The California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus has appointed several new tenure-track faculty members for the upcoming academic year, reflecting the campus’ commitment to growth and excellence in education.

As the Palm Desert Campus continues to expand its programs and services to meet the needs of the local community and beyond, the addition of these accomplished faculty members underscores the university’s dedication to providing high-quality education and fostering an inclusive learning environment.

The new faculty members bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise across various disciplines, including social work, global studies, and information and decision sciences. Their diverse backgrounds and research interests will enrich the academic experience for students and contribute to the campus’ mission of excellence in teaching, research and community engagement.

The expansion of the faculty aligns with the campus' strategic goals, including increasing enrollment, diversifying academic offerings and enhancing student engagement. With these new appointments, the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is poised to elevate its academic profile and continue to serve as a vital resource for the Coachella Valley community.

“We are thrilled to welcome these talented educators to our campus,” said Edna Martinez, associate vice president at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus. “Their passion for teaching and commitment to student success will play a crucial role in enhancing the educational landscape at the Palm Desert Campus. As we grow, we remain focused on providing our students with the resources and support they need to succeed.”

The faculty members who will begin their new roles at PDC this academic year expressed their feelings about teaching at the Palm Desert Campus.

“As a professor and resident of the Coachella Valley, I am honored to be joining CSUSB’s Palm Desert Campus and proud to be teaching the first cohort in the master of social work program at PDC,” said Erik Schott, who teaches courses on human behavior and the social environment, advanced clinical social work practice, as well as an elective on social work practice with the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. “It is thrilling to be part of the establishment of the social work profession’s educational roots in the Coachella Valley. Together, as students, alumni, faculty, staff and the valley's community, I look forward to our future collaborations.”

Kevin Grisham looks forward to relocating to the Palm Desert Campus and returning to his role as professor of global studies after serving as a university administrator for the past three years.

“Early in my 16-year career at CSUSB, I had the honor to teach courses at PDC and participate in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute as a guest lecturer. I fell in love with the campus, the Coachella Valley community and the amazing students of PDC and have never forgotten about PDC,” said Grisham. “When I had a chance to return to faculty, I asked to serve my remaining years primarily at PDC. I look forward and am honored to be working alongside the amazing campus community of PDC (faculty, staff and administrators) to help continue defining the future of the students of PDC and the communities they come from in the Coachella Valley.”

Joining Grisham in shaping the future of PDC is Emily Loveland, whose expertise in social work brings new opportunities to students and the local community.

“It is a pleasure to work with the School of Social Work in Palm Desert and the community in the Coachella Valley,” said Loveland. This semester, I am teaching BASW (undergraduate) research methods, MSW advanced standing research methods II, and an asynchronous elective called human rights and social work, which is a course that is very near and dear to my heart. I am looking forward to a fun and productive semester!”

Like Loveland, Thomas Chapman brings his personal passion for education and student success to the classroom.

“I am so excited to be teaching as a full-time professor at California State University, San Bernardino,” said Chapman. “As the son of a woman who spent her life caring for people as a home-health nurse, and as the son of a man who dedicated his life to making people’s lives better through the pursuit of welfare reform, and as an alum of a land-grant institution myself, I know the value of a state-funded education. My students at Cal State San Bernardino have all thus far been driven, respectful, inquisitive and extremely hard-working. I look forward to seeing where each and every one of them will go in the future.”

About the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus: The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is dedicated to providing a transformative educational experience in the Coachella Valley. With a focus on academic excellence and community engagement, the campus offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs designed to meet the diverse needs of its students and the region.

For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the Office of Marketing and Communications at msinger@csusb.edu or (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107, or visit the PDC website at www.csusb.edu/pdc.