Faculty
Jim Hormel, Theater
Jim Hormel began teaching at Cypress College in the fall of 1998 as an adjunct instructor for the theater department. He was awarded the outstanding adjunct faculty award in the spring of 2001 and was hired as a full-time instructor the following fall.
Prior to Cypress College Jim taught musical theater and served as the musical director for The Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California. He has also taught voice privately for over 20 years. Jim received his bachelor of arts degree in Drama from the University of the Pacific and his master of fine arts degree from University of California, Irvine. Before he began his full time teaching career, Jim worked as a professional performer for over 20 years. He appeared in numerous musical theatre productions ranging from civic light opera companies and regional theaters to the showrooms of Holland America Cruise Ships and Jubilee at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas.
To contact Jim, e-mail: jhormel@cypresscollege.edu
Brandy Young, Psychology
Part of why Brandy is committed to teaching at Cypress College is that her educational career started at a community college. Like many students, she faced the challenge of pursuing her educational goals while concurrently working a full-time job. However, hard work and perseverance did eventually pay off as she transferred to UCLA.
After graduating with a B.A. in psychology from UCLA, Brandy received a M.A. and Ph.D. from UC Irvine. Most of her research has focused on understanding the development of racial identity, attitudes, and relationships. Her areas of specialization are in cross-cultural psychology, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. She has conducted studies on interracial dating and on the perception/ categorization of mixed-race persons. Results of some of her research projects were published in the Journal of Social Psychology and in Advances in Psychology.
Brandy started as a full-time instructor at Cypress College in Fall 2005. At Cypress, she has taught a wide range of psychology classes. Prior to teaching here at Cypress, she taught at UC Irvine and at CSU Los Angeles. Most of her university teaching has focused on four primary areas of psychology: Social Psychology, Cross-Cultural Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Research Methods/Statistics.
When Brandy is not pursuing her passion for teaching, she is at home with her family. Happily married, she isnow the proud mother of two young boys (ages 4 and 2 months). When she manages to find free time, she loves to cook, scrapbook, position eBay, and go camping with her family.
To contact Brandy, e-mail: byoung@cypresscollege.edu
Stacey Howard, counselor and Mary Forman
Mary Forman, English
Mary Forman is a first generation college student who began her own academic career in community college. Graduating from the University of Rhode Island with her BA, she went on to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. A lifelong learner, Mary continues to take classes in everything from foreign languages to web page design.
Mary began teaching full-time at Cypress in 1996 when she was hired to be a Puente English instructor. Through Puente, Mary developed a passion for working with learning communities. She saw the power learning communities had to transform students' lives. When UTAP was brought to campus 4 years ago, Mary signed on as the Freshman Experience English faculty. She has had the privilege to work with this program ever since.
Mary currently teaches composition classes, children's literature, and the short story. Her other interests include mythology, folklore, and storytelling. Mary is committed to helping students develop a passion for their own education.
Study Abroad is Mary's other love. She has taught three Study Abroad Programs, each in an exciting location: Paris, Florence, and Dublin. She has also been a student on Study Abroad, learning Spanish in an immersion program in Guanajuato, Mexico.
When she is not teaching, Mary enjoys writing, reading, hiking, kayaking, camping, and traveling. One of her greatest joys is jumping into her 1985 Volkswagen vanagon and heading out on a road trip.
To contact Mary, e-mail mforman@cypresscollege.edu
