New Faculty Academy

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What is the New Faculty Academy?

The New Faculty Academy (NFA) is a year-long program aimed at supporting new faculty during their first years at CSUN. Sessions include workshops, panels, discussions, and other activities focused on teaching, scholarship and professional growth, service, and navigating faculty life at CSUN.

The program is designed for first-year faculty (tenure-track and lecturers), as well as newer faculty hired within the past three years. Upon successful completion of the New Faculty Academy, you will earn a certificate from Faculty Development that can be added to future evaluation and rehiring materials.

Program Objectives

Throughout the year, new faculty will have opportunities to develop practical skills related to teaching, scholarship and professional growth, service, and managing faculty life. By the end of the year, faculty who complete the program should be able to:

  • Navigate key CSUN resources, expectations, and opportunities that support their work as faculty;
  • Apply practical strategies to support effective teaching and student success;
  • Develop approaches to scholarship, professional growth, and service that reflect their role and goals;
  • Build meaningful connections with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners;
  • Use strategies for managing time, priorities, workload, and well-being as a faculty member;
  • Recognize and support the diverse identities, experiences, and needs of CSUN students and the broader campus community.

Year-Long Topics & Activities

Sessions will be offered throughout the fall and spring semesters. Topics and activities may include:

  • Teaching and supporting CSUN students
  • Research, scholarship, and professional growth
  • Engaging in purposeful service opportunities
  • Managing your time and priorities
  • Building your mentoring and professional network
  • Preparing your first Professional Information File (PIF)
  • Connecting with campus resources and partners

Participating in New Faculty Academy

New faculty are encouraged to participate throughout the year, but you are also welcome to attend individual sessions that interest you.

First-year tenure-track faculty are automatically enrolled in the New Faculty Academy and will receive invitations to each session. New lecturer faculty and other faculty hired within the past three years who would like to participate in the year-long program can complete the New Faculty Academy Interest Form to be added to the NFA Canvas course and receive invitations to upcoming sessions.

To earn a New Faculty Academy Certificate of Completion, you will need to attend at least 8 of the 13 NFA sessions, with participation during both the fall and spring semesters.

Sessions are held from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the FacDev Commons on select Fridays throughout the academic year.

2026 Schedule

See below for this year's session dates, topics, and details.

September 4: Getting to Know CSUN

  • Friday, September 4 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in FacDev Commons

September 18: Managing Your Time and Priorities

  • Friday, September 18 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in FacDev Commons

October 2: First Month Check-In and Strategies

  • Friday, October 2 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in FacDev Commons

October 23: Learning from CSUN Students (Student Panel)

  • Friday, October 23 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in FacDev Commons

November 6: Grant Writing and Scholarship Support with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

  • Friday, November 6 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in FacDev Commons

November 20: Making Your Course More Accessible and Managing Grades with Academic Technology

  • Friday, November 20 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in FacDev Commons

December 4: First-Semester Reconnection

  • Friday, December 4 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in FacDev Commons

 

Spring 2027 dates and session details coming soon!

Which faculty completed the program?


Arts, Media, and Communication

  • Cinema and Television Arts: Talicia Raggs, Guillermo Rodriguez Romaguera
  • Music: Hilary Yip

Business and Economics

  • Systems and Operations Management: Daeeun (Daniel) Choi; Aman Goswami; Mahdi Najafabadi; Yeawon Yoo

Engineering and Computer Science

  • Civil Engineering & Construction Management: Vartenie Aramali
  • Computer Science: Tasmia Tasrin
  • Mechanical Engineering: Sina Heydari, Carlos Ruvalcaba

Education

  • Deaf Studies: Lisa Hermatz, Lee Ann Tang
  • Educational Psychology and Counseling: Shereen Allison, Angélica Galván, Danielle Samuel, Hongshan Shao, SungWon Yoon-Lee
  • Elementary Education: Dominic Grasso
  • Secondary Education: Traci Dennis, Edward Flores
  • Special Education: Fatmana Deniz

Health and Human Development

  • Child and Adolescent Development: Manisha Chase, Marlen Quintero Perez
  • Communication Disorders and Sciences: Husnà Firdòse
  • Family and Consumer Sciences: Eunju Kim
  • Health Sciences: Dalton Peña
  • Kinesiology: Natasha Denmark, Mariko Iwabuchi, Anjum Padyal

Humanities

  • American Indian Studies: Alesha Claveria
  • Queer Studies: Luis Esparza
  • Religious Studies: Vikas Malhotra


Science and Mathematics

  • Biology: Michael Abdelsayed, Wilber Escorcia, Chris Moore

Social and Behavioral Sciences

  • Criminology and Justice Studies: Nalya Rodriguez
  • History: Marissa Jenrich

  • Psychology: Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Adrian Valadez, Bianca Villalobos
  • Social Work: Nidia Hernandez, Zayda Sorrell-Medina
  • Sociology: Jessennya Hernandez, Leah Lamoreaux


Student Success

  • Academic First Year Experiences: Imaya Ramos Rincon

University Library

  • Collection Access and Management Services: Heather Cribbs
  • Research, Instruction & Outreach Services: Lisa Cheby; Brianna Limas