Dr. Anthony Carreras, Dean

Dr. Anthony Carreras, Dean of Division 4: Math, Engineering, Education, Physical Sciences, and Student Success, joined LSC-Kingwood in 2012 as an assistant professor of philosophy. He has served as faculty senate president, department chair of Philosophy, History, and Humanities, and interim dean of Instructional Support during the first year of the pandemic. Dr. Carreras earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drew University, a Master of Arts degree from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Rice University. He has published papers in such journals as History of Philosophy Quarterly and Philosophical Papers, has presented papers at the Eastern and Pacific Division Meetings of the American Philosophical Association, and is a two-time recipient of the Lone Star College Writing Award (2016 and 2018).

Dr. Carreras is passionate about teaching and learning, loves working with faculty and serving students, and is grateful that he gets to do it at LSC-Kingwood every day. When he is not working, he enjoys music, cooking, and spending time with his two amazing daughters.

Recent publications:

2016. "Amicably Deceived." Philosophical Papers 45.1-2: 133-158.
2012. "Aristotle on Other-Selfhood and Reciprocal Shaping." History of Philosophy Quarterly 29.4: 319-336.
2011.  "Like Father Like Son? Challenges in the Father-Son Relationship. "In Fatherhood and Philosophy, eds. L. Nease and M. Austin, Wiley-Blackwell, 171-180.

Phone: 281.312.1763
Email: Dr. Anthony Carreras
Office: APA 109C

Dr. Katherine Keilty, Department Chair

Phone: 281.312.1714
Email: Katherine.Keilty@lonestar.edu
Office: SIB 202Q
Website: Website

Dr. Cherith Letargo, Lead Faculty

Professor, Geology

Dr. Cherith Letargo is the lead geology instructor at Lone Star College-Kingwood. She has taught full time since 1999 and under her leadership, she developed the first international Lone Star College Study Abroad program in which students proposed and modeled environmental and sustainable solutions for a Gawad Kalinga village in the Philippines. Project results were presented at the 2009 EPA National Sustainable Design Expo in Washington D.C.

"I am teaching not just because I want to pass on knowledge but also to motivate students to be excited about learning new things! With the Earth as my 'laboratory', I have been given the perfect opportunity to make my geology classes fun, exciting, applicable, and therefore, memorable to students," she said. "The beauty of science is in discovering things. When students are given opportunities to explore and they get excited with discovering new knowledge, new doors open for them, and it is truly gratifying to be a part of that experience."

Letargo's teaching and research interests include environmental and sustainability studies. She has more than 22 years of higher education teaching experience and industry experience as a geologist for the Philippines Bureau of Mines and Geosciences. Letargo earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of the Philippines, a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Cincinnati, and a Ph.D in Geology from Texas A&M University.

"My teaching position at LSC-Kingwood allows me to share my knowledge, my passion for the Earth, open a student's mind, contribute to a person's academic development, and give back to the community. More importantly, it allows me to grow as a person as well," she said.

• Papers Presented, Publications, Professional Awards

Phone: 281.312.1405
Email: Maria.R.Letargo@lonestar.edu
Office: SIB 202F
Website: Website

Dr. Alexander Smirnov, Faculty

Alexander Smirnov, associate professor of geology, joined LSC-Kingwood in 2016. He earned a Geology diploma from Comenius University in Slovakia, with his thesis focusing on mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits. Dr. Smirnov earned a Ph.D. in Geosciences from Stony Brook University in New York, where his research focused on astrobiology and planetary science, specifically using experimental geochemistry approaches to gain insight into abiotic nitrogen cycling on early Earth.  Before joining LSC-Kingwood, he completed two postdoctoral fellowships and was a geology faculty at Dowling College in New York.  Dr. Smirnov is the author or co-author of ~25 papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

After discovering his passion for teaching, Dr. Smirnov chose to focus on the educational aspects of geology and guide his students to appreciate and understand the non-living environment. His teaching philosophy is focused on student engagement and active learning. Dr. Smirnov’s classes are typically taught in the “flipped” format, with class time spent mostly on hands-on learning activities and labs, mixed with mini lectures on key concepts. He encourages his students to attend field trips to add context and depth to classroom-acquired knowledge.

Phone: 281.318.4340
Email: Alexander.Smirnov@lonestar.edu
Office: SIB 202N

Adjunct Faculty

Staff