Meet the Faculty

M.A., BS, Interior Design, San Francisco State University
ASID Allied
CGBP (Certified Green Building Professional) 

Elsa came to Cañada College in January of 2011 as a full-time faculty. She teaches various courses and develops the curriculum; she is the Interior Design Program Coordinator. Elsa is a Certified Green Building Professional. She previously taught Interior Design courses at Santa Rosa Junior College as a part-time faculty. As a team member of the professional design group Interior Design Associates (IDA) in Petaluma, Elsa participated in different events and projects. Elsa has designed bathrooms for people with disabilities, small offices in commercial buildings, residential spaces, and has worked as a consultant in kitchens and green design projects. One of her works carried out in partnership with MML studios was featured in Los Altos Town Crier newspaper and Stanford Business magazine. Elsa has been involved with student teams in different community projects including Cañada College.

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M.A., San Jose State University. Certified Interior Designer, California (CID)

Sharon, a graduate of the Cañada Interior Design program, has been teaching in the department since 1991, serving as advisor to the Student ASID chapter for many years. She currently teaches Introduction to Interior Design, Professional Practices, and History of Interiors, which she taught for UCSC Extension and at West Valley College. She speaks widely, both locally and nationally, on business practices as well as Julia Morgan and architecture of the early 20^th Century. She has her own interior design business since 1985.

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M.F.A., Academy of Art College, San Francisco, NCIDQ

Anjana has been teaching at Cañada College since 1998. She has taught several classes, including Advanced Space Planning, and Furniture, Casework, and Detailing. She currently teaches Critical Thinking for Interior Design and Materials and Finishes. Anjana has taught at the Academy of Art University.

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MBA, Golden Gate University; BA, University of Houston

Sarah is a California Licensed Architect who uses 15 years of experience in project management and design to bring projects from the initial conceptual design through the production of final permit documents. She obtains building and planning approvals from city, county, and state departments. Sarah has been with the Cañada College Interior Design program since 2014, teaching classes including Kitchen and Bath Systems, Kitchen & Bath Design, and Lighting Design. She’s a LEED Green Associate and a Project Management Professional (PMP).

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MFA in Interior Design, Academy of Art, San Francisco

Arshia is an Interior Designer and architect, but most importantly art enthusiast, with over 15 years of design experience in this field, especially in commercial design. She received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Academy of Art in San Francisco. She is interested in modern and organic design to achieve a smooth and pleasant experience.

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MA, BS, San Francisco State University, AS Cañada College

Betsy has her own interior design business, which provides design and color services to residential and small commercial clients. She has taught classes at Cañada for the past few years, including Interior Architectural Drafting, Home Staging, and Color & Design. 

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MA, Design, and Industry- Product Design- Emphasis on Architectural and Theatrical lighting Design, San Francisco State University

Sima Tawakoli is an architect, designer, and educator, currently serving as an Adjunct Professor of Lighting Design at Cañada College. She is the former President of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) San Francisco and has been chairing the jury for the SF-LUX Award since 2018.

Her work explores the intersection of urbanization, technology, and aesthetics, with a focus on retrofitting lighting design for historical sites and buildings. She holds a master’s degree in architecture and Urbanism and a second Master’s degree in Design and Industry, with a minor in Product Design.

Sima has taught various design disciplines at multiple universities and institutes. As a consultant, she has contributed to several local and international architectural, architectural lighting, and urban projects. Her research and design work have been published and presented in numerous journals and conferences, including IASTE 2024, LightFair New York 2023, LightShow West 2018, Cultural Influence in Material, Art, and Architecture, Berkeley Public Library, and LD+A 2017.

She is an active member of Organization of Women Architects, Illuminating Engineering Society, International Lighting Design association, American Institute of Architects, and Urban Sketchers. 

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B.F.A., Art Center College of Design, Pasadena

Jo Lau is a graduate of the Cañada College Interior Design program. She began working as a teaching assistant in 2020 and became part-time faculty in 2024. Currently, Jo co-teaches the Portfolio class alongside Elsa Torres, Professor and Program Coordinator, while also helping in rebuilding the Interior Design resource library.

In addition to her academic role, Jo runs her own practice specializing in Kitchen and Bath design projects, with a focus on aging-in-place solutions.

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MA, University of Sevilla. Interior Design Certificate, Cañada College

Adelina holds two Master's degrees in Communication and Business. She has been teaching at Cañada College for several years, focusing on courses such as Professional Practices for Interior Designers and Home Staging.

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MA in Interior Architecture & Design, Academy of Art, San Francisco
BA in Architectural Studies, University of Washington, Seattle 

Yi-Shan is an interior designer specializing in creating spaces that are both appealing and functional. As an assistant teacher at Cañada College, Yi-Shan is committed to guiding students in developing the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career in interior design. 

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Congratulations to our Professors Emeritus!

Nancy Wolford, Ph.D., CID - Retired

Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Faculty, Interior Design

Nancy began teaching at Cañada College in 1999 and served as full time faculty and program coordinator, retiring in 2013. She has more than 45 years of interior design consulting and teaching experience in a variety of interior design classes at community colleges and universities. ASID recognized her twice with national awards, the Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award for her doctoral dissertation on Universal Design, and as Student ASID Faculty Advisor of the Year. Nancy regularly reviews manuscripts for textbook publishers, recently revising NKBA’s Kitchen and Bath Design Principles volume. She currently assists as needed in the department.

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Denny Holland, B.F.A., Art Institute, San Francisco.

Assistant Professor, Retired

Denny joined the Interior Design faculty in 2008, teaching the Presentation Techniques, Color and Design, and Interior Design classes. He received the Student ASID Faculty Advisor of the Year award for 2012. A graduate of the Cañada College Interior Design certificate program, Denny now combines his fine art and painting background as a self-employed artist/designer with Interior Design. Denny’s work includes murals and fine art paintings, which are displayed and exhibited around the country.