Other Profiles

Aidan is a senior Economics major who seeks to use the tools he’s learned at SCU to truly improve his industry or field of choice. His experiences abroad, both as volunteer and as traveler, instilled in him a passion for the poor jumpstarted by a microeconomics lecture where he learned that poverty is not a simple byproduct of capitalism, but rather a burden on the economy. His passion and his studies met, and as a result he looks forward to pursuing this issue even further.

Aldo Billingslea joined the theatre department faculty full-time in fall of 1998 after serving as an adjunct lecturer in the spring of 1996. Billingslea earned his B.A. in English and Communication Arts at Austin College, his M.A. in Secondary Education with a Theatre and English emphasis at Austin College, and his M.F.A. in Acting at Southern Methodist University. He appeared in Santa Clara University's productions of Paul Robeson, Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale, and directed A Midsummer Night's Dream, Love's Labour Lost, Pentecost, The Shadow Box, Coriolanus, Little Shop of Horrors, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf, The River Bride and Lorraine Hansberry's The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window. A member of Actor's Equity Association and the Screen Actor's Guild, Billingslea has appeared in productions of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Fences, Two Trains Running and Radio Golf; Eugene Oneill's The Hairy Ape and Anna Christie; Arthur Miller's Death of A Salesman; August Strindberg's Miss Julie; Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire and more than two dozen different plays by William Shakespeare. Billingslea has worked in the San Francisco Bay Area at the American Conservatory Theatre, Aurora Theatre, California Shakespeare Theatre, Cuttingball Theatre, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Magic Theatre, Marin Shakespeare Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, TheatreWorks, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. He has also worked at Portland Center Stage, Portland Repertory Theatre, Tacoma Actor's Guild, Sacramento Theatre Company, Plano Repertory Theatre, Theatre Three in Dallas, San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia, San Diego's Old Globe Theater, and Shakespearean Festivals of California, Dallas, Marin, Oregon, and Utah. Billingslea teaches American Theatre from the Black Perspective, a seminar on August Wilson, Acting for Non Majors, Acting, Acting Styles: Shakespeare, and Acting for the Camera.

Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Alonzo is enjoying his first year at SCU as a declared Bioengineering major. He’s on the Varsity Baseball team, and is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Igwebuike (SCU’s Black Student Union). He considers himself a natural leader. With stints as freshman, sophomore, junior and student body president during his high school years, we’d agree wholeheartedly!

As a naturalized Californian, Beau lived in 5 different states with his mom and two sisters before settling in the East Bay of California. He has an extreme passion to work for the representation of underserved communities through public policy. In fact, he recently lived in Washington, D.C. as a congressional intern through the Panetta Institute for Public Policy and is currently a Law Fellow for the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. While at SCU, he has been a part of several multicultural organizations, including MEChA-El Frente, Sigma Lambda Beta and the Office of Multicultural Learning. He loves hiking, writing and immersing himself within new people, ideas and cultures. If you see him around, do not feel afraid to say hello!

Representing the Aloha state of Hawaii, Chonsa is an Environmental Science major in the class of 2018. She is an intern with the SCU Center for Sustainability, studied in Costa Rica as part of a non-traditional study abroad program, and catches air as captain of the the ultimate frisbee club. She is also a student ambassador, helping to welcome hundreds of visitors to campus every year. If you happen to see her, make sure to tell her you heard her on the podcast!

Cynthia graduated from Santa Clara University in 2017 and transitioned her internship at Google to a full-time gig as a Creative Technologist. While at SCU, she was a member of the hip hop dance team, an Undergraduate Admissions Ambassador. Originally from Boise, ID, she studied abroad to Scotland and was an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Robotics Systems Laboratory.

Tonya Nilsson is a full-time lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Santa Clara University. Previously, she was on the faculty at California State University, Chico where she was a tenured Associate Professor. Dr. Nilsson has her Professional License and has worked in industry on structural engineering projects. She received her Bachelors in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1991, her Masters in Structural Engineering from Stanford University in 1993, and her Ph.D. in Structural Mechanics from University of California at Davis in 2002. Her Ph.D. research focused on the development of new material properties to model crack propagation on ductile materials. Dr. Nilsson has a strong interest in engineering education and worked for eight years with ASCE's ExCEED Teaching Workshops to train other engineering faculty on effective teaching methods and served for four years on the national ASCE, Committee on Faculty Development. She is also a member of School of Engineering's NSF "Engage" team.

Erin Kimura-Walsh is the Director of the LEAD Scholars Program at Santa Clara University. As the Director, she engages in the strategic planning for the program while overseeing the day to day operations. She plans the long-term growth and development of the program, including programming, courses, fundraising and strategic partnerships. She ensures the successful implementation of LEAD Week and college success activities throughout the year for first generation college students. Further, she acts as an advisor and advocate for LEAD Scholars. Dr. Kimura-Walsh teaches courses for the LEAD Scholars Program that focus on college success and leadership skills, and diversity and equity in higher education. Originally from Seattle, she was an undergraduate student in English and Japanese at Santa Clara before earning an M.S. in Counseling from San Francisco State University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. After earning her M.S. in Counseling, Erin worked in the Drahmann Academic Advising and Learning Resources Center. During this time she helped to found and develop what was then the LEAD Program (now the LEAD Scholars Program) before leaving to attend UCLA. She is excited to be back to foster the success of first generation college students at SCU. Erin's research examines issues of diversity in college and university settings, including the experiences of underserved student populations and organizational change for diversity. More specifically her dissertation examined the way in which the core purpose of Ethnic Studies has been altered by being a part of the institution that it was established to challenge. She co-edited the volume, Towards a Brighter Tomorrow: College Barriers, Hopes and Plans of Black, Latina/o and Asian American Students in California. When not on campus, Erin enjoys time with her husband Matt (who she met freshman year in Swig Hall!), and her daughters Clare and Nellie.

Keith Douglass Warner, OFM directs Miller Center's education, fellowship, grants and action research activities. He is a practical social ethicist in the Franciscan tradition. He has designed and implemented innovative, inter-disciplinary educational programs that advance social justice and Catholic identity in higher education since he came to Santa Clara in 2004. He directs the Global Social Benefit Fellowship, which provides a comprehensive program of mentored, field-based study and research for SCU juniors within the Center's worldwide network of social entrepreneurs. With Thane Kreiner he designed the fellowship and wrote the grant that funds it. He also teaches in the Honors Program, School of Engineering, and Religious Studies Department. Keith is an active participant in the retrieval of the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition, and on the Board of Regents at the Franciscan School of Theology.

Originally from Los Angeles California, Isaac is a Mechanical Engineering major with a minor in Aerospace Engineering. After graduation will be continue to attend SCU as a Master’s degree in Power Systems in Sustainable Energy. He hopes to take an active role in updating our energy systems to ensure we are using clean renewable energy. Hes is an active member and leader in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the LEAD Scholars program.

Michelle Marvier is a professor of environmental science at Santa Clara University, where she has taught undergraduate courses in conservation science since 2000. She has published over 40 articles, is on the editorial board of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, and regularly publishes articles with her undergraduate students. Dr. Marvier has also worked for NOAA Fisheries on salmon conservation and has served as an adviser to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and The Nature Conservancy on matters of statistics, monitoring, and risk analysis.

Nathan is a senior Mechanical Engineering major on the path to complete a Masters in Mechatronics, Robotics and Automation Engineering. He is from San Jose, CA and blends his passion for engineering with a love for music. He is a member of the SCU Chamber Choir and a capella groups and will sing for you at the drop of a hat. Just ask him!

Nick is a junior Bioengineering major from San Jose, CA and aspires to create a more just and equal world where his research and work can improve the lives of many. He has a powerful goal to work with prosthetic limbs that will revolutionize this technology and industry. His passion is to help others, change the face of medical technology, and create a more just world. Nick’s placement with the Global Fellows Program sent him to work with Moscoso Arquitectura, an architecture firm founded by Mario Moscoso where he was able to put to use his engineering background. His experience in Bolivia changed his perspective and broaden his global view. Nick looks forward to putting his experience in Bolivia into practice when he interns at Genentech this summer.

Onno is a junior Finance major at Santa Clara University. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Onno has been lucky to have had a variety of enriching experiences that have shaped who he is today. From teaching children in South Africa, to training with the People's Liberation Army of China, these opportunities have molded his unique perspective. His placement with the Global Fellows Program sent him to work with artisan company AHABolivia in Cochabamba, Bolivia focusing on corporate social responsibility, sustainability, ethical business practices, and teaching mathematics. He’s also studied abroad in London and worked as a financial analyst internship at tech start up, Virtually Reality.

Raylene is a first-generation college student from San Jose, CA. She has been a community facilitator in Xavier RLC for almost two years, is heavily involved in Hermanas Unidas and is very passionate about women’s rights. You can also find her in the housing office as a Business Services Specialist or in Malley as a Member Services Representative. If you happen to see her, make sure to tell her you heard her on the podcast!

Tanya Monsef Bunger is a global business consultant and executive coach with 25+ years of Silicon Valley high tech, startups and non-profit business success in the areas of finance, marketing and strategy. She has coached and delivered programs with leaders from 40+ countries. She designs leadership training, leads workshops, provides one-on-one coaching, and facilitates conversations to clients around the world. She speaks globally about the power of leading from authenticity as a way to create harmony in the workplace. She is Dean's Executive Professor, Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University (SCU). Tanya is active in global leadership projects. She is Chair of the board for Global Women’s Leadership Network, co-founder of SF Turkish Women’s International Network chapter, advisor for Turkish Women’s Initiative, and program director of the Global Fellows program at SCU. She is also a proud alumna of SCU, Class of 1986.

Trevor Romele graduated from Santa Clara University in 2015 with a major in Marketing and minor in Operations Management & Information Systems (OMIS). After graduating from Santa Clara University, Trevor moved up to San Francisco and joined Adobe. He began his work at Adobe primarily focused on updating their intranet. After a year, he transitioned into his role as a Program Manager and moved to New York for an eight-month rotation. Following his rotation, Trevor moved back to San Francisco and has been there since. He is originally from Felton, California, which is a small town located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. When Trevor’s not working, he enjoys going to the beach, golfing with friends, and skydiving.

Uma is originally from Fremont, CA and is interested in the intersection of technology and healthcare. She is double majoring in Public Health Science and Public Psychology on the Pre-Med path. Uma is a Global Fellow who completed a program in Istanbul and would love to start off at a digital health company and then expand into global health. Eventually, she would love to pursue a career in medicine or epidemiology and with a senior superlative like “chatterbox”, we’re certain her bedside manner will be top notch.

Andrea is the chair of the Art and Art History department. She teaches Cultures and Ideas 1 & 2 (Art, Trade, and Identity), Introduction to Early Modern Art of the West, Introduction to Modern Art of the West, 18th and 19th Century American Art, 20th Century American Art, American Photography, and American Women in the Visual Arts.

Victor holds an M.A. in Classics from the University of Arizona and a B.A. in Classical Studies from Santa Clara University. An alumnus of the Class of 2013, Victor takes great pride in being part of a Bronco Legacy family, as his father and his two older brothers also received degrees from SCU.