New faculty ready to invigorate academic curriculum

By Walter Ryce

A contingent of new faculty members from near and far, as well as the appointment of Andrew Lawson as interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, is poised to invigorate the academic curriculum across campus. 

“I am excited to welcome these new faculty to our academic community and for them to join our Raft,” said Lawson. “These faculty are proven scholars who have been working to advance their respective fields. They bring that knowledge to enrich our academic programs and add to the rich diversity of thought and perspectives which makes our faculty truly world-class.”

Jeremias Zunguze 

Although he originally comes from Mozambique, Zunguze said that he is not new to California and the Monterey Bay area community.

“This is my second home after Mozambique, Africa, where I am from,” he said. “I have family and friends here. I went to Monterey Peninsula College and to UC Berkeley.”

He earned his doctorate degree in Hispanic languages and literature and "Lusophone" (Portuguese-speaking) African cultures from UC Berkeley, and he taught there as well as at Berkeley City College and Saint Mary’s College of California.

“It is an honor to return to Monterey,” he said. 

Zunguze now serves as an associate professor of ethnic and gender studies at CSUMB. He is fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish, and in four African languages (Xitswa, Gitonga, Chopi and Changana). He is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and an “unofficial” African chef.

He encourages students to take Africana studies, promising that it imparts more than most people think.

Caetano Albuquerque

Albuquerque’s field of expertise is plant physiology, with a focus on plant responses and resilience to drought stress. That should be welcome news for farmers, gardeners and landscapers in California. 

He’s been hired by the College of Science as an adjunct research faculty to teach plant physiology and research methods in crop and soil sciences in the agricultural plant and soil science program. 

“I am originally from Brazil, and I am passionate about agriculture,” he said. “I am happy to be here in such a great place that is close to both highly intensive agriculture as well as to the ocean.”

He also said he is a big fan of soccer and expects to be in the stands cheering on the Otter men’s and women’s soccer teams.  

Jacqui Smith (not pictured)

Smith is a veteran of the CSUMB campus, but new to teaching. 

She’s the senior manager at the university’s Community Health Engagement (CHE) center in the heart of Salinas’ Chinatown neighborhood, helping those who may be unhoused, addicted and/or living with mental illness or a physical disability.  

Also, she said, “I am a CSUMB alumna.”

She earned a bachelor's degree in collaborative health and human services in 2016 and a master's in social work, also from CSUMB, in 2018. She recently became an associate clinical social worker and is working towards becoming a licensed clinical social worker. 

“I want to provide [students] with the tools and a conducive environment that will enable them to learn, grow and maximize their full human potential,” she said.

Lindsey Brammell

Brammell is an assistant professor of graphic design and communication design, set to teach typography and web tools in the School of Computing and Design. 

She welcomes students to see her portfolio of graphic design work -- which includes the design of an overpass bridge, a wine bar menu, and an ancestry book -- at her website thelabdesignstudio.com. 

"My classes are structured around creating an environment where students can creatively design innovative solutions to project problems," she said. "I work one-on-one with students, so they have a more personalized learning experience."

There are several other new faculty who have joined CSUMB for this academic year, and Provost Lawson said he is looking forward to meeting with them and getting to know their work and their passions. 

“We will continue to build community with faculty and staff and ensure that all voices are heard,” he said. “We will also continue to seek new opportunities to better serve our students through innovative academic programs, improved services, and a more engaging student-life experience.”