Newsletter November 2024

NEWSLETTER

November 2024

Minority Dissertation Fellowship Program in Education Research

The application deadline is Monday, December 9, 2024.

The American Educational Research Association (AERA), founded in 1916, is concerned with improving the educational process by encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education and evaluation and by promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results. AERA is the most prominent international professional organization, with the primary goal of advancing educational research and its practical application.

The Learning Lab Announces

Two New Grant Opportunities

The California Education Learning Lab (Learning Lab) is pleased to announce two new grant opportunities to promote AI-integrated innovation in teaching and learning at California Community Colleges (CCC), and California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) campuses. These funding opportunities will help to position California public higher education faculty as thought leaders and changemakers in the intersection between AI and education.

If you are… passionate about advancing equity in education, or want to pioneer the use of AI in higher education, or already a leader in the AI technology-education space…

AI Grand or AI FAST may be for you!

Ensuring College Access and Success for American Indian/Alaska Native Students

When the U.S. Supreme Court announced their decision last June to curtail the use of race in college and universities admissions, the Campaign responded by launching a national initiative, Affirming Equity, Ensuring Inclusion, and Empowering Action, to ensure that America does not return to an era of exclusion in higher education. Since then, we have published 11 briefs and profiled three experts to spotlight proven and innovative practices that advance equity.

Read The Brief

Professional Development Opportunities

AERA Graduate Student Research-in-Progress Roundtable Series Call for Submissions

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) invites submissions for the Research-in-Progress Roundtable Series at the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting in Denver, April 23 – 27. This initiative provides a formal presentation opportunity for graduate students who are engaged in research that is underway but was not sufficiently far along to submit a paper in response to the AERA Annual Meeting Call for Submissions. AERA will hold up to 6 Research-in-Progress Roundtable Sessions in Philadelphia. These roundtable sessions will be highlighted as part of the AERA-wide programming at the Annual Meeting.

More Info

Courses: Professional Development Courses offered by ZTC TAP

California Community College Chancellor's Office Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Grant Program's Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) offers California Community Colleges free resources and services to support their successful development and implementation of ZTC pathways, leveraging the largest-ever pubic investment in Open Educational Resources (OER).

More Info

Vision in Action Professional Development Edition

FDPF alumni and current participants are invited to sign-up for California Community Colleges - Vision In Action website.

Here a some highlights from their August 2024 – Vision in Action No. 160 newsletter.

CCC | Anti-Racist Curriculum: Implicit Bias and Cultural Competency
CCC | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility for Financial Aid Professionals Curriculum
CCC | Equity-Centered Counseling Playlist
New Content in the Vision Resource Center
New Community for Vision-Aligned Reporting
Chancellor's Office System Webinars: Sep. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6, Dec. 4
COLEGAS 2024 Annual Conference| COLLECTIVE RESISTANCE: JUSTICIA Y LIBERACIÓN

Visit Vision Resource Center

Faculty Fellow Highlights

ANTHONY ALEJO

2024 Fellow

Anthony Alejo was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a first-generation college

student and the only child in his family. He graduated from East Bakersfield High School in

2018 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State

University Bakersfield in Spring 2022. Continuing his academic journey, he received his Master of Business Administration from California State University Bakersfield in Spring 2024.

During his time in graduate school, Anthony received an email from the university regarding the Faculty Diversification Fellowship Program. After attending an informational session, he felt a strong passion and desire to pursue the program. His dedication led to his acceptance into the Fellowship Program in Fall 2024.

As a Faculty Fellow, Anthony has worked closely with business professors at Bakersfield

College, gaining valuable hands-on experience and direct interaction with faculty. He has had the opportunity to observe classroom instruction and engage with faculty on a personal level. Near the conclusion of the Fellowship Program, Anthony intends to apply for an adjunct business professor role, with the long-term goal of securing a full-time faculty position at Bakersfield College.

Lead Faculty

Dr. Maria Wright

Professor of Education

Bakersfield College

(661)395-4607

Maria.Wright2@bakersfieldcollege.edu

Faculty Diversification Fellowship Program

Applied Leadership Program

Dr. Maria Wright and I am a faculty in the Education Department. Currently, I work closely on the Aspire Faculty Diversification Fellowship Program and the Applied Leadership Program.

Before taking on this role, I served as the Director of Academic Support Services for several years, where my work focused on centralizing efforts to provide wrap-around support for students. This work focused on enhancing the out-of-class academic experience for BC students. I have also served as the Advising Lead for the School of Business at a four-year institution and as an Educational Advisor at Bakersfield College.

I earned my doctoral degree from California State University, Fresno in Educational Leadership, my master’s degree in Educational Administration from California State University, Bakersfield, and my bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach.

As a first-generation graduate, I am deeply passionate about increasing equity, inclusion, and diversity in higher education institutions. More specifically, I seek to expand opportunities for students who have historically been excluded from social and educational opportunities.