Meet the Team
Paul Lazarony
Associate Vice President, Undergraduate Studies
Dr. Paul Lazarony is in his 26th year of service at California State University, Northridge and is currently serving as the Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Studies. He previously served as Associate Dean of the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics for seven years, as Chair of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems for six years, and as Associate Chair for five years.
Dr. Lazarony is an advocate for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion on campus as evidenced by his work with the CSUN Pride Center, by becoming a National SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Facilitator, and his service on the Educational Equity Committee, Emergency Housing Committee, and Basic Needs Advisory Committee. He is the recipient of the 2023 CSUN Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Award. Dr. Lazarony is a champion for student success and strives to see each student he works with as the amazing, unique individuals they are and provide them with the resources and support they need to have an equal opportunity to be successful. He supports the CSUN and CSU-wide communities by teaching professional development workshops on topics including "Emotional Intelligence for Your Wellbeing," and "Discovering Your Essence and Defining Your Core Values."
Dr. Lazarony joined the faculty in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems in 1999, attaining the rank of Professor in 2010. He earned his B.S. in Business Administration with an option in Marketing, and M.A. and Ph.D. in Computer Technology and Business Education all from The Ohio State University.
Whitney Scott
Director, Faculty Development
Dr. Whitney Scott is an expert faculty developer and conflict resolution specialist with nearly two decades in higher education cultivating spaces for transformation and connection. Her craft of employing dynamic workshops through empathetic facilitation has bestowed her with awards such as CSUN’s Distinguished Teaching Award; provided unique experiences like serving as a California certified superior court Conflict Mediator; and leadership roles such as the CSU President of Faculty Development Council. But serving the CSUN faculty through the office of Faculty Development has been a career highlight. As a tenured Professor in the Child & Adolescent Development Department, her educational mastery is rooted in human development (PhD in Education, UCSB) and communication theory (BA in Communications).
Marcy De Veaux
Associate Director, Faculty Development
Dr. Marcella “Marcy” De Veaux is Associate Director of Faculty Development, a tenured Professor for the Department of Journalism at CSUN and a Depth and Liberation Psychologist.
She facilitates workshops for building equity in the classroom as well as creates strategies around diversity-related initiatives, including approaches to eradicate unconscious bias.
Shally Dhiman
Administrative Analyst
Shally Dhiman started her career at CSUN in Academic Resources and Planning and then transitioned to a position in the Office of Undergraduate Studies. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Master’s in Educational Administration from CSUN. She works very closely with students, assisting them with understanding different academic policies and procedures. In her role, she tries to make a positive impact on students by actively listening and guiding them with various resources on campus. In her spare time, she is passionate about her quilling: paper-art work. She has quite a display of her artwork in her office.
Rachel Guerra
Articulation Officer
Rachel Guerra was born and raised in Southern California. She started her career at CSUN in the Developmental Math Program and moved on to a position in Faculty Development. She provided program leadership, analysis, and support for all Faculty Development programs and events. In her new position, as the Articulation Officer, she is responsible for coordination of the undergraduate course articulation process. She manages articulation agreements between CSUN and California Community Colleges, other CSU campuses and maintains articulation records and data. She also maintains the ASSIST, TES (Transfer Evaluation System) and CSUN Roadmaps.
Julie Hunter
Catalog Editor
Julie Hunter is the editor of the University Catalog. She is a proud CSUN alumna, holding a B.S. degree in Business Administration (’06). In addition to the catalog, she helps facilitate the undergraduate curriculum review process, oversees the OnBase Curriculum Review Workflow, maintains the department’s websites, and mentors student assistants and interns. She participated in the CSUN Shine from Within 2015 cohort, and is presently the recording secretary for the Educational Policies Committee and a member of the Staff Service Awards Committee. Prior to Undergraduate Studies, Julie served as assistant to the associate dean in the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics from 2006-2014.
Hillary Kaplowitz
Senior Instructional Designer
Hillary Kaplowitz is the Senior Instructional Designer for Faculty Development at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She leads campus efforts to meet the needs of faculty using technology in their teaching and collaborates on programming focused on evidence-based engaging teaching practices. Hillary came to CSUN in 2008 as an Instructional Designer in Academic Technology and served as Lead for Instructional Design and Multimedia Services for the Faculty Technology Center from 2012-2019. In addition, she has concurrently served as a faculty lecturer at CSUN. Formerly teaching in the Multimedia Production option in Cinema and Television Arts for 8 years, she’s joined the Masters in Instructional Design program to develop and teach the "Introduction to Instructional Design" course. Prior to coming to CSUN, Hillary spent 14 years producing multimedia medical education for Zephyr Medical Enterprises, leaving as the Director of Educational Projects. Hillary holds a PhD in Instructional Design and Technology from the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies at Old Dominion University.
Debbie Ma
Director, General Education Honors Program
Debbie Ma is the Director of the General Education Honors Program. Debbie joined the CSUN community in fall 2011 after completing her PhD at the University of Chicago in experimental social psychology. Debbie is a Professor in the Psychology department where she teaches research methods, social psychology, and introduction to psychology. She also maintains and active research lab studying stereotyping and prejudice and biracial face perception through a social-cognitive lens. As the Director of General Education Honors, Debbie aims to provide an intellectual home for some of CSUN's highest academically achieving students through rigorous coursework and enrichment opportunities.
Kristy Michaud
Director of Special Projects, Faculty Development
Kristy Michaud, PhD, is a professor of Political Science at CSUN. She joined Faculty Development as the Associate Director in 2015. From 2016-2018 she served as the Director of the Office of Student Success Innovations, where she worked with faculty, staff, and students to develop innovations to close the equity gaps among our students. She re-joined FacDev in 2021 as the Director of Special Projects.