Faculty and Staff

Department Chair
Richard Bains, M.A.

As a founding faculty member and Chair of the MPA Department he is responsible for coordination and development of all music and performing arts learning experiences at CSUMB. Professor Bains is the former Director of Education Programs for the San Francisco Symphony. His responsibilities included producing and presenting Educational programs to communities and schools as well as directing the operation of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. See Richard's U-Story

Full-Time Faculty: Vocal Studies
Paulette Gissendanner, M.A.

Paulette Gissendanner is a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo, completing her baccalaureate studies in Applied Music (Vocal) and Elementary Education with NewYork certification. She completed her graduatestudies at Indiana University School of Music inVocal Performance and Pedagogy. Her teaching experience includes work with IndianaUniversity's Afro-American Choral Ensembleand, most recently, serving as an AssistantProfessor of Music (Vocal/Choral) at the University of the Virgin Islands-St. Thomas. See Paulette's U-Story
 

Full-Time Faculty: Recording Technology
Drew Waters, Ph.D

Dr. Drew Waters received his Masters of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music and his Ph.D. in Performance and Composition from New York University. With his extensive experience as a bassist, performer, composer, recording engineer and educator, Drew is excited to be a part of a school with such a bright future.

Full-Time Faculty: Theatre
Will Shephard, Ph.D

Will is a professional actor, director, playwright, and performance artist with a broad range of professional experience from New York's Off-Off Broadway theatre to regional theatre and films. He was a founding member of New York's Performance Group, directed by Richard Schechner, and he was awarded a Student Fulbright to study in Poland with Jerzy Grotowski in 1970. Will Shephard has over thirty years' experience teaching acting, directing and playwriting in both the U.S. and abroad. He has taught acting workshops in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Belarus, Turkey, and Israel. In 1998-99 he received a Senior Lecturer Fulbright grant to teach and direct in India. He received his Ph.D. in Theatre from Florida State University's School of Theatre.

Staff
Nicole Mendoza, M.A.

Nicole joined the Music and Performing Arts staff in December 2006. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Teledramtaic Arts & Technology as well as Telecommunications, Multimedia and Applied Computing from CSUMB in 2000. She completed her Masters of Arts in Education- Higher Education Administration at San Jose State in 2010. Nicole brings her various talents to MPA to help students and faculty succeed in the program.