Faculty in Residence

Jamie O'Quinn

College: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department: Sociology

I am an Assistant Professor of Sociology and feel so lucky to have begun my journey at CSUSB as a Faculty in Residence!  I live with my dog, Abby, in Coyote Village and can usually be found working in local coffee shops, playing board games, and going on walks while listening to podcasts. While an undergraduate student at UC Santa Cruz, I discovered my love of Sociology and its power to help me understand the social world around me. From there, I worked in the nonprofit sector before returning to school to earn my MA in Sexuality Studies at San Francisco State University and then PhD in Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin.

As a Californian at heart, first generation college student, and CSU alumn, I’m so excited to get to know the students at CSUSB and help make campus feel like home. As someone fairly new to CSUSB myself, my goal as Faculty in Residence is to help first year and transfer students acclimate to campus life. I also hope to help students identify their personal, intellectual, and professional goals and locate resources at CSUSB to help students achieve those goals. I view connecting with students in and outside of the classroom as the most rewarding and intellectually energizing aspect of being a university professor, and as such, am delighted to live with and learn from student residents in Coyote Village.

Nicole Scalissi

College: Arts & Letters    
Department: Art & Design

I am excited to support students in Coyote Village as Faculty in Residence! I’m here to connect residents to the support and resources for success at CSUSB and beyond.

I am Assistant Professor of Art History & Global Cultures. I love that art shows us different perspectives on our shared, changing world. My research specialty is Latinx/Afro-Latinx contemporary art history, but I teach about art from all over the globe. As an educator, I support students in developing their own critical voices (often bilingually) through thinking and writing about art and culture. I am proud to be a graduate of southern California public schools and community colleges. I transferred to the University of Pittsburgh to finish my BA and later my PhD (both in the History of Art & Architecture), and I am happy to be back home in southern California.

I live in Coyote Village with my husband John (also CSUSB faculty) and Maggle, our dog. I love dogs, baking, and watching hockey (go Ducks) and reality competition art shows. You’ll see me around campus walking Maggle, lifting at the Rec, or at the art museum on campus. 

As FIR, I am a reliable neighbor and helpful mentor. My goal is to help all residents feel comfortable on campus and with college life. I am especially excited to help students connect to clubs and people, learn about the incredible resources we have for everyone at CSUSB, and get familiar with art and culture on and off campus.
 

Tamara Roose

College: Education     
Department: Teacher Education and Foundations

I’m an Assistant Professor in the MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program in the Watson College of Education. I’m very happy to continue living in University Village as a Faculty in Residence. 

I’m originally from Southern California, but I completed a PhD in Foreign, Second, and Multilingual Language Education at The Ohio State University. My research focuses on the intersection of language, culture, and education. As both a teacher and scholar, I believe that students’ diverse language and cultural backgrounds should be positioned as assets that can enrich their academic journeys. 

I’ve worked with international students and immigrants from all over the world for over fifteen years. At CSUSB, I prepare graduate students to teach English learners from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, both in the U.S. and overseas. Outside of the classroom, I love traveling the world, learning about other languages and cultures, spending time in nature, and staying physically active. I especially enjoy walking and talking, playing sports, and building meaningful relationships—often over good food and conversations.

As a Faculty in Residence, my goal is to serve as a bridge between students’ academic and social lives by fostering genuine connections and helping residents access resources that support their success. I’m excited to help create a sense of home at University Village as we live and learn together.