Meet the Team – Center for Academic & Faculty Excellence

Director

Image of M. Gloria González-Morales M. Gloria González-Morales (she, her/s, ella)

M. Gloria González-Morales, is an associate professor of psychology and director of the Worker Wellbeing (WW) Lab at CGU. The WW Lab is a feminist research lab that welcomes scholars interested in employee health, flourishing, and belonging through the disciplines of occupational health psychology and positive organizational psychology. Read more…

Associate Director

Shelby D. Lamar (they/them)

Shelby Lamar began their academic journey at the University of Oklahoma where they earned their undergraduate degree. Shelby furthered their studies with a Master of Arts in Religion and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Psychology at Arizona State University. Shelby’s dedication to academia extends to their Ph.D. dissertation at CGU, where they are deeply engaged in research.

From 2019 to 2022, they had the privilege of working with the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program as a staff member and instructor. This enriching experience focused on equipping graduate students with effective, equitable pedagogical skills and preparing them for successful faculty careers. Shelby’s commitment to academic excellence and inclusivity led them to co-found the Center for Academic & Faculty Excellence (CAFE) in 2022, expanding on the foundational work of PFF and Dr. Shamini Dias.

At CAFE, Shelby works with faculty, staff, alumni, and graduate students to spread equity-driven methodologies and best practices in higher education while creating a community of like-minded people. Their teaching experience spans a wide range of subjects for both graduate and undergraduate students. Shelby’s research interests are centered on the integration of artificial intelligence into pedagogy, exploring innovative assessment methods in higher education, conducting departmental evaluations, and promoting equitable teaching methods.

Founding Director (2013-2022)

Adjunct Faculty

image of Tamar Salibian Tamar Salibian (she/her)

I’m told that when I was an infant, I would lean forward in my stroller with eyes wide open, surveying my surroundings intently. I find that this image of quietly and keenly watching and listening best reflects how I approach teaching, learning, and co-creating as an educator, scholar, and artist.

I’m a first-generation American-born daughter of Armenian immigrants. I hold a BFA in photography from MassArt and an MFA in Film/Video from CalArts. I earned a Media and Cultural Studies PhD from Claremont Graduate University (CGU) in 2020. That year, I also earned a Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Teaching Certificate from CGU.

My professional experience ranges from film and reality TV post-production to archives and media photo research and project management to managing social media for higher education to teaching high school, undergrad, and graduate courses. A recent career highlight was co-facilitating a high school course on the intersections of fandom, social media, and activism. With an emphasis on media literacy, ethical pedagogy, and active learning, I aim to foster an environment of psychological safety, and the more I learn, the more questions I have. In addition to my academic work, I teach dance-fitness classes online and I am involved in health equity activism.

Teaching Fellows

Dr. Sarah Aburaisi (she/her) is an experienced professional in the field of dental education. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Public Health with a focus in leadership and management at Claremont Graduate University. Her educational background includes a BA in Dentistry from King Saud University, an MSc in Prosthodontics from University of Dundee, and a Certificate of Medical Education from University of Dundee.
Sarah has served various leadership and academic roles as an assistant professor in the dental college of REU. She has also made significant contributions to the field of dental education as a researcher, with several publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Sarah’s research interests are diverse, which include dental public health, health outreach for elderly, pedagogy, education, blockchain and healthcare integration, andragogy, equity in the classroom, web3 & education and NFTs in education. She is a passionate academic who is committed to inspiring educators and making a positive difference in the field of education. Sarah is proud to be part of the CAFE team.

Image of Eric Ignacio Thomas Eric Thomas (he/him/el) is a Cultural Studies Master’s student at Claremont Graduate University (CGU) with a focus on transnational theory, cultural heritage humanities, and Latino/a/x studies. Employing the method of oral history, he investigates the cultural influence on transnational Colombian adoptees. Possessing a BA in English Literature from UC Berkeley and an MA in Education from the University of Redlands, he, a native of Bogotá, Colombia and a transnational adoptee himself, approaches the culmination of his doctoral qualification process. Simultaneously, he serves as a Teaching Fellow at CGU’s Center for Academic & Faculty Excellence (CAFE), building upon prior contributions as a graduate assistant within the Office of Student Life, Diversity, & Leadership. Previously at the helm of the CGU Podcast “Latinx in the Inland Empire,” Eric adeptly entwines scholarly pursuits, personal narratives, and outreach, foreshadowing a poised impact on the spheres of Cultural Studies and cultural heritage humanities.

Admin. Assistant

Esmé

Esmé Esmé is a Ph.D. scholar in Organizational Behavior at Claremont Graduate University. She has a M.A. in Gender and Women’s Studies from CGU and a M.A. in Management from the Drucker School. Her current research interests focus on fusing feminist theories and practices with organizational behavior.With a goal of supporting the wellbeing of employees, Esmé Taylor has brought her passion and insight to projects working with a range of nonprofit organizations such as foundations, municipalities, water districts, and academic institutions. She has nearly a decade of experience in student services with a current goal of increasing engagement between graduate students and the Office of Black Student Affairs at the Claremont Colleges. In addition to that role, she leads the labs research-based consulting group, which partners with organizations seeking to increase the wellbeing of their employees.