Heidi Ochoa

Heidi Marie Ochoa, work experience, education, service, and accomplishments

My life’s labors have and will continue to be in support of the mental and physical health of my students, my colleagues, my friends, and my family—my community!!! My promise to myself is to continue to better myself to be and become the support my community needs!!

 

WORK EXPERIENCE:

2006-Present, Communication Studies Professor, Saddleback College (full-time track as of 2009)

2016-Present, Author and Creator of theautismcollection.com (formerly allthingslightinautism.info); a blog that stories the evolution of self and family after an autism diagnosis

2016-Present, Coach for Saddleback College’s Speech and Debate Team

2009-2016, Co-director of Saddleback College’s Speech and Debate Team

2006-2009, Assistant Director of Saddleback College’s Speech and Debate Team

2008, Communication Studies Professor, Pierce College (full-time track)

2006-2009, Adjunct Communication Studies Professor, Orange Coast College, Santiago College, and Saddleback College

2004-2006, Graduate Teaching Associate, California State University, Los Angeles

EDUCATION:

Yoga Certification 

     White Lotus, Santa Barbara, August 2016

Master of Arts, Theatre Arts

     California State University of Los Angeles, January 2014

Master of Arts, Communication Studies

     (emphasis in Rhetoric, Interpersonal, & Performance)

     California State University of Los Angeles, June 2006

Bachelor of Arts, Speech Communication

     California State University of Long Beach, June 2004

Associates of Arts Degree, General Transfer

     Orange Coast College, June 2002

 

SERVICE:

2019, Co-director of Saddleback College’s Honors Board

2018, Curriculum Team Lead of Saddleback College’s Curriculum Executive Committee

2018-1019, President of California Community College Forensics Association        

2017-2018, Vice President of California Community College Forensics Association

2014-2016, Program Review Coordinator for Saddleback College’s Educational, Planning and Assessment Executive Committee

2015-2016, Executive Secretary of Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association

2012-2013, President of Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association

2011-2012, Vice President of Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association

 

PERFORMANCE MATERIALS: SCRIPTS, DIRECTING, AND ACTING

2015-2019, Saddleback College’s Student Commencement Speeches: edited, coordinated, and facilitated rehearsal for solo and ensemble performances for Saddleback College Commencement Ceremonies.

2015-2017, Unhappening/Happening Multidisciplinary Performance Events: produced and performed in interdisciplinary theatres with students and faculty from the Art, Dance, and Music Department

2018, “Blood:” wrote and directed an interpreter’s theatre about the mistreatment of homeless persons in America. This production was awarded a bronze medal at the 2018 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament held in Washington D.C. Blood was also nominated for Best Script, Best Costume, Best Blocking, and Best Set awards and won the Best Music Award at the 2018 American Readers Theatre Competition held at Mt. San Antonio College. Student Daniel Bondi, a performer in Blood, was also nominated for Outstanding Male Performer.

2016, “Signs:” wrote and directed an interpreter’s theatre about the significance of Deaf Theatre in theatre studies and deaf communities.

2015, “Infected Memory:” wrote and directed an interpreter’s theatre about the Holocaust’s impact on family, community and media memory. This production was awarded a gold medal at the California Community College Forensics Association State Championship Tournament held in Concord, CA. Infected Memory was also nominated for Best Costume, Best Acting, and Best Blocking at the 2015 American Readers Theatre held at Mt. San Antonio College.

2012, “Silence:” wrote and directed an interpreter’s theatre covering ways students’ voices are silenced in education.

2011, “Sleighted:” wrote and directed an interpreter’s theatre about educational opportunities for disabled persons using magic as a learning modality.

2010, “A Bitter End:” wrote and directed an interpreter’s theatre about the negative and positive impacts of the coffee industry on developed and underdeveloped countries. This production was awarded a silver medal at the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament held in New Orleans, MI.

2008, “Tamed:” wrote and directed an interpreter’s theatre about various ways professional’s voices are silenced when preparing for the professional sector.

2007, “Passing:” wrote and directed an interpreter’s theatre that explored intersections between death, memory, and parenthood. This production was awarded a bronze medal at the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament, Chicago, IL.

ADDITIONAL AWARDS:

2019, Recipient of Saddleback College’s Vets Program Faculty Member of the Year Award

2019, Recipient of Pacific Southwest Collegiate Association’s Wyman-Howe Award awarded to Speech and Debate Coaches for significant contributions to the California Speech and Debate Community

2018 & 2019, Recipient of Saddleback College’s Alpha Gamma Sigma Teaching Award

2006, Recipient of Top Four Papers in Performance Studies Award for “Moms Mabley: Making History Through Comedic Oral Storytelling” presented at the Western Communication Association’s Annual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA

2006, Recipient of Top Four Papers Award in Rhetoric and Public Address for “Negotiations of Past and Present: Ted Danson’s Blackface Performance” presented at the Western Communication Association’s Annual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA

2006, Recipient of the Top Student Researcher Award selected by California State University, Los Angeles’s Department of Communication Studies

2004, Recipient of a Quarterfinalist Award in Speaking to Entertain at the American Forensics Association National Tournament held in Long Beach, CA

2004, Recipient of the Pacific Southwest Forensics Association Bovero Award for demonstrating excellence in team leadership

2003, Recipient of Quarterfinalists Awards in Prose Interpretation and Speaking to Entertain at the American Forensics Association National Tournament held in Oxford, Mississippi 

2002, Recipient of a gold medal in Interpreters Theatre, a gold medal in Poetry Interpretation, a silver medal in Persuasive Speaking, and a bronze medal in Programmed Oral Interpretation at the 2002 Phi Rho Pi National Speech Tournament held in Fort Worth, Texas

2002, Recipient of a gold medal in Interpreters Theatre, a gold medal in Programmed Oral Interpretation, and a bronze medalin Poetry Interpretation at the California Community College Forensics Association held in Concord, CA

2001, Recipient of a silver medal in Interpreters Theatre, gold medal in Poetry Interpretation, and bronze medal in Programmed Oral Interpretation at the 2001 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament held in Jacksonville, Florida

2001, Recipient of a gold medal in Interpreters Theatre, a gold medal in Programmed Oral Interpretation, and a bronze medalin Poetry Interpretation at the California Community College Forensics Association held in Woodland Hills, CA