Faculty and Staff
Department Chair | Dept. Administrative Aides | Full-time Faculty | Part-time Faculty
Department Chair
Department Administrative Aides
Full-time Faculty
Email: brian.baick@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-1761
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 242
Email: michael.gurevitz@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5141
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 250
Biography
Professional Memberships:
Maryland State Bar Association
Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants
Maryland Society of Accountants
Professional Association of Diving Instructors
Association of Diving Contractors International
Email: jeffrey.hillard@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-2362
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 245
Email: kathryn.klose@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5134
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 247
Email: ali.alavi@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-4463
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 256
Biography
Ali Alavi is an Associate Professor of Business Administration in the BEACAPS Department, Takoma Park campus. He teaches Introduction to Business and Statistics for Business and Economics. In addition, he is the advisor of the Business Club and the co-advisor for Enactus on his campus. In 2016, Professor Alavi participated in the MC-Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship program, and in February 2017 he presented his project titled Museum Visits, an Interdisciplinary Approach for Inspiring a Diverse Student Body at the Smithsonian Showcase Event on Rockville campus. He is a Level 4 academic advisor.
Email: angel.salinas@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-3874
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU-253
Biography
With a PhD in Economics from the University of Essex (United Kingdom) and a strong
academic foundation in Mathematical Economics, I have built a career at the intersection
of research, policy, and education.
My professional journey spans diverse roles, including serving as a Research Analyst
at the World Bank, a Professor of Economics at several prestigious universities in
Mexico, and as Director at Mexico's Ministry of Finance, where I contributed to shaping
public policy.
Currently, I am a Full-Time Professor of Business and Statistics at Montgomery College, while also holding a position as a Full Adjunct Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland, Global Campus. My research has been focused on Applied Econometrics and Data Modeling, with a particular emphasis on critical issues such as poverty, income inequality, education, and public finance.
Email: maurice.shihadi@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-1343
Office Location: Rockville Campus, TC 222
Biography
Dr. Maurice Shihadi is a Professor of Business, Marketing, and Statistics at Montgomery College Rockville Campus. He received his doctorate from Pepperdine University in Organizational Leadership, a Master of Science Degree in Occupational Studies (Workforce Development), and a Clear California Vocational Teaching Credential from California State University Long Beach, in addition to a Master of Business Administration and a graduate Marketing Certificate from University of Phoenix. His research interests include the effect of general and superintelligence in context to artificial intelligence in business, Shared Participative Governance and its effectiveness at the community college, and service quality assessment built on an expectancy-disconfirmation paradigm.
Email: margaret.tabiri@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-3995
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 251
Biography
Meet Dr. Margaret Tabiri, a highly skilled professor at Montgomery College and the College-wide Coordinator for Business and Management Courses. She has also served as Chair of the Business, Economics, Accounting, Computer Applications, Hospitality Management & Paralegal Studies (BEACAHMPS) department. Dr. Tabiri initially joined Montgomery College in 2006 as an adjunct professor in Mathematics and Statistics before becoming a full-time professor in Business and Statistics. With over 25 years of experience as a financial analyst, contracts manager, and consultant, she offers valuable perspectives to her students. Dr. Tabiri earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from North Carolina State University, a Master’s in Business with a concentration in Finance, a Master’s in Education with a focus on Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Beyond her teaching responsibilities, she has also taught Mathematics in local schools and is a licensed Insurance and Financial Consultant, demonstrating her active engagement in the community.Educational Background
DBA, UMGCMSB and MSE, Johns Hopkins University
BA, North Carolina State University
Computer Applications
Email: linda.fontaine@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-4005
Office Location: Rockville Campus, TC 221
Biography
I have worked in a variety of computer related/customerservice positions. More than 25 years of my work experience has
been at institutions of higher education to include academic
departments and admissions, internships in the president’s office,
planning and institutional research, and serving on a variety of
committees. My software experience includes Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint) and Google apps.
Educational Background
Bachelor of Science in Business Management, University of the District of ColumbiaMaster of Science in Applied Management, University of Maryland, University College
Email: karen.penndemartinez@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7661
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 236
Biography
Karen Penn de Martinez is a full-time Computer Applicationsnew window professor and Business Advisor at Montgomery College at both the Rockville and Takoma Park/Silver Spring campuses. She teaches the Mi Gente Business/Computer Applications learning communitynew window that helps incoming business majors, including those underrepresented in college, to succeed at MC and transfer to a bachelor’s degree program. She is a member of the MC President’s Advisory Committee on Equity & Inclusion, where she co-chairs the Workforce subcommittee. Prof. Penn de Martinez is a trained Search Advocate, is MOS certified in Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Word, has taught English to Speakers of Other Languages, and is a bilingual Spanish speaker. She has a master’s degree in Social Foundations of Education from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s in Modern Society and Social Thought from the University of California at Santa Cruz.Educational Background
MEd, University of VirginiaBA, University of California, Santa Cruz
Economics
Email: hoa.nguyen@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5148
Office Location: Rockville Campus, On Leave
Professional Highlights
- Trained economist with publications in Journal of Economic Education, International Advances in Economic Research, Pennsylvania Economic Review, Vietnam Financial Times and Council of American Overseas Research Center's blog
- Smithsonian Fellow with the The Paul Peck Humanities Institute
- Participant in the USM First in the World and Civic Education Collaborative Project Grant
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Open Pedagogy Fellow
- Fellow of the Diversity, Religion and Migration in West Africa Faculty Development Seminar, Council of American Overseas Research Center
- Alpha Beta Gamma Business Honor Society advisor (Chapter Eta Rho)
Hospitality Management
Email: Jana.Anderson@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5159
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU-257
Biography
Jana Anderson is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Hotel Management Department
at Montgomery College. She teaches a variety of courses, including Introduction to
Hospitality Management, Food and Beverage Management, Food and Beverage Cost Control,
and Food Production. She joined the full-time faculty at Montgomery College in the
Spring of 2018, after more than seven years of teaching as an adjunct instructor at
Montgomery College and Howard Community College.
Jana earned her Bachelor's Degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management,
Minor in Business Law, and a Master's Degree in Community and Economic Development
from Pennsylvania State University.
Prior to her academic career, Jana worked for Hillstone Restaurant Group in restaurant operations for over ten years. She was the General Manager of Houston's Restaurants in Rockville and Bethesda, MD.
Biography
Jessica Botta, MA, is a professor of hospitality management and chef-instructor in
the Department of Business and Hospitality at Montgomery College. Before coming to
MC, Botta taught in culinary arts programs at the Institute of Culinary Education
and at the International Culinary Center (formerly the French Culinary Institute)
in New York City. At the French Culinary Institute, she served as program coordinator
for the School of Italian Studies and managed editorial production, photography, food
and prop styling for The Fundamental Techniques of Classic Italian Cuisine (by Cesare
Casella and Stephanie Lyness), nominated for a 2013 James Beard Foundation Award.
A passionate educator, Professor Botta is also an adjunct instructor at New York University,
where she has taught undergraduate courses on food history, food and identity, and
essentials of cuisine. Her pedagogical approach combines hands-on practical culinary
skills with cultural, historical, and sociological frameworks.
Professor Botta served as director of training and culinary development for Washington,
D.C.-based Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants for the first decade of its growth, opening
seven restaurants over eight years including locations in D.C., Virginia, Florida,
and Venice, Italy.
Botta is on the board of Culinary Corps, a service organization designed for culinary
professionals, and Les Dames d’Escoffier's Washington D.C. Regional chapter, where
she has chaired the grants committee since 2017.
Professor Botta earned her master’s degree in Food Studies from New York University,
her culinary diploma from L’Academie de Cuisine, and her undergraduate degree from
the University of Virginia, where she studied Italian literature with a focus on Dante
Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. But as one Italian scholar has pointed out, what is the
glory of Dante compared to spaghetti?
Email: verhonda.sercey@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7145
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU-252
Biography
Verhonda Sercey is an Associate Professor in the Hotel Management Department at Montgomery College. She teaches a variety of courses, including Introduction to Hospitality Management, Supervision and Leadership in the Hospitality Industry, Legal Issues in Labor Management, Managing Hospitality Human Resources and Meeting, Conference, and Event Planning.Verhonda has over twenty-four years of hospitality management experience in operations, sales, marketing, food and beverage and revenue management. During her hospitality career, Verhonda has managed over forty hotels throughout the north and southeast. She has served in various Directorial and Regional Management roles with expansive hotel brands such as Hilton Hotels Corporation and iconic independent hotels such as the Watergate Hotel.
Verhonda holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in Global Hospitality Management from Georgia State University.
Email: sara.ducey@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-1709
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 237
Biography
Professor Ducey holds a B.S. in Plant and Soil Science from University of Massachusetts atAmherst, an M.S. in Human Nutrition from Michigan State in East Lansing, and an M.P.H. in Environmental Health Science from the University of Maryland at College Park. She is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (C.N.S.).
Sara has served Montgomery College as Coordinator of Women’s Studies (now Women and Gender Studies), Director of the Paul Peck Humanities Institute where she led the MC-
Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship Program and student internship programs, also previously serving eight years as Collegewide Chair for Integrative Studies.
Email: reshma.phillips@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7146
Office Location: Rockville Campus, TC 224
Part-time Faculty
Biography
Subject: HMGTVira Safai is the CEO of Platinum Hospitality Inc., a hotel management company headquartered in Montgomery County. He is also a managing partner of the Comfort Inn Shady Grove. He has been an adjunct instructor at Montgomery College for the past seven years.
Professor Safai will be teaching the following courses in the Fall 2018 Semester:
HMGT 220- Property Security and Facilities Management
Biography
Subject: HMGTJanet Saros has been a full-time Professor and Coordinator of the Hospitality Management Department at Montgomery College for the past 30+ years. Although she has recently retired from her full-time position, she will continue to teach at Montgomery College on a part-time basis.
Professor Saros will be teaching the following courses in the Fall 2018 Semester:
HMGT 100 - Customer Service
HMGT 105 - Food Service Sanitation