News
Alicia Rusoja Presents at International Conference
Listen to a Colombian radio interview with Rusoja about migrant education
Alicia Rusoja was
an invited international speaker in the Expo Educación Medellín
2024, which took place in Medellín, Colombia from August
17-19, 2024. The event was attended by 4,800 people,
including students, teachers, scholars, and other civil
society actors interested in topics on gathering, Im(Possible)
Education, and an equitable and inclusive education system.
Jennifer Higgs Joins Research Team to Examine the Impact of Asian American Studies
Professor Jennifer Higgs is among a
group of researchers recently awarded a prestigious $3.5 million
Transformative Research Grant from the Spencer Foundation. Their
project aims to examine the implementation of Asian American
Studies (AAS) in five states with divergent political contexts.
Together, they hope to uncover that educational reform toward AAS
inclusion can lead to justice, solidarity, and expansion of the
curriculum.
Lauren Lindstrom Speaks at International Symposium on Fatherhood and Neurodiversity
The event aimed to empower fathers in their journey of supporting neurodiverse children
Professor Lauren Lindstrom recently
presented at the international symposium, “Reimagining Support
for Fathers of Children with Neurodiversity,” hosted by the
University of Johannesburg (UJ) Centre for Neurodiversity. Her
presentation addressed career transition pathways for
neurodiverse youth and provided tools that fathers can use to
help their children navigate the shift from education to
employment.
CANDEL Publishes Journal Issue on the Impact and Importance of Ed.D. Programs
The new edition underscores the critical importance of a doctorate in education
Faculty and alumni of the UC Davis
Capitol Area North Doctorate in Educational Leadership (CANDEL)
program have published a themed issue of Impacting Education:
Journal on Transforming Professional Practice.
Kevin Gee Establishes SPARC Center at School of Education
Research will focus on children experiencing adverse life and social circumstances
In May 2024, Dr. Kevin Gee, professor and Chancellor’s Fellow in the School of Education, established the School Policy, Action, and Research Center (SPARC). The School’s newest center, SPARC generates research leading to actionable insights that can support the educational wellbeing of vulnerable youth. The center’s work supports children experiencing adverse life and social circumstances, including Asian American and Pacific Islander youth who have been bullied, children experiencing chronic absenteeism, and youth in the child welfare system.
PhD Student Antoinette Banks Wins $1 Million Black Ambition Prize
Award is for parent-facing app that uses predictive AI to optimize IEP plans
School of Education PhD student
Antoinette Banks, BS ’22, has won the Pharrell Williams Black
Ambition grand prize of $1 million for Expert IEP, her
parent-facing app that uses predictive AI to optimize existing
individualized education plans for children diagnosed with
disabilities. Black Ambition is a nonprofit initiative dedicated
to closing the opportunity and wealth gap by empowering Black and
Hispanic entrepreneurs.
Nancy Tseng appointed Associate Professor of Teaching in Education
Dr. Nancy Tseng, formerly a
Lecturer/Supervisor in the School of Education’s Multiple Subject
Credential Program, has been appointed Associate Professor of
Teaching in Education as of July 2023. She will continue to serve
as the coordinator of the School’s Mandarin Bilingual
Authorization Program. “I’m excited that in this new role, I can
continue to focus centrally on the teaching and mentoring of
teaching credential candidates and MA students,” she said.
Cynthia Carter Ching Appointed Interim Dean
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan has appointed Cynthia Carter Ching to serve as interim dean for the School of Education, effective July 1, 2023. Ching will lead the school until the new dean begins.
“While the search is taking longer than we had hoped, we are steadfast in our commitment to find the right leader for our outstanding School of Education,” Croughan said. “I am very grateful to Cynthia for stepping into this vital leadership position. Her depth of experience and passion for education will keep the school moving in the right direction.”
UC Davis Craft Center and Beta Lab Partner on Maker Space
New collaboration celebrated at open house
The School of Education’s Beta Lab and the UC Davis Craft Center showcased their new collaboration at a February 15, 2023, open house event. Chancellor Gary S. May spoke to visitors and gave a screenprinting demonstration.
Marcela Cuellar Named 2022-23 Chancellor’s Fellow
School of Education Associate Professor Marcela Cuellar has been named a UC Davis 2022-23 Chancellor’s Fellow, an honor given each year to a handful of associate professors or newly promoted full professors to support their groundbreaking scholarly work and service to the university as dedicated teachers and campus citizens. She will retain the title for five years.
Alicia Rusoja Joins School of Education Faculty
Dr. Alicia Rusoja joined the School of Education faculty as an assistant professor in July 2022. She studies the literacy, teaching and learning practices of Latinx immigrants organizing for their own and others’ human rights. Among other research projects, Rusoja is in the second year of a five-year study on the impact of COVID-19 on the educational, literacy and organizing practices of Latinx immigrants in South Philadelphia.
Yianella Blanco Joins School of Education Faculty
Dr. Yianella Blanco joined the faculty of the School of Education as an assistant professor in July 2022 in the language, literacy and culture emphasis area. Blanco earned her bachelor’s degree in History at University of Massachusetts–Amherst and her two master’s degrees at Long Island University–Brooklyn and Teachers College, Columbia University, before returning to Columbia for her PhD in social studies education.
Education Leader and Alumna Launches Teacher Education Fund
The fund will support investments in the School’s K-12 teacher education programing
In her 44-year career in K-12 and university education, Marsha Gurney-Speck, Ed.D. (Cred., ’69) has always believed that education is a key to success and citizenship.
Passionate about learning and quality education, she served as a teacher, assistant principal, and high school principal. As an assistant superintendent of schools and later professor of educational leadership at San Jose State, she valued teacher development, as well as leadership reviewing and assessing programs to ensure they were serving each child.
UC Davis Upward Bound Awarded Five Grants
Program is administered by the School’s REEd Center
The School of Education’s REEd Center has received five federal Upward Bound grants totaling more than $8.7 million to continue serving 348 high school students in Sacramento, Solano, Shasta and Siskiyou counties over the next five years.
“The students in our Upward Bound programs have so much promise and untapped potential, but their opportunities might have been limited by their socioeconomic status,” said Car Mun Kok, PhD, Director of College Opportunity Programs for the UC Davis School of Education.
School of Education Ranks 32nd in Nation
U.S. News & World Report ranks the School in top 12%
The UC Davis School of Education is ranked 32nd in the nation for 2023 out of 274 education schools, according to rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.
This year’s ranking is up five from last year’s placement, and puts the School of Education into the top 12% of all schools and among the top 22 public schools of education in the country.
EDU 100 Students Team with Students in Mexico for Expanded Learning Experience
In one of the most popular classes
on campus, undergraduates spend most of their time learning and
thinking about learning. EDU 100 is the foundational class for
the education minor, the largest minor at UC Davis. In it,
students explore access and the experiences of learners, and many
go on to careers in education and education policy.
Danny C. Martinez Named Chancellor’s Fellow
Associate professor and noted scholar of Black and Latinx language and literacy practices Danny C. Martinez joined a select cohort of faculty as a 2021-22 Chancellor’s Fellow.
The Chancellor’s Fellow program awards $25,000 in funding to outstanding faculty who are helping to solve complex and pressing problems.
Educational Talent Search Receives $4.8 Million in New Grants
The School of Education’s REEd Center has received five federal Educational Talent Search (ETS) grants totaling $4.8 million over the next five years to support the continued and expanded work of ETS programs in Sacramento, Solano, Yolo and Shasta counties. The programs collectively serve 2,700 students in grades 6–12 who have academic potential, want to continue their education beyond high school, and need extra support and information to reach their goals.
Dedication of the PowerSchool and Microsoft Digital Learning Lab
On October 6, 2021, the School of Education hosted Chancellor Gary S. May, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations Shaun Keister, our Board of Advisors and guests from PowerSchool at a reception to dedicate the new PowerSchool and Microsoft Digital Learning Lab.
