Jessica Newman
Full-Time Faculty, Advisor to the Program
760-744-1150 ext. 2352
jnewman1@palomar.edu
Jessica Newman is an associate professor and the program advisor for the Interior Design department at Palomar College. Jessica is a designer, artist, author, and professor. She has an AA and BFA in Interior Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and an MFA in Painting and an MA in Interior Architecture and Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Jessica has worked for a number of architecture and interior design firms in New York, Atlanta, and San Diego, including the top hospitality design firm in the world, Hirsch Bedner & Associates. Some of the various types of projects she has worked on include; public schools, private colleges, assisted living facilities, office spaces, churches, four and five-star hotels, and private homes. Jessica has been teaching at the college level for 20 years. She is also an internationally published author. Her textbook Perspective and Sketching for Designers has been published in English and Mandarin. She also has a YouTube channel of the same name, with over 50 free instructional videos for students. Jessica is also an oil painter who exhibits regularly in San Diego, and nationally. Her oil paintings focus on cityscapes and the built environment.
Ellie Gaber
Part-Time Faculty
760-744-1150 ext. 5437
egaber@palomar.edu
Ellie Gaber received her B.A. in the field of Interior Design and her M.A. in the field of Computer Graphics from New York Institute of Technology. Her professional experiences include, designing high-end residential/hospitality for complex commercial contract disciplines in corporate interiors, tenant improvements, healthcare, retails and restaurants. She has served as an in-house designer and project manager for companies like Bear Stearns, Citibank, Chase Manhattan and Rady Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Gaber is a licensed realtor and has been remodeling and renovating residential homes in Southern California for the past 12 years.
Gaber currently teaches variety of courses at Palomar College, including ID100 Introduction to Interior Design and ID141 Commercial Design. Gaber’s courses are geared toward advancing students’ knowledge and enhancing their presentational skills to support students with marketing their talents in a competitive world of digital design and technology.
Sherrié Pantalon, CMKBD, CID, CAPS, Allied ASID
Part-Time Faculty, Interior Designer, Kitchen & Bath Designer
760-744-1150 ext. 5424
Spantalon@palomar.edu
Sherrié brings years of experience along with an enduring commitment to provide clients with beautiful, functional designs. Sherrié has been accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) as a Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer (CMKBD) and an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). She is also a Certified Interior Designer (CID) in the State of California and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). As a consummate professional, Sherrié has gained experience in all aspects of interior design, design build remodeling, marketing, sales, and drafting. She is also a highly respected member of the teaching and training community, a former V.P. of Professional Development and in the San Diego Chapter of the NKBA who trained 100+ members to prepare for National Kitchen and Bath exams. Sherrie has served as past President of the San Diego Chapter NKBA and is currently the V.P. of Programs. Sherrie is also serves on the NKBA National Exam Development Sub-Committee which prepares certification exams. In the early days of her career, Sherrie earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Interior Design from San Jose State University and has since received further education in Business Computing Applications, Management and Supervision and Project Management. Sherrié has completed hundreds of design projects and her work has been published both locally and nationally. She is an accomplished communicator, adept at explaining concepts and helping guide clients through the exciting process of transforming their home.
Joanna Conrad
Adjunct Faculty
760-744-1150 ext. 2349
jconrad@palomar.edu
Joanna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design from The Art Institute of San Diego and is the founder and principal designer of a hospitality design firm established in 2013. With extensive experience crafting elegant and functional spaces, Joanna specializes in creating distinctive hotel interiors throughout Southern California. Her approach to design centers on understanding the guest experience, thoughtfully balancing aesthetics with practical needs. Her years of hands-on experience, combined with a keen eye for detail and an instinct for innovation, have earned her firm a reputation for creating spaces that elevate brands and provide a sense of comfort.
Passionate about inspiring future designers, Joanna shares her expertise as an instructor at Palomar College, where she guides students in developing their own design voices and navigating the dynamic world of interior design.
Ginger Rabe
Part-Time Faculty
760-744-1150 ext. 2210
grabe@palomar.edu
Ginger Rabe Designs, LLC is a leading interior design build firm, specializing in the design of residential, retail and luxury projects. The studio draws from the infinitely rich vocabulary of design and material culture. We balance theory and practice, incorporating concepts and technologies that transform that language into new, confident forms of expression relevant to today. Ginger’s projects consistently stimulate both the intellect and the senses. They embody wit, long lasting designs and sophistication while offering a highly crafted sense of place.
Ginger Rabe Designs, LLC was established in 2005 by its founder and principal designer, Ginger Rabe. Ginger Graduated with a Masters Degree in Architecture & the Built Environment for Sustainable Design from Jefferson University, PA. As well as a Bachelors of Science degree in Interior Design from The Art Institute of California – San Diego and has years of quality experience with clientele in all aspects of design from space planning to technical drawings.
Ginger received the 2020 Power Business Women Award; Is a 2021 Kitchen & Bath Design Innovator; Sits on the San Diego Green Building Council Speakers Bureau; Sits on the board as Member Chair for NKBA SoCal Chapter; and is a speaker for TEDx Talks.
Andréa Davis, NCIDQ, C.I.D., Professional ASID, IDEC
Part-Time Faculty
760-744-1150 ext. 5219
adavis2@palomar.edu
Andréa Davis received a B.F.A. in Film & Television Production at New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts where she focused on set design, set dressing, camerawork, and animation. She then worked on commercials and independent films in a variety of roles and then transitioned to the fashion industry as a patternmaker, cutter, seamstress, and artist. She achieved a M.S. in Interior Design from Drexel University in West Philadelphia and has over 23 years of experience working in many facets of design, including historic preservation, big box retail, kitchen and bath design, commercial design, and residential design.
Andréa is the principal designer of a residential practice focused on designing sustainably in San Diego, CA. Her professional membership includes IDEC (Interior Design Educators Council), ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), and the USGBC (United States Green Building Council). She obtained NCIDQ certification in 2006 and became a Certified Interior Designer (CID) in the State of California in 2016.
Andréa is passionate about mentoring the next generation of interior designers and has been teaching face-to-face courses since 2005 for schools such as Woodbury University, Santa Monica College, The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Brooks College – Long Beach, and The Art Institute of CA – San Diego. She has been teaching distance learning courses for Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design since 2013. She is a life-long learner and is always learning something new