Watts College welcomes 10 new faculty members in fall 2024
Photo by Mark J. Scarp/ASU
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is welcoming 10 new faculty members this fall, Dean and President’s Professor Cynthia Lietz announced.
“I am so pleased to welcome our newest faculty to the Watts College. These scholars and educators join our renowned and highly respected faculty,” Lietz said. “Each one brings a valuable set of talents and abilities to help us realize ASU’s charter — to help students succeed, advance research of public value and help build more vibrant, healthy communities.”
One of the 10, James E. Wright II, is the first-ever joint hire by the School of Public Affairs (SPA) and the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ).
Wright’s academic interests include public management, public administration, public policy, criminal justice and social justice. He served as co-director of Florida State’s Social Justice and Innovation Lab.
Directors of the two schools praised Wright in a May 28 ASU News story. SPA Director and Professor Shannon Portillo said that he will be a welcome addition to the faculty, as he will span both the criminology and criminal justice and public affairs fields. SCCJ Director and Professor Beth Huebner said Wright will contribute additional depth to the college’s already established excellence in the areas of policing and social change.
Meet the new Watts College professors:
School of Community Resources and Development
Steven Sassaman, clinical assistant professor, comes to ASU from Prescott College, where he earned a PhD in sustainability education. Sassaman earned an MEd in higher education from Abilene Christian University and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania.
Sassaman is an experiential educator and researcher whose work is centered on enhancing community interdependence through healthy engagement with nature.
This fall, Sassaman will be teaching courses in inclusive community management and leisure, and quality of life.
Elihuruma Kimaro, assistant teaching professor at the Hainan University-Arizona State University Joint International Tourism College (HAITC), comes to ASU from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he earned a PhD in evolution and behavior.
Kimaro earned a Master of Science in life science and engineering from Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania, a Master of Science in education for sustainability from London South Bank University and a Bachelor of Science in wildlife management from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania.
Paul Bentley, assistant teaching professor, comes to ASU from the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the adjunct faculty at USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy.
Bentley earned a PhD in public administration and policy, a Master of Science in justice studies and a Bachelor of Science in justice studies from ASU.
This fall, Bentley will be teaching courses in social entrepreneurship and a community impact lab.
Bailey Borman, clinical assistant clinical professor, is director of the Watts College's Office of Service Learning and Community Engagement.
Borman earned her PhD in community resources and development and a Master of Education in higher and postsecondary education, both from ASU. Her Bachelor of Arts in English/literary studies is from Southern Oregon University.
Roni Fraser, assistant professor, comes to ASU from the University of Delaware, where she earned a PhD and a master's degree, both in sociology.
Fraser earned a Bachelor of Science in emergency administration and planning from the University of North Texas.
This fall, Fraser will be teaching courses in emergency management.
Jiho Kim, assistant professor, comes to ASU from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Kim earned a PhD in public administration from Syracuse, and earned a Master of Public Administration in public management and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from Seoul National University.
This fall, Kim will be teaching courses in public service and policy, and organization behavior.
Alvaro Hofflinger, assistant professor, comes to ASU from the Universidad de Frontera in Temuco, Chile, where he was a member of the social science, education and humanities faculties.
He earned a PhD in public policy and a Master of Arts in Latin American studies from the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the Universidad de Frontera.
Currently, he is studying the long-term effects of school closures on rural and Indigenous students in Chile.
This fall, he is teaching courses in contemporary policy challenges.
Sun-Kyung Lee, assistant research professor at the Global Center for Applied Health Research, has been an ASU postdoctoral fellow since 2021, coming to ASU from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where she earned a PhD in family social science.
Lee earned a Master of Education in educational measurement and statistics from Korea University in Seoul, South Korea, and a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from Yonsei University’s Underwood International College in Seoul.
Alexandria Pech, assistant research professor at the Center for Child Well-Being, comes to ASU from the University of Arizona, where she earned a PhD in family and consumer sciences and a Master of Science in family studies and human development. Pech earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Sonoma State University in California.
As a directly impacted researcher, actionist and leader, Pech’s research is accountable to children, youth and families impacted by the criminal legal system (i.e., parental and familial incarceration).
School of Public Affairs and School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
James E. Wright II, associate professor, comes to ASU from Florida State University’s Reubin O'D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy.
Wright earned a PhD in public administration and public policy from American University, a Master of Public Policy in economics from Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy in California and a Bachelor of Science in public policy, planning and management from the University of Southern California.
This fall, Wright will be teaching courses in intellectual foundations of public administration, and in diversity, ethics and leading public change.
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