With nearly 600 classes on offer, it takes a lot of dedicated educators at Rio Salado College to give students the quality education they deserve. Our adjunct faculty and instructors work hard to help students acquire the skills and knowledge they’ll need to thrive personally and professionally. Each year the college formally recognizes outstanding adjunct faculty who've displayed excellence in their teaching and/or shown an aptitude for offering sharp assessments of student learning.
Whether it's developing innovative courses, showing an exemplary attitude, displaying an ability to teach in multiple mediums (online, in-person, hybrid), or inspiring a passion for learning in their students, these adjunct faculty members make our college a better place. Rio Salado is proud to present this year’s Outstanding Adjunct Faculty honorees with excerpts adapted from their nominations.
Alexis LaDuca
Alexis’ commitment to students and their success is demonstrated daily through her timely communication, robust feedback, and her adherence to high teaching and learning standards. The sentiment a student recently shared is one that other students have also expressed: “This instructor was AWESOME. I wish she taught all the English courses I needed!”
Amy Scott
Amy’s strong rapport with her students is evident from the moment you step into her classroom as well as from the feedback received on student evaluations. Students often use the same descriptive words to describe Amy: wonderful, passionate, knowledgeable, amazing, caring, and effective.
April Perotti
April is an innovative instructor who brings interactive technology and real-world experiences into her sports medicine courses, engaging students through active learning and descriptive storytelling. Her years of experience as a Board-Certified Athletic Trainer provide a wealth of compelling examples as she demonstrates foundational skills with clarity and enthusiasm.
Ashley Espinoza
Ashley has embraced her role as an Adjunct Instructor with Rio Salado College, successfully navigating the certification process to become the lead for the Mesa Police Academy. According to the Mesa Police Department, Ashley's efforts have enabled over 200 officers and recruits to obtain 40 academy credits and 17 field training credits, significantly advancing their educational and career paths.
Bethany Albert
Bethany is clear, thorough, and always provides constructive feedback that has significantly enhanced the work of Rio Salado’s AOI team. She draws on her experience as a special education teacher, and she mentors and holds her teacher candidates to high standards.
Brittany James
Brittany’s passion for communication is evident in every class, where she consistently goes above and beyond to engage and inspire her students. Her ability to bring theory to life in a way that resonates with students is one of her greatest strengths.
Catherine Wright
On a regular basis, Cathy shows in both word and deed that she truly values the integrity of her courses, the quality of our program, and the success of her students. Always willing to step up, always open to asking the question, and never without a supportive smile, Cathy is superlative in every sense, including ‘outstanding!’
Christine Bailey
Christine actively participates in department initiatives, contributes to curricular improvements, and consistently demonstrates teaching excellence. One of her students commented that they “love” the feedback they receive on all their assignments, whether good or bad, because Christine always provides an encouraging statement and things to look for or practice.
Christy Gaona-Pacheco
Christy is a student-centered instructor and an innovative facilitator, creating a dynamic and inclusive learning environment where students feel empowered to engage, ask questions, and develop critical language and thinking skills. Christy’s ability to connect with students and inspire them to think deeply has been instrumental in shaping ALT 100 and ensuring that our partnership population thrives.
Colleen Koblinski
Through thoughtful guidance and feedback, Colleen demonstrates commitment to her students and their success. One student recently wrote that Colleen was “amazing throughout this course. I’ve learned so much about writing.”
Corey Ozan Leonard
Corey has a unique ability to assess students’ comprehension and tailor her lessons to address gaps in learning. Corey’s breadth of biology concepts enables her to effectively achieve learning outcomes and provide individualized support.
Fadil Haliti
Fadil’s classes consistently achieve 70–90% measurable skill gain rates, with students logging over 1,600 hours in the morning and 1,300 in the evening this past year. His students value his instruction so highly that they advocate for more classes with him. He has dedicated over ten years to Adult Education, embodying a strong sense of community in his work with students and colleagues.
Heather Hardy
Heather has accepted increasing responsibility in numerous areas, from managing preclinical lab instruction to providing oversight of the three sequential clinical semesters. She guides with directness and compassion while providing students with actionable feedback.
Jason Singer
Sergeant Singer is one of the original and most enduring instructors in the Rio Salado College Partnership Program, and has served the Phoenix Police Department for over 25 years, including more than two decades at the Phoenix Police Academy. According to Bob Rossi, Leadership and Curriculum Administrator at the Phoenix Police Academy, Sergeant Singer is “the consummate professional,” respected by colleagues and recruits alike.
Jennifer Bergeson
Jennifer proactively reaches out to students who need extra support and encouragement, and her students consistently express their gratitude through positive instructor feedback. She sets high standards while providing additional clarification, explanations, and applicable examples to enhance the learning experience.
Katlyn Taylor
Katlyn’s enthusiasm, care, and effectiveness have made them not only a favorite among students, but also a deeply valued member of the Communication Department. Their engaging teaching style and clear, thoughtful feedback make learning accessible and meaningful for students.
Katrina "Kiki" Carne
Critical thinking is an essential skill in the health care professions, and Kiki models this in all her interactions with students and patients. Kiki is particularly skilled at leading students to the answer, rather than just giving it to them.
Kevin Jagiello
Kevin has served students well for many years as an adjunct Chemistry instructor, providing them with creative weekly lesson notes, detailed and extensive assignment feedback, and respectful and thoughtful communication. His expertise and talent also extend to course redevelopment; his most recent work included converting an existing CHM 138 course to one utilizing only open educational resources.
Kevin Willis
Kevin exemplifies what it means to be an Outstanding Adjunct Faculty member through his dedication, collaboration, and student-centered teaching. Kevin’s commitment to student success is evident in his prompt communication, personalized feedback, and daily monitoring of progress.
Kristen Wagner
Kristen has been instrumental in establishing and teaching the Dual Early Childhood coursework at the Heritage Academy Gateway campus for the past three years. Kristen’s effective communication style, characterized by detailed and constructive feedback, empowers her students to excel, with many even earning associate degrees while still in high school.
Kyle Gray
Kyle is a dedicated educator who actively advocates for her students’ success.
She responds quickly to students’ questions and concerns, and provides detailed and constructive feedback in a warm and encouraging manner.
Laura Girard
Laura Girard demonstrates outstanding teaching and learning practices for both Administration of Justice and Paralegal. She also assists with placing our student interns with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office which has helped launch their legal careers.
Lisa Knipp
Lisa Knipp brings both passion and deep content expertise to her role as a mathematics instructor, especially in calculus. Lisa’s love of calculus and her dedication to student success make her an invaluable educator and an outstanding member of the department.
M. Pat Bogash (Marilyn Bogash)
Her students describe her as compassionate, engaging, and truly inspiring. As one student expressed, "Professor Bogash's teaching went beyond academics; it encompassed mentorship and compassion." Her remarkable ability to blend expertise with empathy has left a profound and lasting impact on all who have learned from her.
Mandy Pollock
Mandy plays a key role in designing and teaching print-based courses for incarcerated students, ensuring they have access to quality education. She also teaches and helps design online First-Year Experience (FYE) courses, equipping students with the skills needed for success in virtual learning.
Michael Lohmann
Michael is a dedicated dual instructor in accounting who goes above and beyond to support his students. As a DECA and FBLA advisor, he mentors students in competitions and career prep, always encouraging them to aim high.
Miguel Martinez
Miguel is a dedicated lead instructor for insurance classes, always making sure his students get the best learning experience. He scheduled time for his students to participate in industry events, giving them hands-on exposure to the field. His leadership and dedication make him an invaluable part of the program.
Pam Gautier
Pam is a knowledgeable, kind, and efficient librarian. She expertly engages our students to identify their true library needs, and then works with each student to find credible, quality sources. One student shared, "Pam was very kind and helped me out a lot in researching a topic that stumped me!"
Patricia (Dusti) Ide
Dusti has been a dedicated and valued member of the Biology Department for nearly 30 years, exemplifying resilience as she navigates changes at the department, college, and higher education levels. “I try to put myself in [my students’] shoes and think of how I’d like my instructors to work with me…I never want to sound abrupt or as if I don’t care…because I most certainly do, having once been in [my students’] position.”
Patricia Camden
Patricia Camden has been a dedicated educator in Community Development since 2006, bringing passion, flexibility, and a student-centered approach to her teaching. Her dedication, adaptability, and passion for teaching make her an invaluable member of the Rio Southern team.
Pete Manigold
Pete exemplifies excellence as an educator through his student-centered approach and dedication to meaningful learning experiences. His Java students at Desert Vista High School have achieved near-perfect industry certification rates, with outstanding retention in advanced courses.
Robert Larkin
Bob is an amazing educator committed to helping his students complete courses successfully.
He engages students through constructive feedback focused on critical thinking and writing, helping them to deepen their ability to apply and analyze concepts. “Professor Larkin reminded me of my love of Anthropology and this inspired me to switch my major to Anthropology.”
Ron Schuster
Ronald Schuster has been a dedicated plumber for many years, bringing a wealth of industry experience to his role as an instructor at Rio Salado College. His hands-on approach and commitment to excellence carried over seamlessly into his teaching, where he has become a shining example for his students.
Sheri Skousen
Sheri coordinates dual enrollment language offerings across our numerous partner high schools and conducts departmental assessment and placement for all the languages we offer. As a former Dual teacher herself, Sheri has the knowledge and skills necessary to solve complex and often sticky issues with multiple stakeholders.
Steve Hayward
Steve has shown an unwavering commitment to maintaining both integrity and rigor.
His student-friendly approach makes complex statistical concepts accessible, while also ensuring assessments challenge students and prepares them for future coursework with confidence. Steve ensures the content remains current and in alignment with District competencies, allowing for a seamless transition to our state universities
Steven Brady
Steven has consistently gone above and beyond to engage students, foster a collaborative learning environment, and inspire a passion for the subject matter. His passion for teaching shines through in every lesson, creating an inspiring and dynamic classroom atmosphere. Steven Brady truly embodies the qualities of an outstanding educator, making a lasting impact on students!
Susan Mejia
Susan is passionate about teaching and excels in both in-person and online instruction, especially when working with our workforce partnership cohorts. Because of this, she is our go-to Adjunct for special projects and student success initiatives. Her commitment and positive attitude continue to elevate our program and enrich the experiences of our students.
Trevonte McClain
Trevonte has demonstrated exceptional commitment and dedication as an educator by being the sole faculty member to volunteer for the live online format for the Cybersecurity program through Rio Salado Community Partnerships. His expertise and enthusiasm not only enrich the curriculum but also foster a sense of community among learners, encouraging collaboration and active participation.
Article by Austin Brietta