Nicole Pauling: 
I have a very diverse background but have always been interested in and moved by the plights of marginalized groups and have worked and volunteered extensively within those communities for the past 30+ years. My degrees are in Psychology, Criminology, Sociology, Philosophy, and Women's studies and all of those things do show up in this class. I have been involved with journalism since I was in the 7th grade and have written for 7 newspapers. 

Some expertise areas that are utilized in this class are: 
25 years of research skills.
Sociology and psychology degrees to understand individual behavior, development, and cultural phenomena. 
SART responder (Sexual Assault Response Training-I did hospital visits to ensure that criminal evidence was properly documented in rape cases). I also photographed victims of domestic violence and documented injuries for court cases. Additionally, I manned the phone banks for emergency calls and did outreach work and trainings on college campuses.
I have taught classes on consent and safety. 
I have my Common Sense Media teacher certification for teaching students Internet Safety. 
I have raised 19 foster children and have extensive training. Many of my children are from traditionally marginalized groups. 
I ran a group home.
I ran a sexual assault shelter. 
I have written about diversity for over 25 years. 
I have run, organized, and fundraised for diversity issues for over 22 years. 

Les Pauling: I love helping students learn how to connect with one another and live their best lives. 
I have lived an adventurous life. I love to kayak, scuba dive, wreck dive, white water raft, and really do anything that just brings joy and fun into life. I balloon twist as a side gig, moonlight at festivals as "The Bad Advice Fairy," and generally think I'm funny.

I am a counselor by trade with a Master's Degree in Community Counseling and High School Guidance counseling and a bachelor's in psychology. I got my initial training as a guidance counselor and then went into 1:1 therapeutic work in schools and homes. I also have over a decade working with youth who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. 
Some things I love to do are teach students logical thinking, decision making, goal setting, and life skills.

Brooke Nelson:
I hold a doctorate in Religion from Claremont Graduate University and a Master of Arts in History from the University of California, Irvine. I taught for over 12 years at the university level, predominantly at large research focused institutions. In addition to serving as a lead author on OpenStax’s most recent World History to 1500 textbook, I published award winning peer-reviewed publications on gender in the Roman world. I enjoy working with students who have an interest in the humanities who are looking for a “guide on the side” to help them find new ways to explore educational questions.

Kristi Myers:
Above all, I am a mom. I absolutely love my daughter, who is a musician, writer and artist. It has been my greatest joy to raise her and educate her. I have always loved working with kids, and I am the "cool aunt" in my family. I have tutored college students for 12 years across many subjects, and I am used to learning new material quickly and finding creative ways to teach it to students of all ages. Kids bring me immense joy, and watching them learn and have fun is the greatest feeling. I teach intuitively and meet students where they are. I am guided by the training I received in graduate school. I have a Master of Arts in Education with an additional 15 graduate credits in child and adolescent development. In my free time, I am a musician and artist and aspiring writer. I love to spend hours online learning random things, just for fun. I also love my cats.

Elizabeth Sanchez: 
I like to go by Liz or Miss Liz. I'm a teacher, an actress, and an entrepreneur. I love history and the crazier the story the better I like it. I love to tell a good story and to really bring history to life through interaction. Hello, young historians! I'm Ms. Liz, a mystery lover and sleuth enthusiast! I’m so excited to share my fascination with history and the darker side of storytelling. Drawing from my studies in sociology and film, I aim to delve into the depths of the past, unraveling the mysteries of the human mind and exploring its impact on society. Merging my passion for people and up beat personality, my teaching style is approachable, interactive, and fun! Join me as we journey through the shadows of history and uncover its hidden truths together!