People

Dr. Karen Dobkins

I am a professor in the Psychology department and director of the Human Experience and Awareness Lab (HeaLab), where we study the mechanisms of human flourishing.  I created the LSW course (Psyc 88) because, over my 30 years here, I have come to believe that students need more than an academic education; they need skills to help build healthy and compassionate relationships with themselves and others. By scaling LSW across campus, we hope to enhance student (and faculty!) well-being, as well as build community. 

Dr. Janna Dickenson

I am a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in gender, sexual orientation, and sexual wellbeing. My work in advocacy, teaching, and clinical practice focuses on increasing sexual literacy to improve overall wellbeing. Enhancing sexual wellbeing can aid in preventing non-consensual interactions, reducing discrimination, and addressing sexual disorders. As part of the LSW program, I aim to support student wellbeing, hoping that greater ease in their lives will positively impact all areas, including their sexual health. 

Dr. Alessandro Palermo

I believe self-compassion is the foundation of learning. When we learn to be kind to ourselves, we become more resilient, empathetic, and open to growth. Only then can we truly connect with and support others. As an educator, I have seen that empathy, purpose, and intrinsic motivation inspire people to exceed what they once believed possible. I joined this program to help students cultivate both personal well-being and their potential.

Dr. Amy Bintliff

As a developmental psychologist and former K-12 teacher, I am drawn to participate in the LSW program because of my relationships with undergraduates interested in going into teaching and counseling, both high burnout professions. In recent years, even prior to COVID-19, the number of undergraduate students in distress has risen in university settings. By teaching LSW, I hope to provide students with more tools and understanding about well-being so that they can flourish at UC San Diego and in their future careers.

Dr. Charles Thorpe

 Charles Thorpe is a Professor in Sociology. He is interested in how technology shapes self and culture in modern societies and in whether we have become post-modern. He bases his thinking especially on the sociological and social-psychological theories of Erich Fromm. He is the author of Oppenheimer: The Tragic Intellect (University of Chicago Press, 2006), Necroculture (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) and Sociology in Post-Normal Times (Lexington Books, 2022).

Dr. Dredge Byung'chu Kang

I teach cultural and medical anthropology and global health with an emphasis on marginalized populations based on race, gender, sexuality, and class. I also am disabled. This shapes how I think about interpersonal relationships, empathy, and compassion (for self and others). I firmly believe that a good education not only encompasses academic rigor but also the social and emotional skills to navigate work and life.

Dr. Huihui Qi

As a Mechanical Engineering professor, I’m passionate about helping students succeed academically and personally. Teaching Compassion for Self and Others within engineering allows me to address unique challenges in this demanding field. By integrating well-being practices into the curriculum, I help students build resilience, foster collaboration, and develop self-compassion—essential skills for handling rigorous coursework and professional life. This approach supports my commitment to holistic education, preparing students to thrive not just as engineers but as balanced, empathetic individuals.

Dr. Imani N. Minyaka

Dr. Imani N. S. Munyaka leads the Ujima Security and Privacy Research Lab. Her research sits at the intersection of HCI, cybersecurity, and public policy, with a focus on improving security and privacy experiences for marginalized communities. She brings equity-centered expertise and a deep commitment to community to the LSW experience.

Dr. Jeff Gagnon

I direct the Warren College Writing Program, whose motto is "Toward a Life in Balance." In my teaching and research, I care a lot about the building blocks of deep learning: curiosity, motivation, process, teamwork, asking big questions, and communicating effectively. In many of my classes, students write about the messages they are up against: that they don't measure up, they are not smart enough, they don’t work hard enough, but they could if they just try harder and do more. In this course, we'll slow things down, learn from each other and ask: What does it really mean to live a life in balance? What practices could help us get there? What's working against us? And what would it look like to be more compassionate with ourselves and each other? I'm excited to explore these questions with you and see where they lead us!

Dr. Karen Villagas

I am an Assistant Teaching Professor and Associate Director of the Dimensions of Culture (DOC) program in Thurgood Marshall College at UC San Diego. DOC is a three-quarter writing sequence where students read critically to challenge the myths of American exceptionalism and imagine other possibilities through writing. I joined the Learning Sustainable Wellbeing program to examine how capitalist systems undermine collective wellbeing, relationality, and our capacity to build more sustainable connections with one another and the world around us.

Dr. Lara Rangel

I am joining the Learning Sustainable Well-Being program because I believe our campus community is navigating a period of significant cultural, political, and socioeconomic tension. I would like to develop the skills and confidence to engage compassionately in difficult conversations. I am excited to participate in and contribute to the LSW program so that I can help foster a campus culture grounded in empathy, respectful dialogue, and meaningful connection.

Dr. Liz Popko

I am part of the LSW program because I love helping students see just how smart, strong, and capable they are. I believe part of thriving in this world requires an ability to identify and analyze the narratives that infuse our culture and the courage to write new stories. The LSW program gives me another, and more direct way to address the way students manage this uncertain world, specifically as it affects their learning. I am grateful for the opportunity to help develop students’ resilience.

Dr. Lisa Porter

I am a Professor in the Theatre & Dance Department, where my research and teaching concentrate on collaborative leadership inside diverse production environments. I teach in the LSW program because I believe well-being is foundational to learning. I foster access-centered environments and develop a culture of care in the classroom and beyond. I support students as they develop the self-awareness, adaptability, and compassion to build sustainable collaborative practices, navigate uncertainty, and grow into empathic leaders.

Dr. Trevor Bonjour

From my interactions with students, I've noticed that many grapple with balancing their workload and personal well-being. By teaching this LSW course, I want to give students the tools to approach their studies with a healthier mindset, helping them thrive in and beyond their academic journey. I'm excited to learn alongside them and encourage a supportive environment for growth

Dr. Becky Marquez

I am a behavioral health researcher with a focus on relational health. My interest in LSW stems from my  training in systems thinking and cybernetics which view individuals as members of a social ecology. Through LSW, I am in the privileged position to help students engage in exploration of self in order to further connectedness to self and others. Students will develop valuable insight and life skills that will enhance their emotional and relational intelligence, supporting their personal growth and professional well-being.

Dr. Michel Estefan

I teach sociology at UCSD, which means I think a lot about how the world messes with us—and how we might, collectively, mess back. My approach to well-being is grounded in social science and care. In this course, we’ll pause the hustle to ask big questions: What does it mean to live well? What gets in the way? And how do we care for ourselves and each other in a world that often forgets to? My goal is to help you build clarity, community, and a toolkit for well-being that’s both practical and hopeful.