Center for Leadership Staff and Faculty
Cynthia M. Avery, Ed.D.
Director of Student Affairs Graduate and Undergraduate Curriculum and Leadership Programs show bio hide bio
Cynthia came to SDSU in the summer of 2000, and has served in a variety of roles. Currently she oversees graduate and undergraduate curriculum and leadership programs. In addition, she coordinates the internships and assistantships for the Masters of Arts in Education with a Concentration in Educational Leadership and a Specialization in Student Affairs in Postsecondary Education Program, is working on the development of the SDSU Center for Leadership, and is working with Associated Students on the design and development of the renovations for Aztec Center.
Prior to SDSU, Cynthia worked at the University of Georgia and SUNY Albany. A New York native, she received her BS in Management Science from the SUNY College at Geneseo and her MS Ed in College Student Development from Alfred University. She recently received her Ed D in Educational Leadership from UCSD and SDSU. Dr. Avery’s research interests include Equitable Educational Outcomes, Social Capital, and Leadership Development.
Outside of the office and classroom, her passion and time is dedicated to her busy family including her husband and four children.
James Parker
Coordinator, Leadership Programs
James joined the Center in February 2008 and works to develop new programs, as well as manage current programs for the center. Prior to SDSU, James has worked at a variety of institutions including, the University of Maryland-College Park, Michigan State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Southern California, and most recently at the University of California-Irvine. He received his Masters in Higher Education Administration from the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!) and his Bachelors degree in history and political science from Southwest Baptist University.
James is originally from the great show me state, Missouri. When not working in the Center James loves movies, politics, road tripping to places unfamiliar, and of course from time to time, sitting on the dock of the bay wasting time.
Jenny Kressel
Graduate Assistant
As the graduate Assistant at SDSU’s Center for Leadership Jenny assists with the development, implementation and assessment of the Center’s Leadership Programs. Jenny is currently working on her Master’s in Postsecondary Educational Leadership, with an emphasis in Student Affairs from San Diego State University. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon, with a BA in sociology.
When she isn’t studying or working, Jenny enjoys running, salsa dancing, volunteering in the community and hiking.
Kenny Eng
Executive Assistant
Kenneth Eng is the executive assistant to the San Diego State University Center for Leadership. A native of the Oakland Bay Area, Kenneth received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Music: Theory and Composition from the University of California, Davis in 2007. Kenneth is a recent San Diego transplant who is still adjusting to life away from the comfort of school and family, but he is slowly learning how to enjoy himself.
In his spare time, Kenneth likes to perform music around San Diego under the moniker “Kenny Eng” as well as spend time with friends talking about music or playing music.
Marilee J. Bresciani, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Postsecondary Education Leadership
Dr. Bresciani coordinates the masters in Student Affairs/Services in community colleges and higher education, the certificate in institutional research, planning, and assessment, and the masters and doctorate in community college leadership. The curriculum at San Diego State University emphasizes student learning centeredness, integration of the curricular and co-curricular learning paradigms, and analysis, planning, and responsible practice of leaders in a socially just and global environment.
Dr. Bresciani’s research focuses on the evaluation of student learning and development. She uses grounded theory to explore how systems and processes contribute to student learning centeredness, which includes the study of leaders’ roles in these systems and processes.
Dr. Bresciani holds a Ph.D. in Administration, Curriculum, and Instruction from the University of Nebraska and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Hastings College.
Frank Harris III, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, Postsecondary Education Leadership
Dr. Harris is an Assistant Professor of Postsecondary Education and teaches primarily in the Master of Arts with a specialization in Student Affairs program. Previously, he served as Associate Director of the Center for Urban Education at the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education.
Dr. Harris’ research focuses on college men and masculinities, gendered trends in postsecondary learning environments, and equity in outcomes for historically underrepresented and underserved students.
Dr. Harris completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies at Loyola Marymount University and a Master of Arts in Speech Communication at California State University, Northridge. His Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration is from the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education.
Fred McFarlane, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education
Dr. McFarlane is Professor and Chair of the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education and Co-Director of the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University. Dr. McFarlane specializes in the following education content areas: leadership, organizational development, program development, communication skills, ethics, and public policy. He has over 50 publications in referred journals, monographs, and book chapters, with a current focus on public policy, personnel development, and distance education. He is much sought-after as a rehabilitation professional, academic advisor, vocational expert and personal and professional mentor.
Dr. McFarlane is currently focusing efforts on advancing the concepts and principles of "universal design"—a mainstream approach to the process of designing and creating environments, products and services that are usable, to the greatest extent possible, by most people throughout their lifetime, regardless of their age or ability. His vision and imminent goal is to establish community and university partnerships to fund design and construct a building on the SDSU campus that incorporates the principles of universal design.
Dr. McFarlane graduated with his Ph.D. in 1972 from the University of Georgia.
