Two Alumni Named San Diego County Teachers of the Year

SDSU alumni Hilda Martinez (second from left) and Don Dumas (second from right).

By Michael Klitzing

Two San Diego State University College of Education alumni have been honored as San Diego County Teachers of the Year. Don Dumas ’08, ’10, ’16 and Hilda Martinez ’98, ’01, ’16 were among the five recipients of the award on Sept. 7 at the 29th Salute to Teachers awards ceremony, presented by the San Diego County Office of Education and Cox Communications. The honor means they are now in the running for California Teacher of the Year later this year.

Martinez (Zamorano Fine Arts Academy) earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and Preliminary Administrative Services Credential from SDSU. Dumas (Bonita Vista High) came through COE's credential and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) programs.

Read their stories at SDSU NewsCenter.

Welcome from Dean Chung

It is with a sense of excitement and optimism that I welcome you to the 2019-2020 academic year! With the fall semester set to begin, we’re ready for the return of nearly 2,000 students into our classrooms, training sites, and online spaces as we continue to prepare quality teachers, clinicians, and educational leaders for our region, our state, and beyond. We’re also delighted to welcome four new faculty members into the fold, while celebrating the promotion and reappointment of 15 others. 

COE Abroad: Finding Hope in the Youth of Cambodia

By Grace Megginson 
Child and family development major 

The Mundt Peace Fellowship allowed me and eight other San Diego State University students to spend eight weeks working as interns in various NGOs in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. After traveling and working in Cambodia for two months, I discovered so much about the beauty of Cambodia, the Khmer culture, and its history, riddled with both suffering and resilience.

New MFT Director Hopes Her Students Will Imagine New Possibilities for Themselves

By Michael Klitzing

Over the summer, associate professor Sesen Negash became the first person of color to serve as director of the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at San Diego State University. That would be a significant milestone in any program, but particularly in MFT — not only one of SDSU’s most diverse graduate programs, but one that trains clinicians to work with families in diverse communities.

Sesen, an Eritrean American who joined the SDSU faculty in 2017, has conducted research on the impact of sexual behaviors on monogamous relationships, as well as familial relationships of adult males transitioning out of prison. Here, she discusses the work of MFT, the importance of strong faculty role models for students of color and communities she’d like to better serve.

Ask an Alum: Emelyn dela Peña ’98, ’09

By Michael Klitzing

Emelyn dela Peña ’98, ’09 returned to the Golden State this summer to start her new position as Stanford University’s associate vice provost for inclusion, community and integrative learning. It is the next challenge in an impressive student affairs career that has included stops at Harvard University and Washington University in St. Louis. Emelyn was prepared for this journey at San Diego State University, where she earned a master’s degree in postsecondary educational leadership and instruction and a doctorate through its joint Ed.D. program. Recently, Emelyn chatted with us about her new position in Palo Alto, her passion for diversity and inclusion and her favorite SDSU mentors.

COE Abroad: Soaking up the Language, Culture and Home Cooking of Oaxaca

By Ed'd Bhagwandeen
MA in Critical Literacy and Social Justice Specialization

My name is Ed'd Bhagwandeen and I’m in the Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education’s Critical Literacy and Social Justice master’s program. I went to Oaxaca with credential and MA students this past June. It was my first extended study abroad experience.

VIDEO: Graduate Student Discusses his Passion for Special Education

In our Student Spotlight series, Alex Moreno — a graduate student in special education with an autism emphasis — discusses his classroom motivation and the impact of his program.

Watch the video.

COE Abroad: Creating Unforgettable Connections in Thailand

By Sarah Jones 
Liberal studies major (literacy)

I am a planner. For the months leading up to my international experience, I researched and planned for every possible item I might need and for any issue that might come up. What I didn’t plan for though, was to completely fall in love with Thailand.

While Bangkok was a busy, bustling city, it was Chiang Mai where I found myself feeling the happiest. We stayed on a large property that serves a small province outside of Chiang Mai. The staff there worked closely with the local schools and surrounding mountain villages to collaborate with them and assist with their needs – not what outsiders believed their needs to be.

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Leesa Brockman

You may know Leesa Brockman as the department coordinator in ARPE — and as the 2019 recipient of the Presidential Staff Excellence Award! But did you know she’s a farm-raised, Spock-admiring world traveler? Find out more about Leesa in this edition of 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Faculty and Staff!

New Faculty, Staff and Promotions for Fall 2019

The College of Education is excited to welcome the new faculty and staff members joining us for the fall semester!

Honors and Achievements: August 2019

The College of Education is delighted to congratulate the following members of the COE family for their recent achievements:

COE Abroad: A Mind-Opening Experience in Stunning Andalusia

By Alexandra Bahul 
Liberal studies major (elementary education)

For my study abroad experience I decided to go to Granada, Spain. This quaint town soon turned out to be the adventure of a lifetime. Every corner that I turned was a new and exciting experience.

The city of Granada is filled with an immense amount of history that is just waiting to be discovered. One of the main highlights of this trip for me was being able to relax at the Mirador de San Nicolas. When staring out into the beautiful city all my stress and worries just melted away. I felt truly connected to the people and their culture.

DEBER Initiative Opens Pathway to Diverse Teachers

The Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education and three San Diego County community colleges have forged a federally-funded partnership to help close California’s teacher-student diversity gap and meet growing needs for bilingual educators.

Supported by a $3.7 million Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the five-year initiative will create a pathway for about 100 students per year from Southwestern College, San Diego Mesa College and San Diego City College who will transfer into San Diego State University’s bilingual credential programs.

Read the full story at SDSU NewsCenter.

STE Professor Leads Free Coding Workshop for Local Teachers

Nearly two dozen San Diego-area educators took time out of their summer vacations to attend a free Coding For Teachers workshop led by Dr. Donna Ross, associate professor in the School of Teacher Education (STE). The weeklong professional development opportunity — which was inspired and funded by alumnus Michael Pack '70 — taught teachers the basics of coding so they could pass those skills on to young people in their classrooms.

 Read the full story at SDSU NewsCenter.

Swiss Students Visit SDSU to Explore Dual-Language Education

In July, faculty from SDSU’s Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education (DLE) hosted a group of students on an exchange from Lausanne, Switzerland. The Swiss cohort was here to learn how language education is taught in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Their weeklong experience included seminars and presentations with COE faculty and students, visits to area schools and even an excursion across the border into Tijuana. SDSU students will travel to Switzerland as part of the exchange in early 2020.

Read the full story at SDSU NewsCenter.