EdD Educational Leadership Program
RISING
2024 Carnegie Project for the Education Directorate Convening, Honolulu, Hawaii
D I R E C T O R ‘ S
M E S S A G E
WelcometotheSpring2025editionoftheEdD Newsletter Inthisedition,Iamexcitedto sharewithyouourstudentsfromCohorts9andbelowwhohavesuccessfullydefended theirdissertationthissemester!Ialsoincludethosewhocompletedtheirdissertation researchlastFall2024andthosewhowillcompletetheirdissertationinSummer2025. These20leader-scholarsandleader-practitionershaveproducedamazing transformativeresearchthatwouldhopefullyimprovetheconditionsofthepartiescolleagues,students,staff,etc.-theyserve.Pleasedonothesitatetoreachouttothem ifyouwouldliketolearnmoreabouttheirresearch.Youmayaccesstheirdissertation documentshere.Also,intheremainingpagesofthisnewsletter,Ihighlightthe impressiveachievementsofourformerandcurrentstudentsandcorefaculty.
Pleasereachouttomeifyouhavequestions,issues,inquiries,andotherconcerns.Ifyou areinterestedinobtainingyourEd.D.degreeatSJSU,pleaseknowthatour13thcohort beginsinSummer2026.WerecentlycompletedtheadmissionsprocessforCohort12 thatwillstartthisSummer2025,andIamhappytoinformyouthatweintendto welcome60(!)newstudents Moreinformationaboutthenewcohortwillbeprovidedin theFall2025newsletter.
Formoreinformationaboutvariousaspectsofourprogram,Iinviteyoutoregisterto attendoneofourinformationsessions,whichbeginsinlateAugustthisyear.Please knowthatweofferhybridandfullyonlineoptionsforcompletingyourdoctorate Also,in partnershipwiththeSantaClaraCountyOfficeofEducation'sLeadersinEducational AdministrationProgram,weofferacombinedEdD/PreliminaryAdministrative CredentialforinterestedandqualifiedPK-12teachersandteacherleaders.
ThankyouandhaveawonderfulSummer2025!
FerdieRivera,Director
GRADUTING STUDENTS
Jean Clothilda Woolcock (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation
EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BA,1983,Universityofthe WestIndies
Graduate:MS,1997,SanJoséState University
DissertationTitle:TheInequitable Access:BlackandLatinxStudentsinAP Courses
Chair:LuisPoza
Members:ThomasMoriarty,DonaldHarris
Elizabeth Regina Wirtz (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation
EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BA,2019,WhittierCollege
Graduate:MA,2022,NationalUniversity
DissertationTitle:DegreesofFreedom: HowProjectReboundFacilitatesAccess toHigherEducationforAdjudicated Adults
Chair:ArnoldDanzig
Members:LilianaCastrellon,Joseph Bosco
NG STUDENTS
guyen (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation
EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate: AAandBAinPsychology, MinorinAnthropology,Universityof California,Merced Graduate:MAinPsychology,SanJose StateUniversity
DissertationTitle:ExploringProgram ParticipantandStaffPerspectiveson CorrectionalPrograms
Chair:ArnoldDanzig
Members:BrentDuckor,ArciaDorosti
Tim Harper (Cohort 8)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation
EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BAinChild&Adolescent Development,SanJoseStateUniversity Graduate:MAinEducation,SanJoseState University
DissertationTitle:EarlyCareand EducationSystemsintheUnitedStatesof America:VoicesofthePast,Presentand Future
Chair:EmilySlusser
Members:EduardoMuñozMuñoz,Heidi Emberling
GRADUTING STUDENTS
Jannet Galicia Castrejon (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation
EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BAinBiological Sciences,CornellUniversity Graduate:MAinUrbanPolicy& Education,LoyolaMarymountUniversity
DissertationTitle:ResilienceinCrisis: HowBIPOCEducatorsNavigated ChallengesAssociatedWithCOVID-19, RacialAwakening,andtheMoveto OnlineLearning
Chair:EllenMiddaugh
Members:RebecaBurciaga,Imee Almazan
Janet Martinez-Ang l (C h t 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation
EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BA,2017,CaliforniaState University,MontereyBay Graduate:MA,2020,Universityof SouthernCalifornia
DissertationTitle:HealingCirculos (Circles):PuttingonEducators'MasksFirst
Chair:MeganThieleStrong
Members:VeneiceGuillory-Lacy,Carissa Purnell
GRADUTING STUDENTS
Suzanne Paulazzo (Cohort 3)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation, EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BA,1999,CSU,Chico
Graduate:MA,2005,NotreDame University
DissertationTitle:Engagementof
SecondaryHistorySocial-Science
TeacherswithProfessionalDevelopment: APhenomenologicalStudy
Chair:FerdieRivera
Members:MarkFelton,JoeHeffernan
Valentín García Cabrera (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation–EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BA,2005,SanJoséState University
Graduate:MA,2010,SanJoséState University
DissertationTitle:“AreYouMyCounselor?”
ACalltoAction:HowLatinxGeneral
Chair:DoloresMena
Members:MariaLedesma,IsaacEscoto
GRADUTING STUDENTS
Abigail Smurr (C
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation, EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BA,2015,AzusaPacific University
Graduate:MA,2019,CaliforniaState University,Fresno
DissertationTitle:TeacherWorkplace
Bullying:VictimandBystander Perspectives
Chair:KimTsai
Members:RoxanaMarachi,BobNelson
Mariana M. Alva
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation, EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BA,2005,SantaClara University
Graduate:MA,2009,SantaClara University
DissertationTitle:CulturayCorazón: LatinaElementarySchoolPrincipals LeadingSchools
Chair:RebecaBurciaga
Members:VeneiceGuillory-Lacy,Norma Martinez-Palmer
GRADUTING STUDENTS
Kalpana J. Galagali (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation–EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BA,2019,NotreDamede NamurUniversity
Graduate:MA,2013,CSU,EastBay
DissertationTitle:CultivatingBelonging: EmpoweringHispanicParentsintheU.S. EducationSystem
Chair:LuisPoza
Members:VeneiceGuillory-Lacy,James Anderson
Christopher J. Co
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation, EducationalLeadership
Graduate:MAinSociologyatSanJose StateUniversity
DissertationTitle: Perspectivesof DepartmentChairsandProgram
DirectorsoftheirEthnicStudiesUnitsin theCaliforniaStateUniversitySystem
Chair:FerdieRivera
Members:MariaLedesma,MylinhPham
GRADUTING STUDENTS
Kevina Brown (Cohort 7)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation, EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BAinGraphicDesign, SanJoseStateUniversity
Graduate:MAinEducationalCounseling, SanJoseStateUniversity
DissertationTitle:HowCanWeDoBetter?
UnderstandingStudentExperiencesand SupportNeedsDuringandAfterthe COVID-19Pandemic.
Chair:RoxanaMarachi
Members:MariaLedesma,Claudia Rodriguez-Mojica
Kaur Brar (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation–EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BAinBiology,CSU Bakersfield(MinorinChemistry)
Graduate:MAinBiology,CSUBakersfield
DissertationTitle:AddressingEquityGaps inSTEM:ASelf-Study
Chair:DavidWhitenack
Members:TammieVisintainer,Misty Stroud
GRADUTING STUDENTS
James Aguirre (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation, EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BAinAmericanStudies, UniversityofCalifornia,Davis
Graduate:MAinEducation,Universityof California,Davis,CredentialsinEnglish/ ELD.
DissertationTitle:Queereducatorsin AffinityFamilyPersonal-Professional Development.
Chair:RobertMarx
Members:VeneiceLacy,TrudyGross
Daniel Burfeind (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation–EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BAinHistory& InternationalRelations,Universityof Redlands.
Graduate:MAinHigherEducation, UniversityofRedlands.
DissertationTitle:Notavailable
Chair:MariaFusaro
Members:MariaLedesma,LeslieWilliams
GRADUTING STUDENTS
Jennifer Daby (Cohort 10)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation, EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BachelorofArts, Chicano/aStudieswithaCulturalStudies EmphasisandSpanishMinor,UCDavis MultipleSubjectTeachingCredentialwith BCLADinSpanish,CSUSacramento.
Graduate:MasterofArts,LatinAmerican Studies,SanDiegoStateUniversity.
DissertationTitle:
Chair:EduardoMunoz-Munoz
Members:Notavailable
Joe Fessehaye (Cohort 8)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation–EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BA,Interdisciplinary (Sociology/FilmStudies),Universityof Missouri
Graduate:MasterofEducation,Higher EducationAdministration,Universityof Missouri
DissertationTitle:Contracts, Communication,andContextualIntegrity: ACaseStudyaboutStudentDataUsein
HigherEducation
Chair:DeannaFassett
Members:FerdieRivera,JenniferRedd
GRADUTING STUDENTS
Martin Gutierrez (Cohort 8)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation, EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BAinPoliticalScience& MinorinEducation,Universityof California,Davis.
Graduate:MAin
Education/Administration&Supervision, SanJoseStateUniversity.
DissertationTitle:EducatorPerspectives ofHighSchoolLongTermEnglishLearners
Chair:RebecaBurciaga
Members:EduardoMunozMunoz, RobertoRenteria,YolandaJimenez
Alexsandra Knode (Cohort 9)
DoctorofEducation
ConnieL.LurieCollegeofEducation–EducationalLeadership
Undergraduate:BAinEnglish,SanJose StateUniversity
Graduate:MAinEnglish|Comparative Literature,SanJoseStateUniversity ResearchInterests:Equityinagriculture andalternativeeducationthrough agriculturalprograms.
DissertationTitle:EquityandAccessibility in4H
Chair:RachelO’Malley
Members:Notavailable
S T U D E N T A C H I E V E M E
Tricia Ryan – Cohort 5
Presented at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers 108th Annual Meeting.
Topic: Beyond Leadership & Team Building: Cultivate Impact at Your Institution
Using Liz Wiseman’s Impact Players, Tricia modeled how individual leadership fosters collective impact. Delivered under the Leadership and Management Development category on March 27, 2023.
Gianna
Shields – Cohort 11
PresentedatWRNNConference(F
Topic:BuildingCollaborative Mathematics:StrategiesforEng LearnersinK–5Classrooms
Clarissa Mae Calimbas – Cohort 10
Presented at the NASPA with Gerald Corporal
Reviewed research on Filipinx Americans in Higher Education.
S T U D E N T A C H I E V E M E N
Chrissy MacLean – Cohort 11
Upcoming Presentation at ASCA Lead with Pride (Apr 29)
Topic: Navigating LGBTQ+ Issues in Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Now serving as Director of Equity, State and Federal Programs at PVUSD.
My Ngoc (Amy) Nguyen – Cohort 9
Successfullydefended!
Zoe Giatis – Cohort 11
Named Teacher of the Year at De Vargas Elementary (Cupertino Union School District)
S T U D E N T A C H I E V E M E N
Amanda Olivas – Cohort 11
Vice-Chair (2025–26) of UPCEA Diversity Board
Earned Google AI Essentials badge
Invited to Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Volunteered in Undocu5k fundraiser for AB 540 students
Andrew Nguyen – Cohort 10
AppointedAssociateDirector,TitleIX& EquityatSFBU FormerlyatSJSU,heled initiativesaroundpolicy,analytics,and compliance.
Buu Thai – Cohort 2
Promoted to Administrative Services Manager, County of Santa Clara
Elected Trustee, San Jose-Evergreen Community College Board
N
Radha Aravamudhan – Cohort 3
Awarded $150K grant from Learning Lab’s FAST Challenge to develop GenAI Coding Tutor for first-year engineering students (with Dr Maria Cheirichetti)
Hyon Chu Yi-Baker – Cohort 3
Trustee,GilroyUnifiedSchoolDistrict
Blanca Baltazar-Sabbah – Cohort 1
Appointed VP of Student Services, Cabrillo College (first Latina to hold the role)
Presented mentorship chapter at the AERA
Featured in Daughters of the Strike documentary alongside her family
E N
Ryan Carter – Cohort 7
Co-authored “Differential Effects of GPTbased Tools on Comprehension” (Published in Frontiers in Education)
Panelist at SJSU IAEP webinar on student-led AI research
Carrie Holmberg – Cohort 1
Co-authoringthirdbookonAIin educationwithDr.BrentDuckor (contractedwithHarvardEducationPress)
Sofia Fojas – Cohort 8
Presentedherstudyonartseducationfor high-needsstudentstotopCalifornia educationalleadersduringtheCCSS ImplementationCall(Jan27,2025)
FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS
MeganThieleStrong
Op-edpublishedinTheFulcrumon governanceanddemocracy
AppointedInterimChair,Teacher EducationDept.
Co-authoredmultiplepeerreviewedpublicationson translanguagingandbilingual education
AllisonBriceno
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