Dr. David Sumida joins the STEM faculty at Pacifica Christian High School

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacifica Christian High School announced today the hiring of Dr. David Sumida as the chair of the Science and Engineering department. Dr. Sumida brings a wealth of teaching and industry experience to this excellent liberal arts private high school. In addition to leading the vision for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program he will teach Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering.

Dr. Sumida earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics from University of Southern California and a B.S. in Physics from Wheaton College where he was also Student Body President. Most Recently, Dr. Sumida taught physics at Azusa Pacifica University and Vanguard University. Prior to his teaching career, he was a prolific senior researcher and visiting scientist at HRL Laboratories LLC and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, respectively. Dr. Sumida has published over 100 technical papers and conference presentations, been granted over 33 U.S. patents, and received numerous professional awards. He is a senior member of the Optical Society of America (OSA), and is currently Chief Scientist of Innovium Technologies, LLC.

Dr. Sumida not only has excellent Physics background but is also an enthusiastic and dynamic classroom teacher with a passion for young adults. His passionate and energetic high-school science teacher first inspired him to pursue Physics and now this passion and energy has come full circle. Dr. Sumida now enjoys to inspire today's youth to love the sciences.

Pacifica Christian Head of School, Jim Knight, notes that, "Dr. Sumida brings a passion for science, a deep love for God and his students, and a notable background with industry and classroom experience. We are fortunate and excited to have Dr. Sumida join our faculty to lead the charge in STEM. Having Dr. Sumida working with students and families at Pacifica is a homerun."

Dr. Sumida joins an exceptional STEM faculty at Pacifica. Biology teacher Arami Yoon is completing her first year at Pacifica and her ninth year teaching high school Biology. She holds a B.S. in Biology (University of Southern California) and M.S. in Biotechnology (Johns Hopkins). Science and Statistics teacher, Kevin Kirchner, has taught at Pacifica for seven years. He earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering (UCLA). Matthew Benedetto who has taught mathematics at Pacifica for seven years and is the Mathematics Department Chair. He received his B.A. in Mathematics Education from Taylor University. Jennifer Kim, B.S. in Biochemistry (UCLA) and M.A. in Theology (Fuller Theological Seminary), has taught math and chemistry at Pacifica for 4 years.

Pacifica is thrilled to add Dr. Sumida to their faculty, a team that sends students out to elite colleges around the country to study STEM subjects. Currently Pacifica graduates are pursuing degrees at Cal Tech, University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Case Western Reserve, USC, UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount, Scripps, and UCLA.

SOURCE Pacifica Christian High School