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James Davidson
Sociology

An assistant professor at ����ԭ�� since 2023, Davidson frequently collaborates with his friend, ����ԭ�� professor Blake Victor Kent. Davidson’s research examines discrimination and health among racial and ethnic minority groups as well as strategies in religious organizations for recruitment and retention. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma before earning a master’s and doctorate at Baylor University. Previously, he taught at CSU Northridge, where he managed a research team for law enforcement. “I enjoy the pastoral aspects of the job and living life in a Christian community,” he says.

David Emanuel
Religious Studies

Emanuel, who previously taught Old Testament at North Central University in Minneapolis, has served as an academic tour guide for the Center for Holy Lands Studies since 2012. A native of England, he earned master’s degrees from the University of London and Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a doctorate at Hebrew University. His most recent book, “An Intertextual Commentary to the Psalter: Interpretation and Allusion in Book I,” “explores intertextuality in the Psalms — seeing how psalmists use other biblical texts,” he says. “I appreciate the conversations with students and the religious studies faculty.”

Kyle Hansen
Mathematics

Hansen ’19 has taught discrete mathematics at ����ԭ�� as an adjunct instructor since 2021. He earned a master’s degree and doctorate from UC Santa Barbara and conducts research on quantitative topology and aperiodic tiling. “It’s a beautiful, fascinating blend of chaos and order that’s accessible and easily engaging,” he says. Just as his ����ԭ�� professors mentored him during his college years, he’s excited about engaging with his students. “I look forward to seeing academic and spiritual growth and development in the students and in myself.”

Sally Hawkins
Education

Hawkins earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Mary’s College, where she has taught since 2018, co-directing its teacher residency. She hopes to expand ����ԭ��’s education department and attract new students. “I’ll be teaching, developing more scholarships and possibly writing grants to grow the program,” she says. Her research focuses on how literacy instruction and teacher preparation affect student wellness. “My faith is the lens that I see everything through,” she says. “It’s been the missing piece at other institutions.”

Raymond Kim
Economics

Kim, who earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at UC Merced, explores the lasting impact of historic hubs of civilization on the modern distribution of people and political power. He co-authored a book chapter, “Economic Penalties based on Neighborhood, and Wealth Building” in Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Economics and Finance. “I look forward to integrating my faith into the classroom, the small classes and connecting with students to help them be their best,” he says.

Smaranda Lawrie
Psychology

Lawrie, a cultural and positive psychologist, studies wellbeing across socioeconomic status and national cultures. She graduated from Yale and earned three master’s degrees before completing a doctorate in psychological and brain sciences at UC Santa Barbara. She served as an adjunct ����ԭ�� professor before teaching at Providence College in Rhode Island. “My faith informs my research and how I teach,” she says. “It’s a calling to understand God’s creation through science. The students here are special, and I’m excited to work with them.”

Nicole Marsh
Biology

Marsh ’17, who earned a doctorate from the University of Washington’s Department of Pharmacology, blends two unconnected graduate school theses to explore the ways mitochondria communicate with the rest of the cell. She enjoys integrating ideas of science and faith. “We also dive into what that looks like in a professional context,” she says. “We’re reading books such as ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” and debating modern bioethics and how faith influences people’s perception of science.”

Claudia Molina
Spanish

Molina discovered a passion for Spanish, her Mexican culture and teaching while an undergraduate at UT Arlington. She earned a master’s degree and doctorate at UCLA researching animals in contemporary Mexican women’s fiction. “I enjoy mentoring students, integrating faith into my teaching, connecting with minority and first-generation students and serving the Hispanic community here,” she says. She is actively involved at Restauración Los Ángeles (RLA) Church, where her husband directs young adults.