Highlighting the amazing Administration, Faculty, Classified Professionals, and Students that make up our pirate family.
This month's highlights include: Carmen Ruiz-Cuevas (Administrative Assistant for the English, Mathematics, and Learning Resource Division), Jesus Vega (Assistant Dean, East Campus), Eric Martinsen (English Professor and chair of the Language Arts Department) and Jackie Pinedo (VC Student).
Primary role at the college: Assistant Dean, East Campus
Years of Service: District 4 years, VC 1 year
Family Hobbies: We love to travel and expose our daughters to different cultures and experiences.
Favorite Food: All of it. But if I had to choose one, it would be BBQ. I love to eat it and make it. I have found out that you have your classic BBQ but so many different flavor profiles based on where you are. I am starting to smoke desserts just to see what they taste like compared to the traditional cooking method.
Favorite Movie: The Godfather. What can I say? There are other great movies out there, but this has to be my favorite. So many classic scenes and lines.
Favorite Songs: Great question. Music is a way to get an understanding of who someone really is, so with the being said, there are too many to list. Different genres = different favorite song. But since you asked, let me give you few: Could You Be Loved by Bob Marley, Que Me Entierren Cantando by Ramon Ayala, A Theme to a Summer Place by Percy Faith, Me Vale by Mana, classic hip-hop by Dr. Dre, Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z, Wu Tang Clan and A Tribe Called Quest. To expand a little more, you have Cream with Sunshine of Your Love, Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix, Slow Ride by Foghat. I guess you can say that you can’t peg me into one genre.
Something fun, interesting, and/or unique about you: I like to have fun and I don’t take myself seriously. I always have a smile on my face. I feel that it allows others to ease their worries and have fun as well. I have always been that way.
Hi, my name is Carmen Ruiz-Cuevas and I am the Administrative Assistant for the English, Mathematics, and Learning Resource Division. I have been with the college for 5 months.
I am married to my High School Sweetheart, Diego and we have a dog named “Capitan.” I enjoy Starbucks Coffee runs and neighborhood walks with my husband and dog.
don’t really have a favorite food because I’m a foodie! My favorite movie is The Time Traveler’s Wife. One of my favorite things to do is gather with family and friends for good food and laughter. Something interesting about me? I have a bit of an introverted side. Sometimes a quiet house and a good book is enough 🙂
Hi. My name is Eric Martinsen, and I’m an English professor and chair of the Language Arts department. I’ll never forget my first day at Ventura College because it was also the day that my oldest daughter Evelina was born. She was born just past midnight, and I was at the new faculty orientation at 8 am that same day, still wearing the hospital band. She’ll be 11 this coming August, and I will have completed 11 years of service at the college. When my wife Marit and I got the news that would be adopting our younger daughter Lulu, the Ventura College community learned at almost the same moment I did. My friend and political science professor Robert Porter and I were presenting at a college-wide forum, and right after I got the call, he shared the news from the podium that I was becoming a father again. Your applause and support meant the world to me. My family and I live in Carpinteria where I enjoy cooking, playing the ukulele, hiking, backyard gardening, and practicing fermentation. I brew my own kombucha, make all sorts of sauerkraut, and bake sourdough bread. When it comes to a favorite food, I have to say I love tacos. I’m pretty sure I could eat tacos three times a day and never get tired of them. But when it comes to favorite movies or songs, I’ve never been good at picking just one because my favorites seem to shift with my mood. Right now I really enjoy listening to Ravi Shankar Radio on Pandora, and I’m a little obsessed with watching alternate history dramas like The Man in the High Tower or The Plot Against America. One unique thing you might not know about me is that I speak Dutch. Marit grew up in the Netherlands, and we do our best to travel there every summer with our girls who have been raised fully bilingual since birth.
My name is Jackie Pinedo. I am in my second year as an Accounting major. I grew up in Ventura, CA with my mom and 2 siblings. I am the middle child between my younger sister and older brother.
I love going to the beach, going camping, going on hikes and pretty much anything that involves spending time in nature. I like to explore new things/ places and hope to travel more in the future.
My favorite food is BBQ chicken, Mac n Cheese & ice cream. My favorite movie is The Pursuit of Happiness, and my favorite song is Love Yourz by J. Cole
Something fun, interesting, or unique about me: I was in boxing throughout high school and competed in 2 competitions.