M E S S A G E   F R O M T H E D E A N

BRUCE JOHNSON AUGUST 2021

www.coe.arizona.edu

Welcome back, Wildcats

After a long year and a half, we are so excited to welcome students back to our beautiful campus this fall. We know students have missed being on campus as it is such a major aspect of the college experience. While we are looking forward to a more normal-looking college experience this semester, it is very important to acknowledge that the pandemic is not over. As COVID-19 cases and the Delta variant continue to spread, we must remain vigilant in taking the proper precautions. Last week, President Robert Robbins announced a mask requirement in accordance with CDC guidance. Face masks must be worn in all indoor spaces where it is not possible to adequately and continuously maintain social distance, regardless of vaccination status. If you are not yet vaccinated and plan to be on campus, please consider getting the vaccination. Learn more about where you can get a vaccine at covid19.arizona.edu/vaccine. On another note, we are looking forward to a brand new, beautiful space for students on the main floor of our building! This new space, which should be complete by the start of the spring semester, will include a student lounge, workspace, three group project rooms, a kitchen, outdoor patio, and offices for advisors, support staff, and our alumni council. More information (and photos!) to come soon. We also have many new amazing faculty and staff members joining us this year! Others have taken on new roles or received well-deserved promotions. Learn more about them below.

Meet our new faculty and staff Dean's Office Nadia Alvarez Mexia Director of Transborder Education Initiatives Born and raised in Mexico, Nadia Alvarez Mexia is joining us in a new position as Director of Transborder Education Initiatives for our college while she is also an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Honors College. She is an award-winning educator that has devoted her professional and teaching career to creating safe learning spaces and remarkable academic experiences that have brought recognition from the University of Arizona, as well as from NAFSA in the U.S. and institutions of higher education in Mexico. Nadia has an interdisciplinary background, with Information Systems bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education and her PhD in Teaching & Teacher Education with a minor in Language, Reading & Culture from the University of Arizona from which she received the Erasmus Circle Award 2006. Also, she was a recipient of the prestigious CONACyT scholarships and has guided undergraduate and graduate students in performing a higher education degree. She was one of the UArizona Hispanic Serving Institution Fellows 2018-2019 and Academic Leadership Institute Fellows 2020-2021. Alvarez’ educational leadership also resulted in creating more than nine different pedagogical models to offer unique educational experiences to international and domestic students including populations such as Women in STEM, first-generation, indigenous from Mexico, BIPOC and other diverse populations in continents such as America, Europe and Asia. Nadia will coordinate binational partnerships to benefit educational initiatives, oversee the Borderlands Education Center, and support institutional initiatives such as Hispanic Serving Institution and the Teacher Identity Institute.

Khylie Gardner (she/her) Director of Marketing and Communications Khylie Gardner has been working in community-based, mission-driven nonprofits for most of her career. She relocated to Tucson from New York City in early 2019 and most recently worked as the Director of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. Her marketing approach utilizes a multimedia approach that combines best practices from a variety of disciplines to create and sustain powerful brands. Khylie received her BS in Strategic Communication from Northern Arizona University and her MSc in Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University, where she explored identity of place and storytelling on social media. Khylie is passionate about mainstreaming narratives that celebrate a multiplicity of identities and lived experiences. In her personal time, she is engaged in cultural preservation/production work with her Southwest Asian/Northern African Jewish community, is a novice ceramicist, and enjoys connecting to the local art and music scenes in Tucson.

Disability & Psychoeducational Studies Carla B. Cheatham Assistant Professor of Practice Carla Cheatham is an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Disability and Psychological Studies. Carla is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Governors State University. Carla received a B.S. in Journalism from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, a MEd in School Counseling from Georgia State University, and an EdM in Global Studies in Education from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. She has over 25 of experience in school counseling. She will be teaching courses in the counseling program. Her research focuses on school counseling work with minoritized students in career development.

Melanie McKay-Cody Assistant Professor Melanie McKay-Cody is a Cherokee Deaf and earned her doctoral degree in linguistic and socio-cultural anthropology at the University of Oklahoma. She has studied critically-endangered Indigenous Sign Languages in North America since 1994 and helps different tribes preserve their tribal signs. She also specialized in Indigenous Deaf studies and interpreter training incorporating Native culture, North American Indian Sign Language and ASL. She is also an educator and advocate for Indigenous interpreters and students in educational settings. Besides, North American Indian Sign Language research, she had taught ASL classes in several universities for over 30 years. She is one of eight founders of Turtle Island Hand Talk, a new group focused on Indigenous Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind and Hearing people.

Lauren Meyer Assistant Professor of Practice Lauren Meyer earned her BA in Psychology and Justice Studies from Arizona State University, her MA in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY), and her PhD in School Psychology from the University of Arizona. She completed her predoctoral internship with the Louisiana School Psychology Internship Consortium and a joint postdoctoral fellowship with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Education Research and the Sun Prairie Area School District. Meyer worked as a school psychologist and RtI coordinator in her previous district and has over ten years of teaching experience at the college level. She is a nationally certified school psychologist and licensed psychologist. Her research and advocacy interests include best practices in tiered supports, both academic and social-emotional-behavioral, and the role of school psychologists in advancing mental health priorities in schools and communities.

Michele Stathatos Assistant Professor of Practice Michele Stathatos is an assistant professor of practice for the School Psychology program in the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies. Stathatos earned undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of California Santa Cruz, and a masters and doctoral degree in School Psychology at The University of Arizona. After finishing an APA accredited internship at Avondale Elementary School District, Stathatos began to work as a school psychologist in Sunnyside Unified School District. Stathatos’ research is focused on supporting LGBTQIA+ youth in schools.

Educational Policy Studies & Practice Lukretia Beasley Assistant Professor of Practice Lukretia “Lucky” Beasley worked as a high school teacher and administrator in Switzerland for 25 years. She earned her PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Arizona in 2017. Since then, she has been a post-doc working at The University of Arizona with Jessica Summers in cooperation with the Arizona Department Of Education on a large school safety data base. Her research analyzes specifically the effects of school climate and school safety on racially and economically disadvantaged students.

Melanie Bertrand Associate Professor of Education Leadership and Policy Melanie Bertrand began her career in education as a K-5 teacher and school-wide English Language Acquisition Coordinator. Subsequently, she served as an instructional supervisor of pre-service and in-service teachers. Her research explores the potential of youth and community leadership to improve schools and challenge systemic racism and other forms of oppression in education.

Jamaica DelMar Assistant Professor of Practice Director of Project SOAR Jamaica DelMar has worked in higher education for 12 years, and her previous positions at other institutions include registrar, assistant registrar, adjunct faculty, and academic advisor. Her work as an educator and empowerment facilitator with the Jeremiah Program motivated her interests in mentoring students regarding their college goals and taking an activist and innovative approach to service, teaching, and research. Her dissertation was entitled, “A Phenomenological Inquiry into the Perceptions of Single Mother College Students.”

Dawn M. Demps Assistant Professor of Education Leadership and Policy Dawn Demps describes herself as a mother, bridge, interrupter and scholar, whose research is inspired by the experiences of communities sitting at the intersections of historical oppressions and resistance legacies. Utilizing a critical lens of analysis to engage theories such as Black Feminist Thought, Community Cultural Wealth and Critical Race Theory, her work looks at the historical and contemporary policies and practices that contribute to the educational pushout of racialized populations. She additionally interrogates the ways those communities resist such exclusionary efforts to advocate for policy changes and imagine inclusive futures. Lastly, Demps examines how those people-powered moves push the boundaries of who is considered educational leadership. Demps’ work informs traditionally considered school leaders, policy makers and grassroots groups working for socially just and safe educational spaces for children of disenfranchised populations.  Dawn has a BA in Social Sciences and Africana Studies from the University of Michigan-Flint and MA in Social Justice Studies from Marygrove College in Detroit. She received her PhD from Arizona State University in Education Policy and Evaluation as well as a graduate certificate in African Diasporic Studies. Yet, her proudest accomplishment is getting the honor to raise her three children: Journi, Jayanti and Zora.

Heather Haeger Research Director of STEM Learning Center Assistant Professor of Higher Education (Joining us in January 2022) Heather Haeger received her PhD in Education Policy, Studies and Practices from The University of Arizona. From 2011-2014, she was an assistant research faculty in the Center for Postsecondary Research at Indiana University. She worked on designing, testing, and administering surveys on student engagement including the National Survey of Student Engagement and the Law School Survey of Student Engagement. Her research focused on creating equitable opportunities for student engagement. Haeger was also the associate director of educational research with the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center at California State University, Monterey Bay, a public Hispanic Serving Institution. She conducted research on educational equity in high-impact practices and barriers to full participation in STEM education. Her research is used to inform programmatic interventions aimed at engaging students that have been traditionally marginalized in higher education. Haeger is the co-principal investigator and program manager on the Department of Education, HSI - STEM and Articulation Programs Title III grant: Research-based Interventions to Increase STEM Degree Attainment. Through this grant, she has worked to facilitate connections with local community colleges, increase access to undergraduate research, and scaffold course-based research experiences in the curriculum. She also mentors students and serves as the evaluator for the TRIO, Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. Haeger leads a team of undergraduate researchers (the STEM Education Research Group) to support evaluation efforts for these grants, specifically focusing on equity and inclusion in these programs.

Chi Nguyen Assistant Professor of Education Leadership and Policy Chi Nguyen earned her PhD in Educational Leadership and International & Comparative Education from The Pennsylvania State University in 2020. Her research explores issues related to social justice leadership, both inside and outside the school—in particular, school leaders and nonprofit/community organizers—to develop new ways of thinking about the causes of, and solutions to, educational inequity. Her work uses mixed methods approaches to explore complex issues of social justice leadership.

Moira Ozias Assistant Professor of Higher Education Moira Ozias' research focuses on equity in higher education practice, especially investigating white women’s racism and processes for creating educational spaces and curricula that resist racism and work toward racial justice. She uses critical whiteness, gender, and affect theories to understand how college experiences support and resist white women’s affective and spatial investments in white supremacy.    Ozias grew up in the rural Midwest in a family of teachers and farmers, and her background in social work informs her interest in community collaborations. She earned a BA in English from Baker University (Kansas), an MA in English and MSW (Social Welfare) from the University of Kansas, and a PhD in Adult & Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to joining the University of Arizona faculty, Ozias taught College Student Affairs Leadership at Grand Valley State University, Student Affairs Administration at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and spent over 15 years working in higher education administration at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Kansas. She also serves as Director of Research and Scholarship for ACPA (2019-2022).

Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies Matt Austin Lecturer Matt Austin's research focuses on LGBTQ-inclusive policy and practice efforts in school and community-based educational settings. Additionally, Matt has worked as a coach in youth and women's fastpitch softball at a variety of levels for the past 10 years, and teaches in the Recreation and Sport in Parks, Communities & Schools minor in the College of Education.

Reva Barnes Lecturer Reva Barnes is a native of Alabama. She has 14 years of teaching experience with three years as a Reading Coach. She has Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and History and a Master of Science in Secondary Education with a concentration in English/Language Arts.

Judith A. Cooper-Wagoner Science Lecturer Judith Cooper-Wagoner teaches science related courses to elementary science preservice teachers. Her research interests are focused on preservice teachers' growing sophistication in their noticing, interpreting, and responding to students' sensemaking resources when learning science for equitable science teaching and learning. She has previously served as an elementary teacher in the Marana Unified School District for eighteen years.

Jeannette Gabaldόn Lecturer Jeannette Gabaldόn has served as an educator for twenty-three years in Title 1 schools. She has an MEd in Counseling and in Educational Leadership. She will be joining the Department of Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies as a full-time academic lecturer in the Alternative Path Certification Program in Secondary Education.

Nadia Granados Lecturer Nadia Granados attended Brigham Young University for her undergraduate degree; she then earned her master’s and doctorate degrees from the Language, Reading & Culture program in the Department of Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies at The University of Arizona and later worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Utah. Her research interests include biliteracy, bilingualism, dual language education, community literacies, literacy processes, academic literacies, and women’s literacies. Her research has been published in the Bilingual Research Journal and the Journal of Literacy Research, and she has co-authored chapters in the field of language and literacy.

Alyssa Lara Program Coordinator After bouncing around a few different positions in the College of Education, Alyssa Lara has found herself as a program coordinator for the MEd Alternative Path program. She loves her new team and is excited to be in a student-facing position again. In her free time you can find her hanging out with one of her four dogs or collecting plants to add to her collection.

Jesse Stipek Lecturer Jesse Stipek recently graduated from the college of education with a PhD in educational policy studies. His research is focused on the necessity for new policies regarding sexual assault in college athletics. For the previous eight years, Jesse was an assistant swim coach for the University of Arizona as well as an adjunct instructor.  Hailing from Washington, Jesse received his bachelors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was team captain and an Olympic trials qualifier for the Badgers.

New roles

Jessica Agnew-Weil Lecturer Jessica Agnew-Weil has been an educator for 20 years as a teacher, instructional coach, math specialist, and educational consultant. A proud Wildcat, she holds a BAE in Elementary Education and an MA in Middle School Math Teaching and Leadership from UArizona. She absolutely loves working with future teachers and is passionate about making math content meaningful and engaging.

Kris Bosworth Interim Director of the Educational Leadership and Policy Program Kris Bosworth is serving a one-year term as Interim Chair of the Educational Leadership and Policy Program in the Department of Educational Studies Policy and Practice. Kris Bosworth is the Smith Endowed Chair in Substance Abuse Education and a professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies and Practice. She served as the Head of the Educational Leadership Department for six years. She holds a Masters in Counseling and Guidance (1975) and a PhD (1988) in Adult Education (Program Evaluation and Educational Technology) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to her appointment at The University of Arizona in 1998, she was an associate professor and the director of the Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University and a Visiting Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the Youth Violence Prevention Team. In the Educational Leadership and Policy program, she works with aspiring and practicing leaders to help implement change and to increase the protective nature of school cultures and climates.

Heidi Burross Interim Head of the Department of Educational Psychology Heidi Burross is serving a one-year term as Interim Head of the Department of Educational Psychology. She received both her master's and doctoral degrees from this department and has been a member of the department's faculty since 2002, teaching courses in development (EDP 301), educational policies (EDP 405), learning (EDP 510), statistics (EDP 541), assessment (EDP 558), research methods (EDP 560), and graduate teaching (EDP 693C).  Her research interests are varied. She has published work related to preparing graduate students for the workforce, preservice teaching, assessment, motivation, and social relationships. Her focus ranges from third grade through graduate students, with a particular interest on adult learning and development. Burross is proud to have published with many colleagues, students, and former students across the nation.

Mary Carol Combs Director of Education Policy Center Mary Carol Combs is a Professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in bilingual and ESL education, sheltered content instruction and ESL methods, Indigenous language revitalization, and language policy and planning. Her research interests include bilingual education policy and law, sociocultural theory, indigenous language revitalization and development, immigration and education, sheltered instruction and ELL teacher preparation.

Felisia Tagaban Gaskin Student Relations Coordinator and Recruiter for UArizona Office of Admissions, College of Education and Sunnyside Unified School District Felisia Tagaban Gaskin is a Wildcat for Life! She obtained both her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Master of Arts in Higher Education degrees at The University of Arizona and is currently a second-year doctoral student in the Educational Policy Studies and Practice program in the College of Education. As she transitions into this new UArizona staff position, she continues to be driven by her passion for supporting Indigenous students. Working in partnership with Sunnyside Unified School District and UArizona Admissions, Tagaban Gaskin is focused on creating postsecondary education pathways for Indigenous students from SUSD.

Jenny Lee Dean's Fellow for Internationalization Jenny Lee is a professor at the Center for the Study of Higher Education and College of Education Deans Fellow for Internationalization at the University of Arizona. She is also the Vice President-Elect for Division J: Postsecondary Education for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and is co-editor of the book series, Studies in Global Higher Education. She formerly served as a NAFSA Senior Fellow, US Fulbright Scholar to South Africa, the Chair for the Council of International Higher Education and Board of Directors for the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). She has participated as a distinguished Global Professor at Korea University and as an international visiting scholar at City, University of London, the University of Pretoria, and the University of Cape Town in South Africa.   Her research examines how migration policies, geopolitics, and social forces shape inequities in higher education, in the US and abroad. Professor Lee has investigated university internationalization, student and scholar mobility, and scientific collaboration, to name some. Based on her comparative research in the US, Southern Africa, and East Asia, she has introduced widely cited critical frameworks, such as neo-racism and neo-nationalism, to the field. In addition, Dr. Lee’s expertise is regularly sought by national and international news outlets, with over 50 media contributions since 2020 alone. Nature, Science, the New York Times, ABC News, Al Jazeera, and the Chronicle of Higher Education are among the prominent news networks that have quoted Professor Lee and featured her research. In this new role, she will lead our college efforts in international work, in particular: networking and coordinating grants and new projects with UA Global, including USAID proposals; research initiatives and grants with CONAHEC; internationalizing the curriculum (possible global education graduate minor, possible global ed major, expanding departments’ global reach); developing international faculty, graduate student, and alumni support network as a strategy for future partnerships; other activities to help fulfill the international dimensions of the CoE Strategic Plan (Building Collaboration & College Excellence).

Kevin McBeth Lecturer Kevin McBeth is beginning his third year as a coordinator, supervisor, and math instructor for the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Pathways to Teaching programs. Prior to working for UArizona, he was a teacher in Palominas, Naco, and Bisbee, teaching fourth grade, first grade, and middle school math. In 2013, he was selected as the Arizona Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. In 2017, Kevin received his principal certificate and master’s degree in Educational Leadership from The University of Arizona. He is most passionate about the relationships that stem from shared ideas among educators, communities and kids.

Promotions

We also have several promotions to celebrate! Please join us in congratulating the following faculty members. Disability & Psychoeducational Studies Lia Falco Promoted to Associate Professor Jennifer Kirkpatrick Promoted to Associate Professor of Practice Vanessa Perry Promoted to Associate Professor of Practice Marsha Spencer Promoted to Associate Professor of Practice Amanda Tashjian Promoted to Associate Professor of Practice Educational Policy Studies & Practice Nolan Cabrera Promoted to Full Professor Educational Psychology Jonathan Tullis Promoted to Associate Professor Adriana Cimetta Promoted to Associate Research Professor Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies Leah Durán Promoted to Associate Professor Jeremy Garcia Promoted to Associate Professor Matt Ostermeyer Promoted to Associate Professor of Practice Ada Parra Promoted to Associate Professor of Practice Laurie Seder Promoted to Associate Professor of Practice Valerie Shirley Promoted to Associate Professor William Smith Promoted to Associate Professor

As you can see, there is much to celebrate in the College of Education. And while we are so excited to welcome students back to campus, we are continuing to monitor the situation as the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread. We will continue to be in touch as we receive new updates on COVID-19 safety protocols. If you have anything you’d like to discuss with me about the College of Education and how we are continuing our work during these unusual times, please contact me. 

Bruce Johnson

We want to hear from you! Send your news to brucej@u.arizona.edu.

Students Community Giving Research Disability & Psychoeducational Studies Educational Policy Studies & Practice Educational Psychology Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies

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