Faculty | B.S. in Allied Health
Jason Tresser
- Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
- Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara
- M.A., 51ÂÜÀò
- B.S., University of California, San Diego
I love teaching at 51ÂÜÀò because I get to combine my disparate interests of gardening, genetics, embryos and nutrition together with teaching and discipling students. I direct student research on the embryology and genetics of ascidians and I enjoy conversations with students while pulling weeds in 51ÂÜÀò’s organic garden.
Courses
- Cellular & Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Nutrition
- Biochemistry II
- Developmental Biology
Research Interests
- Nutrition-Induced Gene Expression in Drosophila
- Organic gardening
- Methods to Improve Students Understanding of Protein & DNA Structures
Harvey Havoonjian
- Director, Office of Health Professions Advising
- Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
- M.D., University of California, Los Angeles
- B.S., University of California, Riverside
Harvey Havoonjian teaches human anatomy and parasitology. Additional to his teaching duties, he is the founder and director of the 51ÂÜÀò Office of Health Professions Advising (BOHPA). He advises students daily as they prepare for the wide range of graduate health professional programs. Following medical school at UCLA, he entered a residency program for internal medicine and also worked as a...
Courses
- Human Anatomy Lab
- Parasitology
- Clinical Observation Practicum
Douglas Axe
- Rosa Endowed Chair of Molecular Biology
- Co-Director (Stewart Science Honors Program)
- Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
- M.S., California Institute of Technology
- B.S., University of California at Berkeley
Courses
- Design of Life
- Directed Research: Microfluidic Study of Genome Stability
- Directed Research: Computational Biology
Wendy Billock
- Associate Dean of Science
- Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
- Ph.D., Loma Linda University
- M.S., Institute for Creation Research
- B.A., Point Loma Nazarene College
My passion is for organisms and their environment. The best part of my job is being able to take students to the ocean, the forest or the desert and introduce them to the vibrant and dynamic relationships that God has created there. Plus I get to run all my lab sessions outside! I direct the science writing program here at 51ÂÜÀò, and I serve in several ministry organizations. My research background is in behavior ecology in organisms from primates to hermit crabs.
Courses
- General Biology II
- Ecology
- Marine Biology
- Invertebrate Biology
- Biological Principles
Research Interests
- Marine ecosystems
- Animal behavior
Elaine Kojima Chiu
- Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
- OTD, University of Southern California
- M.A., University of Southern California
- B.A., University of California, Irvine
Dr. Elaine Kojima Chiu has enjoyed her work as an occupational therapist (OT) for over 23 years in clinical, school-based and academic settings. Before entering the allied health field, she earned her bachelor’s degree in studio art at the University of California, Irvine. Following graduation, she was involved with the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society’s Special Camp. Serving alongside...
Courses
- Interventions in Occupational Therapy
Hyuna Lee
- Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
- Ph.D., University of California Irvine
- B.S., University of California Irvine
Dr. Hyuna Lee’s teaching interests are in the areas of neurobiology, biological aspects of psychology, and biological principles. She teaches courses for both Science, Technology and Health majors and non-majors. Dr. Lee is an academic advisor in the 51ÂÜÀò Office of Health Profession Advising and is a co-mentor for the In-Semester Bridge Program.
Dr. Lee's research currently focuses on...
Courses
- Biological Principles
- Neurobiology
- Sophomore Writing Seminar
- Directed Research: Zebrafish Neurobehavior & Neurotoxicity
Kit Ng
- Program Chair of Biological Sciences
- Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
- Ph.D., University of California, Davis
- B.S., University of California, Davis
Kit Ng is currently teaching Principles of Anatomy and Physiology Lecture and Lab, Human Anatomy Lecture and Lab. Before coming to 51ÂÜÀò, Ng taught anatomy, physiology, biotechnology and immunology at several community colleges in the Bay Area and served as a faculty member at Notre Dame de Namur University. He became interested in the pedagogy of student learning and has studied the...
Courses
- Physiology
- Human Anatomy
- Prosection
- Directed Research: Diet & Thyroid
Patrick Sun
- Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
- Ph.D., University of Southern California
- B.S., University of California, Irvine
Patrick Sun's work examines how creation care and environmental stewardship can bring people together to create a hope-filled future. His goal is to incorporate field-based experiences into classes to cultivate a sense of ownership and elevate a sense of responsibility. Sun’s research interests focus on the interaction of stress tolerance with environmental factors in the context of organism...
Courses
- Organismal Biology
- Environmental Health
- Ecology
- Botany
- Directed Research: Environmental Stress
Behzad Varamini
- Co-Director, Stewart Science Honors Program
- Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
- Postdoctoral Scholar, The University of Pennsylvania
- Ph.D., Human Nutrition, Cornell University
- B.S., Biotechnology, Elizabethtown College
Behzad Varamini incorporates current clinical case studies and cutting-edge research into his physiology, biochemistry, and nutrition courses, while also working closely with a small group of students in his laboratory. He is passionate about challenging and mentoring students to reach their truest and highest potential, and the aim of all his work in and out of the classroom is their...
Courses
- Physiology
- Human Nutrition
- Nutrition and Metabolism
- Nutrition, Health, and Society
- Writing in the Disciplines: Scientific Communication
Research Interests
- Nutrient-Sensing and Nutrient-Responsive Gene Expression in Drosophila
- Molecular Mechanisms of Sleep and Longevity
Andre Woo
- Director of Occupational Therapy Program
- Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
- OTD, University of Southern California
- M.A., University of Southern California
Dr. André Woo’s teaching interests are in the field of Occupational Therapy. He currently teaches courses in the B.S. in Allied Health/pre-Occupational Therapy concentration, which includes the courses such as Intro to Occupational Therapy, Assessment, and Interventions in Occupational Therapy. Prior to joining the faculty at 51ÂÜÀò, Woo taught as an adjunct professor at the University of...
Courses
- Introduction to Occupational Therapy
- Assessment in Occupational Therapy
- Occupation Therapy Conditions
- Occupational Therapy Capstone
Research Interests
- Occupational Therapy
- Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
Emily Yang
- Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
- Ph.D. Molecular Biology, University of California at Los Angeles
- B.S. Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles
Emily Yang was born and raised in Southern California. She received both her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and her doctorate in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her doctoral work examined the roles of ubiquitination and RNA binding in the host innate immune response in the context of alphavirus infection. Through her...
Courses
- Microbiology
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Seminar in Advanced Biology