Faculty Feature
Dr. James Mellis, Assistant Professor of English
February 28, 2023 | Faculty, Faculty Feature
“I believe that some of the most beneficial educational experiences occur outside of the classroom, and when I learned about Guttman’s focus on experiential learning and the support given to those experiences through Community Days, Global Guttman, or other activities, I knew it was a place I wanted to be a part of.”Dr. James Mellis, […]
Dr. Chulsung Kim, Professor of Chemistry
January 23, 2023 | Faculty, Faculty Feature
“Our complex society requires interdisciplinary collaboration, and it is my hope for GCC students that they learn the value of teamwork for the attainment of a common goal.” Dr. Chulsung Kim, who is a professor of chemistry at Stella and Charles Guttman Community College, attended New York University for his Master’s degree, and he received […]
Marcia Edwards, Human Service and Social Work Professor
December 8, 2022 | Faculty Feature
“To understand and internalize the concept of community and giving back under the adage of ‘each one, teach one.’ That you cannot be involved in just yourself—that there is a universal connection that we all have, and it is important to pay it forward.” Marcia Edwards, professor of Human Service and Social Work, was […]
Douglas Medina, Political and Social Sciences Instructor
October 31, 2022 | Faculty Feature
Guttman Faculty Featured in Solo Exhibit
October 3, 2022 | Faculty, Faculty Feature
Alexandra Hamlett, Information Literacy Librarian and Assistant Professor, Library Science and Information Literacy
March 22, 2022 | Academics, Faculty, Faculty Feature, First Year Experience, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Research, Technology
As an information literacy librarian, Alexandra Hamlett helps students learn essential research skills, skills that include finding, evaluating, and using multiple information types in order for students to be able to access credible information for their academic and personal information needs. In 2015, she was thrilled to join Guttman College, where an innovative and creative pedagogy is embraced. Guttman’s founders outlined a non-traditional community college and developed a curriculum tied to student success. “I have been privileged to develop an information literacy program where I collaborate closely with faculty to embed information literacy skills across the First-Year Experience and the Programs of Study,” says Professor Hamlett.
Dr. Elizabeth Wentworth, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
March 2, 2022 | Academics, Faculty Feature, First Year Experience, Liberal Arts and Sciences, STEM
“I truly believe everyone learns differently and expresses their knowledge in different ways. I love seeing a student solve a problem a new way or apply to knowledge to something new. My goal is to foster intellectual curiosity rather than memorization and to build relationships where students feel safe making mistakes and trying new things.”
Dr. Elizabeth Wentworth’s doctoral dissertation investigated the integration of music instruction in the high school mathematics classroom. Since beginning at Guttman in 2016, her focus has been primarily on teaching. “Now that I am in my third year as an assistant professor I am starting to plan for more research,” says Dr. Wentworth. “I intend to continue looking at interdisciplinary work’s impact on student success and motivation.” Prior to teaching at Guttman, Dr. Wentworth taught three years of high school mathematics and coached the high school mathematics team, as well as the Academic Decathlon team. Dr. Wentworth has an undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester with majors in mathematics, music, and English, and a minor in history. Dr. Wentworth’s master’s and doctorate are from Teachers College Columbia University where she specialized in mathematics education.
Dr. Ayisha Sookdeo, Assistant Professor, Biology
March 1, 2022 | Academics, Faculty Feature, First Year Experience, Research, STEM
“I think it is important for students to understand that their ability to stick with tasks, goals, and passions is crucial for success. Perseverance demands effort and practice, which is the truest way to unlock our highest potential.”
Dr. Ayisha Sookdeo joined Guttman College in 2019. She came to Guttman because she was excited to get the opportunity to teach students in a college that truly emphasizes the importance of dedicated and compassionate instruction.
Dr. Jinzhong Niu, Assistant Professor, Computer Science
January 21, 2022 | Academics, Experiential Learning, Faculty, Faculty Feature, Global Guttman, Information Technology, Research, STEM
Professor Jinzhong Niu
Dr. Nicole Kras, Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Human Services
January 20, 2022 | Academics, Ethnographies of Work, Faculty, Faculty Feature, Human Services
“Guttman is a community of exceptional scholars that care deeply about teaching and learning and are at the forefront of rethinking the community college experience.”
Dr. Nicole Kras’ academic background is rooted in psychology and education. She earned a Ph.D. in Adult Learning and Development from Lesley University, as well as a Master of Science in Education and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study as a Classroom Teacher Specialist from Southern Connecticut State University. Dr. Kras has also received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a concentration in child development and mental health, and a Master of Arts in Art Therapy from Albertus Magnus College. She serves as an accreditation self-study reader for the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE) and is currently leading the self-study accreditation process for Guttman’s Human Services Program. She is actively involved on the Board of the New England Organization for Human Services, serving in many elected positions, including the former president of the organization.
