People

Staff and Affiliates

Staff and Affiliate Profiles

Giancarlo Annese

Director of Finance and Administration

anneseg@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor 
Stanford Profile

Giancarlo is the Director of Finance and Administration at the Center for Teaching and Learning. Before joining Stanford, he was the Director of Financial Aid at the Columbia School of Social Work, where he led efforts to improve financial access to social work education and to reduce student debt. Giancarlo received his BA in Classics and History from Union College and an MA in History from Fordham University.  
Administration

Kristin Arguedas

Academic Technology Specialist

kargueda@stanford.edu 
408 Panama Mall, First Floor 
Stanford Profile

Kristin manages the iPads for Teaching and Learning Program, providing technology tools and integration consultation services to instructors across campus. She is passionate about partnering with instructors and students to develop and implement solutions that enhance the learning experience. Kristin holds a BA in Psychology from Princeton University and an MA in Educational Technology and Media Leadership from California State University, Long Beach. She enjoys baking and spending time at the beach with her dog. 
Academic Technology

Andrei Baltakmens

Director of Communications

andreisb@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Andrei has PhDs in English Literature (University of Canterbury) and Creative Writing (The University of Queensland). He has worked in higher education and learning design in New Zealand, Australia, and the US, including Cornell, and Stanford since 2015. His professional focus is on writing, editing, and communications, and he currently supports CTL’s outreach and communications. He is also a published author, with two historical mystery novels and multiple short stories in print.
Instructional Design, Communications, Writing

Krista Bustamante

Executive Office Coordinator

kbus@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Krista is an administrative and operations professional with degrees in Public Administration and Social Work. She has experience in executive support, startup operations, and public service. As executive office coordinator for the Center for Teaching and Learning, she enjoys supporting a collaborative and organized workplace. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, yoga, reading, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
Executive Support, Administrative Operations, Project Coordination, Public Health, Social Work, Community Engagement

Jae Chung

Senior Associate Director, Student Learning Programs

chungjae@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Jae received his Ph.D. in Biology from Stanford University, where his doctoral research focused on cardiovascular development and cancer genomics. Jae has launched mentorship and TA support programs, and was the Residential Academic Director for the Leland Scholars Program at Stanford before coming to CTL. Jae has worked with Stanford students since 2012 and is committed to helping students reach their academic goals.
Active Learning, Student Engagement Techniques, Academic Coaching, STEM Learning

Yunshu Fan

Associate Director, Academic Teaching Programs

yunshu@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Yunshu ("Y-oo-n Sh-oo") Fan, originally from China, pursued her PhD in neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. During her graduate studies, she developed a deep interest in the science of learning, as well as evidence-based pedagogy, such as active learning and inclusive teaching. Before joining Stanford, Yunshu taught Psychology and Neuroscience at Williams College. Currently with a STEM focus, she is dedicated to empowering educators, helping them translate their expertise, intentions, and care into long-lasting impacts on students' performance, sense of belonging, and motivation. She also strives to build a community where instructors can collaborate, share insights, and support one another throughout their teaching journeys.
Student Belonging, Active Learning, Reflection, Metacognition, AI Literacy, Innovations in STEM Teaching

Cathy Duarte Gastelum

Pedagogy and Programming Specialist

cathyg@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall
Stanford Profile

Dr. Cathy Duarte Gastelum was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She received her Ph.D. in Mexican American Studies with a minor in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Arizona. Her research focused on the effectiveness of Hispanic Serving Institutions and the systemic inequities that Latina/e/o/x students encounter throughout their educational trajectories. In her spare time, Cathy enjoys traveling, spending time with her family in Arizona, and cheering for her favorite sports teams: the Arizona Wildcats, Los Angeles Dodgers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Golden State Warriors.
Inclusive Teaching, Culturally Relevant and Equity-oriented Pedagogy, Building Community, Student Feedback

Cassandra Volpe Horii

Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, and Associate Vice Provost for Education

cvhorii@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Cassandra Volpe Horii leads the CTL and works with committees, offices, and initiatives across campus and in VPUE and VPGE areas to carry out CTL's mission. She studied physics as an undergraduate at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and atmospheric science during her Ph.D. program at Harvard University, while developing an enduring fascination with learning and teaching. Cassandra enjoys the collaborations and discoveries that accompany this work and welcomes new ideas and partnerships.
Systemic Change, Educational Development, STEM and Writing Pedagogies

Kenji Ikemoto

Associate Director for Academic Technology

kikemoto@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Kenji's expertise is in integrating technology-enhanced pedagogic strategies into instruction, research, and learning. Kenji provides one-on-one consultations, workshop facilitation, course design partnerships, and technology operations services for faculty, staff, and students. In his free time he enjoys tabletop role-playing games and cheering on his favorite Bay Area sports teams.
Academic Technology, Instructional Design

Jamie Imam

Senior Lecturer Consultant

jamiec@stanford.edu
STLC 211
Stanford Profile

Dr. Jamie Imam received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University and her Ph.D. in Genetics from the Stanford School of Medicine. In addition to teaching, Jamie is the Director of the Honors Program in Biology and a Lecturer Consultant with CTL. When she is not teaching or doing science outreach, she enjoys reading, baking and spending time outdoors with her family.
Course Design, TA Training

Nadia Kalley

Educational Assessment and Evaluation Specialist, Leveling the Learning Landscape

nkalley@stanford.edu 
408 Panama Mall, First Floor 
Stanford Profile

Nadia Kalley, MPH (she/her) promotes equity within academic courses and curricula by evaluating student belonging and success, particularly for first-generation and/or low-income (FLI) college students. She applies intersectional and public health frameworks, highlights programs’ strengths and identifies the support programs need to thrive. When collecting and analyzing data or consulting with faculty and instructors, Nadia centers collaboration, community perspectives and systematically minoritized populations. Nadia earned her Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and her Master of Public Health from George Washington University. Originally from Houston, Texas, she enjoys baking, horror films, savoring tea, and discussing holistic positive sexuality. 
Evaluation and Assessment, Inclusion & Equity, Systemic Change, Community Building

Victoria Kong

Student Learning Specialist, STEM Equity Initiatives

vkong@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Victoria supports STEM equity initiatives at Stanford’s Center for Teaching and Learning. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh, where her research focused on the effects of network heterogeneity on the mechanical properties of butyl acrylate elastomers. With over a decade of experience in scientific research, teaching, and community program planning, Victoria has worked extensively with students in both classroom and mentorship settings. She is passionate about creating inclusive and supportive learning environments to help students reach their academic and professional goals.
STEM Equity Initiatives, Curriculum Transformation Initiative, Leveling the Learning Landscape

Kenneth Ligda

Associate Director, Academic Teaching Programs

kenligda@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Since completing a Ph.D. in English Literature, I have worked in a range of academic endeavors to improve teaching and outreach: core curriculum re-design, course evaluation, academic technology, instructor consultation, and public online course development. Though my central focus is on the humanities, I have a great interest in education across fields and schools. I am co-founder of the instructional design community of practice at Stanford, and happy to serve as a Stanford Newcomer Guide for undergraduates. Prior to graduate school, I worked as an English instructor in Prague. I like biking.
Humanities, Course and Curriculum Design, Evaluation and Feedback, Online Learning, Academic Technology

Ala Mohseni

Digital Media Specialist

alamoh7@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Born and raised in Iran, Ala has over twenty years of experience in all aspects of media production. He began his career at a renowned advertising and filmmaking company, crafting corporate, commercial, and industrial videos—laying the foundation for his diverse technical and storytelling skill set. Ala’s transition into documentary filmmaking marked a significant turning point in his career, earning him accolades and recognition at numerous international film festivals. In 2010, he moved to the United States, where he earned an MFA in Film from California College of the Arts and continued creating short documentaries while advancing his digital media production career. Before joining Stanford, he worked as a video editor at Apple for three years and collaborated as a producer, cinematographer, visual content creator, and video editor with Enviromerica Inc., EPACENTER Arts, and the Iranian Scholarship Foundation (ISF). Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, watching movies, and sightseeing.
Digital Media, Film-making, Digital Production, Documentary

Yvonne Ngo

Associate Director, Tutoring and Student Learning Programs

yyngo@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Yvonne supports the Subject Tutoring and Language Conversation Partners programs at CTL. Prior to Stanford, Yvonne was a Tutor Coordinator at UC San Diego, supporting the subject tutoring and metacognitive tutoring programs. She is passionate about supporting students in reaching their academic goals and mentoring student professionals. 
Active Learning, Subject Tutoring, Language Conversation Partners Program

Matthew Palmer

Resource Development Specialist, Academic Teaching Programs

mwpalmer@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall
Stanford Profile

Dr. Matthew Palmer (he/him) is a Resource Development Specialist with Academic Teaching Programs at CTL. He previously served as a Lecturer in Stanford’s Civic, Liberal, and Global Education (COLLEGE) program and as a Lecturer Consultant with CTL. His research explores the intersection of corpus linguistics and computer-assisted language learning. Matthew also has professional experience in East Asia product localization, automated language assessment, and pedagogical inclusivity training. In his spare time, he is passionate about group fitness.
Assessment and Grading, Alternative Grading Systems, Course Design

Savannah Pham

Academic Coach, Neurodiversity Focus

spham@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Savannah Pham (she/her) is an academic coach at the Center for Teaching and Learning. Before coming to Stanford, Savannah provided individual therapy, group therapy, and psychological evaluations. She worked with adolescents through adults with a range of concerns, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning differences, anxiety, and depression. Savannah has a Ph.D. in counseling and psychological studies and is also a proud Stanford alum. While at Stanford, she was involved in the Asian American Activities Center, Okada House, and Stanford Vietnamese Student Association. Savannah is excited to collaborate with students and help them achieve their learning goals. In her free time, Savannah enjoys spending time with her dogs, baking, watching anime, and reading. 
Academic Coaching, Neurodiversity (ADHD, Learning Differences, Autism)

Argenta Price

Associate Director, Academic Teaching Programs

argenta@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall
Stanford Profile

Argenta Price is an associate director, Academic Teaching Programs, with CTL. She received her Ph.D. from UCSF in biochemistry and molecular biology, then moved into discipline-based education research as a postdoc and research associate with Carl Wieman at Stanford. Her education research focused on how to define and measure problem-solving expertise in STEM and how to help students develop as problem-solvers. She then joined the Doerr School of Sustainability as a lecturer, where she supported teaching throughout the school and taught a course about problem-solving in the context of sustainable energy challenges. Her current role is to support teaching, educational programming, and curriculum development.
Course Design, Problem Solving, Inclusive Teaching, STEM Education

Tim Randazzo

Senior Director, Student Learning Programs

randazzo@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Tim provides leadership and strategic direction to CTL’s Student Learning Programs. Before coming to Stanford, Tim worked in several positions supporting student learning at UC Berkeley, including Coordinator of the McNair Scholars Program, an undergraduate research program providing research opportunities and mentoring to low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students. Tim received his Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, where his doctoral research focused on U.S. immigration and refugee policy.
Academic Coaching, Academic Skills Workshops, Tutoring, Language Conversation Program

Michael Rouan

Sr. Director, Academic Technology Innovation

michael.rouan@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Mike Rouan, Ed.D., oversees the Academic Technology Solutions Laboratory (ATSL) and ATSL and staff in consultation with Stanford University faculty to champion and integrate Academic Technologies into their curriculum, including audience response systems, grading technologies, robotic telepresence and immersive learning technologies (including augmented and virtual reality).
Educational Technology

Jessie Schwab

Academic Coach

jfschwab@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Jessie Schwab (she/her) is an Academic Coach at the Center for Teaching and Learning. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Princeton University, where her research focused on how young children learn language. Jessie is passionate about using her knowledge of psychology and the learning sciences to help students more successfully learn and thrive in college and graduate school. She has previously taught courses in psychology, education, and writing at Harvard University, and she also spent several years in Residential Advising at Princeton and Harvard. She is now excited to join the Stanford community and to help Stanford students develop their learning skills and reach their academic goals.
Academic Coaching, Student Learning Strategies, Academic Skills Workshops

Carlos Seligo

Admin for Poll Everywhere for the CTL Academic Technology Solutions Lab; Academic Technology Specialist, The Program in Human Biology

moth@stanford.edu
Room 22G-H 450 Jane Stanford Way, Building 20
Stanford Profile

Carlos is Stanford's administrator for Poll Everywhere, and offers one-on-one consultations and workshops for onboarding faculty, TAs, researchers, and staff. In addition he works with CTL's Academic Technology team to support the Program in Human Biology, where he has been the Academic Technology Specialist for over a decade. There, he creates custom media, learning modules, and entire MOOCs for professors, and works to enhance pedagogy technically and with the latest research to improve learning outcomes.
Audio and Video Production, Information Visualization, Learning Module and MOOC Design, Zoom, Poll Everywhere, Canvas

Rachel Stumpf

Academic Coach

rastumpf@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Rachel Stumpf has worked within a variety of education contexts, including K-12 education, higher education, and instructor professional development programs. Before coming to Stanford, she worked as an education specialist at the University of California, Davis, where she led programs for graduate student instructors. She earned her Ph.D. in Education from the University of California, Irvine, and her research has focused on students' transition from high school to college writing, as well as professional development in teaching. In her free time, Rachel enjoys baking, hiking, and finding new areas of California to explore.
Academic Coaching, Student Learning Strategies

Rhean Sun

Senior Academic Coach

rheansun@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall
Stanford Profile

Rhean Sun is a Senior Academic Coach in the Center for Teaching and Learning. She offers workshops and individualized coaching to help undergraduate and graduate students develop the skills necessary to reach their academic goals and become lifelong learners. Her favorite topics to discuss include procrastination, motivation, and resilience, but she enjoys speaking with all students about their diverse academic experiences. Rhean holds a BA in English from Stanford University and an MFA in Fiction Writing from the University of Amherst, Massachusetts.
Student Learning Strategies, Resilience Resources

Melissa Tamas

Assistant Director, Neurodiversity and Learning Programs

mtamas@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall
Stanford Profile
 

Melissa Tamas (she/her) is the assistant director for neurodiversity and learning programs in the Center for Teaching and Learning. She holds a doctorate in developmental psychology and clinical psychology and has completed advanced training in neuropsychology and neurodiversity (ADHD, learning differences, and autism). Before coming to Stanford, Melissa worked with youth and families with challenges related to ADHD, autism, learning differences, anxiety, and depression, providing coaching, assessment, and support. She also taught college courses in psychology. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, dance, choir, and cheering on the Stanford Women’s Basketball team. Melissa is very excited to join the CTL team and support neurodiverse students in achieving their academic goals.
Neurodiversity (ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Autism), Teaching and Learning

Stephanie Tchalamov

Administrative Coordinator

stchalam@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies from San Jose State. Her career started in the hospitality industry as a director at a local winery. She later moved on to own and operate a catering and event planning company for over 20 years that served some of the largest companies in the Bay Area. When she is not supporting the Center for Teaching and Learning, Stephanie likes to spend time with her husband and rescue dog, Montana, at the beach, traveling or meeting friends for a round of golf.
Supports CTL and the CTL Student Learning Programs team

Nakisha Whittington

Assistant Director of Graduate Teaching Programs

nakishaw@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Nakisha Whittington earned a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State, with a research focus on digital literacies, technology, and urban education. She also earned a M.A.T. from Xavier University of Louisiana, and B.A. in political science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Before joining the staff at Stanford University, Nakisha was an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she taught in the Department of Teaching and Learning. Her scholarship and research address the digital literacy experiences of underserved youth, the roles of teacher education preparation programs in supporting minoritized groups, and culturally sustaining and inclusive pedagogies. In her spare time, Nakisha enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and listening to live music.
Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, Digital Literacies, Urban Education, Teacher Education, Curriculum Design

Kritika Yegnashankaran

Director, Academic Teaching Programs

kyegnashankaran@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor
Stanford Profile

Kritika Yegnashankaran received her BA and MA degrees in Philosophy at Stanford, her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Harvard, and was an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy and Cognitive Science programs at Bard College in New York before joining the Center for Teaching and Learning at Stanford. She has research interests in how learning, reasoning, attention, and other core mental processes work in human beings, how they are affected by technology, and to what extent they can be actively and socially shaped. She conducts workshops and consultations with Stanford faculty and lecturers on effective and inclusive pedagogy, specializing in humanities, arts, and social science pedagogy.
Course Design, Inclusive Teaching, Humanities Pedagogy

Aladrianne Young

Student Programs Manager

aeyoung@stanford.edu
408 Panama Mall, First Floor 
Stanford Profile

Aladrianne Young supports the administration for the Student Learning Programs at CTL. Aladrianne received her Bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies with a minor in Biological Sciences from Mount Holyoke College, and is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Learning Design & Technology from San Diego State University. Before joining CTL, Aladrianne served in various student services roles at Stanford to support both visiting and matriculated students within the university.  
Student Services, Administration