Andrew Byrne joined the faculty of the Higher Education Counseling/Student Affairs Program, coming from The Ohio University. Byrne holds a bachelor’s in political science and history from Grove City College, two master’s degrees — one in rehabilitation counseling and substance abuse and another in clinical counseling — and a doctorate in rehabilitation counseling/addictions, all from East Carolina University.
Jessica Jensen brings her expertise in mathematics education to the Multiple Subject Teacher Preparation Program. Jensen’s research focuses on the ways in which mathematics teachers question students to probe deeper thinking about mathematical ideas and the effects of teachers’ beliefs and mathematical knowledge on classroom questioning practices. Jensen was selected for the 2017 TeachingWorks Mathematics Methods Fellowship through the University of Michigan and holds a doctorate and bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree from Viterbo University.
Sonia Ramrakhiani joined the Higher Education Counseling/Student Affairs Program this fall after completing doctoral studies at Old Dominion University. Her research interests include examining campus safety experiences for minority students and overall experiences of first generation college students. Ramrakhiani holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mumbai University and a master’s in mental health counseling from Syracuse University. She received Outstanding Student recognition in both her master’s and doctoral programs.
Alma Cordova joined the Credential Office in March 2018 from Cal Poly’s Office of Institutional Research. She has extensive experience working in higher education at Cuesta College and Maricopa County Community Colleges. She has additional experience in education as a California Student Opportunity and Access Program tutor at Dos Pueblos Senior High School and volunteer English teacher at Favela do Vidigal in Rio de Janeiro. Cordova earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Santa Barbara and her master’s in languages and cultures from University College Cork, Ireland, and completed her studies with honors.
Virginia McMunn joined the School of Education team in spring 2017 as assessment and accreditation coordinator to support continuous program improvement and accreditation compliance. McMunn previously served as a classroom teacher, assessment coordinator and teacher effectiveness specialist for two charter school districts in the Los Angeles area. She earned her bachelor’s in history and sociology with teacher certification at the University of Michigan and her master’s in teaching social studies at the University of Southern California. She is a National Board Certified Teacher.
Traice Muguira joined the School of Education in winter 2018 as the clinical practice coordinator to support credential programs in finding quality placements for candidates to complete their clinical practice experiences. Muguira has 16 years of professional experience in the youth development field throughout San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County, most recently working with Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County. She is a Cal Poly alumnus and has earned a bachelor’s degree in child development, a multiple subject teaching credential and a master’s degree in education.
