BA in Humanities

Justin Panlasigui

Professor & Chair of Humanities

Justin Panlasigui possesses a Bachelor of Science in Media Art and Animation from the Art Institute of California San Diego, a Master of Arts in Biblical Theology from John Paul the Great Catholic University, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Applied Theology through St. Leo University. He is the marketing director for American Heritage Charter Schools in Escondido, and an OCIA catechist for nearby parishes. Justin has been a professed Brother of Penance for many years, and enjoys expressing his Franciscanism through art, gardening, and living the simple life with his wife and three daughters.

Prior to formally studying theology and his career as a marketer, Justin worked for Legend Films, Inc. in La Jolla. There, he maintained Shirley Temple’s website, produced graphics and extra content for the DVD remasters of many B horror movies, and served as the digital artist for Michael J. Nelson’s RiffTrax (the successor to Mystery Science Theater 3,000). For his doctoral dissertation, Justin plans to research how robust classical studies in the realm of public education is a current necessity for the fulfillment of the New Evangelization.

Megan Jauregui Eccles

Chair of Creative Writing

Megan is an author, poet, and Chair of Creative Writing at John Paul the Great Catholic University. She holds a BA in Music from the University of San Diego and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California Riverside-Palm Desert. Her writing has appeared in Kelp Journal, Coachella Review, Ladies of the Fright, The Lineup, and Dwarf+Giant. She has also worked as editorial assistant and social media manager for Hill Nadell Literary Agency. Her debut fantasy novel, Sing the Night, will be released by Grand Central Publishing in March 2026. She lives in San Diego with her husband and six children.

Christopher Riley

Professor of Screenwriting

Christopher Riley is a screenwriter, director and author with a career stretching from his groundbreaking 1999 film After The Truth, a multiple-award-winning German-language courtroom thriller, through screenwriting assignments for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, Sean Connery’s Fountainbridge Films, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures and the Fox television network, to his directorial debut on the award-winning 2022 short film No Time Off for Good Behavior and his feature directing debut, the 2024 family revenge comedy No Reception. He is the author of the classic screenwriting reference The Hollywood Standard and The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters. He has taught screenwriting at the graduate and undergraduate levels for more than 20 years.

Fr. Andy Younan, PhD

Professor of Philosophy

Fr. Andy is the founding Rector of the Seminary of Mar Abba the Great, the seminary of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle. He is an avid translator of Aramaic, and is the translator/editor of the Emmanuel prayer book, which contains English translations of Chaldean liturgical prayers. He is the co-author of Introductory Chaldean and Chaldean Grammar, and the author of Perpetual Jubilee: Meditations on the Chaldean Liturgical Year, Thoughtful Theism (Emmaus Press, 2017), and Advice from Aristotle: Life Lessons from the Nicomachean Ethics (Cascade/Wipf & Stock, 2022). He has a forthcoming book titled Matter and Mathematics: An Essentialist Account of Laws of Nature (CUA Press).

Father Andy received his BA in Philosophy from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit in 2001, his MA in Philosophy and Theology from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in 2005, and his PhD from the Graduate Theological Union in 2019. In 2023, he received a Doctorate in Canon Law from the School of Canon Law at the Catholic University of America.

Father Andy has received a Mandatum from the Bishop of San Diego as an ecclesial recognition of his posture and commitment to teach Theology always in communion with the Church, and in conformance with the requirements of Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

Shalina Stilley, PhD

Professor of Philosophy & Theology

Shalina has an MA and PhD in Philosophy from Marquette University with a dissertation on natural law theory, a Masters in Theology from University of Dallas, and a BA in Philosophy from Northern Arizona University. In addition, she has over 10 years of international teaching experience, including at Conception Seminary College, Beltei International University, and Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia.

She converted to Catholicism during her first year in college after reading the writings of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila and now lives a form of consecrated life — Consecrated Virginity.

Her academic focuses include: St. Thomas, St. Catherine of Sienna, Jacques Maritain, Aristotle, mystical theology, ethics, Catholic social teachings, the New Evangelization, and fostering dialogue. Her upcoming book Faith, Reason and Perplexity examines aspects of the Catholic faith that seem to contradict reason at first glance.

Dr. Shalina has received a Mandatum from the Bishop of San Diego as an ecclesial recognition of his posture and commitment to teach Theology always in communion with the Church, and in conformance with the requirements of Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

Fr. Simon Esshaki

Adjunct Professor of Communications

Fr. Simon Esshaki is a Chaldean Catholic priest of the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle for the Western United States. He joined the Chaldean Catholic Seminary of Mar Abba the Great in 2009 and completed his studies in 2015 with a Masters degree in Biblical Theology. He was ordained a priest that same year and serves as the administrator of St. Michael’s Chaldean Catholic Church in El Cajon, CA. He is currently in the process of becoming a Canon lawyer as he is in the JCL program at the Catholic University of America.

Julie Anne Stevens, PhD

Adjunct Professor of Humanities

Julie Anne has her PhD from Trinity College Dublin. She publishes and lectures on Irish literature and the visual arts, nineteenth and twentieth century Irish and American women’s writing, illustrated children’s books, and short fiction. She took early retirement in August 2021 from Dublin City University to relocate to the United States, and returned to JPCatholic where she had been a visiting professor from 2017-2019. As a tenured lecturer in the School of English, DCU, she served as a convenor for both Research (2015-17) and Teaching and Learning (2020-21). She also served as the Director for the Centre for Children’s Literature and Culture (2009-17). During this time, she was treasurer of the Irish Society for the Study of Children’s Literature (ISSCL) and in 2013 she accepted an invitation to join a panel of judges for the Children’s Books Ireland Awards. She currently is part of the team for the Irish Women’s Writing (1880-1920) Network and one of the editors for their forthcoming double issue of English Studies (2022-23) She published The Irish Scene in Somerville and Ross in 2007 and co-edited The Ghost Story from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century in 2010. Somerville Press published her latest book, Two Irish Girls in Bohemia: The Drawings and Writings of E. Œ. Somerville and Martin Ross, in 2017.

Robin Murray, PhD

Adjunct Professor of Humanities

Robin is a classicist whose research focusses on Imperial Rome, early Christianity and ancient philosophy. Her dissertation analyzed the theme of death and death preparation in the Satyrica, an ancient novel by Petronius who, although a friend to the Emperor Nero, was forced to commit suicide by him in 66 A.D. More broadly, she studies the Graeco-Roman world and strives to make it relevant to people of today. She received her PhD in Classics from UC Irvine where she taught classes on the history and literature of ancient Greece and Rome and served as the assistant editor to the Classics journal TAPA (Transactions of the American Philological Society). She lives in Northern San Diego with her husband and children.

Liam Cruz Kelly, PhD

Adjunct Professor of Humanities

Liam is a seminarian for the Diocese of San Diego and holds a PhD in English Literature from Boston University, where he specialized in medieval literature. His academic work focuses on the intersection of theology, literature, and labor in the Middle Ages. His dissertation explores William Langland’s 14th-century allegorical dream vision, Piers Plowman and his research interests include medieval vernacular theology, Middle English biblical translation, and the role of Scripture and sacrament in lay religious life. Liam is from southern California and he earned his BA in English and Classical Civilization from UCLA. He has taught courses in Medieval and Renaissance culture, church history, Shakespeare, Chaucer, and medieval drama.

Liam has also directed and acted in numerous medieval and renaissance plays with Willing Suspensions Productions at Boston University. His most recent production was Mankind, a Medieval Play (2022). He is passionate about helping students encounter the richness of Christianity and culture through the literary tradition.

Alex Wirth

Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing

Alex Wirth has a Bachelor's Degree in English from University of California, Santa Cruz, a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside Palm Desert Low Residency Program. He teaches literature and writing at the university level around San Diego and works in an elementary school library. He is currently querying a novel and polishing a poetry collection. He lives in the San Diego neighborhood of Point Loma with his wife, daughter, dog and tortoise.

Fr. Ankido Sipo, PhD

Professor of Theology

Fr. Ankido entered the Seminary of Mar Abba the Great in January of 2010 and began his studies of philosophy and theology at JPCatholic that Fall. He received his BS Degree in Communications Media with an emphasis in New Evangelization in 2013. He received his Master of Arts in Biblical Theology in 2015, and was ordained a priest for the Chaldean rite Catholic Church in El Cajon, CA, on April 10th, 2015. He received his PhD in Theology from Pontifex University. Currently, he is the Superior of the monastic order of the Sons of the Covenant. Fr. Ankido has received a Mandatum from the Bishop of San Diego as an ecclesial recognition of his posture and commitment to teach Theology always in communion with the Church, and in conformance with the requirements of Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

Matthew Gray

Chair of New Evangelization Program; Adjunct Prof. of Evangelization

Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Master of Arts in Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary. He began his career teaching high school theology. After marrying his high school sweetheart, he left teaching and worked for 18 years in an underwriting department of a large insurance company to support his growing family. Throughout his time in the insurance industry, he gained valuable analytical, technical and leadership skills. However, he always longed to return to a Catholic setting where he could share his knowledge, talents, and love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He has been involved in catechesis, evangelization and the pro-life movement for many years and is passionate about sharing the Good News. Matthew enjoys spending time with his wife and 8 children, fly fishing in the Sierras, woodworking, and reading books.