The GLOBAL ACADEMIC

Ilona Yim, Ph.D., received both her undergraduate and doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Trier, Germany. In 2005, following postdoctoral research at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, she became a Professor in UC Irvine’s Department of Psychology, a position she holds until this day. Her research addresses the connection between stress and health – a topic with high relevance for students transitioning to college. She teaches large undergraduate classes on Health Psychology, Human Stress, and Academic Writing, and closely mentors Ph.D. students on their research. She has many years of academic coaching experience, including at the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, where she learned many of the successful strategies she is now teaching to her students. A German native, she currently lives in Southern California.

Lora Mjolsness, Ph.D, is a Senior Lecturer in the European Languages and Studies Department at the University of California, Irvine. She received her doctoral degree in Slavic Languages and Literatures from the University of Southern California in 2001. She has studied and lived abroad in five different countries. She teaches Russian film and animation, Russian literature and language. Her research focuses on Soviet, Russian and Ukrainian animation for both children and adults. Dr. Mjolsness is deeply committed to mentoring students. She trains undergraduate learning assistants to support students in the classroom and to facilitate learning in traditionally challenging courses. She has spent over 30 years mentoring undergraduates both inside and outside the classroom, helping them achieve their academic and career goals. She currently resides in Southern California