with her friends, going for a swim, or exploring new coffee shops on the weekends with her friends. She has also studied abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy where she had the opportunity to learn Italian and travel to different countries.

Sebastian Avitia, ECON 201

He/him/his

Email: aviti006@csusm.edu 

Sebastian is a second-year Finance major with aspirations to travel the world, go for an MBA, and break into the consulting and banking fields. He loves football, baseball, and traveling. He is getting ready to travel abroad through CSUSM in the coming years.

Anthony Franco, ECON 201

He/him

Email: franc243@csusm.edu 

Hello, I am an SI leader for Econ 201 and look forward to helping students learn this semester as well as helping them pass their courses.

Evan Becerra, ECON 202

He/him

Email: becer071@csusm.edu 

I'm a third-year student studying finance. I hope to use my degree in business consulting or development. I would love to work with small businesses that need a new perspective on sales tactics, customer retention, optimizing their budget, etc. I wanted to become a supplemental instructor to help students gain confidence and apply the concepts learned in class. I am very outgoing, understanding, and patient. I hope to create a fun and positive environment for everyone, I’m so excited to meet you all!

Katie Brunson, PSYC 360 SIL

She/her

Email: bruns015@csusm.edu 

Katie is a 3rd-year Psychology major with a passion for biology-related Psychology. She is interested in Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology and plans on achieving a doctorate. Since last spring, she has been a research assistant in Dr. Caine's Animal behavior lab. Katie enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog and trying new things in her free time. She can't wait to help her fellow students this semester!

Nicholas Mendez, PSYC 360 SIL

Email: mende327@csusm.edu 

Nicholas is a fourth-year psychological science major. He is currently involved in multiple research labs on campus related to nicotine and tobacco, as well as studying the neurological effects of semaglutide on weight loss. In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, reading, camping, and hiking.

Kaitlyn Sung, PSYC 360 SIL

She/her

Email: sung006@csusm.edu 

Kaitlyn is a 4th year student in the Psychological Sciences major at CSUSM. She is enthusiastic about all things brain/behavior and loves empowering students to be confident and motivated learners through the SI program.

Miranda Medina, PSYC 360 SIL

She/her

Email: medin239@csusm.edu

Miranda is a third-year Psychological Science major as well as a U-RISE scholar. She is a research assistant at the Cannabis and Tobacco Research Lab of San Diego. After graduation, she plans to obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Neuropsychology with a specialization in neurodegenerative diseases. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and bird watching.

Victoria Leonardo, SLP 473 SIL

She/her

Email: leona075@csusm.edu 

Tori is in Cohort 13 of the M.S. SLP graduate program. Her future career goal is to work with adults who have sustained brain injuries. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, exercising, and spending time with her classmates. She is excited to work as a Supplemental Instructor for SLP 473 this semester!

Taylor Garrett, SLP 391 SIL

She/her

Email: garre031@csusm.edu  

Taylor is in Cohort 13 of the M.S. SLP graduate program. Her future career goal is to be a Speech-Language Pathologist, however, undecided in terms of the area of specialty as she is still exploring different settings. She is excited to be an SI for PHYS 357 and to discuss the content of the course!

Lauren Gross, SLP 201 SIL

She/her

Email: gross041@csusm.edu 

Lauren is in Cohort 13 of the M.S. SLP graduate program. Her future career goal is to be working as an SLP in an elementary school. She loves this SLP program and is so excited to be a Supplemental Instructor for SLP 201! Lauren believes this is an amazing course and she cannot wait to help you excel in it! 

Kaley-Shea Doherty, SLP 320 SIL

She/her

Email: doher020@csusm.edu 

Kaley Doherty is a second-year graduate student in the MS SLP program. Her career goal is to work with preschool students on their speech and language skills at a local school district. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, taking care of her plants, and spending time outside. Kaley loves the SI program and helping students reach their academic goals while fostering a love for the foundations of speech-language pathology.

Nina Kokami, PHYS 357 SIL

She/her

Email: kokam001@csusm.edu 

Nina is in Cohort 11 of the B.S. Speech-Language Pathology undergraduate program. She hopes to pursue an Au.D. and become an audiologist for pediatric or adult populations. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. She is so excited to be an SI for PHYS 357!