Rising Spring 2025

SJSU

SPRING 2025

EdD Educational Leadership Program

RISING NEWSLETTER

2024 Carnegie Project for the Education Directorate Convening, Honolulu, Hawaii

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS Director’s Message…………………………..............… 03 Graduating Students………………………...........……. 04 Student Achievements……………………..............…. 14 Faculty Achievements…………………………............. 19

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

DIRECTOR‘S MESSAGE

Welcome to the Spring 2025 edition of the Ed.D. Newsletter. In this edition, I am excited to share with you our students from Cohorts 9 and below who have successfully defended their dissertation this semester! I also include those who completed their dissertation research last Fall 2024 and those who will complete their dissertation in Summer 2025.

These 20 leader-scholars and leader-practitioners have produced amazing transformative research that would hopefully improve the conditions of the parties colleagues, students, staff, etc. - they serve. Please do not hesitate to reach out to them if you would like to learn more about their research. You may access their dissertation documents here. Also, in the remaining pages of this newsletter, I highlight the impressive achievements of our former and current students and core faculty.

Please reach out to me if you have questions, issues, inquiries, and other concerns. If you are interested in obtaining your Ed.D. degree at SJSU, please know that our 13th cohort begins in Summer 2026. We recently completed the admissions process for Cohort 12 that will start this Summer 2025, and I am happy to inform you that we intend to welcome 60 (!) new students. More information about the new cohort will be provided in the Fall 2025 newsletter.

For more information about various aspects of our program, I invite you to register to attend one of our information sessions, which begins in late August this year. Please know that we offer hybrid and fully online options for completing your doctorate. Also, in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Education's Leaders in Educational Administration Program, we offer a combined Ed.D./Preliminary Administrative Credential for interested and qualified PK-12 teachers and teacher leaders.

Thank you and have a wonderful Summer 2025!

Ferdie Rivera, Director

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS Jean Clothilda Woolcock (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA, 1983, University of the West Indies Graduate: MS, 1997, San José State University Dissertation Title: The Inequitable Access: Black and Latinx Students in AP Courses Chair: Luis Poza Members: Thomas Moriarty, Donald Harris

Elizabeth Regina Wirtz (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA, 2019, Whittier College Graduate: MA, 2022, National University Dissertation Title: Degrees of Freedom: How Project Rebound Facilitates Access to Higher Education for Adjudicated Adults Chair: Arnold Danzig Members: Liliana Castrellon, Joseph Bosco

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS My Ngoc T. Nguyen (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education Educational Leadership Undergraduate: AA and BA in Psychology, Minor in Anthropology, University of California, Merced Graduate: MA in Psychology, San Jose State University Dissertation Title: Exploring Program Participant and Staff Perspectives on Correctional Programs Chair: Arnold Danzig Members: Brent Duckor, Arcia Dorosti

Tim Harper (Cohort 8) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA in Child & Adolescent Development, San Jose State University Graduate: MA in Education, San Jose State University Dissertation Title: Early Care and Education Systems in the United States of America: Voices of the Past, Present and Future Chair: Emily Slusser Members: Eduardo Muñoz Muñoz, Heidi Emberling

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS Jannet Galicia Castrejon (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA in Biological Sciences, Cornell University Graduate:MA in Urban Policy & Education, Loyola Marymount University Dissertation Title: Resilience in Crisis: How BIPOC Educators Navigated Challenges Associated With COVID-19, Racial Awakening, and the Move to Online Learning Chair: Ellen Middaugh Members: Rebeca Burciaga, Imee Almazan

Janet Martinez-Angeles (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA, 2017, California State University, Monterey Bay Graduate: MA, 2020, University of Southern California Dissertation Title: Healing Circulos (Circles): Putting on Educators' Masks First Chair: Megan Thiele Strong Members: Veneice Guillory-Lacy, Carissa Purnell

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS Suzanne Paulazzo (Cohort 3) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA, 1999, CSU, Chico Graduate: MA, 2005, Notre Dame University Dissertation Title: Engagement of Secondary History Social-Science Teachers with Professional Development: A Phenomenological Study Chair: Ferdie Rivera Members: Mark Felton, Joe Heffernan

Valentín García Cabrera (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education – Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA, 2005, San José State University Graduate: MA, 2010, San José State University Dissertation Title: “Are You My Counselor?”

A Call to Action: How Latinx General Counselors Can Support Latinx Student Retention at California Community College Hispanic-Serving Institutions Chair: Dolores Mena Members: Maria Ledesma, Isaac Escoto

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS Abigail Smurr (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA, 2015, Azusa Pacific University Graduate: MA, 2019, California State University, Fresno Dissertation Title: Teacher Workplace Bullying: Victim and Bystander Perspectives Chair: Kim Tsai Members: Roxana Marachi, Bob Nelson

Mariana M. Alvarez (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA, 2005, Santa Clara University Graduate: MA, 2009, Santa Clara University Dissertation Title: Cultura y Corazón: Latina Elementary School Principals Leading Schools Chair: Rebeca Burciaga Members: Veneice Guillory-Lacy, Norma Martinez-Palmer

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS Kalpana J. Galagali (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education – Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA, 2019, Notre Dame de Namur University Graduate: MA, 2013, CSU, East Bay Dissertation Title: Cultivating Belonging: Empowering Hispanic Parents in the U.S. Education System Chair: Luis Poza Members: Veneice Guillory-Lacy, James Anderson

Christopher J. Cox ( Chohort 4) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership Graduate: MA in Sociology at San Jose State University Dissertation Title: Perspectives of Department Chairs and Program Directors of their Ethnic Studies Units in the California State University System Chair: Ferdie Rivera Members: Maria Ledesma, Mylinh Pham

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS Kevina Brown (Cohort 7) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA in Graphic Design, San Jose State University Graduate: MA in Educational Counseling, San Jose State University Dissertation Title: How Can We Do Better?

Understanding Student Experiences and Support Needs During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Chair: Roxana Marachi Members: Maria Ledesma, Claudia Rodriguez-Mojica

Prabhjeet Kaur Brar (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education – Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA in Biology, CSU Bakersfield (Minor in Chemistry) Graduate: MA in Biology, CSU Bakersfield Dissertation Title: Addressing Equity Gaps in STEM: A Self-Study Chair: David Whitenack Members: Tammie Visintainer, Misty Stroud

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS James Aguirre (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership.

Undergraduate: BA in American Studies, University of California, Davis.

Graduate: MA in Education, University of California, Davis, Credentials in English / ELD. Dissertation Title: Queer educators in Affinity Family Personal-Professional Development.

Chair: Robert Marx.

Members: Veneice Lacy, Trudy Gross.

Daniel Burfeind (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education – Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA in History & International Relations, University of Redlands.

Graduate: MA in Higher Education, University of Redlands.

Dissertation Title: A study of factors that influence student voting behavior for college activity fees at public four-year universities.

Chair: Maria Fusaro Members: Maria Ledesma, Leslie Williams

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS Jennifer Daby (Cohort 10) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts, Chicano/a Studies with a Cultural Studies Emphasis and Spanish Minor, UC Davis Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with BCLAD in Spanish, CSU Sacramento.

Graduate: Master of Arts, Latin American Studies, San Diego State University.

Dissertation Title: Living in the Hyphen: Creating Puentes through Encuentros and Pláticas with Latinx Cross-cultural Kids Chair: Eduardo Munoz-Munoz Members: Not available

Joe Fessehaye (Cohort 8) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education – Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA, Interdisciplinary (Sociology/Film Studies), University of Missouri Graduate: Master of Education, Higher Education Administration, University of Missouri Dissertation Title: Contracts, Communication, and Contextual Integrity: A Case Study about Student Data Use in Higher Education Chair: Deanna Fassett Members: Ferdie Rivera, Jennifer Redd

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

GRADUTING STUDENTS Martin Gutierrez (Cohort 8) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA in Political Science & Minor in Education, University of California, Davis.

Graduate: MA in Education/Administration & Supervision, San Jose State University.

Dissertation Title: Educator Perspectives of High School Long Term English Learners Chair: Rebeca Burciaga Members: Eduardo Munoz Munoz, Roberto Renteria, Yolanda Jimenez

Alexsandra Knode (Cohort 9) Doctor of Education Connie L. Lurie College of Education – Educational Leadership Undergraduate: BA in English, San Jose State University Graduate: MA in English | Comparative Literature, San Jose State University Research Interests: Equity in agriculture and alternative education through agricultural programs.

Dissertation Title: Equity and Accessibility in 4H Chair: Rachel O’Malley Members: Not available

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS 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

Presented at WRNN Conference (Feb 22, 2025) Topic: Building Collaborative Mathematics: Strategies for Engaging All Learners in K–5 Classrooms

Clarissa Mae Calimbas – Cohort 10 Presented at the NASPA with Gerald Corporal Reviewed research on Filipinx Americans in Higher Education.

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS 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

Successfully defended!

Zoe Giatis – Cohort 11 Named Teacher of the Year at De Vargas Elementary (Cupertino Union School District)

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS 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

Appointed Associate Director, Title IX & Equity at SFBU. Formerly at SJSU, he led initiatives around policy, analytics, and compliance.

Buu Thai – Cohort 2 Promoted to Administrative Services Manager, County of Santa Clara Elected Trustee, San Jose-Evergreen Community College Board

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS 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, Gilroy Unified School District

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

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https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS 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-authoring third book on AI in education with Dr. Brent Duckor (contracted with Harvard Education Press)

Sofia Fojas – Cohort 8 Presented her study on arts education for high-needs students to top California educational leaders during the CCSS Implementation Call (Jan 27, 2025)

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https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SPRING 2025

FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS Megan Thiele Strong

Op-ed published in The Fulcrum on governance and democracy

Allison Briceno Appointed Interim Chair, Teacher Education Dept.

Co-authored multiple peerreviewed publications on translanguaging and bilingual education

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/

CONNIE L. LURIE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

RISING SPRING 2025

https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/