Faculty

David Andrus
Department Chair
David.Andrus@canyons.edu
Personal website 
(661) 362-3052
Bonelli Hall 329

David Andrus was initially hired at COC in 2002 as an adjunct instructor for the Department of Political Science, and has been a full-time instructor since 2007. Currently, David is the department chair for Political Science. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis in International Affairs from California State University, Los Angeles and a Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law. He has experience as a political organizer and field director for United States congressional campaigns and has worked as an international election observer and poll center manager in Belarus and Kosovo. He led a political/educational delegation to Colombia on behalf of USC and an international NGO, and he has served as President of a public labor association. In addition to his teaching at COC, David has served on many college governance committees, most importantly the Academic Senate and chairing the Senate Policy Review Committee. He enjoys working collaboratively on matters of campus governance, especially as a way to use policy, law, and language to solve problems. David also participated in the Mentor/Mentee program.

David comes from a teaching family. His late father was a Professor of International Relations at USC while his sister teaches for LAUSD. According to David, his father was a brilliant scholar and humanitarian. David found his affinity for intellectual discourse, politics, law, philosophy and especially foreign policy and international relations from conversations with his dad. David is a skilled speaker and writer on these varied topics. David plays tennis and guitar, and loves his wine. He shares his life with his wife, Georgianna. They have been together for well over twenty years. He enjoys the love and support of two step-daughters, two step-granddaughters and many nieces, all of whom are the center of his world.

Dr. Majid Mosleh
Career Advisor
Majid.Mosleh@canyons.edu
(661) 362-5935
Pico Hall 119

Dr. Majid Mosleh joined COC in January 2001 as a Professor of Political Science. Majid earned his Masters degree in Political Science and Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Southern California. Areas of Specialization: International Relations, American Politics, Comparative Politics, Law & Public Policy, International Politics and Diplomacy, Foreign and Defense Policy, and Political Risk.

Before joining COC, he taught for ten years at CSU Los Angeles. He also worked as a consultant for a number of years in the field of national security and foreign policy. He also holds several memberships in American Political Science Association, International Studies Association, Academy of Political Science, and Middle EAst Studies Association.

Phil Gussin
Model U.N. Advisor
Phil.Gussin@canyons.edu
(661) 362-3708
Pico Hall 222

Phil Gussin started teaching at College of the Canyons as an adjunct in fall 2007 the same year he earned his doctorate in Political Science from UCLA. In January 2012, Phil became a full-time faculty member of the Political Science department. In 2012, he was also the recipient of the My Last Lecture award, given to the most inspirational professor at UCLA, as voted on by the students. In November of 2014, as part of College of the Canyons Scholarly Presentation series, Phil examined individual perceptions of bias in the media. In November of 2016, he co-authored an article in the Washington Post with Dr. Matthew Baum (Harvard).

Phil is the Faculty Advisor for the Model United Nations team which, in fall 2016, was ranked among the top 50 Model United Nations programs in the country the only community college to achieve that distinction. After serving as co-chair of the Professional Development committee, Phil became co-chair of COC Global, a Task Force dedicated to helping students become better global citizens. He regularly uses the promise of FREE PIZZA to entice students, faculty and staff to events sponsored by COC Global and ISP. He also participated in the Mentor/Mentee program in 2015 and is a graduate of the Associate Program. Phil is honored to be a faculty member at COC, inspired by his students, and truly appreciates his colleagues.

Away from campus, Phil has been married to Nancy for 28 years. They have four amazing children (Jessie, Katherine, Miles, and Lindsay) and one perfect granddaughter (Charlotte).

Brooke Collins
Part-time Faculty
Brooke.Collins@canyons.edu

Samuel John
Part-time Faculty
Samuel.John@canyons.edu

Steven Reti
Part-time Faculty
Steven.Reti@canyons.edu

James Starkey
Part-time Faculty
James.Starkey@canyons.edu

Richard Dyke
Part-time Faculty
Richard.Dyke@canyons.edu

William Mark
Part-time Faculty
William.Mark@canyons.edu

Gabriela Shapiro
Part-time Faculty
Gabriela.Shapiro@canyons.edu

Lena Smyth 
Part-time Faculty
Lena.Smyth@canyons.edu

Deems Morrione
Part-time Faculty
Deems.Morrione@canyons.edu

Razmig Shirinian
Part-time Faculty
Razmig.Shirinian@canyons.edu