Director
Tim Caron is a professor of English at CSULB. He has taught a wide range of courses in 19th- and 20th-century American literature, and his dissertation and subsequent book and research projects investigate the intersection of race and religion in writers from the American South. His current research and teaching interests include a project on William Faulkner, along with the intersection of religion and literature, particularly in the works of writers such as Flannery O'Connor, Richard Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, and Cormac McCarthy.
Dr. Caron has been fortunate to interact with students in a number of innovative courses. In addition to teaching in the University Honors Program, he has taken a group of students on a travel-study class to New Orleans; lived and learned with CSULB students in London, England as part of the London Semester Program; team taught an interdisciplinary class on Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath; and swung a hammer in a righteous cause alongside CSULB students on two Alternative Spring Break trips to the great state of Louisiana. Dr. Caron is teaching courses in the honors program this year on the history and evolution of American comics and on contemporary graphic novels.
Assistant Director
Duan Jackson has been an employee on campus for almost 18 years and brings to the program a unique and diverse background ranging from fiscal to computer experience. She completed her bachelor's degree in English in fall 1998 and completed a master's in English in spring 2002. She earned her second master's in public policy and administration in fall 2008.
Duan became increasingly more interested in advising and counseling by working closely with students in the program, and obtained a broad perspective of just how important it is for students to have someone they can go to and get the correct information.
Duan has been an instructor for University 100 (The University and Your Future), which was an introductory course in the university.
Office Coordinator
Nate Trimmer is the office coordinator for the University Honors and Interdisciplinary Studies programs. Graduating among the class of 2008, he received his bachelor of science in computer engineering with a minor in computer science. Nate is an alumnus of the University Honors Program, beginning with his first honors class in the fall 2003 semester. He also played an active role in various student organizations during his five years at The Beach. His involvement with the Rotaract Leadership Club and the Embedded Applications Technology group continues as he transitions from student to staff.
Nate has been fortunate to work with students and faculty during his academic career on the CSULB campus. He filled the role of Associated Engineering Student Body (AESB) President during the 2006-2007 academic year and worked for the Partners for Success Faculty Mentoring Students Program as a student assistant during the 2007-2008 academic year.
