| Rodney Castillo World Languages & Communications, Hialeah Campus |
Gabriel Hernandez Academic Affairs, Hialeah Campus |
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| Born in Cuba, Professor Rodney Castillo migrated with his parents to South Florida at the age of thirteen. An alum of Miami Dade College, he graduated from Florida International University with a bachelor's and a masters in English Literature, a minor in Asian culture, and a Certificate in Exile Studies. His areas of academic concentration are Shakespearean studies as well as literature that explores the human experience through exile, migration, and displacement. He currently teaches English at Miami Dade College – Hialeah Campus. | A proud Miami native, Gabriel is a first-generation college graduate with a Master's degree from FIU in Higher Education. A devoted father to three beautiful girls, he balances family life with an unwavering passion for his hometown sport teams. Committed to higher education, Gabriel aspires to guide the next generation to new heights, embodying the values of resilience and success instilled during his own journey. |
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Christina Machado Dillon |
Subhojit Majumdar |
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Christina Machado Dillon is a Learning Resources Professional for Miami Dade College, Learning Resources, at the Hialeah Campus. She received her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Florida Atlantic University and holds a Master of Arts Degree in Library Information Science from Florida State University. Prior to joining Miami Dade College in 2016, Christina worked for the Hialeah Public Libraries, first as Collection Development Librarian and later as Library Services Supervisor. In addition to her current position, she has also served as an instructor of Intro to Online Research.
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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.
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Rene Martinez-Celorio |
Mariana Vaillant Molina |
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Dr. Martinez-Celorio is an Associate Professor of Physics at MDC Hialeah campus. He received a B.Eng. in telecom from the University of Havana in 1986, earning two master's in engineering and physics in 1990 and 1996. From 1991 to 1994, he studied for a B.Sc. in physics. In 2001, he graduated with a Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Guanajuato. His main research interest is in the fundamental problems of optical physics and applications, where he has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer-review papers in journals and conference proceedings. He has led and participated in various investigation projects financed by national and international agencies and industries. He has been a guest professor at the Universities of Antwerp, Valencia, and Complutense of Madrid. He was recognized by the Cuban National Science in 2006 and the National Researcher in Mexico for his scientific work. He is a referee for various scientific journals and was on the Journal of Biomedical Engineering editorial committee.
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Dr. Molina is Associate Professor of Psychology at Miami Dade College's Hialeah campus. She earned a Ph.D. in psychology with a focus on developmental and experimental psychology from Florida International University and teaches various developmental and social psychology courses as well as student life skills (SLS) courses. Her teaching incorporates an understanding of and appreciation for research methods and often includes problem-based learning and service-learning experiences related to social issues. Dr. Molina is chairperson of the Student Interdisciplinary Symposium, an annual co-curricular event she helped design, showcasing students' scholarly work at MDC. Dr. Molina serves as co-advisor for the Hialeah chapter of the International Honor Society of Community Colleges, Phi Theta Kappa, and helps to mentor student members and officers with their honors programming in that role.
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Hilcias Morán Samayoa |
Katalin Paizs Liberal Arts & Science, Hialeah Campus |
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Dr. Morán teaches Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics at Hialeah Campus. He earned his B.A. in Economics at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, his M.A. in Economics and Public Policies at the Institute Torcuato Di Tella at Buenos Aires, Argentina, and his Ph.D. in Economics from Indiana University at Bloomington in 2009. Until January 2015, Dr. Moran was head of the Macroeconomic Modeling Unit, Economic Research Department at the Central Bank of Guatemala. He has served as a consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development and the United Nations Development Programme on poverty, inequality and economic growth. As a researcher, he has published scholarly articles in various journals (Journal of Development Economics, World Development, Modern Economy Journal and Monetaria). |
Katalin Paizs is an Assistant Professor at Miami Dade College. She teaches various mathematics and statistics courses at Hialeah Campus. She has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics, with a minor in Education. She earned a Master of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences from Florida International University. She is a passionate educator who champions innovative teaching methods. With an inclination for project-based learning (PBL) and active learning, she transforms traditional classrooms into dynamic spaces where students actively engage with real-world problems. Through PBL, she equips her students with the skills needed for modern careers, fostering a sense of purpose and curiosity. She also infuses her classroom with a strong focus on changemaking. Through collaborative projects, critical thinking, and hands-on experiences, she inspires her students to be change agents in their communities and beyond. |
| Veronica Ramsundar School of Business & ENTEC, Hialeah Campus |
Betty Simon Grant Project Director, Hialeah Campus |
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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. |
Born in Havana, Cuba, Betty Simon migrated with her family to Miami at fifteen. Betty is a proud alumna of Miami Dade College with over 20 years of grant management experience. She currently holds the position of Grant Director for the Title III - Engine of Progress Grant at Miami Dade College, Hialeah Campus. As Grant Director, Betty's leadership has played a pivotal role in shaping effective strategies for grant implementation in the dynamic landscape of grant administration. Her commitment to excellence resonates with the core values of Miami Dade College, to provide an exceptional learning environment that challenges students and empowers them to attain their academic goals. |
| Gregory Smith Liberal Arts & Science, Hialeah Campus |
Allison Thomas Johnson World Languages & Communications, Hialeah Campus |
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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. 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 with the guidance and advising of incoming STEM students prior to the beginning of their first academic year at Hialeah. |
Allison Thomas Johnson is an Assistant Professor of English at Miami Dade College’s Hialeah campus. She earned her Ph.D. in English at the University of Miami, where her dissertation on the rhetoric of friendship in early modern English women’s writing earned the 2010 Best Dissertation in the Humanities Award. She has published a book chapter on the poet Isabella Whitney and presented at numerous professional conferences. Dr. Thomas Johnson incorporates inquiry-based research, service learning, and opportunities for creative expression into her English composition and literature courses. She is the Hialeah Faculty Lead for the Humanities Edge and serves on the OER Advisory Council and the Student Interdisciplinary Planning Committee. |