PASS Learning Community

Kim Shirley

I am the coordinator of the PASS Learning Community and I'm very excited to begin this new learning community at MPC.  I am actively recruiting students for both the Spring and Fall semesters of PASS and look forward to talking with interested students.  In addition to coordinating, I will also be teaching the PASS Life Management class this Spring.

In addition to coordinating and teaching in the PASS learning community, I also teach Health 4 in the Spring semester.  I also have my multiple-subject teaching credential and for 11 years, have worked at Elkhorn Elementary school, as a coordinator of their academic interventions.  I have two young children who keep me very busy!  I am also a dedicated runner, with half-marathons being my favorite distance.

 Jamie Gerard

As a member of the PASS Learning Community, I will be teaching the English 301 course. I have been teaching here at MPC since the summer of ’08. I have taught every course in the writing sequence and look forward to helping PASS students develop their writing, reading, and critical thinking skills to prepare them for future academic success.

Although I have been teaching at MPC for only a short while, I have been teaching college English for several years now. Prior to MPC, I taught at College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University. I received my B.S. in Biology from U.C. Davis and my B.A. in English from HSU. I also received an M.A. in English with a double emphasis in The Teaching of Writing and Literature from HSU. As an English teacher, it is probably not surprising that I love to read and write in my spare time. I also enjoy sports such as soccer and basketball and love the outdoors.

Marilyn Townsend

I am the Coordinator of the MPC Academic Support Center which provides tutorial support in many different subjects.  I also tutor math through pre-calculus.  My special interest is helping students learn how to learn.  I will provide tutorial support covering both content and learning skills for the math class.

My formal training and now avocation is singing (think classical not rap.)  I usually lead the singing of the national anthem at the MPC graduation and have sung it at San Francisco Giant’s games.  I have one child and am now the proud grandmother of two. 

Alex Lopez

I’ll be the PASS learning community counselor.  As the PASS counselor,  I will provide students academic, career, personal counseling and most importantly be available to answer academic questions from students.  My Goal as the PASS counselor is to assist students into becoming successful students.  I am dedicated to working with Basic Skills Students. I feel that every student should take advantage of all the resources MPC provides for them to help in their academic journey.  As your PASS counselor, I will make every effort to inform and connect every student to MPC’s resources.

In addition to counseling at MPC, I am also a general counselor at Gavilan College where I also teach Self Assessment and Career Development and Life Skills for Higher Education on a rotating basis.  I strongly believe in the California Community College System because I am a product of the California Community College System. I attended and graduated from Modesto Junior College where I obtained my AA. I also obtained my BA in Sociology from CSU Stanislaus, MA in Education with an emphasis in Counseling and Student Personnel from San Jose State University, and my J.D. from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law.
I am looking forward to working with you.