Faculty Awards

Sebastian Carron Montero, PhD

Associate Professor of Physics

Specializing in modern physics and applied electronics at Cal Lutheran, Carron Montero teaches a diverse range of courses at Cal Lutheran.

Read about Sebastian

Jose Marichal, PhD

Professor, Political Science

Jose Marichal is a political science professor whose work focuses on the intersection of technology and political life. He studies how the role that algorithms and AI play in restructuring social and political institutions, influence civic discourse, and shape what people see, hear, and believe. His current book project, You Must Become an Algorithmic Problem (Bristol University Press, 2025), examines the emerging social contract between humans and algorithmic systems. He is also developing a follow-up project, Machine Liberalism, which considers how AI is shifting our expectations of liberal democracy.

In the classroom, Marichal challenges students to critically engage with the digital forces shaping public life. “I'm grateful that I get the opportunity to "think out loud" with my students.  They help me think through how to make sense of the rapid social and political changes brought about by technology.” One student commented, “Dr. Marichal is a great professor. He is funny, understanding, and makes the class more interesting through engaging discussions during his lectures.” His courses include Technology and Politics, Social Media as Data, Race and Multiculturalism in Politics, and American Political Thought, among others. He is affiliated with the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill and contributes regularly to Tech Policy Press.

Marichal earned his BS from Florida State University, MS from Florida Atlantic University, and PhD in political science from the University of Colorado, Boulder. His work has been published in Politics and Policy, Journal of Information Technology and Politics, International Journal of Communication, and Intersections: The Journal of Lutheran Higher Education and more.

The Provost Distinguished Scholar Award was developed to further the building of a community of scholars at Cal Lutheran. Each year the award is granted to faculty members who have demonstrated significant achievement in research or creative work. The award is funded by a gift from the estate of Pamela M. Jolicoeur, who was Provost at Cal Lutheran from 1993 to 2004.

Kirstie Hettinga, PhD

Professor, Communication

Kirstie Hettinga received the Dean’s Award for Scholarship and Creative Work. Hettinga has made significant scholarly contributions through her research, grant activity and student mentorship, even as her high-profile role advising Cal Lutheran’s student newspapers often garners the most attention. Between 2023 and 2025, she published multiple peer-reviewed articles, trade publications and a book chapter, presented at national conferences, secured six research grants and mentored student-directed projects. Her work not only advances journalism in a rapidly evolving media landscape but also exemplifies meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues and students. These achievements, including her leadership in launching the Spanish Media minor and securing prestigious research awards, reflect her sustained impact on both the university and her field.

Roxanne Banuelos

Lecturer, Communication

Roxanne Banuelos received the Dean’s Award for Innovation in Pedagogy. Banuelos demonstrates exceptional innovation in teaching through thoughtfully designed, inclusive and engaging learning experiences. Her curriculum integrates interdisciplinary content, theoretical frameworks and hands-on assignments that encourage personal relevance and academic rigor. Assignments such as the "Identity & Communication Style Assessment," the “Dear Comm 335” letter and the “Relationship Manual” exemplify her creative approach to fostering empathy, reflection, and the real-world application of course concepts. Her work cultivates intellectually safe classroom communities and advances student learning in meaningful and lasting ways.

Andrea J. Sell, PhD

Professor, Psychology
Director, Research Development and Support

Andrea Sell received the Dean’s Award for Service. Sell has played a key role in strengthening the academic community at Cal Lutheran. She consistently provides valuable data and research to support informed decision-making within the Psychology Department and across the campus. As director for research development and support, she has been instrumental in promoting faculty and student scholarship, including organizing the Festival of Scholars and expanding research opportunities.

Richard Neve

Lecturer, Political Science

Richard Neve received the Dean’s Award for Service. Neve is a consistently reliable and engaged faculty member who contributes extensively to service both within his department and across the university. He took on a large number of summer research proposal reviews, even stepping in to complete an unassigned one on short notice. His active involvement in programs such as T2CLU, First-Year Seminar and student panels reflects his deep commitment to student success and community engagement. In addition to mentoring students, he also serves as the Political Science Internship Coordinator and advisor to the Pre-Law Club.

Scott Hamilton Adams, MDiv, MA

Adjunct faculty, Philosophy

The Rev. Scott Hamilton Adams received the Dean's Award for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice. Adams’ work with Black students and other underrepresented groups at Cal Lutheran has had a powerful impact. His support, mentorship and presence provide a vital sense of belonging for students who may feel isolated. He serves as a strong role model and advocate, helping students navigate both academic and personal challenges. 

Haco Hoang, PhD

Professor, Political Science

Haco Hoang received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring. Hoang has demonstrated a long-standing and exceptional commitment to undergraduate mentoring through her extensive work in research, advising and professional development. Since 2005, she has mentored numerous students through honors programs, research fellowships and grant-funded projects, including the McNair Scholars and Culver Research Fellows. As department chair and capstone instructor, she advises nearly all Political Science students, promotes a culture of mentorship and prepares them for conferences, graduate school and careers in law, government and public service. Her interdisciplinary and community-based approach has had a lasting impact on student success.

Dan Hamilton, PhD

Professor, Economics
Director, Center for Economic Research and Forecasting

Dan Hamilton received the School of Management Advisory Council’s Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship. For 15 years, Hamilton has worked tirelessly to develop sophisticated models that have earned Cal Lutheran’s Center for Economic Research and Forecasting (CERF) numerous accolades, including the Zillow Crystal Ball Award, the National Association of Business Economists mention as 2nd most accurate forecasting house nationwide and the acceptance of CERF into the Wall Street Journal’s panel of economic forecasters, He has provided the research behind what have become the most accurate economic forecasts for the county, state and nation, as well as the groundbreaking Latino and Latina GDP reports that have resulted in hundreds of media mentions in the last year and presentations in front of more than 13,000 event participants. With its combination of the highest rigor and absolute relevance, his research continues to inspire his students.

Tracy Nickl, PhD

Assistant professor, Marketing

Tracy Nickl received the School of Management Advisory Council’s Award for  Excellence in Teaching. Before pursuing a PhD in Management and joining academia, Nickl honed her skills in training and development, coaching and mentoring during a long career on Wall Street. She excels by bringing guest speakers and integrating applied projects and demanding business simulations into her courses. Teaching doesn’t end for her when a class is over. She has mentored many students individually, helped them to find internships and job placements, written letters of recommendation, opened her network for mentorships and served as faculty advisor for the student chapter of the American Marketing Association. She has been instrumental in building bridges to prospective students through Future Business Leaders of America or the SOM Brand Ambassador initiative. Her engagement and energy make her a valued role model.

Vlad Vaiman, PhD

Professor, Talent Management 

Vlad Vaiman received the School of Management Advisory Council’s Award for Service. Vaiman has been instrumental in shaping the Executive MBA, MSM and MBA programs. He never hesitates to take on additional responsibilities, from overseeing graduate programs at the School of Management to assuming the role of program director for the MBA, MSM, and EMBA programs. He has served as a Convocator and a member of numerous university committees and task forces. He has served as vice-chair of the Ventura County Economic Development Association for many years. He is the founding editor-in-chief and senior editorial consultant of the European Journal of International Management, the chair of the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management’s Workshop on Talent Management and the editor of the Talent Management Series at Emerald Publications, among other roles. He is known among his peers worldwide, putting Cal Lutheran on the global map. 

Edward H. Julius, PhD

Professor, Accounting, Emeritus

Ed Julius is the recipient of the 2024 Chuck Maxey Lifetime Achievement Award. The Chuck Maxey Lifetime Achievement Award is one that is not presented annually. It is only presented in those rare cases when a faculty member leaves the university and when they have shown exceptional commitment to the university, the School of Management and their profession over many years. A Professor at the School of Management who accomplished the not so easy task of helping students to develop a love for Accounting. To many, he has become the reason why they embarked on impressive careers in the profession. He has published four books on rapid calculation, which collectively appear in nine languages. A long-time sports enthusiast, our award recipient processed athletic eligibility at Cal Lutheran for more than a decade, and he has served as faculty mentor to our softball and tennis teams for a number of years. In addition, he has served on the Advancement, Rank and Tenure Committee for longer than most anybody at Cal Lutheran, a committee he has chaired seven times. He founded Cal Lutheran’s student-run Accounting Association in 1984, and he has served as its faculty adviser for many years. A graduate of Rutgers and UPenn’s Wharton Business School, our honoree was the recipient of the School of Management’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2015. Most importantly, he has been a mentor and a guide to students and colleagues alike, always kind, always professional, always a gentleman.

Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, PhD

Assistant professor, Counseling and College Student Personnel

Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza received the Outstanding Scholarship Award. This academic year, she made substantial contributions to the field through meaningful research endeavors, authoring five scholarly publications — two peer-reviewed journal articles, one book chapter and two policy briefs — with four listing her as first author. In addition to her academic writing, she engaged in public scholarship as a guest on the ¿Qué pasa, HSIs? podcast, hosted by Dra. Gina Garcia of UC Berkeley, during which she spoke on solidarity across minority-serving institutions. Espinoza also serves on the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions Steering Committee. Her work bridges research and practice, remaining accessible beyond paywalls and amplifying its reach and impact in higher education. 

Mina Chun, PhD

Assistant professor, Special Education
Director, Special Education (MMSN/ESN) Credential Program

Mina Chun received the Outstanding Service Award for her exceptional dedication and contributions to the Graduate School of Education. During the last academic year, she played a key role in the extensive work of recrafting and expanding program curriculum — an effort requiring both deep expertise and a significant investment of time and energy. Her nominator shared, “She consistently pours herself into better understanding and improving the program. Additionally, she is always ready to assist others inside and outside the department in their areas as well. I know she has put in many, many hours beyond her teaching and scholarship load to do these things, and always does so with a smile.” Chun’s commitment to service extends across her program, the GSOE, the university and the field of education itself, and her tireless support and positive spirit exemplify the kind of service that strengthens communities and moves institutions forward.

Alison M. McCormick, MA

Lecturer, Learning and Teaching
Director, California Reading and Literature Project

Alison McCormick received the Outstanding Teaching Award in recognition of her passion for both her subject matter and her students’ learning and growth. Multiple nomination letters from students praised her as a caring and committed educator who brings pride and intentionality to her teaching. One student described her as a “caring educator … who takes great pride in her work, which is evident in her teaching and in the way she evaluates our work.” By employing a variety of teaching methods to support diverse learning styles, McCormick creates an engaging and supportive classroom environment that models the kind of effective, student-centered instruction she hopes her students will carry into their careers. Another student wrote, “I want to do the work that this professor does for my future students — to make them engage but not feel overburdened by the content or the classroom. Hands down, she is one of the best professors I have ever had, and I have had a lot.” McCormick’s impact as a teacher is clear, and we are proud to honor her.

Joe Nardo

Adjunct Faculty

Joe Nardo is this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award for adjunct faculty — a well-deserved recognition of his unwavering commitment to student success, his thoughtful and reflective approach to teaching, and the meaningful impact he has made in the lives of future educators. As one student wrote, “I walked out of my class last semester as a better, more equipped educator. … His support and encouragement made a significant difference, especially as I worked through the challenges of finding my place in this program."