Congratulations! Faculty promoted to the rank of Professor for 2024-25.
We are pleased to announce the well-deserved promotion of our distinguished faculty members to the rank of full Professor! This is a significant career milestone reflecting years of hard work. We are thrilled to celebrate their exceptional dedication and accomplishments, expertise in their fields, and contributions to Golden West College.
Gita Alemansour
Mathematics
B.S., University of California, Irvine; M.A., California State University, Fullerton
Heather Antunez
Counselor
A.A., Fullerton College; B.A., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; M.S., University of Phoenix
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With over 15 years of experience in counseling college students, Heather Antunez has dedicated eight of those years to serving at Golden West College. Armed with a Master's degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy, Heather is deeply passionate about empowering students to discover their voices and chart their paths in the world. As a counselor, Heather is committed to nurturing holistic growth and development among the college community.
Erin Craig
Developmental Math
B.S., CSU Long Beach; M.S., CSU East Bay; Ed.D, University of Southern California
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Kay Dutz
Chemistry
B.S., University of California, San Diego; Ph.D, University of California, Irvine
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Nancy Fong
Counselor
A.A., El Camino College; B.A., California State University, Long Beach; M.S.W., University of Southern California
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I am a proud graduate of the California Community College system. It was there I discovered my career passion and path for academic counseling/instruction. I earned my Associate of Arts degree in Sociology from El Camino College and transferred to California State University, Long Beach where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I obtained my Master of Social Work with a concentration in Families and Children from the University of Southern California (USC).
As an academic counselor at Golden West College, I am responsible for providing academic, career, transfer, and personal counseling to general students and Puente students. I am an instructor teaching college success and counseling courses. I co-coordinate the Puente program and our events: mentorship program, workshops, conferences, and field trips.
Before Golden West College, I was a part-time counselor at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the EOPS program, El Camino College for CalWORKs, Puente, and Matriculation, and El Camino College Compton Center for CalWORKs. In addition, I have over eight years of experience working in various classified positions with the EOPS/CARE/CalWORKs programs at El Camino College.
Monica Jovanovich
Art History
B.A. University of Redlands; Ph.D., University of California, San Diego
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Amy Runyen
Art
B.F.A., Savannah College of Art and Design; M.F.A,. California State University Long Beach
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Professor Runyen earned her MFA in Drawing and Painting from California State University, Long Beach and her BFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA. She has been teaching full-time in the art department at GWC since 2014. Before that she was a freeway flier, teaching as an adjunct at CSULB, Mt. SAC, Cypress College, and other campuses. She currently teaches painting, two-dimensional design, and color theory. When she is not in the classroom, she can be found in her studio making her own oil paintings or off on some adventure with her two boys.
Michael Valinluck
Biology
B.S., University of California, Los Angeles; M.S., California State University, Long Beach
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Professor Valinluck has been teaching at Golden West College since 2010 in the Biological Sciences Department. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles and his Master’s degree in Microbiology from California State University, Long Beach. He has taught a variety of courses including Introduction to Biology, Human Ecology, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and General Microbiology. In his free time, Mike enjoys trying different foods, working out, reading fiction, running errands at Costco, and hanging out with his three dogs.
Leah Walden-Hurtgen
Anthropology
A.A., Miami-Dade College; B.A., Florida Atlantic University; M.A., California State University, Fullerton
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Professor Walden obtained her Master’s in Anthropology at California State University, Fullerton. Her thesis research focused on prehistoric human impacts on the environment through an archaeological analysis of ecofacts from the Southern California coastline. She also has a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University and an Associate’s in Pre-Nursing from Miami Dade College. She is full-time, tenured faculty in the Liberal Arts & Culture Department at Golden West College, and she currently teaches the following courses: Introduction to Archaeology; Introduction to Cultural Anthropology; Physical Anthropology; and Gender, Culture, and Society.
2023-24 Promotion to Professor
Bud Benneman
Geology
B.S., M.S., University of Nevada Las Vegas
Maxim Brinkman-Marheine
Automotive Technology
A.A., Citrus College, B.S., University of California, Los Angeles
Dawn Brooks
Music
B.M., M.M., California State University, Long Beach; D.M.A., University of Southern California
Dr. Brooks has worked as an educator, conductor, and vocal soloist in Southern California for over twenty years. She was formerly the Supervisor of Voice and Choral Studies at CSU Dominguez Hills but is delighted to officially call Golden West College her permanent educational home. She earned her BM and MM in Vocal Performance from CSU Long Beach and a DMA in Choral Music from the University of Southern California. She has extensive experience leading choirs of all ages and training the next generation of choral music educators. Dr. Brooks has performed in musical theater productions and operas, with professional choirs, and as a classical and jazz vocalist throughout Southern California. At GWC, she teaches choir, private voice, all levels of group voice classes, and Voice for Musical Theater, as well as history and theory courses. She is also the Director of Music at Riviera United Methodist Church in Redondo Beach, where she leads music in worship and conducts the Chancel Choir and Chancel Bells.
Annamaria Crescimanno
Biology
B.A., Ohio State University; M.S., University of Indianapolis
Annamaria Crescimanno received her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Criminology from The Ohio State University and her master’s degree in human biology from the University of Indianapolis. After moving to California in 2010, she started teaching part-time at Golden West College as well as other local community colleges. In 2012, she was hired as a full-time tenure track instructor with Golden West. She has taught Introduction to Biology, Biological Anthropology, Human Anatomy, and Human Physiology. While she loves each of these classes for different reasons, her heart lies with Human Anatomy. She is finishing her 13th year of teaching and enjoying life with her husband, Alex, and their two children, Ophelia (6) and Everett (4). Outside of school, she loves cooking, baking, crafting, and spending time with her family.
Cecelia Galassi
English
B.A., Occidental College; Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
William Lawler
Health/Physical Education and Women’s Volleyball Coach
B.A., San Diego State University
Cristian Racataian
Computer Science
B.S., Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest, Romania; B.S., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; M.S., California State University, Fullerton
Brian Thill
English
M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
Dr. Brian Thill is Professor of English. He earned his MA and PhD from the Department of English and Comparative Literature at UC Irvine, where he was a Jacob K. Javits National Fellow. He is the author of WASTE (Bloomsbury), which has also been published and translated into Mandarin, Turkish, and Korean, and he is a contributor to VEER Ecology (University of Minnesota Press), an anthology of eco-criticism. His published work has also appeared in The Atlantic, Salon, Jacobin, 3AM Magazine, and elsewhere. Currently, he is at work on several manuscripts, and is also studying advanced bonsai techniques under sensei Ted Matson, curator of the Bonsai Collections at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
Cristina Tiernes Cruz
Spanish
Ph.D., University of Huelva; B.S., Pontificia Comillas University of Madrid
Ayesha Zia
English
B.A., M.A., California State University, Fullerton
I’ve always had a passion for literature, education, and communication which motivated me to get my Master's degree in English from California State University Fullerton. Since 2011, I have been working with students as an English professor here at Golden West College, where I am an involved member of the campus community, currently serving on the Council for Curriculum and Instruction and the Dual Enrollment Committee. Outside of my professional endeavors, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends, traveling, and exploring boutiques in beach cities.
