California State University
Northridge Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
Core Faculty
1. Peter Bellin, CIH, PhD: A graduate of Brandeis, Harvard, and UCLA, Dr. Bellin is the primary advisor for students interested in the Industrial Hygiene option. He is also the Internship Coordinator. A Certified Industrial Hygienist, he has diverse professional experience in compliance, consulting, and research. Dr. Bellin received the Leadership Award from the Southern California section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. His current interests include sustainability in environmental and occupational health. He teaches EOH 466A, EOH 466B/L, and EOH 468.
2. Tom Hatfield, REHS, DrPH: A graduate of Stanford and UCLA, Dr. Hatfield is the Department Chair. He also holds adjunct appointments with the University of Kuopio and the University of Tampere (both in Finland). His expertise is in risk analysis. Recently interviewed by CNN Headline News, he is the managing editor for the California Journal of Environmental Health. In 2001 his book, Risk Analysis for Environmental and Occupational Health Professionals, was published by the National Environmental Health Association. He teaches EOH 356A and 356B.
3. Tony Machado, PhD, REHS: A graduate of CSUN and UCLA, Dr. Machado’s expertise is in molecular toxicology and teratology. A former student of Nobel Laureate Louis Ignarro, Doctor Machado's research focuses on gene-environment interactions. He is also the coordinator of our student group EOHSA. He recently served as chair of the California Registration Board for Environmental Health Specialists (an appointment approved by the California Governor). He teaches EOH 101, EOH 353, EOH 456, EOH 554, and advanced toxicology.
4. John Schillinger, PhD, REHS: A graduate of the University of Montana and the University of Michigan, Dr. Schillinger is the Graduate Coordinator. A public health microbiologist, he contributed to Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. He is a recipient of this university’s highest award for community service due to his long association with Pacoima Beautiful. Recently interviewed by KNBC Channel 4, his recent interests include indoor mold. He teaches EOH 455/L (Public Health Microbiology), HS 132, and EOH 555.
5. Owen Seiver, REHS, DPA: A graduate of CSUN and the University of La Verne, Dr. Seiver was selected as a California Faculty Fellow for his work on the California Environmental Quality Act. His research on grading systems for food facilities has influenced policy around the nation, and he was recently quoted in Newsweek for his work on mold in indoor environments. He has also consulted with the California Governor’s office. Dr. Seiver’s specialties include administration, food safety, and indoor air quality. He teaches EOH 101, 352, 353, and 453.
6. Michael Sullivan, PhD, CIH, REA: A graduate of UC Davis and the University of Michigan, Dr. Sullivan oversees the graduate research design series. His expertise is in toxicology and risk analysis. Dr. Sullivan has over 20 years of fulltime experience with environmental consulting firms and private industry, including the Rocketdyne facility in Santa Susana. His current research interests include environmental sampling and drinking water. He teaches EOH 696A and 696B, EOH 469, 459, 553, 554, and advanced risk analysis.
Affiliated Faculty
7. Larry Baresi, DrPH: Dr. Baresi is Professor of Biology at CSUN. With a doctorate from UCLA in environmental health sciences, his interests include methane producing bacteria, extremophiles, and environmentally important bacteria in the remediation of toxic wastes. Dr. Baresi provides a critical link between the research capabilities of the Biology department and the public health focus of the EOH department. He teaches Biology 655A (graduate seminar in microbiology) that is open to our graduate students as a graduate elective.
8. Tyler Blake, PhD: Dr. Blake is Professor of Psychology at CSUN. With a doctorate from North Carolina State, he specializes in Human Factors (the study of how humans behave physically and psychologically in relation to particular environments, products, or services). Because of its close association with ergonomics, Human Factors is a useful complement in the study of safety and industrial hygiene. Our graduate students may be especially interested in one of his courses: Psychology 656 (Seminar in Human Factors Principles and Applications).
9. Lawrence Chu, PhD: Dr. Chu is Assistant Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences at CSUN. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and UCLA. His research interests include injury epidemiology. In addition to teaching biostatistics and epidemiology at the undergraduate level, Dr. Chu teaches two courses that may be of interest to our graduate students: HS 588 (epidemiology of infectious diseases) and HS 589 (epidemiology of chronic diseases).
10. Roberta Madison, DrPH: Dr. Madison is Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences at CSUN. She has both MPH and DrPH degrees in environmental health sciences from UCLA. Dr. Madison taught epidemiology and statistics at CSUN for many years, and she also taught our research design series in previous years. She has extensive experience in consulting with a variety of groups, including the ATSDR. Although she is now retired, she continues to be a valued advisor for our department.
11. Kristy E.H. Michaud, PhD: Dr. Michaud is Assistant Professor of Political Science at CSUN. With a doctorate from UC Santa Barbara, her research focuses on risk perceptions, public opinion, and environmental policy. Her latest work examines these influences on environmental issues such as climate change. This research is a complement to the research interests of several core faculty members in our department. Our graduate students may be especially interested in one of her courses -- Poli Sci 540B (Seminar in American Government and Politics).
12. Ali Tabidian, REA, PhD: Dr. Tabidian is Professor of Geological Sciences at CSUN. With a doctorate from the University of Nebraska, Dr. Tabidian has extensive research experience in modeling the movement of pollutants in soil and water systems. He is known to many of our students for the popular G.E. course, Geology 300 (Environmental Geology), and his students can often be found in our EOH electives. One of his courses that may be of interest to our graduate students is Geology 575/L (Hydrogeology and Lab).
Part-time Faculty
13. Michael Alvord, MS, WTO, WDO: Professor Alvord is Operations Manager for the Valencia Water Company. With a B.S. in environmental biology and an M.S. in environmental and occupational health (both from CSUN), he is a licensed Water Treatment Operator (grade III) and Water Distribution Operator (grade V). He is also an adjunct faculty member of College of the Canyons and has taught for the American Water Works Association. He teaches EOH 353.
14. Ed Becker, CIH, CSP, DPA: Dr. Becker is Executive Director of the EH&S program at USC, where he leads the implementation of sustainability programs. His doctorate is from USC, where he has extensive experience in training, field work, and administration. He is currently working with the National Safety Council and World Health Organization to have USC become the first university designated as a safe community. Becker was president of the LA Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers and is currently president-elect for the Southern California Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. He teaches EOH 353.
15. Tom Boxwell, MS, REA: With over 25 years of experience in the field, Professor Boxwell has overseen programs in air quality, waste water and hazardous waste compliance, pollution prevention and recycling, industrial hygiene, worker health and safety, and safety compliance. With a B.S. and M.S. in EOH from CSUN, he has also lectured at the UCLA School of Public Health. Professor Boxwell has publications on Prop 65, EH&S auditing, and corporate compliance. He teaches EOH 365, 465, and 570.
16. Michael Harris, JD: Mike Harris is Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Denver (in the Sturm College of Law). With a J.D. from UC Berkeley, Professor Harris was Executive Editor for the Ecology Law Quarterly. He was also Senior Deputy District Counsel for the South Coast AQMD, Associate Environmental Counsel for the L.A. Unified School District, and Project Attorney with Earthjustice in Denver, Colorado. Professor Harris teaches EOH 454 OL (Environmental Health Law).
17. Elizabeth Huff, REHS, MS: Professor Huff is Manager of Community Services for the Ventura County Environmental Health Division. With a B.S. and M.S. in EOH from CSUN, she was president of the Mission Chapter of the California Environmental Health Association and has been active with the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health. She teaches EOH 353 and EOH 553.
18. Gevork Kazanchyan, MS, REHS, CFSP: Professor Kazanchyan is a Loss Control and Prevention Specialist with the Risk Management Branch of the L.A. County Chief Executive Office. With a BS and MS in EOH from CSUN, he is a Certified Professional in Food Safety and an adjunct faculty member of College of the Canyons. He has written restaurant reviews for the magazine L.A. Direct and has assisted in the development of various food safety training modules across the country. He teaches EOH 101.
19. Nola Kennedy, CIH, CHMM, PhD: Dr. Kennedy is Assistant Professor in Residence in the UCLA Department of Environmental Health Sciences. A graduate of UC Berkeley and UCLA, she has worked on grants from NIOSH as well as NIH. Dr. Kennedy is active with the Southern California Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and several related organizations. She teaches EOH 466C.
20. Ryan Kinsella, REHS, MS: Professor Kinsella is an industrial hygienist for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. With a B.S. and M.S. in EOH from CSUN, he also serves on the Board of Directors for the California Association of Professional Scientists. He teaches EOH 353.
21. Brett Koontz, REHS, MS: Professor Koontz is a doctoral student of public administration at the University of Laverne. He studied risk analysis at the University of Kuopio (Finland) and was a Rotary Scholar to Kobe, Japan. Professor Koontz has worked for Chemical Waste Management, L.A. County Department of Environmental Health, L.A. Unified School District, the City of Vernon, and currently works for Southern California Edison. He teaches all of our online sections of EOH 101 and EOH 353.
22. Doris Miller, MS, REHS: With a B.S. and M.S. in EOH from CSUN, Professor Miller was a secondary school science teacher (biology and chemistry) before becoming an environmental health specialist for Ventura County. She has developed HACCP training and related programs for diverse audiences, from food handlers to medical interns. She teaches EOH 353 and EOH 553.
23. Jeff Mueller, MS, CHP, PE: Professor Mueller is Director of Engineering for Amgen. A graduate of Northwestern and CSUN, he is a certified health physicist and registered professional engineer (in safety) with extensive experience in Environmental and Occupational Health. He teaches EOH 457 (Radiological Health).
24. Cheryl Mullally, REHS, MS: Professor Mullally is an EH&S Auditor with Southern California Edison. With a B.S. and M.S. in EOH from CSUN, she has worked as an Environmental Health Specialist for the Ventura County Environmental Health Division, and also for Princess Cruises as a Public Health Officer. She teaches EOH 353.
25. Maurice Oillataguerre, MS, MPA, REHS: Professor Oillataguerre is a senior environmental program specialist for the City of Glendale, where he manages the city’s Storm Water and Wastewater programs. A graduate of UCLA, he has an MS in EOH as well as an MPA (both from CSUN). He also worked for the Environmental Health and Safety program at UCLA and was an Environmental Health Specialist for the City of Long Beach. He teaches EOH 457 (Water Supply and Sewage Disposal).
26. Rania Sabty-Daily, PhD, REHS, CIH: Dr. Sabty-Daily is Associate Professor of Environmental Health at Touro University International (TUI). A graduate of UCLA, she has the rare distinction of being both a certified industrial hygienist and a registered environmental health specialist. Previously with the California State University, Los Angeles, she teaches EOH 353.
27. Jody van Leuven, MS: Professor van Leuven was chair of Women in Safety Engineering and second vice president for the American Society of Safety Engineers. She has worked for the L.A. Department of Water and Power as well as Technicolor Inc. She has also worked for the Environmental Health and Safety program at USC, and currently is employed by the Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management program here at CSUN. Professor van Leuven has both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Environmental and Occupational Health from CSUN, and she teaches EOH 353.