Natalie Schaal

Dr. Natalie Schaal joined the faculty at CSUN as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering in Fall 2021. After completing her Ph.D. at Caltech, she served as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) before joining the faculty at CSUN. Her multidisciplinary research experience spans a wide range of areas from solid mechanics and earthquake nucleation to educational interventions. In two of her externally funded projects, Dr. N. Schaal is currently investigating (1) dynamic strength characteristics of aluminum and (2) how best to support mentored research for minoritized students supported by NASA and NSF, respectively. She teaches a variety of courses within the fields of solid mechanics, numerical methods, and applied mathematics, and strives to consistently foster an inclusive and active learning environment. In addition, Dr. N. Schaal has served in various leadership roles and has demonstrated her deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout her career. She is heavily involved in the development and implementation of student success activities at the college level, such as town halls, community building events, and research opportunity series. As of Fall 2022, Dr. N. Schaal is one of two Student Equity Faculty Advocates in the Office of Student Success at CSUN. In this role, she supports campus efforts to center equity, inquiry, and student-centered practices in CSUN’s approach to attaining GI 2025 goals.