Math, Science, and Engineering

Mr. Bechir Amdouni
ABD Applied Math, MS. Applied Math, MEd
Dr. Bechir Amdouni is a Residential Mathematics Faculty member at South Mountain Community College. He holds a Master’s degree in Education, a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics. Before joining South Mountain, he taught for eight years in Chicago Public Schools and served as an adjunct instructor for four years at Northeastern Illinois University. He has been teaching in Maricopa since 2021. Dr. Amdouni has taught a wide range of courses, including College Algebra Prep, College Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus I, II, and III, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, and Statistics. He is passionate about teaching and enjoys engaging students in meaningful learning experiences, as well as conducting research with them.

Dr. Sudipta Biswas
Dr. Sudipta Biswas is a Residential Biology Faculty at South Mountain Community college. She has a master’s degree in Zoology and Ph.D. in Neuroscience. She previously worked at A.S.U as a post-doctoral researcher and instructor for upper-division neuroscience courses. She has been teaching in Maricopa since 2014 and currently develops and teaches general biology, allied health, anatomy & physiology courses. She coordinates undergraduate research projects and is a mentor for the STEM-PREP Academy.
 

Dr. Paul Bosch
Dr. Paul Bosch has been teaching biology at SMCC since 2005, but began his teaching career in 1985. He teaches primarily Human Anatomy and Physiology (Bio 201 & 202) and Environmental Biology (Bio 105), but also teaches most other biology classes. His goal is to help students master the concepts and major principles of each class, so that they can be informed citizens and successful in future science related careers. 
 
 

Mr. Bradley Bush
Mr. Bradley Bush has been a Math Faculty member at South Mountain Community College since 2014 and loves helping students understand math! He has a bachelors in International Studies and Linguistics from Utah State University, a masters in Industrial Math from Utah State University, a masters in International Relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and is currently finishing his Doctorate in Applied Math at Arizona State University. His research interests are in machine learning and data science.

Dr. Yvette Espinosa
Dr. Yvette Espinosa has been a biology faculty for 20 years, for the last 17 years at SMCC. She is the coordinator for the Biology Majors Program and teaches BIO 181, BIO 182, BIO 105 and BIO 107. Dr. Espinosa has worked as a lab manager coordinating and conducting research at NAU’s Immunology department and the U of A’s Microbiology and Veterinary Science department. She also conducted research at the U of A’s College of Nursing and the Ecology and Evolution department.
 

Ms. Irene S. Gaither
[email protected] | (602)-305-5763
Irene Gaither has been teaching at MCCCD since 1992 as an adjunct. Then, she was hired in 2002 as an OSO, OYO. She became a full-time residential Math faculty member in 2003 and brought the Engineering to SMCC through WISE (Women In Science and Engineering) via Arizona State University. She had over 55+ upper level graduate courses from NAU as a distance learner. She is teaching in-person and online courses. She is certified on Quality Matters (QM) in designing online courses. She taught at the extension campus, Guadalupe Center, from 2003 to 2016. Then, move to the main campus to continue serving the South Phoenix area, which she has a passion for. She is passionate about teaching College Mathematics (MAT145) for the BHS major, nursing, and social work. She engaged students in the use of technology such as Excel, Desmos, and TI-84+ graph calculators. Students mostly commented such a game-changer to have a teacher who listens and cares about her students and uses tools to make students critically think, logic, and proportional reasoning. 

Dr. Jacqueline A. Levy
Dr. Levy has been teaching in the Life Sciences discipline at Maricopa Community Colleges since 2006 and at South Mountain Community College since 2010. The courses she has taught include Microbiology, General Biology, Biotechnology, Anatomy and Physiology, Environmental Biology, and Sustainability. Dr Levy’s main focus and passion is in coordinating the Microbiology courses to ensure that regular updates are implemented to the curriculum to meet the needs of the changes in the Allied Health field.

Dr. Chelsea McIntosh
Dr. Chelsea McIntosh is residential chemistry faculty at South Mountain Community College, where she teaches both general and organic chemistry. Prior to entering the education field, she received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Oklahoma in 2006 and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Arizona State University in 2012. She spent two years as a post-doctoral researcher at Washington University in St. Louis before relocating to Phoenix and beginning her teaching career at ASU Polytechnic in 2014. Since then, she’s taught various courses in both chemistry and biochemistry at ASU and SMCC. Courses Dr. Chelsea McIntosh teaches: CHM151/151LL, CHM152/152LL, CHM235/235LL, CHM236/CHM236LL

Dr. Gita Perkins
Dr. Gita Perkins is Chemistry in the Physical Sciences department. She currently teaches CHM130 - Fundamental Chemistry, CHM130LL - Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory, and CHM151LL - General Chemistry I Laboratory. Dr. Perkins has a PhD in Chemistry Education, Curriculum Instruction, from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, a MS in Bio-Analytical Chemistry from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater and a BSc from Mount Carmel College in Bangalore, India.

Marianne Smith
[email protected]
Marianne Smith has been teaching Mathematics at Maricopa Community Colleges since 2006 and at South Mountain Community College since 2014. The courses she has taught include College Mathematics, Elements of Statistics. Brief Calculus, Analysis for Business and Discrete Mathematics. Ms. Smith is focused on strategies to improve students’ retention and success, as well as helping them appreciate the power and beauty of mathematics.

Dr. Mark Spencer
Before coming to South Mountain Community College in 2013, Dr. Mark Spencer spent many years teaching and doing research, at Stony Brook University, Duke University, the University of Colorado, and Arizona State University. He earned his Ph.D. in 1995 with a research specialty in human evolution, focusing on human functional anatomy, and has published extensively in this area. He has taught a wide range of courses and students, from beginning undergraduate through Ph.D. students. At SMCC he oversees non-major courses in biology and teaches introductory courses in biology and biological anthropology, and courses in human anatomy and physiology.

Dr. Dolores Urbieta
Dr. Urbieta has been teaching mathematics to students from preschool through calculus since 1994. She has taught with Maricopa Community Colleges since 2005 and at South Mountain Community College since 2012. As a college student, Dr. Urbieta worked as an engineering intern four summers in a row for AT&T Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, Hewlett-Packard in Northern California, and Motorola in Tempe, Arizona. She has an interest in cooperative learning strategies and helping students develop as stronger individuals through their college experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Arizona State University, as well as two master’s degrees and a doctorate degree from Northern Arizona University.

Ms. Felice Weiner
Ms. Felice Weiner is a Math Faculty member in the Math, Science, and Engineering Division. She currently teaches MAT151 - College Algebra/Functions and MAT155 - College Algebra/Functions with Review.


 

Dr. Carl Whitesel
Dr. Whitesel has been teaching Engineering since 2006. He has been at South Mountain Community College since 2017, and focuses on Introductory engineering courses, EPICS, and electrical engineering courses. In the past, he has also taught Robotics, Automation, Electronics, and Manufacturing. Dr. Whitesel started his engineering career after earning an Associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, and spent years working in the textile industry, as well as electrical power systems integration, after earning his BSET in Electrical Engineering. He has earned an MS in Engineering Management, as well as an MSE in Industrial Engineering, and his doctorate is in Engineering Education. His passion is guiding his students in learning the hands-on skills they will need to earn real world jobs, supported by understanding the theory so that they can explain their awesomeness to the rest of the world.

Reina Jimeno
Reina Jimeno is an Administrative Specialist Sr. for the Math, Science, and Engineering Division. She has worked for the Maricopa Community Colleges District as administrative support for almost four years. Reina started her career as a college work study at SMCC and graduated from SMCC with her Associates. Reina also worked part time at MCC in Disability Resources and Services, then an OYO position as an HR admin to the ACHRO at District. She now has happily accepted her current role with her home school that is the small but mighty South Mountain Community College.

Samantha Lake
Samantha Lake is the Laboratory Specialist Supervisor for chemistry and physics with the Math, Science, and Engineering Division at SMCC. She has a bachelor’s degree in physics with a minor in chemistry and has been in lab management since 2019. Samantha started her career at EMCC as a laboratory technician for the Physical Sciences Division before accepting a lab manager position with the Biodesign Institute at ASU. After several years with ASU, she decided to return to the Maricopa Community College District, where she is glad to serve SMCC’s students.

Dr. Danny Moustakidis
Dr. Danny Moustakidis is a Residential Engineering Faculty member at SMCC, where he has served since Spring 2026. He holds both a Master and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering) from the University of Iowa. With over eight years of teaching experience in higher education and secondary STEM instruction, Dr. Moustakidis previously served as a Professor of Engineering at Arizona Western College and as a dual-enrollment STEM instructor at Yuma Catholic High School. He has taught a broad range of college-level courses in Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics. His current teaching portfolio includes Statics (ECE211), Dynamics (ECE212), MATLAB Programming (ECE105), Engineering Problem Solving and Design (ECE103), and Engineering Analysis Tools and Techniques (ECE102). Dr. Moustakidis is committed to fostering a student-centered, inclusive learning environment that promotes access, equity, and academic excellence. By integrating collaborative learning, computational tools, and industry-relevant skills, he prepares students for successful transfer pathways and meaningful careers in engineering and STEM fields.

Seung Don Hong
Seung Don Hong has been a Residential Mathematics Faculty member at South Mountain Community College since 2026. He holds a Master’s degree in Mathematics. Before joining South Mountain, he taught for eleven and half years at Chandler High School and Higley High School and served as an adjunct faculty for two and half years at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Mesa Community College. He loves teaching Mathematics. He has patience and passion for helping students realize learning math can be fun and achievable.

Ted Ransome

Michael Martinez