2021 Student Interdisciplinary Symposium at Hialeah Campus

Marva Adams is a Communications Professor at Miami Dade College (MDC) and an expert in her field. For the past ten years, she has taught communication courses at MDC’s Hialeah campus. Professor Adams frequently collaborates with other campus professors to create speech events that give students the opportunity to express their opinion on current events. She loves to merge basic communication concepts with various principles of culture. Through a variety of assignments, students become effective communicators who can exceed at every level in their field.  

Professor of Mathematics and Statistics courses, interested in technical, social and environmental topics, data analysis and early modeling. Dr. Bestard's instruction often incorporates Problem and Project-based learning that impacts the community and the fields of employability for students. Dr. Bestard's background is in Engineering and his instruction is directed towards quantitative reasoning, scaffolding structured thinking, and solving problems. Dr. Bestard also incorporates service-learning in several courses and often collaborates with Science Clubs and Global initiatives, including the Hialeah campus' Global Citizenship Project.

Rodolfo Cruz is an Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering and Technology at MDC Hialeah Campus. He joined Miami Dade College as an instructor in 2013. Professor Cruz earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Florida International University in 1997, a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Florida International University in 2007 and a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University in 2012.

Before joining MDC, Professor Cruz worked in the software development industry for sixteen years where he held positions as software engineer, analyst, project manager and quality assurance manager. He teaches a wide array of courses including programming languages (C, C++, Java, Python), Operating Systems, Internet of Things (IoT) and Cybersecurity.

In addition to his regular faculty duties, Professor Cruz is the advisor of the MDC chapter of the Society of Hispanics Professional Engineers (SHPE). As SHPE advisor, Professor Cruz mentors engineering and technology students with the mission of empowering them to realize their fullest potential and help them impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development.

Professor Cruz’s other interests include Quantum Programming, Artificial Intelligence, and other emerging technologies.

Prof. Danzig earned my master’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University. Prior to joining Miami Dade College, he worked for Macy’s Department store, worked for several retail consulting firms and as a Senior Accountant in the casino division for Carnival Corporation. He has experience both in corporate financial and tax consulting as well as serving a bankruptcy court expert witness.

In the summer of 2008 he joined Miami Dade College, Hialeah Campus as fulltime faculty for the School of Business. He is now in his13th year at the college.

Dr. Robin Dhakal is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Miami Dade College - Hialeah Campus. He received his Doctorate degree in Economics from the University of South Florida in 2017. Before his graduate degree he received his undergraduate degree in Business and Mathematics from Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. Before coming to Miami Dade College, he taught at various institutions including University of South Florida and Georgia Southern University. His research of interest is in development economics and political economy. In particular, he is interested in the economic impacts of education and health in developing countries.

Alicia Ibarra began her career at MDC in 2005. She is an Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering and Technology at the Hialeah Campus. Professor Ibarra holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Florida International University. She has a Master of Science in Management Information System from Nova Southeastern University. Students in her programming courses use service-learning projects to introduce girls in high schools to learn programming concepts.  Professor Ibarra has incorporated service-learning in all her courses from the very beginning. She has enjoyed doing service in her community throughout her life. She was awarded the Presidential Service Award in 2016. 

Melissa Lammey
Liberal Arts & Science, Hialeah Campus

Dr. Majumdar was born and raised in India where he received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree in chemistry. He worked in chemical industry as a synthetic organic chemist. He came to the United States as graduate student at University of Miami where he received his PhD degree in Chemistry. Dr. Majumdar started teaching classes at MDC as adjunct faculty. Soon after, he was appointed as Assistant Professor at MDC Hialeah Campus. 

Veronica Ramsundar has worked in higher education for the last ten years and can say with the utmost certainty that she has found her calling. She enjoys teaching and interacting with students and can best be described as easy going and a free spirit, this is very much reflected in her educational as well as professional experience.

Her educational experience is varied; she has a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, a Master of Science in Direct Marketing, and a Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Very much like her education; her practical experience is also wide-ranging, she has spent time working for a lighting company, casino, city government and higher education.

Josh Sheptow teaches Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 2010) and Ethics & Critical Thinking (PHI 2604). He is also the faculty advisor for the philosophy club. His background is in both philosophy and law, and was a practicing attorney for many years.

Sherri Sinkoff is an Associate Professor Senior of Speech/Communications. Professor Sinkoff has been teaching Speech and Communications for most of her life and in 2014 was awarded the Jon S. and James L. Knight Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair in Communications. She always incorporates current situations happening in our world and our local communities in her classes.  Professor Sinkoff's students have been preparing and presenting their academic research and service-learning presentations at the Hialeah campus's Student Interdisciplinary Symposium for several years. Her students always have a Q and A session at the end of their presentations to involve the audience.

Greg Smith is currently an Associate Professor in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department at Hialeah Campus.  He obtained his B.S. degree from Fordham University, NY and his Doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Miami, FL.

Prior to joining the Hialeah Campus as an Assistant Professor in 2013, Dr. Smith worked as a Sr. Research Scientist in the New Drug Research Department at Ivax Pharmaceuticals and later as the Associate Director of the Inhalation Department at Teva Pharmaceuticals (which acquired Ivax Pharmaceuticals).  The target focus of the Inhalation Division was the development, testing and manufacturing of novel and generic therapeutics for COPD and other forms of respiratory diseases.

Dr. Smith’s main focus of instruction at the Hialeah Campus is chemistry and one of his passions is the exposure of incoming students to the “joy” of research and development of therapeutics.  He also assists the Chair of his department (Dr. Caridad Castro) with the guidance and advising of incoming STEM students prior to the beginning of their first academic year at Hialeah.

Dr. Eric Terry joined the faculty of Miami-Dade College in the fall of 2016 as a professor of business management.  Prior to his appointment at Miami Dade College, he spent three years at Keiser University as a Business Program Director and faculty member for both undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, Dr. Terry spent six years on the faculty at Palm Beach State College and three years at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.  He has taught the following courses at the undergraduate and graduate level: Operation Management, Supply Chain Management, International Business, Business Management, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, Leadership, Business Capstone, Health Care Management, Health Care Marketing, Health Care Strategic Management, and Introduction to Business.

Dr. Terry holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration-Management from Northcentral University in Arizona, a Master of Arts in Business Administration from Regis University in Colorado, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Northwood University in Michigan.  Prior to teaching, his private-sector experience included work in retail management, hospital administration, home care management, business ownership, and training and development in health care.

Dr. Terry is also credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care and has a license to practice as a respiratory therapy practitioner in the states of Florida, Texas, New York, and Iowa.  He holds a certification in Six Sigma and is an ASQ Certified Quality Improvement Associate.