Safiya O'Brien

Residential Faculty - English

English

480-461-7693

Office Hours

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
By appointmentBy appointmentBy appointmentBy appointmentBy appointment

  Please don't be shy!  Come in and say hello or receive extra help as you need it.

Profile

As a midwestern born and raised transplant, Safiya shares common appetencies with many who come to the valley seeking warm, halcyon days.  Safiya enjoys creating a student-centered classroom devoted to equity and justice for all.  She hopes her classroom is one that invites creativity, safety, and experimentation as a means to reach deeper self-actualization and stronger critical thinking agency.  She attempts to employ metacognitive strategies in the hopes that students will begin to reflect and become more mindful in not only on how they learn, but also what motives them.  As a self-professed, huge nerd, she is an avid gamer, collector of action figures, and remains picky about her choice of anime.  She always takes recommendations (books, films, comics, video games) and will discuss the MCU with anyone. She wrote her master's thesis on Ghost in the Shell (the manga) and has strong feelings about the Scarlett Johansson abomination that must not be named.

  • Pronouns used: she, her, hers

Classes Taught

Spring 2025

ENG102 First-Year Composition 3 Credits

Emphasis on rhetoric and composition with a focus on persuasive, research-based writing and understanding writing as a process. Developing advanced college-level writing strategies through three or more writing projects comprising at least 4,000 words in total.

Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101.

Course Notes: Due to the possibility of last-minute schedule changes, students are encouraged to attend the first class meeting before purchasing the textbook.

General Education Designations: First-Year Composition [FYC]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
28145
Dobson Campus
In-Person
Lecture
01/13/2025 – 05/09/2025
MoWe
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Class Ended

28855
Dobson Campus
In-Person
Lecture
01/13/2025 – 05/09/2025
MoWe
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Class Ended

27450
Dobson Campus
In-Person
Lecture
01/13/2025 – 05/09/2025
MoWe
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Class Ended

28143
Dobson Campus
In-Person
Lecture
01/14/2025 – 05/09/2025
TuTh
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Class Ended

HUM209 Women and Films 3 Credits

Analysis of images of women in films from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Cultural Diversity in the US [C], Humanities, Fine Arts & Design [HU]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
27354

Online Course

Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
01/13/2025 – 05/09/2025

Class Ended

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified. Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Class 27354 Students may contact instructor at: [email protected]

Fall 2025

ENG101 First-Year Composition 3 Credits

Emphasis on rhetoric and composition with a focus on expository writing and understanding writing as a process. Establishing effective college-level writing strategies through four or more writing projects comprising at least 3,000 words in total.

Prerequisites: Writing placement or (C/ better in ESL097 or WAC101) or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).

Course Notes: Due to the possibility of last-minute schedule changes, students are encouraged to attend the first class meeting before purchasing the textbook.

It is highly encouraged that you attend the FREE MCC Reading/Writing Boot Camps that occurs prior to the beginning of the semester. Participants will review key skills necessary for success; participants will be better prepared for their course. Visit https://www.mesacc.edu/students/foundations-student-success/boot-camps for more information and to register.

General Education Designations: First-Year Composition [FYC]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
23966
Dobson Campus
In-Person
Lecture
08/25/2025 – 12/19/2025
MoWe
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Open

18 of 24
Seats Available

ENG102 First-Year Composition 3 Credits

Emphasis on rhetoric and composition with a focus on persuasive, research-based writing and understanding writing as a process. Developing advanced college-level writing strategies through three or more writing projects comprising at least 4,000 words in total.

Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101.

Course Notes: Due to the possibility of last-minute schedule changes, students are encouraged to attend the first class meeting before purchasing the textbook.

General Education Designations: First-Year Composition [FYC]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
23727
Dobson Campus
In-Person
Lecture
08/25/2025 – 12/19/2025
MoWe
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Open

10 of 24
Seats Available

22279
Dobson Campus
In-Person
Lecture
08/25/2025 – 12/19/2025
MoWe
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM

Open

12 of 24
Seats Available

HUM214 African-Americans in Film 3 Credits

Study of films featuring African-American performers and directors from the Silent Era to the present. Emphasis on the historical and social elements of African Americans in film and basics of film analysis. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Cultural Diversity in the US [C], Humanities, Fine Arts & Design [HU]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
22287

Online Course

Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
08/25/2025 – 12/19/2025

Open

19 of 25
Seats Available

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified. Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Class 22287 Students may contact instructor at: [email protected]

Fall Flex Start 2025

ENG101 First-Year Composition 3 Credits

Emphasis on rhetoric and composition with a focus on expository writing and understanding writing as a process. Establishing effective college-level writing strategies through four or more writing projects comprising at least 3,000 words in total.

Prerequisites: Writing placement or (C/ better in ESL097 or WAC101) or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).

Course Notes: Due to the possibility of last-minute schedule changes, students are encouraged to attend the first class meeting before purchasing the textbook.

It is highly encouraged that you attend the FREE MCC Reading/Writing Boot Camps that occurs prior to the beginning of the semester. Participants will review key skills necessary for success; participants will be better prepared for their course. Visit https://www.mesacc.edu/students/foundations-student-success/boot-camps for more information and to register.

General Education Designations: First-Year Composition [FYC]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
24643

Online Course

Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
09/08/2025 – 12/19/2025

Open

24 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified. Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

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