Monterey Peninsula College Board of Trustees Approves New Faculty and Coaching Hires
New tenure-track faculty strengthen STEM, arts, humanities, kinesiology, counseling, and athletics programs across the College.
The Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) Board of Trustees voted on Wednesday, May 27th, to approve the hiring of nine full-time faculty, two of whom will also be coaches, for the 2026–27 academic year. The newly approved hires will expand and strengthen programs across STEM disciplines, the arts and humanities, ethnic studies, counseling, and intercollegiate athletics, while helping meet evolving student and workforce needs throughout the region.
The following candidates will join MPC in full-time, tenure-track roles:
Mr. Dennis Ahearn — Studio Arts Faculty
Ms. Valoree Batista — Ethnic Studies Faculty
Mr. Michael Baum — Psychology Faculty
Mr. Adrian Gallegos — Kinesiology Faculty & Head Football Coach (previously served
as Interim Football Head Coach at MPC)
Dr. Juan Pablo Guzman — Engineering Faculty
Ms. Kathryn Kooistra — Physics/Astronomy Faculty
Ms. Yadira Moreno — General Counselor
Ms. Christine Neuman — English Faculty
Ms. Bianca Noriega — Kinesiology Faculty & Head Softball Coach
“These faculty hires reflect Monterey Peninsula College’s ongoing commitment to excellence, innovation, equity, and student success,” said the MPC Superintendent/President. “All of these positions emerged through vigorous campus discussions, where faculty, staff, and administrators identified opportunities to strengthen current programs with different expertise and perspectives. All students will benefit from these highly qualified individuals for years to come.”
College leaders also expressed appreciation to the faculty, staff, administrators, and community members who participated in and supported the recruitment and selection processes.
“These successful searches are the result of meaningful collaboration across our campus community and the dedicated leadership of our Human Resources team,” the Superintendent/President added. “I am proud of the collective effort that helped recruit such talented educators, counselors, and coaches who will enrich the student experience and help shape the future of MPC.”
MPC’s comprehensive and collaborative recruitment processes included diverse and representative selection committees, extensive screening and interviews, teaching demonstrations and professional presentations where appropriate, and reference checks. The goal was to ensure a thorough evaluation of each candidate's qualifications and ability to support student success and MPC’s mission.
Several of the positions became available after more than 20 MPC employees accepted early retirement incentives during the 2025–26 academic year.
Monterey Peninsula College - Established in 1947
Monterey Peninsula College, part of California’s public community college system, is an open-access institution committed to fostering student learning and success by providing excellence in instructional programs, facilities, and services to support the goals of students pursuing transfer, career, basic skills, and lifelong learning opportunities.
In addition to the scenic Monterey campus located on 90+ acres, MPC’s district includes the Public Safety Training Center in Seaside and the Education Center at Marina. As a comprehensive community college, MPC responds to the educational and cultural needs of its diverse community and is distinguished for its outstanding academic programs and strong commitment to student success. To learn more about Monterey Peninsula College, please visit www.mpc.edu and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.