Moving Forward Together
San Diego State University | College of Education
2025
Yearbook and Impact Report
Front and back covers: College of Education Student Ambassadors welcome first-year students to campus during 2025 New Student Orientation. Photos by Sarah Wilkins.
This page: Associate Professor Melissa A. Navarro Martell (DLE) and Assistant Professor Wendy Ochoa (CFD) led workshops for early childhood dual language teachers on introducing STEM concepts in culturally- and linguistically-relevant ways.
A Message from the Dean
Moving forward together
During the 2024-25 academic year, institutions of higher education across our nation were navigating an unpredictable path. Here in the San Diego State University College of Education, we were no exception. Budget cutbacks at the state level coincided with a radically changing landscape for federal funding that led to the termination of many important grant-funded projects. Indeed, all of us continue to bump up against roadblocks in this unprecedented and uncertain environment.
As we attempt to push past this adversity, I am pleased to report that, as we look back on the past year, our College has not deviated from our important course — a mission to make a positive difference for children, families, and communities. And I am filled with gratitude for the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends whose brilliance and dedication serve as our compass.
Because of this extraordinary community, there is much to celebrate:
In the spring, we received our highest ever national ranking, reaching No. 45 in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools rankings. We also placed No. 3 in the publication’s Best Online Master’s in Education Program Rankings.
Meanwhile, our faculty researchers — who bring in tens of millions annually for transformational research, training, and service projects — contributed significantly to SDSU’s 2025 designation as an R1 research institution by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education. I would like to thank Associate Dean for Research Rachel Haine-Schlagel for her tireless leadership in this area.
And as we’ve been facing budgetary obstacles, we’ve been propelled by our dedicated community of alumni and aligned supporters who contributed an astounding $12.9 million in philanthropic giving to help keep us on solid footing.
Once again, I would like to offer my appreciation to everyone whose efforts have helped us stay steadfast and continue our forward progress. May we all enjoy a clear path ahead.
Y. Barry Chung, Ph.D. Dean, College of Education
College of Education at a Glance Rankings
2025 U.S. News & World Report ranking of top graduate education programs nationwide — three spots higher than SDSU’s best-ever showing in 2024.
Program/Specialty Rankings
#3 ONLINE EDUCATION MASTER’S PROGRAMS
#7 REHABILITATION COUNSELING M.S. PROGRAM
#26 EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION SPECIALTY
Faculty
Tenured/tenured track faculty members, Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP) annuitants and lecturers. Numbers from Spring 2025 semester.
SDSU’s iconic Hepner Hall with flowers in full bloom.
Dan Bacon, lecturer in the Department of Child and Family Development, teaches the course CFD 275.
Students
3,398
Total enrollment from Fall 2024 semester. Includes students with majors in other colleges who are enrolled in at least one COE minor.
Program Type
Gender
Orientation
Identities and Expressions
12.6%
Philanthropy
$12.9 million
429 COE students (12.6% of the student population) self-reported as identifying as LGBTQ+.
Students from SDSU’s Marriage and Family Therapy and Community-Based Block Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education (CBB) master’s programs.
Race/ Ethnicity
Philanthropic support directed to the College of Education from alumni, faculty, staff, foundations and friends.
Grants and Contracts
$27.6 million
Total funding in 2024-25 across 119 awards.
Top Funded Faculty
Sax Meera Adya Kelsey Dickson
Professor Emerita, ARPE Director, Interwork Institute
Assistant Research Professor, ARPE Program Evaluator, Interwork Institute
Associate Professor, CFD
$6,284,007 $2,328,193 $2,104,621
Caren
Departments and Academic Programs
The SDSU College of Education offers a comprehensive range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs across six departments, one school and a joint doctoral program. Our programs span the full spectrum of education — from early childhood development to leadership in higher education — preparing students to make meaningful, lasting impacts in diverse communities.
Departments
The School of Teacher Education (STE) prepares students to:
• Become elementary and secondary teachers
• Use inquiry-based teaching to promote critical thinking and student success
The Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education (ARPE) prepares students to:
• Lead in community colleges and other higher education settings (academic, student affairs and administration)
• Serve as rehabilitation counselors, including pathways to California clinical counseling licensure
The Department of Child and Family Development (CFD) prepares students to:
• Support the social and emotional development of children, youth and families
• Pursue careers in counseling, teaching, social work, early childhood mental health, behavioral support, law and administration
The Department of Counseling and School Psychology (CSP) prepares students to:
• Work as school counselors, therapists and school psychologists
• Lead initiatives to promote emotional wellness and healthy school climates
Centers and Institutes
Center for Achieving Black Wellness and Anti-Racist Education (CABWARE)
Child and Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC)
Center for Equity and Biliteracy Education Research (CEBER)
Center for Community Counseling & Engagement (CCCE)
The Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education (DLE) prepares students to:
• Promote biliteracy and global citizenship through bilingual education and research
• Become teachers, leaders and advocates for social justice, equity and inclusion
• Educate future American Sign Language teachers, leaders and community members
The Department of Educational Leadership (EDL) prepares students to:
• Serve in administrative roles in elementary and secondary schools
• Lead at the district and executive levels in educational organizations
The Department of Special Education (SPED) prepares students to:
• Educate and support children and youth with disabilities and their families
• Lead in specialized roles such as program specialist or board-certified behavior analyst
The Joint Doctoral Program in Education with Claremont Graduate University (JDP) prepares students to:
• Conduct research on democratic schooling, social justice and equitable education
• Transform educational systems that serve diverse and historically underserved communities
Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment (CEPA)
Center for Excellence in Early Development (CEED)
Center for Research in Math & Science Education (CRMSE)
Center for Teaching Critical Thinking & Creativity (CTCTC) Center for Visual Literacies
Chinese Cultural Center (CCC)
Institute for Transformative Education (ITE) Interwork Institute
National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST) SDSU Literacy Center
Academic Programs
Doctoral & Educational Specialist Degrees
• Community College/Postsecondary Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)
• Joint Doctoral Program SDSU/Claremont Graduate University (Ph.D.)
• PK-12 School Leadership (Ed.D.)
• PK-12 School Leadership with Science and Math Focus (Ed.D.)
• School Psychology (Ed.S.)
Master’s Degrees
• Child Development (M.S.)
• Early Childhood and Family Clinical Counseling (M.S. and LPCC)
• Counseling (Online-Hybrid) (M.A. in Education)
• Dual Language and English Learner Education (M.A.)
• Elementary Education and Secondary Education (M.A.)
• Elementary and Secondary Education with a Focus in Math and Science (M.A.)
• Language Arts (M.A.)
• Marriage and Family Therapy (M.S.)
• Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education (CBB) (M.S. and LPCC)
• PK-12 Educational Leadership (M.A.)
• PK-12 Educational Leadership/Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Combo Program (Online) (M.A.)
• Postsecondary Educational Leadership and Student Affairs (M.A.)
• Reading and Literacy Education (M.A.)
• Rehabilitation Counseling (M.S.)
• School Counseling plus Pupil Personnel Services Credential (M.S. and PPS)
• School Psychology (M.S.)
• Special Education with Behavior Analysis and Autism Concentration (M.A.)
• Special Education with Early Childhood Concentration (M.A.)
• Special Education with Mild to Moderate Support Needs Concentration (M.A.)
Undergraduate Majors & Minors
• Special Education with Extensive Support Needs Concentration (M.A.)
• Teacher Leadership (via SDSU Global Campus) (M.A.)
• Accelerated Curriculum for Educators (ACE) Minor
• Child Development (B.S.)
• Child Development Minor
• Counseling and Social Change Minor
• Cultural Proficiency Minor
• Leadership Studies (B.S.)
• Leadership Studies Minor
• Liberal Studies (B.A.)
• Special Education Minor
Teaching Credentials
• Bilingual Education (Multiple and Single Subject)
• General Education (Multiple and Single Subject)
• Special Education (Three Specializations: Early Childhood, Mild to Moderate Support Needs, Extensive Support Needs)
Advanced Credentials
• Administrative Services
• Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist
• Special Education Induction Program (Clear Credential)
Advanced Certificates & Added Authorizations
• Behavior Analysis
• Bilingual
• Cognitive Disabilities
• Co-Occurring Disorders
• Dual Language for Academic Literacy
• EC-TEaMH: Early Childhood Transdisciplinary Education and Mental Health
• Educational Leadership in Intercollegiate Athletics
• English Language Development for Academic Literacy
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation
• Reading and Literacy
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Restorative Justice Practice and TraumaInformed Care
• Spanglish Decolonial Healing
• Special Education Early Childhood
Faculty Excellence
Cappello
receives COE’s Distinguished Faculty Award
Although she had an exciting life as a Madison Avenue creative and punk rock scenester in the 1980s, Marva Cappello opted for a bold change — becoming a New York City public school teacher. It was a decision that launched a career in education that has offered more purpose and fulfillment than she ever could have imagined. The professor in SDSU’s School of Teacher Education, where she has taught for the past 25 years, was recognized as the College of Education’s 2024 Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Faculty Contributions. Passionate about visual literacy as an equity pedagogy that levels the playing field for students, Cappello is the founding director of SDSU’s Center for Visual Literacies. She has also directed the Joint Ph.D. Program in Education with Claremont Graduate University since 2019.
“ I had a different idea about what my life would hold. But this is better than I could have imagined.”
–Marva Cappello
Dean Chung honored by American Psychological Association
Dean Y. Barry Chung was named recipient of the 2025 Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology from the American Psychological Association (APA), the world’s largest professional organization of psychology. The honor recognizes his research and advocacy in psychology education and training, his successful mentorship of doctoral advisees as well as his long history of leadership within APA. Chung, whose research interests include career development, multicultural counseling and sexual orientation and gender diversity issues, is a Fellow of APA Divisions 17, 44, 45 and 52.
Vasquez leads American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education
As the new chair of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE), Marissa Vasquez is passionate about building community among Latinx scholars in higher education. The associate professor and chair in SDSU Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education will serve as AAHHE chair from 2025-26. A proud community college transfer from San Diego’s South Bay, Vasquez is also associate director of SDSU’s Community College Equity Assessment Lab. She and her team conduct research that aims to amplify the success of community college transfers and other underrepresented college students.
“ It’s really important and inspiring to be part of a professional community that validates and culturally affirms our identities.”
—Marissa Vasquez
Awards and Distinctions
Charles Degeneffe, professor in ARPE, was named a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Division 22 (rehabilitation psychology).
Eric R. Felix, associate professor in ARPE, was named recipient of the Mertes Award for Excellence in Community College Research, an honor presented by the Association of California Community College Administrators.
Lisa Gates, lecturer in ARPE and director of the Leadership Studies program, received the Malcolm A. Love Award from Associated Students (A.S.). Named for the fourth president of SDSU, the honor is given to one faculty member each year for support of A.S. and its students.
Felisha Herrera Villarreal, professor in ARPE, was named a fellow of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ (HACU) Leadership Academy.
Debbie Justeson, lecturer in STE, was named a 2025 Asian Pacific Islander Leader of Influence by the San Diego Business Journal.
Hsien-Chang Lin, professor and chair in CFD, was elected fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine.
Margarita Machado-Casas, professor in DLE, was named president of the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE).
Brittany L. Marshall, assistant professor in STE, was accepted into the Service Teaching and Research (STaR) program offered by the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators.
Melissa A. Navarro Martell, associate professor in DLE, was named the 2024 Outstanding Transborder Educator Award recipient by SDSU International Affairs.
Sarah Rieth, associate professor in CFD, earned the Public Impact honor at the 2025 SDSU Outstanding Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (RSCA) Awards.
Kathleen Schenkel, associate professor in STE, received the 2025 Michael Pressley Award for a Promising Scholar in the Education Field from the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE).
Michelle Shin, lecturer and graduate program advisor in EDL, received the Professor of Education Award for Region 4 of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).
Samuel Song, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and professor (CSP), was named a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Division 16 (school psychology).
Marissa Vasquez, associate professor and chair of ARPE, was named a recipient of SDSU’s Faculty Diversity Excellence Award. She was also honored with the 2025 Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC) Arthur Cohen and Florence Brawer Distinguished Service Award.
Promoted Faculty
Clockwise from upper left: Sesen Negash (CSP) and Mark Tucker (ARPE) to full professor. Maribel Guillermo (ARPE), Teresa Lind (CFD), Patricia Sánchez Lizardi (CSP), Alejandro Gonzalez Ojeda (EDL), Toni Saia (ARPE), Kathleen Schenkel (STE), Tanya Gaxiola Serrano (ARPE) and James Wright (EDL) to associate professor with tenure.
Impact and Innovation
Embracing transdisciplinary collaboration,
Dickson
breaks out of the silo
Kelsey Dickson, associate professor in the Department of Child and Family Development, has built a successful career as a researcher and practitioner focused on serving youth with behavioral health conditions. Now, she’s leveraging her expertise in implementation science, including implementation methodology, as part of multiple major universitywide transdisciplinary projects on public health crises ranging from water pollution to heat prevention.
Dickson is serving as co-leader of the Intervention Methods group at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded SDSU HealthLINK Center — a massive undertaking to address health disparities in San Diego and Imperial Counties. She’s also part of a CDC-funded SDSU Prevention Research Center effort to adapt a public health intervention aimed at heat prevention in urban areas and translate them to the rural setting of the Imperial Valley. On more familiar turf, in fall 2024 she received notice of a $5 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to conduct a largescale test of the effectiveness of an intervention adapted for autistic youth in mental health service settings.
“I really love it. In some ways, it’s pushing me a little bit outside my comfort zone, as my training is not within public health. But I really appreciate the way that it allows me to interact with more community members and SDSU faculty and support continued use of these methods at SDSU and beyond.”
—Kelsey Dickson
Ed.D. program contributes to SDSU’s R1 milestone
SDSU’s Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership, PK12 concentration, stands as one of the largest and most impactful doctoral programs in the entire California State University system. Under the leadership of co-directors James Marshall and Gregory Ottinger, the program had more than 100 active doctoral candidates last year alone and was responsible for awarding 33% of all researchbased doctoral degrees conferred at the university. This extraordinary output — combined with SDSU’s other successful doctoral programs — led to SDSU achieving Research 1 (R1) classification in 2025.
Dual credential program in general and special education moves forward
A new federally-funded collaboration between San Diego State University’s Department of Special Education and School of Teacher Education aims to break down traditional teacher preparation silos and prepare culturally sustaining educators to meet the needs of all students with disabilities. In summer 2024, the U.S. Department of Education awarded $750,000 to Project OCEANSIDE, a cross-disciplinary, fiveyear effort to develop a dual credential program in general and special education.
Johnson named Presidential Research Fellow
Nicholas Johnson, associate professor in the School of Teacher Education, was named a 2025 Presidential Research Faculty Fellow — one of SDSU’s highest research honors. His study into math learning and participation over time during early childhood has been bolstered by an NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, which he received in 2023. Working with math and sciences education Ph.D. student research fellow Carlos de Alba, Johnson has been collecting data in preschool classrooms in San Diego’s South Bay community.
Educational Leadership Ed.D. students at Commencement 2025.
SDSU alumna and special education teacher Paulina Norris works with a young student.
From left Vice President Hala Madanat, Provost William Tong, Nicholas Johnson, President Adela de la Torre and Dean Y. Barry Chung.
In Focus: Class of 2025
Students from the College of Education Class of 2025 celebrated commencement at undergraduate and graduate ceremonies on May 16 and 18 at Viejas Arena.
Photos by Sarah Wilkins.
Student Spotlights
A different kind of high school reunion
Amir Harrison was a high school senior at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA) in 2008-09 when he met Timothy Farson — at the time an SDSU teaching credential student completing his student teaching in Harrison’s class. Fast forward to October 2024, they met again. Himself now a single-subject credential candidate at SDSU, Harrison returned to his old school to complete his student teaching. And Farson? He’s now SDSCPA’s principal.
“I now get to be in a position to help kids whose shoes I was once in. I get to be a teacher who helps them have a wonderful experience here the same way I did.”
—Amir Harrison
Amir Harrison (right) with Timothy Farson at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts.
The gift of new possibilities
Brenda Gonzalez never imagined herself as a teacher. But inspired by her 8-year-old son Gio, Gonzalez completed SDSU’s extensive support needs special education teaching credential program. Gio was born with FOXG1 syndrome, a rare genetic disorder impacting development and neurological function. Initially, Gonzalez studied child development just to be more informed about her son’s development. Her horizons broadened, however, after Professor Regina Brandon encouraged her to make a difference as an educator. Gonzalez says she is happy she took the plunge.
“I struggled to give my son a lot of services, even to get him a wheelchair. It was hard. I can’t imagine what it’s like for our families that don’t speak English, don’t know how to find resources and don’t have anyone that can guide them. Since I’ve done it myself, I can share that with them.”
—Brenda Gonzalez
Brenda Gonzalez celebrates earning her bachelor’s degree in child development with her son Gio in 2024.
Examining disability through an intersectional lens
As the Director of Disability Support Services at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California, Melinda Lara is inspired by her deep commitment to equity, access and justice to make a difference as an advocate for disabled students. And as a doctoral student in SDSU’s Ed.D. in Community College Leadership
(CCLEAD) program, that commitment led her to focus her dissertation on examining the complex intersection of race, education and the late identification of learning disabilities. Her groundbreaking study, which addressed a critical gap in the literature, earned her the program’s George Boggs Research and Practice Award.
“Supporting the disability community is not only a professional commitment, but a personal one. My work and research focus on transforming postsecondary education into a place where disability is valued, and where access is built in from the start, not added on later.
—Melinda Lara
Inspired to be an advocate for youth
As he searched for his place in the helping professions, Nick Pantoja initially struggled to find his fit. During a stint as a 7th grade substitute math teacher, however, he came to a realization that made everything click into place. What he witnessed were social-emotional issues keeping students from performing in the classroom — and the difference a good school counselor can make.
Inspired, Pantoja entered SDSU’s Master of Science in School Counseling program, which prepares school counselors to be leaders, advocates and systems change agents. In Fall 2025, he is embarking on a new career as an elementary school counselor in Northern California.
“When I think about the kind of impact that I would like to make, I think about little Nick who needed to be heard — to feel like he had an advocate. I hope to be able to be that person for students, regardless of the identities that they hold. I’m hoping to be that safe place for students in any way that I can.”
—Nick Pantoja
Alumni
School of Teacher Education grads named among county’s top educators
Allison Schmitt and Kevin T. White honored by the San Diego County Office of Education for their commitment to building up the next generation.
“I
always say, ‘It’s great to get good grades, but it’s greater to be a good person.’ We talk a lot about how kind they are to their classmates, if they’re creative, if they’re amazing storytellers, if their art is incredible.”
Allison Schmitt (‘14) is a nurturing fifth grade teacher who makes every child feel valued. Kevin T. White (‘06, ‘07, ‘17) is a tech-savvy middle school instructor who equips students for future careers. Together, they are the two SDSU alumni honored as 2025-26 San Diego County Teachers of the Year. Both are now also in the running for the 2026 California Teacher of the Year honor.
Schmitt, who teaches at Solana Pacific Elementary School in Solana Beach, said her relationship-based approach that celebrates students’ individually was inspired by her
—Allison Schmitt
experience in SDSU’s master’s program in literacy, which she completed over three summers while teaching.
Also a lecturer in SDSU’s Learning Design and Technology (LDT) program where he was once a graduate student, White augments his lessons at San Diego’s De Portola Middle School by securing grants from companies. Taylor Guitars, for example, donates wood, electronics and instrument parts that enable his advanced students to design and build their own electric guitars.
Rehab counseling grad honored by U.S. Navy
Delveen Tahir’s day-to-day commitment to workplace accessibility, employee support and holistic wellbeing coaching has earned her the Navy Civilian Service Commendation Medal. A graduate of SDSU’s rehabilitation counseling program, Tahir (‘15) works as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist, Disability and Reasonable Accommodations Manager, and a Health and Wellness Coach in the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity with the Department of the Navy. Originally from Kurdistan, Iraq, Tahir developed a passion to help others from her experience fleeing oppression as well as the challenges she faced as an immigrant to the U.S.
“Through my coaching, or even going through reasonable accommodation requests with employees, I share with them that they do have a voice. They have the ability to change their lives.”
—Delveen Tahir
DLE alumna elected to National City school board
Former bilingual teacher Cindy López (’15) has taken on a new calling in the field of education. On Dec. 18, 2024, she was seated as a new member of the Governing Board of the National School District in National City, California. She notes that both her background as a teacher and experience as a credential student in the SDSU Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education (DLE) shaped the policymaker she is today.
“W
hat I know now is that when students learn their native
language,
they’re more likely to succeed and be more responsive to learning another language. What I really enjoyed about the DLE program experience was that it helped me teach the dual language perspective. I got to know the why and how to relate that to the community.”
—Cindy López
Philanthropy
“T
hey set us up so that we could be successful in our jobs and thereby do what’s right for kids. The fact that we were going to be affecting children’s lives was very clear to us through our education at San Diego State.”
—Dan Plough
‘We
had the best of the best’
Retired school administrators
Dan and Bobbie Plough were molded by their College of Education experiences. Now they’ve created an endowment to support those following in their footsteps.
Between them, retired educators Dan and Bobbie Plough earned five degrees and four credentials from San Diego State University. Often when sharing that fact, the couple will be playfully asked if they knew other universities existed.
All joking aside, there’s ample reason for their loyalty.
“We wouldn’t have had a career without San Diego State — we really wouldn’t,” Bobbie said.
“Whether it was our teaching program, becoming an administrator or my doctoral program, we had the best of the best.”
Now retired after long careers that saw them both serve as teachers, school administrators and district superintendents, the Ploughs are paying it forward. Through a generous bequest and ongoing annual contributions, the Ploughs created an endowment to provide scholarship support to aspiring administrators going through programs in the Department of Educational Leadership.
Dan and Bobbie Plough before an Aztecs football game at Snapdragon Stadium.
Endowments
The SDSU College of Education is grateful to the generous individuals and organizations who have created the following endowments.
Amber Christine Soule Endowment
Anonymous*
ARPE Emeriti Endowed Scholarship: Disability Research
Barbara A. Meyers CED Endowed Scholarship*
Barbara Erickson Sisk Endowed Scholarship*
Ben Ziri #218 Endowed Scholarship
Betsey Love Biondo Student Teacher Endowed Scholarship
Brydegaard Faculty Development Endowment
Carla S. Roddy Endowed Scholarship*
Carolyn Veseliny Endowed Scholarship*
Catherine and David Want Mathematics Teacher Endowed Scholarship*
Catherine Y. Lodge Memorial Endowed Scholarship*
Center for Critical Thinking Endowment
Cheng Endowment*
Cheryl L. and James F. Mason Endowed Scholarship*
Chinese Cultural Center Endowment
College of Education Dean’s Excellence Fund*
College of Education Scholarship*
Comay Endowed Scholarship Fund*
Davene Gibson Endowed Scholarship*
Dennis & Marilyn Pugh Education Endowed Scholarship*
Dennis and Elaine G. Szeto Endowed Scholarship in Education
Dr. Alfred Merino Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Dr. Christianna Alger Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Dr. Ed Reed Endowed Scholarship*
Dr. Leonard Pellettiri & Mary Rose Family Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Dr. Samuel M. Ciccati Endowed Scholarship
Drs. Alberto Ochoa and Maria Elena Endowed Scholarship
Dryer Family Endowed Scholarship*
Educational Leadership Endowment
Emeritus Dean Lionel “Skip” Meno, Ph.D. NCUST Endowment*
Erma Woike Staff Development Endowment
Foelber Family Endowed Scholarship
Georgia Tait Stooke Endowment
Gertrude Bell Endowed Scholarship
Gilda Johnson Shumate Endowed Scholarship*
Global Health Legacy Endowed Scholarship*
Gordon Thompson Endowment
Halfaker Memorial Endowment
Helen and Charles Rappe Teaching Excellence Endowed Scholarship
ISMA-Qualcomm Endowment
Janet Sinegal Endowed Scholarship
Janet Sloan Breece Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Jeanne Mendoza Collaboration Endowment
Jim and Scotty Dietz Endowed Scholarship
Joan F. Curry Endowment*
Joe & Betty Suozzo Education Endowed Scholarship
John D. Chamley Memorial Scholarship
John Tucker Endowed Scholarship
Josh A. Comay Endowed Scholarship in Child Development
Judy James Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Kurt Friedrich Memorial Endowment
LaPray/Schmock Endowed Scholarship
Lawrence and Opal Maletta Special Education Teachers Endowed Scholarship
Leonard Sherr Memorial Scholarship Endowment
Leslee K. Teincuff Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Liz and Simon McAllister Endowed Teaching Scholarship
Margaret “Robin” Murphy Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Marian K. Van Kirk Endowed Scholarship
Mary Alys Skulavik and Vera Jo Skulavik Endowed Scholarship
Mary Catherine Martinez Endowed Scholarship
Mary Donaldson Endowed Scholarship
Mary Magdalena Carrillo Mejia Endowed Scholarship
Marylinn J. Metzke Endowed Scholarship
Maus Faculty Development Endowment
Miriam Paine Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Mission Federal Credit Union Endowment
Monica Murphy Endowment Fund*
NCUST-Qualcomm Endowment
Park Family Endowed Executive Director for the Institute for Transformative Education
Patricia Calhoun Endowed Scholarship
Peggy Hawley Endowed Scholarship
Plough Family Endowed Scholarship*
Ray Letsinger Endowed Scholarship
Richard Servey Endowed Scholarship
Russ and Judy James Endowed Scholarship
Samuel M. and Kristine J. Ciccati Endowed Scholarship
Santa Cruz Family Endowed Doctoral Scholarship
Sawyer C. Hsu Endowment
Shelley Bergum Higher Education Endowed Scholarship
Simmons Family Endowed Scholarship
Tom and Audrey Pine Literacy Center Endowment
Vera Einstein Endowed Scholarship
Virginia P. Uline Endowed Scholarship
Wilson Faculty Development Endowment*
*These endowments were established by generous donors who have named San Diego State University as a beneficiary in their estate plans.
Make a lasting difference
To explore College of Education giving opportunities, contact Megan Beardsley, senior director of development, at mbeardsley@sdsu.edu or 619-594-2277. Or learn more by scanning this QR code.
Staff Spotlight
Honoring an advocate
Award winning undergraduate advisor Tanner Wilson embraces his role as a change agent working on behalf of College of Education students.
On June 5, 2025 Tanner Wilson was named San Diego State University’s Staff Advisor of the Year. Yet while “advisor” is technically in his job title, “advocate” might just be a little more apt.
“I don’t think people often see advisors as change agents, but I like to see it that way,” said Wilson, an alumnus of SDSU’s Postsecondary Educational Leadership and Student Affairs (PELSA) master’s program.
“It’s not just how I can help a student change their life during the day, but how I can help our programs change to better support students long-term.”
“Y
ou have students who have it all figured out and you have students who got
lost along the way somewhere.
What I
tend to tell students
when I meet with
them is
that I’m Google Maps. I’m not driving the car, but when they get lost I’ll help them reroute.”
—Tanner Wilson, Undergraduate Advisor
Wilson is part of a three-person team in the College of Education Office for Student Success (OSS) that handles all the advising duties for the college’s approximately 1,500 undergraduate students spread across the liberal studies, child development and leadership studies majors. He draws on insight learned from his time as a former high school show choir teacher — an experience that ensures students seeking careers in education receive insight into systems and individualized support.
Leadership Dean’s Office
Y. Barry Chung Dean Sarah Garrity Senior Associate Dean Rachel Haine-Schlagel Associate Dean for Research
Departments
Marissa Vasquez Associate Professor and Chair, Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education
Douglas Fisher Professor and Chair, Educational Leadership
Samuel Song Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Patricia Lozada-Santone Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Hsien-Chang Lin Professor and Chair, Child and Family Development
Bonnie Kraemer Professor and Chair, Special Education
Travis Heath Associate Professor and Chair, Counseling and School Psychology
Marva Cappello Professor and Director, Joint Ph.D. Program in Education with Claremont Graduate University
Sera Hernandez Associate Professor and Chair, Dual Language and English Learner Education
Lynne Bercaw Professor and Director, School of Teacher Education
