Monthly Digest | September 2025

A Message from Interim Dean Julie Washington

Dear School of Education Community,

Welcome back!

I’m excited to kick off a new school year with all of you at the School of Education. This year promises to bring fresh opportunities for learning, collaboration, and impact. I hope you enjoy this edition of our newsletter, which highlights standout stories, important updates, and the incredible work happening across our community.

Warmly,

Julie A. Washington

Professor & Interim Dean, School of Education

New & Noteworthy

Introducing School of Ed's New, Online MES in AI & Learning Analytics

Launching Fall 2026, the School of Education’s new fully online Master of Education Sciences (MES) program with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence & Learning Analytics is designed for future educators, researchers, and edtech professionals ready to lead in a data-driven world. Applications open October 1, 2025.

Learn more

Spotlight On

SoE Scholars Recognized on the World Stage

Associate Professor Nia Nixon (pictured, right) and Ph.D. student Seehee Park received top international awards this summer, spotlighting the School’s growing global impact.

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MAT Supervisor Receives Fulbright Specialist Award

Grace Lee, a Multiple Subject Supervisor in the Master of Arts in Teaching + Credential Program, was recognized for her academic and professional accomplishments, leadership, and commitment to building international partnerships

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Service Awards Honor Longtime Staff

The School of Education had 11 staff reach service milestones last fiscal year. We've spotlighted six of them.

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Community Impact

Building Global Partnerships for Dyslexia Support

This summer, Interim Dean Julie Washington traveled to Ghana and Kenya to keynote two conferences on dyslexia and neurodiversity. Her visit sparked new partnerships linking UC Irvine with universities and communities across Africa to better support children and families.

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Creative Learning at the Center of Conference

The innovative full-day workshop brought together UC Irvine faculty, Orange County teacher leaders, and TK-6 educators for an exploration of integrating literacy, arts, and STEM education through the power of engaging picture books.

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Look Back on Commencement

In June, the school celebrated our Class of 2025 graduates.

View the photo album

The Pros of AI in Education and how Research Drives Practice in the Field

From her passion for language to her vision for the future of education—listen to Interim Dean Julie Washington on The UC Irvine Podcast.

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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

The UC Irvine Libraries offers a guide including a partial list of available online resources, archival materials, and media (both fiction and nonfiction) as well as recent book additions to the Libraries.

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Events & Calendar

• Oct 1 – Applications open for the new MES program
• Oct 6 – Teach Central America Week Online Workshop
• Oct 7 – UC Irvine CalTeach open house
• Oct 20 – Teaching Media Literacy for Civic Engagement
• Oct 21 & 28 – Demystifying the CAST: Unlocking Student Success Through Assessment
• Nov 3 & 19 – Climate Literacy and CA AB 285: Supporting Science Education in a Changing World

Please visit the Teacher Academy website to view more upcoming workshops.

Learn more about the UCI School of Education as seen on Viewpoint, hosted by Dennis Quaid