GENS Faculty
Meet the Faculty
Laura Angel-Zavala
Office: LL 462
Email: [email protected]
My name is Laura Angel-Zavala, and I serve as a Lecturer for Faculty Advancement and Student Success, a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology, and the Director of New Faculty Success – Lecturers. I currently teach General Studies 150: Building Your Future Self for Success in College and Beyond, General Studies 250: Beyond the Bridge, and Psychology 345: Chicana/o Psychology—courses I am deeply passionate about.
As a proud first-generation college student and a double alumna of San Diego State University, where I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees in Psychology, I find great joy in supporting students and helping them thrive academically and personally. My strengths include a high level of empathy, community building, bilingual and bicultural fluency, and skilled group facilitation.
In addition to my academic roles, I am also an entrepreneur participating in SDSU’s ZIP Launchpad business accelerator program, where I continue to grow and innovate. I am committed to empowering students and fostering inclusive, transformative learning environments.
Director, First Year Seminar and Undeclared Success
Office: AD-226
[email protected]
Office: AD-201
Mail Code: 1623
p. 619-594-3581
Email: [email protected]
General Studies 200: Professional Experience & Community Service
General Studies 400: Professional Experience & Community Service
In his twenty-third year at SDSU, Jose serves as director of General Studies. General Studies offers coursework for new and continuing students that supports their success and achievement. General Studies courses serve as pathways for student transitions, academic recovery, and connections to transformational learning experiences such as research, community engagement, study abroad, internships, and shared-intellectual experiences. General Studies courses can also satisfy General Education graduation requirements. Jose teaches General Studies 200/400 Professional Experience and Community Service as part of the Academic Internship Program. Jose also directs the Faculty-Student Mentoring Program.
Jose previously served as director of Academic Engagement Programs providing leadership and administrative direction for the Faculty-Student Mentoring Program, the Service Learning and Civic Engagement Program, the DUS Internship Program, the Undergraduate Research Program and the Common Experience. The Academic Engagement Programs, through course-based and co-curricular efforts, offered transformational learning experiences that increased faculty-to-student interactions, deepened student learning, and led to advanced student achievement.
He also served as director of College Readiness Programs. In that effort, Jose established academic partnerships between SDSU departments, schools, and districts to support student achievement. Jose also established collaborative efforts with the County Office of Education that included supporting the Foster Youth Services college opportunity program, AVID, the English Language Learners Unit and the promotion of Parent Involvement Programs.
Jose has a BA in Latin American Studies and Spanish for the Single Subject Teaching Credential and an MA in Teaching, both from SDSU. Jose is a member of the University Senate and has served on the Committee on Diversity, Equity and Outreach, the Committee on Academic Resources and Planning, the Senate Executive Committee and Campus Fee Advisory Committee. Jose is a steward with the Academic Professionals of California that represents Unit 4 staff employees.
AD-201E
[email protected]
As a Faculty Scholar for the Young Men of Color Alliance, Dr. Pope aims to help students deepen their understanding of the self and others, maximize potential, and increase motivation to persist toward degree completion. His research interests involve critical considerations of racism and equity in education, service delivery to underrepresented populations, and the study of organizational structures and participant outcomes in the justice setting. As a non-traditional student, he transferred from San Diego Mesa College before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Education from SDSU. He then earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University in 2018. He works with the Office of Restorative Practices to build and strengthen relationships across the SDSU community.
Meaningful quote: "All need a sense of somebodiness, a feeling of dignity, purpose, and meaning in this short life."
- Dr. Pope
Office: GMCS 235A
Email: [email protected]
