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Wednesday, September 9, 2020

COE Announces New Black Advisory Council to the Dean

Black Advisory Council members
Clockwise from top left: Abdi, Butler-Byrd, Chizhik, Harris, Negash, Robinson and Stewart.

Seven members of the San Diego State University College of Education faculty, staff and student communities have been named to the newly-formed Black Advisory Council to the Dean

The council was created by Dean Y. Barry Chung in response to the many instances of systemic racism and violence against the Black community, and in acknowledgment of the longstanding inequities that exist within higher education. Chung will consult members on various initiatives to address racism and anti-Blackness in the college. Advisory Board members will also be empowered to suggest actions to strengthen the cultural climate of the college, as well as teaching and mentoring, to better serve all Black students and community members. 

“I believe the College of Education must be proactive in fighting racism and anti-Blackness within our college — and, by extension, the systems whose policies we inform and workforces we feed,” Chung said. “I am so thankful to new members of the Black Advisory Council for their commitment to this important work.” 

The following members of the COE community will serve a one-year term form 2020-21: 

  • Mohamed Abdi, Student, Joint Ph.D. Program; Research Associate, Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL) 
  • Nola Butler-Byrd, Associate Professor, Counseling and School Psychology; Director, Community Based Block (CBB) 
  • Estella Chizhik, Professor, School of Teacher Education 
  • Frank Harris III, Professor, Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education; Co-Director, CCEAL 
  • Sesen Negash, Associate Professor, Counseling and School Psychology; Director, Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) 
  • Geneva Robinson, Lecturer, Counseling and School Psychology 
  • Rachael Stewart, Department Coordinator, Educational Leadership