David Parker, Professor & Department Chair
Professor Parker received his Master of Architecture degree from The Graduate School of Design at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA and his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh PA. He has been a registered architect in the state of California since 1993.
Before joining MiraCosta College’s Design Department, Professor Parker taught and practiced architecture both locally and overseas. He taught architecture, design and drawing courses in the United Arab Emirates at the American University of Sharjah’s College of Architecture and Design as well as the American University of Nigeria. Professor Parker has 15 years of architectural practice in the industry working for firms in Washington D.C., Kuwait, Irvine and San Diego.
Paul Clarke, Professor
Paul Clarke began his tenure at MiraCosta College as lead instructor of the architecture, drafting, and engineering programs. In addition to teaching fulltime, he has served the college on Academic Senate, Faculty Assembly, Budget and Planning, and Strong Workforce. He led the Design, HAAT, and CSIT departments as chair, and the Budget and Planning Committee as co-chair. Collaboration with his colleagues in these roles led to the creation of the Maker Lab, new project management and engineering technology certificates and degrees, and faculty contract enhancements. Prior to MiraCosta, Professor Clarke worked in industry for many years and taught in the Design department at Long Beach State University. He holds bachelors and masters degrees from Cal Poly and Long Beach State, an MBA from USC, and professional certifications and licenses from Autodesk, the US Green Building Council, and the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.
Jon Thompson, Instructional Associate (Interim)
bio coming soon
Thanh Du, Associate Faculty
Associate faculty member Thanh Du grew up in San Diego and attended local community colleges. He holds a BSME from SDSU and an M.Sc.Eng from UCLA. Mr. Du has worked for power supply and technology companies in San Diego and has 10 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, and has been a SolidWorks user since 2004. He enjoys camping, tinkering with electronics, programming, running, and driving his tractor.
Mo Dagher, Associate Faculty
Mo Dagher is a career engineer with over 40 years of experience in engineering, management and scientific research. He covered a variety of engineering fields in the areas of Aerospace, Nuclear power and Solar energy. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the students in practical applications that link academic instruction to real life engineering solutions. His work on the Solar two molten salt power plant earned him a design patent, and has many publications related to his work on nuclear fusion.
He is motivated to share all his experience and knowledge, as well as help guide students to successful careers in engineering. He joined MiraCosta College in Fall 2019 to teach engineering graphics and design. He enjoys being around students, loves the outdoors and reading.
Mercedes Delia Evans, Associate Faculty
Mercedes Evans is an Associate Faculty member with over 25 years of experience teaching
Interior Design, Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, and Manufacturing at colleges
throughout Orange County. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree from the
National University of Engineering in Lima, Peru. Following graduation, she served
as a professor assistant in the Architecture and Engineering departments, teaching
Computer Applications for Architecture and Mechanical Drafting. After four years of
teaching, she was awarded a scholarship to pursue graduate studies in Urban Planning,
earning her Master’s degree from the University of Cantabria in Santander, Spain.
After relocating to California, Mercedes completed advanced AutoCAD training, which
led to professional work on residential, commercial, and institutional projects at
architectural firms across Orange County. Her extensive academic background, combined
with hands-on industry experience, allows her to provide students with practical,
real-world knowledge grounded in design principles and technical excellence.
Jeff Heden, P.E., Associate Faculty
Jeffrey C. (Jeff) Heden, P.E., has over 43 years of public and private engineering experience in the field of civil engineering, specializing in large diameter pressure pipeline design, water supply and hydraulics, water and wastewater pump station design, steady-state pipe network, extended period and transient hydraulics (water hammer) analyses. Mr. Heden has worked for large, international engineering firms, small and regional engineering firms, as well as for a city in Northern Colorado.
He obtained his Professional Engineering and Land Surveyor license (P.E. license) in 1980. He also holds State of California certifications as both a Qualified Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Practitioner (QSP) and a Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD).
Mr. Heden began teaching at MiraCosta in 2019. In 2004, he founded his own water/wastewater firm in San Diego, California, which specialized in water and wastewater infrastructure design and analysis, steady-state and transient flow hydraulics, and expert witness testimony for both public and private clients in Southern California.
As a resident of North San Diego County for over 33 years, Mr. Heden now enjoys trout fishing, golf, gardening, and entertaining friends at his home. He serves on the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board. He has been married to his wife for 24 years and they have one grown son.
Jeannie Reilly, Associate Faculty
Jeannie Reilly has extensive technical experience working with CAD systems in major industrial enterprises, such as; IBM, Hughes Aircraft (Space and Communications Division), Dassault Systems and architect: Frank Gehry and Associates. Among her accomplishments was the implementation of solid modeling CAD systems that enabled the production of the first solid modeled telecommunications satellite. She has been a consultant with the military and various high tech businesses. She has additional experience as a partner in a private research and development company.
Her teaching experience spans many years training within industry, and at the community college and university levels. At MiraCosta College, she has taught Manufacturing Materials and Processes, Basic and Advanced AutoCad, Engineering Design and Drafting, and 3D Modeling and Prototyping.
