September 2022 Newsletter
Welcoming New Faculty
The School of Education is pleased to welcome two new assistant professors to our faculty. Both were hired in partnership with the Department of Chicana/o Studies in the College of Letters and Science as part of a nationwide search for scholars conducting community-engaged research with a Latinx focus.
Dr. Yianella Blanco’s research
interests include the teaching and learning of Latine/x histories
and experiences, particularly those of Central America(ns) and
how those intersect with American empire. She draws from
community-based and participatory action research methods. Prior
to pursuing her doctorate, Prof. Blanco taught special education
and social studies in New York City high schools, with a goal of
introducing more Latinx representation.
Read more about Yianella Blanco.
Dr. Alicia Rusoja studies the
literacy, teaching and learning practices of Latinx immigrants
organizing for their own and others’ human rights. Among other
research projects, she 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.
She has
been named a CAMPSSAH Faculty Scholar.
Read more about Alicia Rusoja.
Marsha Gurney-Speck Makes Gift for Teacher Education
As part of her vision for K-12
teacher education and leadership, Marsha Gurney-Speck has created
the Teacher Education Fund: Fostering Teaching & Learning with
Equity, Inclusion & Justice. This multiyear fund will enable the
School of Education faculty and staff to review our K-12 teacher
education programming to improve modes of curriculum,
instruction, and assessment and development.
“If we help create excellent teachers,” Gurney-Speck said, “they
will expand students’ experiences and successes, which will make
better communities, nations and worlds.”
Read more about Gurney-Speck and her fund, and learn how you can contribute.
FACULTY NEWS
Torry Winn Receives Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chancellor’s Fellowship
The Office of the Chancellor and
the Academic Senate Committee on Affirmative Action & Diversity
have named Prof. Torry
Winn a 2022 Chancellor’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion. This fellowship recognizes exceptional
contributions in supporting, tutoring, mentoring and advising
underrepresented students and/or students from underserved
communities, and comes with $5,000 in one-time academic
enrichment funding.
Heather Rose to Serve on GSM Board of Fellows
Prof. Heather Rose is
one of four UC Davis senate faculty members chosen to serve on
the newly created Graduate School of Management Board of Fellows.
The Board is a boundary-spanning group that promotes
awareness of faculty research in the broader community of
scholars. The fellows will facilitate innovative research
collaborations by connecting senate faculty members whose
research has strong links and complements with management
studies.
Read about the new Board of Fellows.
Nicole Sparapani Study on Social-Sexual Education Program
A pilot study by Prof. Nicole
Sparapani found that a social-sexual education program
called Relationships Decoded can help people with
autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities improve their
knowledge and preparation for healthy romantic
relationships. This information is also key in preventing
sexual abuse.
Prof. Sparapani and her co-author detailed these findings in
an article published in the journal Sexuality and
Disability.
ALUMNI AND STUDENT NEWS
Keith Ellis Named to UC Board of Regents
The UC Board of Regents announced
the appointment of Keith Ellis (EdD ’22) as the first-ever UC
Merced alumni regent. Recognized for his advocacy for LGBTQ+
students and students who are visually impaired, Ellis will serve
in this position for two years as a voting member of the board.
“We are confident that Keith’s extensive experience advocating
for UC Merced students and alumni will guide his decision-making
and help pave the way for different opportunities that exist for
all UC alumni and students,” Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz
said.
Read more about Keith Ellis here.
Raquel Donoso Publishes Children’s Book
Inspired by her own experience
going with her father to the picket line for the first time,
Raquel Donoso (EdD ’19) has published Viva’s Voice, “a
powerful story about standing up for what you believe in,” that
introduces young readers to social justice through the story of
Viva and her Papi. Five-year-old Viva learns there is a need
for girls with powerful voices everywhere when she helps Papi
raise his voice on the picket line.
Learn more about Viva’s Voice and the October 2 book launch.
EVENTS
Dean Lauren Lindstrom Delivers Keynote Address to Johannesburg Audience
Dean Lauren Lindstrom was the
keynote speaker on Sep. 10 at the 2022 Annual Hybrid Colloquium
hosted by the newly established Centre
for Neurodiversity, University of Johannesburg. The theme of
this year’s conference was “The Neurodiversity Hub: A
Multifaceted Community Approach for South Africa,” and Dean
Lindstrom spoke on “Our Collective Journey.” The center launched
the day before, and is a collaboration of the university, the
South African Department of Higher Education and Training, and
the European Union.
Center for Community and Citizen Science Collabinars
The Center for Community and
Citizen Science collabinar series brings speakers from across the
globe to discuss their most exciting opportunities and challenges
in community and citizen science. The next collabinar will be
with fungi expert Christian Schwarz on Tuesday, October 4 from
4-5 pm.
Get details about this and other collabinars.
Supervisors of Teacher Education Annual Conference Recorded Webinar Available
Resources and recordings from the
annual Supervisors of Teacher Education conference are online and
available now. This fully virtual conference focused on “Building
a Community of Supervisors for Equity and Justice,”
and each
of the recorded sessions is available on YouTube. You can
also
download a detailed program with links to audio-only files
and resources.
Teacher Education Kick-Off Event Photos
On August 1, we welcomed a new
cohort of teacher education students to campus. Participants were
oriented to the program, met faculty members and conducted a
scavenger hunt to find campus landmarks.
Show Off with School of Education Gear
Looking for a way to show off your
School of Education pride? You’ll find shirts of all styles, as
well as mugs, hats and more with the School of Education logo
at the online UC Davis Store. Proceeds from all store
sales benefit UC Davis Athletics.
PUBLICATIONS
Prof. Nancy Erbstein co-authored the article, “Assessing a pilot co-operative-based workshop-subsidy model toward improving small-scale chicken production in peri-urban Nepal” in Translational Animal Science.
Prof. Kevin Gee authored the policy brief “Household Food Insecurity Associated with Decline in Attentional Focus of Young Children with Disabilities,” published by the Center for Poverty and Inequality Research.
Dean Lauren Lindstrom co-authored “Paths 2 the Future and the Development of Perceived Peer Support: A Mixed Methods Study,” published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies.
PhD student Ciara Thomas Murphy and Prof. Lee Martin co-authored the conference paper “Tinkering in Parallel: Pathways for Professional Learning in Education,” presented at the International Conference of Learning Sciences.
Sherrie Reed, postdoctoral fellow Elizabeth Friedmann, Prof. Michal Kurlaender and Prof. Paco Martorell co-authored the article “Disparate Impacts of COVID-19 Disruptions for California College Students,” published in the Journal of Student Financial Aid.
