Heidi Ochoa
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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!!
INSTRUCTOR BIO
Professor Heidi Ochoa is an educator in the Communication Studies Department at Saddleback College. She received both of her Master of Arts Degrees in Communication Studies and Theatre and Dance Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. In Communication Studies her areas of expertise include: comedy, interpersonal, rhetoric, pedagogy, persuasion and performance studies. In Theatre and Dance Studies her areas of expertise include: critical studies, scriptwriting, and performance studies for social change. Since she was hired at Saddleback College in 2009, she has served various leadership positions, including Saddleback College’s Nationally Ranked Speech & Debate Team Director, Vice President of Academic Senate, President and Vice President of the California Community College Forensics Association, and President, Vice President and Secretary of the Pacific Southwest Forensics Association. She has also coordinated, directed, written and/performed in several performances and/presentations, some of which were awarded at regional and national tournaments. She currently teaches Oral Communications, Oral Communications Honors, Interpersonal Communication and Persuasion.
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
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
SERVICE:
2021-Faculty Advisory Board Member, Saddleback College’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) grant
2020-present, Vice President of Saddleback College's Academic Senate
2020, Facilitator President Stern’s Book Club
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
COMMITTEE WORK:
Currently Attending (2020-2021, Academic Year)
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Academic Senate, Vice President
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Equity & Diversity Council
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Hiring Committee (FAMT Administrative Assistant and CTVR Faculty)
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Institute for Teaching and Learning
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Retire the Gaucho
Past Attendance
Academic Senate, FAMT Representative
Campus Beautification
Curriculum
Education Planning and Assessment
Equity & Diversity Committee
Honors Board
S.A.L.T.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
2020, “Saddleback College’s Virtual Vaudeville:” coordinated, designed, marketed, and organized Saddleback College’s first division-wide student competition for students enrolled in FAMT courses.
2020, “Saddleback Arts : Live at Home Episode 13 Simplifying Performance to Gain Confidence:” coordinated, designed and presented an episode for Saddleback College’s Fine Arts and Media Technology Division.
2020, “Saddleback Arts: Live at Home Episode 8 Spinning Our Wheels: Teaching Ceramics:” supported Professor Laura Haight in the coordination, design and presentation of an episode for Saddleback College’s Fine Arts and Media Technology Division.
2015-2019, Saddleback College’s Student Commencement Speeches: edited, coordinated, and facilitated rehearsal for solo and ensemble performances for Saddleback College Commencement Ceremonies.
2016, Saddleback College’s “Bodies and Ink: Banned Books Project:” performed in an interdisciplinary production with students and faculty from the Art, Dance, and Music Department.
2016, Saddleback College’s “Sequences and Spirals: Fibonacci Project:” performed in an interdisciplinary production 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, “Slighted:” 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.
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:
2020, Nominated for Saddleback College’s Faculty of the Year Award
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 medal in 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 medal in Poetry Interpretation at the California Community College Forensics Association held in Woodland Hills, CA