MMW Program Staff & Faculty
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Matthew T. Herbst, Ph.D. - Director
Matthew T. Herbst is the faculty director of the Making of the Modern World program, faculty co-director of Study Abroad, and co-director of Classical Studies. He specializes in the pedagogical leadership of academic programs and experiential learning opportunities at home and abroad. He was an inaugural professor of UCSD’s Global Seminars and has led 13 summer programs in Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America (2008-2024). Since 2012, he has led more than 30 other academic experiential programs in the deserts and mountains of California, in the Southwest, and in Turkey. Prof. Herbst was a first-generation college student and collaborated to found UCSD's college-based First Year Experience & Transfer Year Experience courses, designed to help students transition to and thrive at UC San Diego. For more on his work, see here.
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Eberly Barnes - Academic Coordinator
Eberly Barnes is the MMW Academic Coordinator for MMW 11-13. Dr. Barnes earned her PhD in English at St. Louis University, where she specialized in critical theory; studied the evolution of consciousness and history of rhetoric with Walter J. Ong; and wrote her dissertation on the critical history of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. In addition, she holds an MA in English from The University of Texas at Austin and a BA in English from Louisiana College. Her research and teaching interests include writing pedagogy; rhetoric, composition, and the writing process; writing program administration; the evolution of consciousness; sustainability, diversity, and social justice; creative non-fiction; and kinesthetic education. Dr. Barnes also enjoys yoga, tai chi, and exploring nature. In MMW, Dr. Barnes hires and trains new TAs; supervises TAs in MMW 11-13; oversees writing instruction for MMW 12-13; and manages academic integrity cases. -
Johanna L. Peterson - Associate Director
Dr. Peterson is an Associate Director of the MMW Program and Academic Coordinator for MMW 14, 15, 121, and 122. In her role, Dr. Peterson works to foster a student-centered learning environment by supporting course instructors, supervising and mentoring Instructional Assistants, administering the writing project, managing Canvas, and exploring diverse pedagogical approaches and technologies.
Dr. Peterson received her PhD in History from UC San Diego, her BA in History from California Lutheran University and her MA in History from Cal State Fullerton. Her research focuses on the relationship between girls’ education and women’s citizenship during and immediately following the interwar period in Lebanon. Dr. Peterson is also interested in writing pedagogy, including peer review as antiracist praxis and alternative grading practices.
Outside of work, Dr. Peterson enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, reading, learning to play the piano, and marveling at how much her 5-year-old changes every day.
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Edmond Chang - Senior Lecturer
Edmond Chang received his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of California, San Diego in 2002. A former Fulbright Research Grant recipient, he focused on comparative philosophy with an emphasis on Chinese aesthetics in the 4th century C.E. Dr. Chang also holds a M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, as well as a B.A. in History and International Relations from Tufts University. He has been a four-time recipient of ERC’s “Outstanding Faculty Award,” in addition to receiving UCSD’s Paul Saltman Teaching Excellence Award in 2013. Aside from teaching, Dr. Chang has published poetry and worked as a professional translator and editor. His hobbies include backpacking, kayaking, and learning to play the guqin. As Senior Lecturer in the MMW program, he teaches MMW 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 121 and 122. -
Shirley Lam - Program Coordinator
Shirley Lam was born and raised in Hong Kong. She received her BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego. After working as a mobile app and web developer in a private school, she found her passion for student service. Prior to joining the MMW, Shirley worked in the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office and the Department of Mathematical Sciences. She likes helping others and enjoys working with faculty and staff. Shirley enjoys traveling, playing badminton, and watching movies in her spare time. -
Krystal Covarrubias - Administrative Assistant
Krystal Covarrubias received her BA in Sociology and Criminology and Justice Studies from California State University San Marcos in 2020. Before joining MMW, she worked as a peer advisor and an Intake Advisor at the CSUSM Academic Advising and as an advisor for Escondido High school students. Krystal’s passion is to provide guidance and assistance to students before and during their higher education journey. In her free time, she enjoys offroading, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
MMW Departmental Faculty
MMW Teaching Assistants
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Allie Cook
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Baris Tasyakan
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Degree: PhD Candidate
Department: History
Speciality: Late Ottoman Empire, Modern Middle East
Email: batasyakan@ucsd.edu -
Branka Hrvoj-mihic
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Brianne Itaya
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degree: PhD Candidate
Department: Art History, Theory, and Criticism
Specialty: Art of Ancient Mesoamerica
Email: bitaya@ucsd.edu -
Chenfeng Wang
Preferred Pronouns: she/herDegree: PhD CandidateDepartment: LiteratureSpecialty: East Asian cinema and mediaEmail: chw058@ucsd.edu -
Christopher Moreland
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David Hollingsworth
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Degree:MA in History from SDSU
Department: History
Specialty:20th Century Revolutionary Latin America, post-Civil War United States
Email:dwhollingsworth@ucsd.edu
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Debra Ligorsky
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Dimitris Stergiopoulos
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/hisDegree: Doctoral CandidateDepartment: HistorySpecialty: Modern Greek, Ottoman, and European HistoryEmail: dstergio@ucsd.edu -
Emre Sunu
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Degree: M.A | PhD Candidate
Department: History
Specialty: Social and Cultural History, 19th century Balkans
Email: sesunu@ucsd.edu -
Fernanda Padilla
Preferred Pronouns: She/her/hersDegree: Masters of International AffairsSpecialty: International Politics with a regional focus in Latin AmericaEmail: fapadill@ucsd.edu -
Ho-chiu Leung
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Degree: PhD Candidate
Department: History
Specialty: Modern East Asia, History of Capitalism
Email: c0leung@ucsd.edu, leung.hochiu@gmail.com -
Ian Dubrowsky
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Iman Farahani
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hersDegree: MFA CandidateDepartment: LiteratureEmail: ifarahan@ucsd.edu
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Isman Cyair
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Ivana Polic
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degree: PhD Candidate
Department: History
Specialty: Modern Europe, History of Children and Childhood
Email: ipolic@ucsd.edu -
Jaime (Jamie) Ivey
Preferred Pronouns: He/him
Degree: PhD candidateDepartment: HistorySpecialty: Cold War and Sport; Soviet Union and AfricaEmail: Jaivey@ucsd.edu -
Jordan Buchanan Downie
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Katherine Buffington
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Kimiko Nicole LeNeave
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degree: B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill (History, Latin American Studies, Music); PhD in Latin American History in progress
Department: History
Specialty: 20th Century Latin American History
Email: kleneave@ucsd.edu -
Lauren Wood
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degree: PhD Candidate
Department: History
Specialty: Medieval Europe
Email: lewood@ucsd.edu -
Megha Sanjay
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hersDegree: Masters of International AffairsDepartment: Global Policy and StrategySpecialty: International Management with a regional focus on Southeast AsiaEmail: msanjay@ucsd.edu -
Melissa Hurt
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Michael Campbell
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Degree: MA from SDSU
Department: History
Specialty: Cold War, Urban History
Email: macampbell@ucsd.edu -
Mohammad Khamsya Bin Khidzer
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Moses Headley
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Nolan Dannels
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Oswin Orellana
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/hisDegree: B.A. in History from UCI, M.A. in History from CSUN; Current Ph.D. student at UCSDDepartment: HistorySpecialty: Early Modern Europe with an emphasis on 15th-16th century SpainEmail: oorellan@ucsd.edu -
Rachel Hennings
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degree: Previous: iBBA from Schulich School of Business, York University, Current: PhD Student in History
Department: History
Specialty: Modern Germany
Email: rahennin@ucsd.edu -
Rebecca Shoup
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Reem Taşyakan
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degree: MA - Near Eastern Studies | PhD Student - Literature
Department: Literature
Specialty: Contemporary Arab-American Literature
Email: rehazbou@ucsd.edu -
Robert Nixon
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Degree: B.A. in History and French from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, with a Minor in Middle Eastern Studies
Department: History
Specialty: 20th Century Syrian Intellectual/Cultural History
Email: r1nixon@ucsd.edu -
Sam Sotomayor
Preferred Pronouns: they/them/elleDegree: BA in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University, Graduate StudentDepartment: Latin American StudiesSpecialty: Theatrical StorytellingEmail: s1sotomayor@ucsd.edu -
Samantha Young-Nelson
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hersDegree: M.A. from San Diego State UniversityDepartment: HistorySpecialty: Jewish women's magic, ancient history, biblical and religious history, and genderEmail: s2young@ucsd.edu
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Scott Howard
Preferred Pronouns: he/his/himDegree: MA in History - SDSU | BA in History - UC Santa CruzDepartment: HistorySpecialty: Modern Middle East (19th-20th centuries) | War & Society (emphasis: United States)Email: showard1527@sdsu.edu -
Semih Gokatalay
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Degree: PhD Candidate
Department: History
Specialty: Modern Middle East, economic history, business history
Email: sgokatal@ucsd.edu -
Shane McClain
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Degree: MA - Linguistic Anthropology
Department: Anthropology
Specialty: Indigenous languages Mexico
Email: sbmcclain@ucsd.edu -
Sophia Veran Sanchez
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Thomas Connell
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Degree: Doctoral Student
Department: History
Specialty: Late Ottoman Empire, Modern Middle East
Email: tdconnell@ucsd.edu -
Thomas McLamb
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Yingjie Fei
Preferred Pronouns: She/HerDegree: PhD student, Literatures in SpanishDepartment: LiteratureSpecialty: Memories and narratives of violence in 20th and 21st century Latin AmericaEmail: yifei@ucsd.edu -
Yuchen Yan
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hersDegree: PhD in Progress from UCSDMA from Duke University (Critical Asian Humanities)BA from Peking University (Chinese Language and Literature)Department: LiteratureSpecialty: Late Qing and modern Chinese literature and cultural studies; urban literary studies; narratives of the grotesqueEmail: y9yan@ucsd.edu
