Felipe Galicia, a Moreno Valley College biology instructor, was awarded the rank of Full Professor on April 18. Galicia has been an educator at the District for 22 years, beginning as a part-time instructor. He began his teaching career at Eisenhower High School in the Rialto Unified School District, teaching honors chemistry and advanced placement biology. He also worked as an adjunct professor, teaching biology in the evenings. In 2005, Galicia was hired as a full-time faculty member.

 

During his career at Moreno Valley College, Galicia has been active with the Academic Senate, currently serving as the College’s Faculty Senate president. He has held other positions and been active within his department, serving as department chair. He has also piloted student support initiatives such as supplemental instruction and served as club advisor for several student-led clubs focused on fitness and hiking themes. Three times, he received Instructor of the Year award for the Natural Sciences.

 

But his greatest impact has been on students. During the 2008-09 academic year, he partnered with cell and molecular biologists from California State University, San Bernardino, for a stem cell research grant. The grant was awarded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. California’s Stem Cell Agency was created in 2004 when California approved Proposition 71: the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. That initiative created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to fund stem cell research in the state.

Then during the 2016-18 academic years, he partnered with a colleague at MVC to explore inquiry based teaching, which is ideal for the sciences. In the spring of 2018, Galicia enrolled in a Partners in the Parks training opportunity coordinated by the National Collegiate Honors Council. Partners in the Parks is an outdoor experiential learning program. He said that projects at national parks offer unique opportunities for collegiate honors students and faculty to visit parks of the American landscape noted for their beauty, significance and lasting value. He organized a visit with Joshua Tree National Park rangers to participate and contribute to longitudinal studies of Climate Change Effects on Joshua Trees.

 

Galicia received his Master’s Degree in Biology from California State University, San Bernardino, with a research focus on the cell and molecular mechanisms of Type II diabetes. He also obtained a teaching credential for secondary education from the University.