Mesa Community College recently selected Pamela Lizardi, Minh Nghiem and Jorge Pierce as recipients of its 2023 Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award.

“Meaningful instruction occurs best when students feel connected and included, whether in the classroom or on a virtual platform,” MCC President Tammy Robinson said in a release. “These outstanding educators promote inclusion and diversity, use technology and available resources to enhance student learning and provide students, staff and their teaching peers encouragement, care and respect.”

An awards presentation was held April 14 on the MCC Southern and Dobson Campus and at Maricopa County Community College District offices April 28. The honorees were nominated by their peers at the college.

Lizardi, an adjunct faculty member with MCC in administration of justice studies for more than 20 years, teaches current issues in criminal justice, ethics and victimology and crisis management in public safety. A retired first sergeant having served more than 22 years in the U.S. Army as a military police officer, she became the training and staff development administrator for the trial courts of Maricopa County following military service.

Lizardi has a doctorate in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University, a master’s in education from Ottawa University and a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix.

“I love helping students succeed in their continued education by showing them where to look for information and guide them in their growth of knowledge,” she said in the release.

An MCC adjunct faculty member since 2019, Nghiem teaches upper division applied science courses including Statics, strength of material, construction material and methods, among others. A first-generation immigrant from Vietnam, Nghiem overcame hardship in the pursuit of higher education in the U.S. Like many of the community college students he teaches, Nghiem first obtained his associate degree from Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tennessee.

After receiving a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Lipscomb University and a master’s in construction management from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, he moved to Texas and then Arizona to pursue a career in general contracting and real estate development.

Nghiem noted, “I strive to help students connect theoretical principles with practical and real world applications through a sensible teaching style and relevant contemporary construction practices.”

Pierce, a member of the psychological science department at MCC since 2011, teaches introduction to psychology and psychology and culture and is a dual-enrollment instructor for the college. Since 1996, he has served as full-time instructor at Dobson High School where he teaches introductory, advanced and advanced placement psychology. He is credited with establishing the A.P. psychology program at Dobson in 2004 and wrote the curriculum for the sports psychology program for the Mesa School District in 2013.

Pierce has an education specialist degree in educational leadership with an emphasis in technology from the University of Kentucky, as well as a master’s in education in human relations, and a bachelor’s in social studies education from Northern Arizona University.

Pierce says, “I love teaching psychology and helping students realize how the concepts apply to their everyday lives.”

Adjunct faculty honorable mentions include: Jennifer Jordan and Seth Tyler, administration of justice studies department; Jaime Escobedo, Michael Johnson Sr. and Jennifer Moyer, applied sciences and technology department; Natasha Murdock and Minou Faiz, English department; Adriana Diaz, communication, theatre & film department; Jarod Bodine, computer information systems department; Fred King, health sciences department; Charles Hammarstrom, life sciences department; and John Holaday, social sciences department.

“We are exceptionally proud of our honorees, honorable mentions and each of the 15 faculty members nominated by our college community,” Reyes said in the release. “It is the willingness and dedication of our faculty in sharing their knowledge and professional wisdom that are major factors in our students’ success.”