Dr. Sohui Lee is this year’s Data Storytelling workshop leader. At CSUCI, Dr. Lee is the Associate Professor and Faculty Director of the Writing & Multiliteracy Center. When asked about her motivation for participating in this event, Dr. Lee passionately expressed her dedication to guiding students in understanding the intricacies of data visualizations. To her, it’s not just about extracting insights from data; it’s about appreciating the art of presenting information as a unique form of communication.

Beyond her academic roles, Dr. Lee has been a valued member of the CSUCI faculty since 2015. Her creative roots trace back to high school and undergraduate days when she cultivated a love for drawing and painting, forming the foundation of her keen interest in visual design. Driven by this passion, she finds joy in exploring art museums whenever she visits a city.

Dr. Kristin Jordan is this year’s Tableau workshop leader. At CSU Channel Islands, she holds dual roles as a Sociology lecturer and a Data Scientist for Institutional Research. With a passion for working with data, Dr. Jordan excels in crafting effective data visualizations!  To her, Plot-A-Thon is more than just a campus event; it’s a vibrant space where students can delve into captivating datasets, acquire valuable and sought-after data visualization skills, and expand their toolkit of expertise. Beyond her professional life, she loves to travel to visit family and friends in other states and countries. In her spare time, she loves to read, craft, and have board game nights with friends. 

Dr. Scott Feister is this year’s Python workshop leader. Dr. Feister specializes in scientific computing, using computers to solve scientific challenges of the 21st century. This specialty is at the intersection of computer science, mathematics, and the natural sciences. In his research, Scott creates data systems and electronic devices for scientific laboratories, performs supercomputer simulations of physical processes, and analyzes large experimental datasets. His conception of teaching is to motivate students to learn, give them access to knowledge, and work with them to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts.

Dr. Isaac Quintanilla-Salinas is this year’s R workshop leader. Dr. Salinas, PhD in Applied Statistics from UC Riverside, joined CSU Channel Islands’ Mathematics Department in Fall 2022. Before his doctoral research, he earned an MPH from SDSU and a BS in Biology from CSU Monterey Bay. His research focuses on developing statistical models to understand the association between survival and longitudinal outcomes, with a dissertation on “Multilevel Time-Varying Joint Models for Longitudinal and Survival Outcomes.” He collaborates with researchers in Public Health, Psychology, Biology, GIS, and Education.

Dr. Nien-Tsu (Nancy) Chen, is Professor of Communication Studies at CSU Channel Islands. She is delighted to serve as a Faculty Mentor for Plot-A-Thon this year and is eager to encourage more students from the humanities and social sciences to take advantage of the wonderful learning opportunities the program offers. Nancy values data visualization for its ability to present facts and statistics in clear, engaging ways to diverse audiences. She especially appreciates how various forms of data visualization, such as infographics, have become powerful communication tools in an information environment increasingly shaped by social media. She is grateful that Plot-A-Thon provides training in data visualization tools that accommodate students’ varying levels of experience with coding and programming skills. Nancy looks forward to sharing her own learning experiences and supporting students across campus as they deepen their understanding and strengthen their data-visualization skills. 

Dr. Scott Feister, Computer Science, is Assistant Professor at CSU Channel Islands.

“I am excited to be a Faculty Mentor to you this year! My primary goals are to support you and to make this event as approachable as possible. You can reach out to me at scott.feister@csuci.edu with any questions, anytime! My other goals are to help you realize the joys of quantitative data visualizations, to support you in making teams that blend disciplines (to create all-star teams that rock at both technique and communication), and to get as many science and computer-programming-oriented students involved in the Plot-A-Thon as possible.”

Dr. Katrina Hales-Garcia, Earth Science/Biology CSUCI.  Dr. Hales-Garcia currently teaches quantitative methods and biology courses at CSUCI. Her interests include whole earth ecology, complex systems interactions over deep-time in earth history as well as earth-centered pedagogy in higher education.

“I am glad to join Plot-a-Thon as a faculty fellow. Plot-a-Thon is about so much more than data. It is a great opportunity for students to gain experience in teamwork, exploration, persistence, collaboration, and motivation all while learning valuable data visualization tools.  I’m excited to see what this year’s teams create!”

Dr. Catalina Medina, Data Science, Assistant Professor at CSU Channel Islands

“As a Faculty Fellow, I’m excited to help spread the word about the Plot-A-Thon and encourage students from all backgrounds to get involved. I’ve taught visualization and introductory data science to many students with no prior coding experience, so I know how transformative it can be when students push themselves to try something new. Experiences like this not only build confidence—they also help students become more competitive in the job market.”

Dr. Zhenning (Jimmy) Xu is an Associate Professor of Marketing at California State University Bakersfield. His research focuses on digital marketing, marketing analytics, and sentiment analysis, with expertise in data analytics and machine learning using R, Python, Tableau, and other tools. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at El Paso and holds a Data Science Specialization Certificate from Johns Hopkins University. A recipient of the 2020 Literati Award for Highly Commended Papers, he has published over 15 peer-reviewed articles in top marketing and business journals. He also serves on program committees for several international conferences.

Dr. Yeawon Yoo, Business, Assistant Professor, Systems and Operations Management Department, David Nazarian College of Business and Economics, California State University Northridge

“It’s a pleasure to join as a Faculty Mentor again and to support you on this exciting journey. Plot-A-Thon holds a special place in my heart because it’s where students truly thrive. I know many of you may feel frustrated when learning something new — I’ve been there myself. When I first started learning Python (and other programming languages), I remember how challenging it felt. But over time, Python became my go-to language for research and analysis. I want to help you experience that same sense of accomplishment and see how these skills can elevate your career. I also believe that data visualization and data storytelling are incredibly important skills in today’s world. The ability to turn data into clear, compelling insights can truly set you apart in any field. Please feel free to reach out to me at yeawon.yoo@csun.edu with any questions — I’m always happy to help!” 

Nausheen Ahmed is the Executive Director of Supply Chain Operational Excellence at Cedars-Sinai, where she leads system-wide strategic and tactical decision support to strengthen organizational performance. She drives digital transformation by developing advanced analytical tools that elevate business intelligence and by implementing performance measures that enhance accountability and operational efficiency. In partnership with key suppliers, she also guides supply logistics optimization, advancing demand and supply planning across the enterprise.

Nausheen serves on the board of the California Association of Healthcare Purchasing & Materials Managers (CAHPMM) and is Vice President of the CSU Channel Islands Alumni & Friends Association. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley and an M.S. in Mathematics from CSU Channel Islands.

Breeann Austin, is the Instruction & Assessment Librarian at CSU Channel Islands, where she teaches Information Literacy at Broome Library. She has served as a judge for the Plot-A-Thon for four years and has been on the Planning Committee for three years. Ms. Austin is dedicated to and passionate about the Plot-A-Thon because it provides students with practical experience in interacting with, identifying, evaluating, and using information in a real-world experience. The perfect Information Literacy activity! You can often find Ms. Austin in the library with her ESA, Denali. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and rooting for the Dodgers—though she admits that being a fan can be quite stressful!

Dr. María Ballesteros-Sola, DBA, MBA, is Associate Professor of Management in the MVS School of Business and Economics at CSU Channel Islands. Dr. Ballesteros also serves as the Director of our Entrepreneurship & Small Business Institute (ESBI). Her research focuses on social enterprises, hybrid organizations, and B Corps. She has published in the Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, International Journal of Social Business, the International Journal of Management Education, Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Education & Pedagogy, Case Research Journal, and the Journal of Social Business. She serves on several editorial review boards, is the chair of the Social Impact Track for North America Case Research Association (NACRA) and is the SAGE Publishing Social Impact Case Collection editor. Her cases have won several awards in both NACRA and USASBE annual conferences.  Dr. Ballesteros-Sola also serves on the boards of the Case Research Foundation, The Case Centre UK, Women Economic Ventures (WEV) and Start-Up Kids, a local social enterprise that she co-founded. She is also a B Academic’s co-founder and provides strategic and tactical guidance to non-profits and social enterprises.  Before moving to the United States, she had a career in financial services (VISA, Bankinter) and management consulting (Cap Gemini, Indra, etc.) on both sides of the Atlantic (US, Mexico, UK &Spain, helping banks and other organizations to use technology to achieve their business objectives. Dr. Ballesteros-Sola is also a strong advocate for the use of high impact practices such as experiential and service-learning, learning communities, international experiences, the case method and humanizing technology in higher education.

Angela Madsen, is a Biology instructor at Ventura College and a CSUCI alumnus in 2017.  She got her masters in biology at CSUB in 2020 in plant and insect ecology, defending her thesis on Zoom during the height of the pandemic.  This is her first year as a Plot-A-Thon judge, but as a long-time statistics lover and an amateur R and Python coder, with a long family history of computer programming and computer graphics, she is excited to see what the students are able to conjure from the black box of data.  In her free time, Angela enjoys adventuring outdoors as a camper, hiker, and backpacker. She is currently training for her first off-road trail marathon.

Dr. Catalina Medina is an Assistant Professor of Data Science at CSU Channel Islands. She values communicating science in ways that are both interesting and responsible, and she is especially passionate about helping students develop effective communication skills that will support them in their future careers. With a strong foundation in R and data-driven methodologies, Dr. Medina believes that communicating with data is an invaluable skill for everyone, regardless of discipline. This is her first year serving as a Plot-A-Thon judge, and she looks forward to seeing the creativity that emerges when students collaborate across fields to bring complex information to life through visualization.

Jessica Parker currently serves as the Interim Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff and the Budget and Staff Resources Lead for the Office of the President at CSUCI. With 10 years of experience serving in administrative support and coordination roles in higher education, she appreciates data visualization that tells a clear story and purpose so that it can be used to make informed decisions to move the mission and goals of the institution forward.

Angie Stamos began her career in marketing research supporting clients in the financial services industry, where she developed experience analyzing data and translating findings into meaningful insights. After earning an MBA, she advanced into a Product Planner role in the automotive sector, ensuring the consumer voice was represented in product development by interpreting research, shaping product direction and informing decisions across design, engineering and corporate leadership teams. In Higher Education, Angie has supervised and mentored student workers, guiding their growth and readiness for professional roles. She looks forward to serving as a Plot-A-Thon judge and reviewing the innovative work presented by this year’s competitors.

Dr. Yeawon Yoo, is an Assistant Professor in the Systems and Operations Management Department at the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics at California State University, Northridge. Her teaching and research center on mathematical optimization and statistical analysis, with an emphasis on applying these methods to real-world decision-making. She is deeply committed to empowering students with practical analytical skills and helping them become confident decision makers who use data effectively.
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Dr. Matthew Zivot is CSUCI’s Chief Data Officer and Director of Institutional Research. In these roles, he supports the IR office in making meaningful data available to the campus and community, and facilitates the use of data in decision making processes. He is also tasked with establishing a culture of data literacy and usage at CSUCI, and because of this he deeply values Plot-A-Thon for advancing the data culture on campus. This will be his fourth year as a Plot-A-Thon judge.

Dr. Sohui Lee, this year’s Data Storytelling workshop leader, Chair of the Plot-A-Thon Planning Committee, and Digital Literacy Coordinator! At CSUCI, Dr. Lee is the Associate Professor and Faculty Director of the Writing & Multiliteracy Center. When asked about her motivation for participating in this event, Dr. Lee passionately expressed her dedication to guiding students in understanding the intricacies of data visualizations. To her, it’s not just about extracting insights from data; it’s about appreciating the art of presenting information as a unique form of communication.

Beyond her academic roles, Dr. Lee has been a valued member of the CSUCI faculty since 2015. Her creative roots trace back to high school and undergraduate days when she cultivated a love for drawing and painting, forming the foundation of her keen interest in visual design. Driven by this passion, she finds joy in exploring art museums whenever she visits a city.

Dr. Ekin Pehlivan, this year’s CI Solution Coordinator for the Plot-A-Thon. Dr. Pehlivan is also Professor of Marketing at the Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics at CSUCI. Her academic journey, culminating in a Ph.D. in Business with a Marketing specialization from Bentley University, highlighted the interdisciplinary aspects of her field, inspiring a commitment to lifelong learning and teaching. Covering diverse topics within Marketing and Management, Dr. Pehlivan structures her courses around the central theme of ‘Problem-solving through analytical and critical thinking and logical argumentation’. This approach underscores her dedication to fostering a deep understanding of these disciplines and equipping students with essential skills for real-world challenges.