27 new Watts College faculty members start work as fall semester begins

Twenty-seven new faculty members begin work this month at the four schools of ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

Six are in the School of Community Resources and Development, eight are in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, eight are in the School of Public Affairs and five are in the School of Social Work, Watts College Dean Cynthia Lietz said.

One more will begin duties at the college in October, while two others will start work in January 2023, for a total of 28 for the 2022–23 academic year, Lietz said.

In addition, two current Watts College faculty are entering new positions.

Lietz said Watts’ status as among the nation’s elite public service colleges significantly contributed to its large number of incoming top-flight faculty members.

“There is no question that our college has garnered a positive reputation for conducting rigorous, use-inspired research and for demonstrating an undeniable commitment to student success,” Lietz said. “As a result, we continue to attract some of the most respected faculty members who find Watts the very best place to continue their impactful careers. Their choice to join us greatly benefits our students and our community, and I am thrilled that they have chosen our college as their new professional home.”

Here are the Watts College’s new faculty members in 2022–23:

School of Community Resources and Development

• Danbi Seo, assistant professor (starting January 2023).
• Jong-Hyeong Kim, associate professor, Hainan University-Arizona State University International Tourism College (HAITC).
• Hyewon Youn, lecturer senior, HAITC.
• Yeganeh Aghazamani, lecturer, HAITC.
• Shama Nazneen, lecturer, HAITC.
• Adriana Szabo, lecturer, HAITC.
• Christina Coleman, lecturer.

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

• Beth Huebner, school director and Watts Endowed Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (starting January 2023).
• Joseph Schafer, professor (starting August 2023).
• Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill, assistant professor.
• Marva Goodson-Miller, assistant professor.
• Murat Haner, assistant professor.
• Joshua Adams, professor of practice.
• Lauretta Sam, lecturer.
• Kay Varela, presidential postdoctoral scholar.
• Leonard Mukosi, postdoctoral scholar.

School of Public Affairs

• Shannon Portillo, school director and professor (starting October).
• Maryann Feldman, Watts Endowed Professor of Public Affairs.
• Julia Melkers, professor and director, Center for Organization Research and Design.
• Maribel Guerrero, associate professor.
• Nicole Mayberry, assistant research professor.
• Moses Boudourides, professor of practice.
• Walter Huber, lecturer, HAITC.
• Scott Langford, postdoctoral research scholar.
• Catalina Canals, postdoctoral scholar.

School of Social Work

• Renee Cunningham-Williams, Watts Endowed Professor of Social Work.
• Manual Cano, assistant professor.
• Justin Harty, assistant professor.
• Heidi Pottinger, assistant research professor.
• Linda Banda, postdoctoral research scholar. 
  

The two current faculty members starting new assignments are Robert Capistrano, assistant professor at HAITC, and Melanie Gall, assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs.