As the fall semester kicks off, the College of Education is excited to welcome 13 new faces who have recently joined us.
Dr. Maribel Guillermo
Assistant Professor, Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education
Maribel’s career in rehabilitation counseling has revolved around increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of life. Her range of experiences include providing direct services to individuals with disabilities; developing and delivering training to disability support services and other related programs; and providing technical assistance to service providers, educators and advocates. Her research interests include career and work-based learning experiences for transition-age students, multicultural counseling and cultural humility, capacity building, and leadership. She currently serves as a co-principal investigator on federally-funded projects focused on the transition of students with disabilities from high school to college, employment and adult life. She’s currently living in a 100-plus years old craftsman home that needs a lot of TLC.
Dr. Suneal Kolluri
Assistant Professor, School of Teacher Education
Suneal teaches courses on Social Studies Teaching Methods and Multicultural Education. His research focuses on the sociology of education, examining the ways in which pedagogies and school policies can expand postsecondary opportunities and elevate efforts for liberation in marginalized communities. Before becoming a professor, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. Before that, he taught for nine years in Oakland public schools, where he never lost to a student in one-on-one basketball.
Dr. Teresa Lind
Assistant Professor, Department of Child and Family Development
Teresa received her A.B. from Harvard College and her Ph.D. in Clinical Science from the University of Delaware. She completed her predoctoral psychology internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and her postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Diego and the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC) in San Diego. She was a 2018 NIMH Child Intervention, Prevention and Services (CHIPS) fellow. Her research focuses on the effects of early adversity on the development of emotional, physiological and behavioral regulation capabilities in young children. In addition, she is interested in improving mental health services for these at-risk populations through the implementation of evidence-based practices. The native of Cape Cod, Mass. is also an avid piano player.
Dr. Melissa A. Navarro Martell
Assistant Professor, Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education
Melissa (ella/she/ her/hers) earned her Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in K-12 education and equity from SDSU’s Joint Ph.D. Program in Education with Claremont Graduate School in 2018. She went on to serve as an assistant professor in liberal studies at CSU Dominguez Hills. Her research and teaching center the need to prepare critically conscious bilingual educators on the sociopolitical, ideological, cultural and linguistic aspects of teacher preparation in general, and K-8 equitable science and dual-language education specifically, pushing the need to decolonize science education. A former 4th and 8th grade social-justice math and science Spanish/English dual-language teacher, her experiences as an immigrant 6th grade student from Tijuana, México, inspired her path as an educator. (
Read Melissa’s COE alumni profile)
Dr. Vanessa Placeres
Assistant Professor, Counseling and School Psychology
Vanessa received a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Practice from Georgia State University in addition to master's degrees in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, and School Counseling from California State University, Fresno, and Georgia State. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified School Counselor in the state of Georgia in addition to a Registered Play Therapist. She has focused her clinical work on the treatment of children and adolescents and has experience working in community agencies, inpatient rehabilitation centers and — most recently — as a high school counselor. Vanessa’s research interests include cultural humility, multicultural counseling competence and school counselor training. When she is not working she loves running, spending time with her family and all things Disney.
Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Ojeda
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership
Alejandro joins the Department of Educational Leadership with a background in K-12 educational technology, including blended and distance learning in both K-12 and post-secondary. His publications include leadership practices and their impact on teaching and learning. He is also a Jackson Scholar alumni. A lover of music, he is a metalhead at heart, having been active in the San Diego music scene for many years.
Dr. Kathleen Schenkel
Assistant Professor, School of Teacher Education
Katie explores with K-12 students and their teachers how to restructure power hierarchies operating in science classrooms to expand justice-oriented learning opportunities within and beyond school communities. Drawing on her experiences as a middle school science teacher and using participatory qualitative research methodologies, she works to support science education that leverages the brilliance of students' communities and redresses the ways systematic oppression operates through dominant schooling practices. She earned her doctoral degree in curriculum, instruction and teacher education at Michigan State University. Her work has been shared through professional development sessions, at local and international conferences, and in journals such as Science Scope, Science Education and Cultural Studies of Science Education. As an avid paddleboarder and an emerging tidepool visitor, Katie is reminded of the many joyous ways youth and adults can explore the world around them.
NEW STAFF
Cecy Beltran
Administrative Coordinator, Dean's Office
Cecy has more than 12 years of experience in administration and event planning. Prior to joining the College of Education, she served as the coordinator for the Dean’s Office of the College of Science and Mathematics at Fresno State. Cecy loves maintaining a healthy physical and mental lifestyle through exercise and meditation.
Mony Chau
Department Coordinator, Counseling and School Psychology
Mony is a first-generation college graduate who is passionate about supporting students in higher education. He embraces his unconventional path to working in higher ed and uses it as an example to current students. Mony is an advocate and a thoughtful professional. (
Read more about Mony in his 7 Things staff profile)
Yvette Garcia
Department Coordinator, Dual Language and English Learner Education
Yvette was born in San Diego and lived in San Antonio for three years before returning to her hometown. Yvette loves staying active, spending time with her pets and being outdoors. An experienced traveler, Yvette has visited Indonesia, Europe, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada and many more places.
Monica Hughes
Administrative Support Coordinator, Department of Child and Family Development
A Southern California native, Monica earned certification in front office reception from the San Diego Job Corps Center in Imperial Beach in 1988, leading her to a career in public service. She worked as an administrative secretary for the County of San Diego for 30 years before retiring in October 2019 — but not before earning the title “Little Ms. Efficient.” A happy-spirited naturalist, she enjoys spending time with her husband Don, and their beloved house rabbits, chinchilla and parakeets. From 2011-2017, she attended Aerial Revolution, a recreational and professional Circus Arts studio in San Diego. She performed in 12 student showcase acts for contortion, lyra and trapeze.
Fiona Liddell
Program Coordinator, SDSU/CGU Joint Ph.D Program in Education
Fiona was born in Los Angeles and then moved to San Diego when she started school at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. She went to San Francisco State University and achieved a bachelor’s in painting and drawing with an emphasis in animation. She is glad to be back in San Diego with her thirteen year old rescued pug and family.
Kelly Sakai
Interim Department Coordinator, Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education
A Texas native, Kelly received her B.A. from Austin College and her MBA from the University of Colorado-Boulder. During her career she has worked in corporate financial planning and project management. Kelly loves spending time with her human family and her pug family.
