The Professors

ULV's faculty members are highly respected professionals who help students open doors to new career horizons. They genuinely care about students' success, guiding them in achieving goals, seeking research opportunities, or serving the community.

Jeffery Burkhart, Fletcher Jones Professor of Biology
(B.A., Humboldt State University; Ph.D., Arizona State University)

Research Interests: Field ecology. My current work involved the distribution of Salmonella among free-ranging lizards of Southern California and the ecology of the long-snout sea-horse in Belize. • Favorite Class to Teach: Tropical Biology • Favorite Place on Campus: Mainiero Hall, because I have such great colleagues to work with. • Extracurricular Interests: Volleyball, birding, hiking, antiquarian book collecting. • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: Any NPR station • Favorite Book: John Janovy on Becoming a Biologist, because he emphasizes the point that biology cannot be simply a job. Rather, it requires a life change. • How Friends Describe You: Workaholic, passionate about field biology. • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: The people - other faculty and students in particular.

Reed Gratz, Professor of Music
(B.A., Manchester College; M.M., New England Conservatory of Music; D.M.A., University of Miami)

Research Interests: American music, jazz, African American music • Favorite Class to Teach: Jazz History • Favorite Place on Campus: My office, because my favorite things are there Extracurricular Interests: My wife and family, playing music, travel, sports • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: All kinds of music - jazz, R&B, classical, hip-hop, gospel, Spanish rock • Favorite Book: Jamake Highwater's The Primal Mind. It reminds me that I'm an artist, with a special, spiritual way of seeing the world • Favorite Movie: Hoosiers. I grew up in an Indiana town much like Hickory. In fact, they used my high school's fight song, which was written by a local band director, in the film • How Friends Describe You: Easygoing • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: So many of my friends are here.

Mike Laponis, Professor of Communications
(B.A., M.A., University of La Verne)

Research Interests: Video and audio production • Favorite Class to Teach: Radio Station Operations, Video Production, Radio Production • Favorite Place on Campus: KULV radio - there is a lot of creative energy to the radion station. • Extracurricular Interests: gardening, camping, electronics (amateur radio) • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: KIIS-FM, 99.1, KFWB • Favorite Book: Tuesday's with Morrie Favorite Movie: Citizen Kane • How Friends Describe You: Humorous • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: The students, people

Jeff Kahan, Associate Professor of English
(B.A., Concordia University, Canada; M.A., Ph.D., University of Birmingham, England)

Research Interests: Shakespeare, English Literature, Performance. • Favorite Class to Teach: Shakespeare. • Favorite Place on Campus: The library and the theatre. • Extracurricular Interests: I'm a Jethro Tull groupie. • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: Jethro Tull. • Favorite Book: The History of Jethro Tull and The Complete Works of Shakespeare. • Favorite Movie: Rolling Stones Flying Circus (Jethro Tull is in it). • How Friends Describe You: Tull' fiend • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: I was born to teach Shakespeare, and play lead guitar for Jethro Tull; until Martin Barre dies, I'll stay!

Julie Kline, Associate Professor of Movement and Sports Science
(B.A., Whittier College; M.S., U.S., Sports Academy)

Research Interests: Effective leadership and management. • Favorite Class to Teach: Fitness for Life. • Favorite Place on Campus: Athletic facilities - I enjoy the energy and the competition. • Extracurricular Interests: Reading, photography, running, travelling, and being with my family. • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: Country Music. • Favorite Book: They Call Me Coach by John Wooden. He is a man of integrity and honesty. • Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump. I enjoy its many life messages. • How Friends Describe You: Enthusiastic, honest. • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: The people here are genuine and caring.

Andrea Labinger, Professor of Spanish and Director of the Honors Program
(B.A., Hunter College; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University)

Research Interests: Latin American women's literature; Latin American Jewish literature; literature of exile; translation. • Favorite Class to Teach: Upper division courses in literature and civilization. I enjoy any class where students are excited about learning. • Favorite Place on Campus: The Honors House - It's cozy and friendly. • Extracurricular Interests: Travel, cooking, reading, crossword puzzle fanatic. • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: Latin music, world music, classical music. • Favorite Book: Too many to mention - having a favorite book is like having a best friend. I love many of them for different reasons. • Favorite Movie: I don't have a favorite. Mostly I enjoy foreign films. How Friends Describe You: Caring, friendly, jovial. • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: Being surrounded by caring people. Having students and colleagues who are also friends.

Claudio Munoz, Professor of Accounting
(B.S., M.B.A., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona)

Research Interests: Financial accounting • Favorite Class to Teach: Intermediate Accounting (I&II) • Extracurricular Interests: Spending time with family, watching movies, playing and watching sports, primarily basketball and football • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: Music, talk shows, sports events • Favorite Book: The Bible. I've learned a lot about life reading it, and continue to learn from it. • Favorite Movie: Braveheart, because it made me appreciate the freedoms I have. • How Friends Describe You: Friendly • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: Being able to work among caring professionals who wish to have a positive impact on the lives of others.

Jason Neidleman, Associate Professor of Political Science
(B.A., University of California, Los Angeles; M.A., Ph.D. Harvard University)

Research Interests: Political theory, with emphasis on the Enlightenment and development in contemporary political thought. • Favorite Class to Teach: Classical Political Philosophy. • Favorite Place on Campus: The Soccer Field; the ULV coach lets me train with the team! • Extracurricular Interests: Soccer, boxing, theatre, literature, political activism (especially on issues of local land use and environmental justice). • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: Sublime, James Taylor, Wyclef Jean, or classical music (when my son is in the car). • Favorite Book: Rousseau's Discourses, because he shows us the price we must pay for the society we have chosen. • Favorite Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany's, because liking it is something my wife and I have in common. • How Friends Describe You: Honest. • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: The warmth of the ULV Community.

Peggy Redman, Professor of Education and Director of Teacher Education
(B.A., M.A., Ed.D., University of La Verne)

Research Interests: Development of teachers and prospective teachers • Favorite Class to Teach: Education 405, Diversity, Interaction and the Learning Process. This is the foundation class for the teacher education program. It is the one where we find out if you really want to become a teacher. I love it because I get to know the students really well! • Favorite Place on Campus: My favorite place on campus is the Barkley Building. It is where I work, and the place that holds the best memories of students. • Extracurricular Interests: My interests outside of work are my family, reading, waterskiing, and church. • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: I listen to NPR or unabridged books on tape. • Favorite Book: Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Dreams. Kingsolver is a superb author. This book is about a young woman's coming of age. It's priceless. • Favorite Movie: Cinema Paradiso. This movie has everything. I'd recommend it to all. • How Friends Describe You: Committed • Favorite part of Working at ULV: The people - faculty, staff, students. It is the best place to work.

Jonathan L. Reed, Professor of Religion
(B.A., Southern California College; M.A.R., Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University)

Research Interests: Archaeology of Galilee-Isreal, the Historical Jesus • Favorite Class to Teach: Jesus and His Teachings and Introduction to Religion • Favorite Place on Campus: The weight room - I have a chance to meet informally with students. • Extracurricular Interests: Biking, gourmet cooking, camping, and coaching my daughter's soccer team • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: Rock 'n Roll • Favorite Book: Voltaire's Candide, great sarcasm reveals humanity's folly. • Favorite Movie: Apocalypse Now, it shows the dark side of humanity. • How Friends Describe You: Fun-loving and relaxed • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: Alot of great people, a lot of interesting and diverse students!

Rick Simon, Associate Professor of Mathematics
(B.S., Harvey Mudd College; M.A., Claremont Graduate University; D.A., Idaho State University, Pocatello)

Research Interests: Statistical approximation theory, mathematical education • Favorite Class to Teach at ULV: Mathematics in Society Interests Outside Work: My granddaughter and church-related activities • Favorite Thing to Listen to While Driving: Classical, classic rock, Christian music • Favorite Part of Working at ULV: The people - faculty, staff, and students.