LV Life

New professors educate, bring experience

Enjoy what you do," are words to live by, according to Dr. Farah Sogo, assistant professor of biology. Dr. Sogo enjoys working with students, and stresses the importance of student/ teacher communication. In the laboratory, Dr. Sogo is assisted by sophomore Faizul Haque. / photo by Starr Carroll
Enjoy what you do,” are words to live by, according to Dr. Farah Sogo, assistant professor of biology. Dr. Sogo enjoys working with students, and stresses the importance of student/ teacher communication. In the laboratory, Dr. Sogo is assisted by sophomore Faizul Haque. / photo by Starr Carroll

by Jody P. Bethel
Staff Writer
and
Lori Cruz
Features Editor

University of La Verne’s biology and history departments have each acquired a new professor this year.

Drs. Farah Sogo and Pam Edwards, who teach biology and history, respectively, offer an array of experience and diversity to ULV.

Dr. Sogo, assistant professor of biology, is the new addition to the biology department. A native of California, Dr. Sogo received her bachelor’s degree from UC Riverside, and her Ph.D. from UC San Diego.

Dr. Sogo’s career goal was teaching. She taught at the high school level for two years, teaching biology, and then proceeded to higher education.

Before coming to La Verne, she taught at Illinois Wesleyan University. Not liking her surroundings, she and her husband decided to look for jobs again in California. Her husband received a teaching job at Webb Academy in Claremont, and she a job at ULV.

ULV’s diversity makes it a pleasure for her to teach, according to Dr. Sogo.

Dr. Sogo tries to create an interesting environment in her classes, to break away from the negative feelings towards biology, that students carry along from high school.

Dr. Sogo teaches general biology, as well as molecular basis of disease and cell biology in which she specializes.

“We wanted to strengthen our cellular and molecular genetic aspects of our program,” said Dr. Harvey Good, professor of biology.

“We had 160 applicants apply for this position and we interviewed four. Dr. Sogo was our first choice and we were delighted that she accepted,” he said.

“We had approval to expand the department last year. We were overwhelmed because we had a great increase in the number of students, and having an additional person has been a real help,” Dr. Good said.

She is on tenure track at ULV according to Dr. John Gingrich, dean of college of arts and sciences.

“Dr. Sogo brings vitality, excitement and she has a real enthusiasm for her work,” said Dr. Gingrich. “She is the kind of person we are always looking for. She has high expectations and a real caring for her students.”

In her personal life, she spends time with her husband and son. Their family time is spent traveling to national parks in the United States and cave exploring. Dr. Sogo also enjoys working on crafts: T-shirt painting, bead making and knitting.

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching, according to Dr. Sogo, is how the students keep her young.

Students enrolled in 20th Century Europe, Theory of History or World Civilization will meet Dr. Pam Edwards. In her first semester teaching at the University of La Verne, Dr. Edwards earned her Ph.D. from London University in 1995. / photo by Amy M. Boyle
Students enrolled in 20th Century Europe, Theory of History or World Civilization will meet Dr. Pam Edwards. In her first semester teaching at the University of La Verne, Dr. Edwards earned her Ph.D. from London University in 1995. / photo by Amy M. Boyle

Dr. Edwards, assistant professor of history is the new addition to the History/Political Science Department.

She is replacing Katherine Penovich, who is taking a year-long personal leave of absence. Both teach European history.

Dr. Edwards is a native of Canada, where she taught at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, previous to La Verne. She has her bachelor’s of art degree from UBC, and received her doctorate from London University.

In addition to teaching at the University, Dr. Edwards spends time doing research and enjoys visiting the Huntington Library.

“She is very well trained and has experience at varied institutions,” Dr. Gingrich said.

Dr. Edwards likes ULV because it is not too administrative and top heavy, as well as being a ” charming” community, she said.

History is the study of the past, and finding aspects of history that each student can relate to is part of what Dr. Edwards implements into her teaching style.

Dr. Edwards teaches 20th Century Europe, Theory of History and World Civilization.

Dr. Richard Gelm, associate professor of political science, who helped hire Dr. Edwards, said, “She was a very strong candidate and she has teaching experience at a variety of different places.”

Students who did not think they would like the class, then enjoyed it, are the most rewarding aspect of her job, according to Dr. Edwards.

Dr. Gingrich said it is too early too know if Dr. Edwards will stay on after Penovich returns.

“We don’t know exactly what Katherine Penovich will do. If she does not return, there is a possibility that Dr. Edwards would be a candidate, but again, we can’t make that decision now,” he said.

Jody P. Bethel
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Lori Cruz, Editorial Director
Lori Cruz
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Starr Carroll, Photography Editor
Starr Carroll
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Amy M. Boyle
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