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Location: Science Math Bldg.
Second Floor, SM204-242
[campus map]

Dean of MSE Division
Dr. Christopher McDonald
Phone: 949.582.4820

Chair of Chemistry Dept.
Dr. Scott Fier
Phone: 949.582.4687

Chemistry Faculty

Dr. Scott Fier, Department Chair Professor of General Chemistry Office: SM Bldg., room 225 Phone: 949.582.4687 E-mail: sfier@saddleback.edu Web site: www.saddleback.edu/faculty/sfier/chem_1a_web_page_001.htm B.S. Chemistry, UC Irvine, 1978 B.S. Biological Sciences, UC Irvine, 1978 M.S. Chemistry, UC Irvine, 1984 Ed.D. Education, Walden University, 2007 Scott Fier joined the faculty of Saddleback College in 1993. In addition to his scholarly achievements, Dr. Fier has been the Chemistry Department Chair since 2002, and is currently teaching the first semester of General Chemistry. Before working at Saddleback College he taught Chemistry and AP Chemistry at Irvine High School for 13 years, while also coaching cross country, basketball, track and field, science olympiad, and academic decathlon teams. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Patricia, their three boys, and rooting for the Anaheim Angels.
Mr. Karl Abrams Professor of General Chemistry Office: SM Bldg., room 250 Phone: 949.582.4400 E-mail: kabrams@saddleback.edu Professor Abrams earned a Masters of Science in Chemistry from the University of California in Santa Barbara.
Dr. William Alston Professor of Organic Chemistry Office: SM Bldg., room Phone: 949.582.4706 E-mail: walston@saddleback.edu Professor Alston earned a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Arkansas.
Dr. Curt McLendon Professor of General Chemistry Office: SM Bldg., room 251 Phone: 949.582.4809 E-mail: cmclendon@saddleback.edu Professor McLendon is the longest standing faculty member in the Chemistry department, having been with Saddleback College since 1977. He earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, and then worked on obtaining a Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from UC San Diego and San Diego State University. Dr. McLendon is happily married to his beautiful wife Elizabeth with whom he has two grown sons. His passion is to give students a solid grasp of chemistry concepts and expand their understanding using creative demonstrations.
Dr. Jim Zoval Professor of Introduction to General, Organic, & Biochemistry Office: SM Bldg., room 324 Phone: 949.582.4820 E-mail: jzoval@saddleback.edu Web site: www.saddleback.edu/faculty/jzoval Dr. Jim Zoval received his Doctorate in Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine in 1996.  Dr. Zoval came to Saddleback College with both academic and industrial experience.  In addition to teaching, Dr. Zoval has worked in the biotech industry during his entire career.  Dr. Zoval held positions as a Research Scientist at LightSense Inc., Sr. Project Engineer at Nanogen Inc., Research Specialist at University of California, and Sr. Manager of Special Projects Research at Burstein Technologies Inc. Most of his work has been in the chemical and engineering areas of medical and clinical diagnostic platform development.  Dr. Zoval’s professional publications include 3 chapters in text books, 26 journal publications, and 5 patents.

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Mrs. Teresa Bear Professor of General Chemistry E-mail: tbear@saddleback.edu B.S. Chemistry, UC Irvine, 1998 M.S. Organic Chemistry, UC Irvine, 2000 Teresa Bear joined the associate faculty at Saddleback College in 2007. After beginning her academic career at Saddleback College in 1994, she received her B.S. in chemistry at the University of California, Irvine in 1998.  After receiving a research M.S. from UCI in 2000, Teresa spent four years working in the pharmaceutical industry in the medicinal chemistry departments at both Pfizer, Inc. in La Jolla and Bayer Pharmaceuticals in West Haven, CT working on diseases such as Diabetes and AIDS.  With teaching always being a passion, she returned to academics to teach both general and organic chemistry for the University of Connecticut (UCONN).  Her primary passion is being a wife to her husband Brian (also a chemist) of 10 years and a mom to her three young children.
Dr. Jaime DeAnda Professor of Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry E-mail: jdeanda@saddleback.edu Dr.DeAnda was born in California and grew up in Puerto Rico. He majored in Biology and later earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr.DeAnda has been happily married for 30 years, has five children ages 15-28, plus a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter who was born in May 2008. Besides teaching, Dr.DeAnda is a minister, has helped form and directed several non-profit organizations, and is President of the Science Innovation Fund LLC.
Mr. Alan Efron Professor of General Chemistry E-mail: aefron@saddleback.edu Biography coming soon!
Mr. Stuart Kushon Professor of Introductory Chemistry E-mail: skushon@saddleback.edu Biography coming soon!
Mrs. Jennifer McAdam Professor of Introductory Chemistry E-mail: jmcadam@saddleback.edu Jennifer McAdam joined Saddleback College in January 2008. She has taught Chem 3 and Chem 120 at Saddleback and Chem 1A at other community colleges.  Jennifer is involved in many activites including being a professional driver to her 3 children who participate in soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, martial arts, piano, gymnastics and dance. She is also a very active volunteer at church and helps coordinate a local chapter of Mothers of Preschoolers as well as leading her boys' cub scout dens. She earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Environmental Science from Loyola Marymount University and attended graduate school at UCI where she studied the field of Atmospheric and Analytical Chemistry with the Nobel Prize winnig chemist Dr. Rowland.
Dr. Karno Ng Professor of General Chemistry E-mail: wng@saddleback.edu Biography coming soon!
Dr. Sanda Sun Professor of Introductory Chemistry E-mail: ssun@saddleback.edu Dr. Sun completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at Boston University in Massachusetts. Professor Sun joined Saddleback College in January of 2005. Prior to joining Saddleback College, Sanda worked as a research and development chemist at ConAgra Foods for 25 years. Professor Sun is happily married with two sons in college. In her spare time, she is involved with the American Chemical Society as a counselor and a community activities coordinator. Her passion is to generate fun ways to learn Chemistry.
Mrs. Fariba Vatandoust Professor of Introductory Chemistry E-mail: fvatandoust@saddleback.edu Biography coming soon!
Mr. Jeff Wada Professor of Introductory Chemistry E-mail: jwada@saddleback.edu B.S. Chemistry, UC Irvine, 1990 M.S. Chemistry, UC Irvine, 1992 Physical Science Teaching Credential, UC Irvine, 1992 Jeff Wada has taught Chemistry 3 and Chemistry 1B at Saddleback College since 2002.  Currently, he has been teaching Chemistry and AP Chemistry at Irvine High School for the past 15 years. He feels blessed to work with such a talented group of people on both campuses. In his free time Jeff enjoys playing outdoor sports like basketball and softball.  He is a die-hard UCLA, Los Angeles Laker, and Los Angeles Dodger fan.

Technical Support Staff back to top

Mr. Warren Ansaldo Senior Laboratory Technician Office: SM Bldg, room 226 Phone: 949.582.4403 E-mail: wansaldo@saddleback.edu Mr. Ansaldo earned a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Boston University with a minor in Classical Civilization.
Bruce Lee Instructional Programmer/Analyst Office: SM Bldg, room 207 Phone: 949.582.4957 E-mail: mlee@saddleback.edu Bruce earned a Masters of Science in Computer Engineering from Penn State University.
Mrs. Sara Sheybani-Morgan Senior Laboratory Technician Office: SM Bldg, room 226 Phone: 949.582.4812 E-mail: ssheybani@saddleback.edu Mrs. Sheybani-Morgan earned a Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry from the University of California in Los Angeles. As a former Saddleback College student, Sara was highly involved in campus activities and events. She served as Associated Student Vice President and Treasurer, and was a Homecoming Queen Candidate. Sara earned Associate Degrees in Biology and Liberal Arts before transferring to UCLA. She was awarded the prestigious Chemistry Student of the Year Award by the American Chemical Society and was the President of the Beta Gamma Chapter of the Alpha Chi Sigma Professional Chemistry Fraternity.

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