The Center for Community Based Learning team is made up of professional staff, faculty committee members, and student staff. Check out the information below to learn about us!
Executive Director, Center for Community Based Learning
Celestina Castillo earned her bachelor's degree in history at Pomona College and a master's in Urban Policy Analysis and Management at New School University in New York. She has also worked with a wide range of community-based organizations focused on education, community and workforce development...
Assistant Director, Center for Community Based Learning
Kelsey Sablan Martin (she/her) is CHamoru from familian Deda and Kadada’ with maternal ties to Maite Village in Guåhan. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Occidental College (Gabrielino/Tongva territory) and her master’s in Educational Studies from the University of British Columbia...
Community Based Learning and Research Faculty Committee
The Community Based Learning and Research Faculty Committee focuses on enhancing curriculum-connected community engagement and community based research. It works with the Center for Community Based Learning (CCBL) to provide guidance on faculty development and support needed for faculty to implement and sustain community based learning within their courses and research, often serving as peer mentors. The committee examines and makes recommendations for policies related to community based learning to other college committees and constituencies. A member or two might also serve on the Working Group on Community Engagement.
Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 Members:
Assistant Professor, Urban & Environmental Policy
Urban & Environmental Policy
Claire Cahen is an urbanist, researcher and educator who studies municipal austerity and public sector union renewal.
Professor, Politics
Politics
Regina Freer’s research and teaching interests include race and politics, demographic change, urban politics, and the intersection of all three in Los Angeles.
Professor, Sociology
Sociology
Jan Lin's teaching areas are in urban sociology; race and ethnicity in American society; globalization; mass media and consumer society; qualitative research methods; senior seminar; introduction to sociology and a first year seminar on Los Angeles.
Professor, Urban and Environmental Policy; Executive Director, Urban & Environmental Policy Institute
Martha Matsuoka ’83 is the Executive Director of the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute and a Professor at Occidental College. She focuses her teaching and research on environmental justice, community-based regionalism, sustainable community development, and social movements. Her current...
Assistant Professor, Black Studies
Black Studies
Professor Murphy’s research and teaching emphasizes anticolonial and environmental approaches to sociological thought.
Professor, Education
Education
Ron Solórzano teaches education policy, school reform and legal court cases, second language acquisition theories and practices, high stakes student and teacher assessments, program evaluation and race/class effects in education courses.
Student Staff:
Yena Jonsson '28, Studio Art
Chioma Kalu '27, Urban and Environmental Policy
Nevaeh Navarro '28, English
Crystal Stylc '26, Psychology