Rachel Somerville
Ed.D Student
The word “innovation” is seldom used to describe education. Second year CANDEL student (the School’s EdD program run jointly by Sonoma State) and Power of 10 Scholarship recipient Rachel Somerville is working to change that.
“I chose the CANDEL Program at UC Davis because both these organizations promote the common goal of developing educational leaders and research practitioners who advance issues of equity and innovation in their communities,” says Somerville. “UC Davis is preparing future leaders that will make invaluable contributions to improving our education system in a way that directly affects the well being and success of our youth.”
Somerville’s research bridges this divide between innovation, community, and education. One piece of Somerville’s current research gauges the effectiveness of high school community mentor programs that support first-generation students and promote college preparedness. Another piece of her research pinpoints specific academic conditions, including teaching practices and learning environments, which engender creativity and innovation by high school students. Somerville plans to use her research to help develop school environments and curricula where innovation and community participation become central elements of the educational mission.
As a full-time mother, teacher, and wife, Somerville finds receiving this scholarship humbling and particularly meaningful to be recognized by her fellow educational peers.
“I can envision no greater place to make a contribution and hope one day to be able to give back to students who are dedicated to this field,” says Somerville.
