B.S. in Business Psychology

Helena Maria Ting, Ed.D.

Professor and Director, Business Psychology Program

Dr. Ting earned her doctorate degree in Organization and Leadership from the University of San Francisco (USF). Her dissertation title was, "The Relationship Between Team Effectiveness and Job Performance", comparing Malaysian and Californian teams. She was on the adjunct faculty in the Leadership and Organization Doctorate Program in the School of Education at USF for seven years and in the Organization Psychology Doctorate Program at the California School of Professional Psychology for two years. She has over twenty years of national and international experience in education management, high technology business planning and strategy, organization design, and management training development with a variety of companies including AMD, National Semiconductor, Daimler-Benz, and Lucent. As Senior Vice President at Visa, Inc., she fostered best-in-class organization and business development before starting her own consulting practice. Helena speaks Chinese, has traveled extensively in Europe, Scandinavia, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia, and appreciates different cultures and religions.

"Business leaders are increasingly turning to psychology to help organizations and individuals perform more effectively, solve problems, and grow professionally in today's global, multicultural work environment."

Paul J. Marcille, Ph.D.

Professor and Director, Psychology & Social Action Program

Dr. Marcille joined the PAU faculty from the American University of Paris in France, where he was the Vice-President and Dean of Student Affairs and Chairman of the Psychology Department. He is a Clinical Psychologist with a specialty working with adolescent and university age students. During his tenure in Paris, he also maintained a private practice and was a member and one-time President of the International Counseling Service (ICS), an association of Anglophone psychologists and psychiatrists in France. He was on the board of directors of several international schools and is an expert on international education. His clinical and research interests include culture shock, multilingualism, developmental issues in late adolescence and early adulthood.

Dr. Marcille obtained his BA in Psychology from Ohio University and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago Medical School. Prior to his moving to Europe in 1988, he was the Director of Psychology at Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge, Virginia.

"Anyone can use business psychology skills. They provides you with a good foundation for moving into any type of organization-for-profit or nonprofit."

William H. Snow, Ph.D.

Director of PAU Monterey Bay Undergraduate Programs

Dr. William Snow received his B.A and M.A. from Pacific Lutheran University and Ph.D. from the University of Washington. Prior to joining Palo Alto, Dr. Snow served at Bethany University for over 25 years where he was Professor of Psychology, Director of Institutional Research, Vice President for Academics and Chair of the Department of Psychology. Dr. Snow is also a Colonel in the Army National Guard Medical Department and Commander of the California Medical Command where he supervises the physical and behavioral health assessment and health promotion of over 16,000 individuals. He also has extensive experience in peace keeping operations in Kosovo and working with Partnership for Peace programs in Ukraine, Thailand, and Nigeria. Dr. Snow’s early research was on behavioral health promotion with children and adolescents. His current research focuses on how leader decision making and actions positively or negatively impacts the wellbeing of individuals and organizations. To view a list of Dr. Snow's publications, click here.

Charles E. Baker, Ph.D.

Professor

Charles E. Baker, Ph.D. has been providing executive assessment and development services for more than fifteen years working with executives positioned in medium to large sized corporations in industries primarily related to high-tech, finance, and health care. Prior to beginning graduate training in psychology, Charles worked for a Fortune 500 organization for 10+ years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M, a Master of Science degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of North Texas, and a doctorate in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on Organizational Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Finally, Charles is a member of the Society of Consulting Psychology, the Society of Industrial Organizational Psychology, the American Psychological Association, the California Psychological Association, and he is a licensed psychologist.

Richard H. Hilt, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Hilt has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Haven, a Masters of Science in Thermal Sciences from the University of Denver, a Master of Arts in Economics from Temple University, and the PhD in Public Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been involved in the energy business for over 40 years – much of it directly involved in clean technologies. Dr. Hilt performed industrial sustainability for a Fortune 100 company. He worked for the natural gas industry in Washington, DC focusing on the strategic and technology issues for the deregulating natural gas industry. Subsequently, Dr. Hilt provided much of the same expertise for the electric power industry. He has been either a founder or principal in several business startups focused on clean technologies and sustainability. He has authored several landmark studies of the impact of deregulation on electric power markets.

Areas of Research:

Business models for global sustainability; Venture Investments in clean technology; decision analysis and strategy for complex issues (Analytical Hierarchy Process and the World Probematique); and evaluation of frontier production functions (Data Envelopment Analysis).

Ginny Estupinian, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Ginny Estupinian is a licensed clinical psychologist.  She is currently a psychologist specializing in neuropsychological assessment and provides clinical supervision at Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System.  Dr. Ginny Estupinian divides her time between the inpatient services through the Department of Mental Health and is part of an interdisciplinary team at Valley Homeless Healthcare Program.  Some of the areas that she provides treatment for include working with those diagnosed with severe mental illness and substance abuse/addiction.  Dr. Ginny Estupinian has taught as an adjunct faculty member at various universities.  She graduated from Palo Alto University with her Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology.  She also received a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University.  Her Bachelor’s Degree is in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. 

Matt Abrahams, M.A.

Professor

Matt Abrahams received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Stanford; his graduate degree in communication studies from UC Davis; and his secondary education teaching credential from SFSU. Matt is considered a passionate, collaborative and innovative teacher who teaches for Palo Alto University, De Anza College and Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program. He is particularly interested in applying communication knowledge to real world issues. He has published several research articles on cognitive planning, persuasion, and interpersonal communication. Prior to teaching, Matt spent a decade as a high tech executive, where he created and ran global training and development organizations. In addition to his teaching and research activities, Matt runs a successful consulting practice.

Author:

"Speaking up without freaking out: 25 techniques for calm, confident, and competent speaking."

Seth T. Pardo, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr.  Pardo received his Ph.D. from the Department of Human Development at Cornell University with concentrations in Cognitive Developmental Psychology, Social Personality Psychology, and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. In his primary research Seth uses a fuzzy-trace approach to explore the intersections of identity, risk perception, risky behavior, and medical decision making. Seth also conducts research on the meanings, expressions, and development of gender nonconforming identities in adolescence and adulthood. In addition to serving as Executive Director of PERC-NOW.org, an education and research consulting organization, Dr. Pardo now serves on the Educational Steering Committee for the Society of Medical Decision Making, and has dozens of original articles and over 30 professional presentations. He is also a member of the Association for Psychological Science, the American Psychological Association, and the Society for Judgment and Decision Making.

Research Interests:

Adolescent Development, Identity, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Risk Perception & Behavior, Judgment & Decision Making  

Joshua Avera, M.A.

Professor

Professor Avera obtained his B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy, his M.A. in Communication, a second M.A. in Psychology from California State University, Fresno. He is finishing his third M.A. in Philosophy.

Professor Avera has worked extensively in the field of domestic violence for a decade in central California, serving as Director of the Marjaree Mason Center in Fresno, facilitating over 2,500 groups, directing. He has taught as an adjunct faculty member in various communication and psychology departments since 2000. He is currently an adjunct faculty in Communication at De Anza College and the Undergraduate Psychology program at PAU. His professional trainings extend to various social systems including mental health clinicians, doctors, lawyers, community leaders, and graduate/undergraduate students on the psychology of intimate relationships. He has also traveled the world studying symbolic iconography of the major world's religions.

Areas of Research:

Relational dynamics, counseling psychology, identity development, and East-West philosophy.

Don Uy-Barretta

Professor

Don Uy-Barreta has been teaching economics and finance related courses since 1999. He has also helped revise certificate programs and course offerings in various institutions.  In addition, he has over a decade long experience in investment management, most recently as a Portfolio Analyst, where he assisted in managing nearly $4.5 billion in tax-exempt securities. He has taught at De Anza College, Palo Alto University, Notre Dame de Namur University, U.C. Berkeley Extension, and U.C. Santa Cruz Extension. His main interest lies in macroeconomics, developmental economics, labor economics and investment management. He has a B.A. and an M.S. in Economics and is currently pursuing his second masters in finance.

Aneel Chima

Professor

Professor Chima obtained his B.A. in Consciousness Studies with Honors from UC Santa Cruz and his M.A. in Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP), where he is currently finishing his Ph.D.

Aneel works as a consultant providing market intelligence and executive training for mission driven organizations and businesses. He is also Vice President of the Veteran, Immigrant, and Refugee Trauma Institute of Sacramento (VIRTIS), a research and service organization partnering with the the University of California system, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and other national and international NGOs. Additionally, Aneel serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Transpersonal Psychologists. Previously, he served on the ITP Board of Trustees and was an award-winning physics and mathematics educator at Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas, CA where his teaching excellence was recognized by the SUHS District Trustees.

Research Interests:

Aneel's research focuses on leveraging wisdom and emotional-social intelligence for effective organizational leadership. Additionally, he is developing empirically validated training modules that increase individual and team leadership capacity while enhancing individual and organizational well-being

Nader Vasseghi

Professor

Nader received his BS and MS degree from USCB and University of Southhampton respectively. He has been working in the Silicon Valley in the hi-tech industry since 1981 and has held leadership and executive roles in public and private companies. He is a serial entrepreneur and sold his last start-up company, AuroraNetics, to Cisco in 2001. He was Senior Director and General Manager of a business unit in Cisco prior to founding his new start-up company, SelfOptima, in the healthcare IT space. His areas of specialty and interests are team building, leadership, strategy and business development, organizational development, creativity and innovation.

Kristel Nazzal

Professor

Kristel Nazzal graduated cum laude in International Business from the University of San Francisco (USF). She worked in Human Resources for a multinational organization for over five years in various capacities including employee relations, recruitment, training, and analyst work. One of those years was spent in London, England, where she offered support to colleagues in over 15 countries. Kristel earned her Professional in Human Resources certification, an industry credential for human resource professionals. Kristel left the corporate world and is currently in the process of earning her Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology from PGSP. Kristel is also the coordinator for the PAU’s Business Psychology program and will be teaching in the spring.

Research Areas:

Human Resources, Interpersonal Skills, Communications and Diversity and Community Mental Health

Karen Gee

Professor

Karen Gee completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at Stanford University, with a minor in human biology and a specialization in health and human development.  She went on to receive a master's degree in education and a secondary teaching credential for biology and general science, from the Stanford University School of Education. She began teaching psychology at Foothill College in 2001.  Karen's specific research interests involve bridging psychology and education, to apply what psychology research has taught us about learning and memory to improve teaching methods and help students learn more effectively.  Her master's thesis is titled, "The Impact of Instructor-Provided Lecture Notes and Learning Interventions on Student Note Taking and Generative Processing."  She received her master's degree in experimental psychology from San Jose State University.

Sapna Sood

Professor

Sapna Sood is a Human Resource Consultant with extensive experience in Human Resource Management in general and compensation practices in particular. After receiving her MBA from Santa Clara University, she worked in various human resources roles for over a decade at Hewlett Packard Co, where she managed the stock incentive program for the senior executives.  Subsequent to that she worked at ETrade Financial where she managed the stock valuation specifications for their equity compensation online product.  She now has a consulting practice in compensation and general HR. She is particularly interested in exploring the linkage between HR management and corporate strategic goals. She is very passionate about education and has been involved with Silicon Valley Education foundation in their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program. She also holds a B.S. in Economics and a M.S. in Business Economics from University of Delhi, India. 

Michele Caplette, Ph.D.

Career Planning Advisor

Michele Caplette is an experienced career planning coach and consultant to leaders and organizations. She has more than 20 years experience in designing and facilitating leadership and change management programs and in coaching executives and managers in their leadership and career success.  Michele has worked with a wide range of companies including Intel, Applied Materials, Cortina Systems, Synopsis, Symantec, SunPower, Nvidia, Kaiser Permanente, National Semiconductor, Lockheed-Martin, San Jose Medical Group, and Dominican Hospital. Michele earned a Ph.D. in Sociology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.  She has written several articles on leadership development and teams.  In her spare time Michele volunteers as a Child Advocate for foster children in Santa Clara County and as a mentor to high potential women in the Women Unlimited Leadership Program.  For Upwardly Global, Michele mentors refugee and immigrant professionals as they seek professional careers in the United States.