Skip to main content

Spring 2026 News letter

Page 1


WelcometoourSpring2026Newsletter!

Iamabsolutelyhonoredtointroducethisyear’s EdDgraduatesfromCohorts7,8,and10.Weare celebrating20remarkableleaderswhoare readytoheadoutandtransformtheworldfor thebetter.Inmanyways,thedoctoraldegreeis simplyaformalityforthiscohort;manyare alreadyestablishedchange-makersinthe placeswheretheywork.Witnessingtheirgrowth overthepastthreeyearshasbeenaprivilege, andIcouldn'tbeprouderofeverythingthey’ve accomplished.

AfewadditionalthingsthatI’dliketosharewith youinthisnewsletterincludetheimpressivepublications,presentations, andhonors/awardsofourcurrentstudents, alumni,andcorefaculty; ournewestinstructorstotheprogram;and photosfromlastyear’sholidaypartyin Decemberandthissemester’scommunity gathering,wheredifferentcohortsmingled andgottoknoweachother.Wealso dedicatedsometimeduringthespring gatheringtopubliclyacknowledgeand celebratetheachivementsofourgraduating doctoralstudents.

Iclosethisissuewithanimportantmessage fromourEdDAlumniNetworkaddressedtothe graduatesofourprogram,now139inall(and10 inABDstatus).

Happyreading!

FerdieRivera

MadewithGeminiAI

Dr.CyndeeMaiNguyen DirectorofEarlyLiteracy, MountainViewWhisman District

Dr.DogukanOzgen AssistantProfessorofAI andEmergent TechnologiesandEdD CoreFaculty SJSU,CHAD/EdD

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

Dr.CloverCodd Superintendent MorelandSchoolDistrict

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

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Erika Vargas

Cohort 10

Title: Braiding Epistemologies: A

Testimonio of a Woman of Color

Coach Creating Space in California

Community College Athletics

Members: Rebeca Burciaga, Liliana Castrellon, William Rodriquez

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

Lusyna Kim Narvaez

Cohort 10

Title: breaking the glass ceiling from the ground floor: bipoc women classified professionals' journey in california community colleges

Members: Liliana Castrellon, Rebeca Burciaga ,David Piper

CONNIEL.LURIECOLLEGEOFEDUCATION

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Feroza Solaiman, Cohort 10

Title: Addressing The Lack of Representation of Hijab Wearing

Teachers of Color in Education

Members: Lara Ervin-Kassab, Deanna L. Fassett, Raul M. Zamora

Verónica Meza Cohort 10

Title: "A door to the future." A case study in exploratory and culturally sustaining theater curriculum

Members: Luis Poza, Eduardo Munoz-Munoz, Martina Ayala, Ellen Middaugh

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Sara Kendallen

Cohort 10

Title: examining beliefs of state department of education directors of assessment regarding standardized testing Members: Brent Duckor, Arnold Danzig, Richard Patz

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

Jeremy Adams

Cohort 7

Title: Multiple Perspectives on Inclusion in Science for Students Receiving Support from The Learning Center (TLC) Program Members: Arnold Danzig ,Ferdie Rivera, Paulette Cobb

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Amanda Lubbs

Cohort 10

Title: Can Curriculum Improve

Confidence?:Examining the Impact of the California Math Framework on Math Anxiety Levels of Pre-Service Teachers in California

Members: Dr. Emily Slusse, Dr. Sandra Rui, Dr. Deborah Curtis

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

Diana Valle

Cohort 8

Title: Querer es Poder: FirstGeneration Latinx Students from Central Coast Navigating Higher Education Post-Pandemic

Members: Maria Ledesma, Rebeca Burciaga, Rudy Medina

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Jeffery Sundquist

Cohort 10

Title: ensuring effective, efficient, and equitable libraries in a post-pandemic community college environment

Members: Deanna Fassett, Kristen Radsliff, Renate Chancellor

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

Kaci Turpin

Cohort 10

Title: Understanding the impact of transfer orientation leadership: student leader perspectives at a mid-sized California university

Members: Deanna Fassett, Maria Ledesma, Rudy Medina

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Shilpan Sheth

Cohort 10

Title: Guru Shishya Parampara: A Phenomenological Exploration of Character Development

Through Immersion

Members: Grinell Smith, Colette Rabin, Wendy Stratton

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

Harshdeep Singh Nanda

Cohort 8

Title: An untouched gem:understanding parental perceptions on community college attendance

Members: Ferdie Rivera, Keenan Norris, Kathleen McConnell

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Rolan Resendiz

Cohort 10

Title:Rewriting the Plan: Environmental Justice, Community Resistance, and Governance Power in Hollister, California

Members:Maria C Ledesma, Anne Marie Faria, Kenneth Yeager

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

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Ahmed Dilkash

Cohort 10

Title:Supports an Challenges for Students with Extensive Support Needs in Higher Education: A State University Qualitative Study

Members: Sudha Krishnan, Sailia Kulkarni, Matt Love

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

Prisilla Cortez

Cohort 10

Title:"Girl, I'll Figure It Out": FirstGeneration Women of Color Navigating Higher Education

Members: Liliana Castrellon, Veneice Guillory-Lacy, Belinda Otukolo Saltiban

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Calimbas Clarissa Cohort 10

Title:Who's Building the Bridge?: Filipina/x/o American Student Organizations and Academic Experiences in Higher Education

Members:Maria Ledesma, Liliana Castrellon, Tracy Buenavista.

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

Nguyen Andrew Cohort 10

Title:Selected California State University Cybersecurity Readiness Policies and Related Guidance for Staff: A Qualitative Document Analysis

Members:Melody Moh, Ferdie Rivera, Hazel De Ausen.

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Animuntu Anthony

Cohort 10

Title:Out of the briar path: storying resistance among black male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and its impact on their educational experiences

Members: Veneice GuilloryLacy, Rebeca Burciaga, Matais Pouncil

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

Dan Burfeind Cohort 9

Title:Behind the ballot: examining relationships between student characteristics and voting behavior for college activity fees at a public fouryear university

Members: Maria Fusaro, Maria Ledesma, Leslie Williams

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

Allison Briceño

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

Brent Duckor
Arnold Danzig

CORE FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

�� Awards & Honors

Publications: Guillory-Lacy,V.(2025).ReclaimingRelational Pedagogies:TheRoleofTalkingCirclesin DecolonizingHigherEducationClassrooms.Brock EducationJournal,34(2),27–43. https://doi.org/10.26522/brocked.v34i2.1241. https://scholarworkssjsuedu/faculty rsca/6334 /

Guillory-Lacy,V,Malloy,K,Warren,J,Aquino,E, anddeBourbon,S SurvivanceofNative AmericanandIndigenousStudentsataFouryearHispanic-ServingInstitution.InternatIonal JournalofQualItatIveStudiesinEducatIon (2025).

https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2025.2574965. https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/faculty rsca/6330 /

Awards/Honors: Weir/GalmAward(AwardedtoDr VeneiceGuillory-LacyandDr EleniDuret) Theawardisintendedtosupportresearch,traveltopresentatconferences,and/oracquisition ofmaterialsrelatedtoteachingorscholarship AlongtimeprofessorandChairoftheEnglish Department,Dr JohnGalm,establishedtheWeir/GalmEndowmentin1995inmemoryofhis wife,Dr.SybilWeir.Dr.WeiralsohadalongcareeratSanJoséStateUniversity.Shewas ProfessorofEnglishandAssociateDeanoftheCollegeofHumanitiesandtheArts;shealso servedasAssociateVicePresidentforFacultyAffairs.TheWeir/GalmEndowmentAwardis intendedtoenhancethecareersofnewfacultymembersaccordingtothewishesofDr.Weir andDr.Galm.

ExceptionalLevelsofServicetoStudentAssignedTimeAward-SJSU

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

Veneice Guillory-Lacy

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

Janet Bang

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

Blanca Baltazar-Sabbah (Cohort 1)
Carrie Holmberg (Cohort 1)

�� Awards & Honors

Promotion:ProfessionalGrowth

Dr.ClaraFernándezcurrentlyservesasDeputySuperintendentof Alisal Union School District, where she provides leadership and support across departments to ensure systems and practices meet the needs of every student A Watsonville native, Dr Fernández built her educational leadership career in Alisal, a community that has deeply shaped her as an educator and leader Through her work in the district, she has developed a strong commitment to educational equity, collaboration, and student success Her career spans multiple levels of education, includingserviceasaprincipalatboththeelementaryandhigh school levels, as well as district leadership in Human Resources andEducationalServices Theseexperienceshavereinforcedher belief in the power of public education to transform lives and strengthen communitiesAs Deputy Superintendent, Dr Fernández is dedicated to fostering strong partnerships with families, staff, and the broader community to build on Alisal’s proudlegacyandexpandopportunitiesforallstudentstothrive

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

Award: 10 years of faculty teaching and service to SJSU

Clara Fernandez (Cohort 1)
Leslye Whitehead (Cohort 6)

Awards & Honors

SchillingaddressingSenatorsSchiff andPadilladuringaCalifornia congressionalcoffeesession.

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

John Schilling (Cohort 3)

Awards & Honors

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

Anthony Oskar Alvarado (Cohort 8)
Harshdeep Singh Nanda (Cohort 8)

Smurr (Cohort 9 )

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

Nannette
Abigail

Awards & Honors

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

Kaci Turpin (Cohort 10)
Phoebe Paxton (Cohort 10)

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

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

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

Susan Blanco (Cohort 11)

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

Gianna Shields (Cohort 11)

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

Seshadri Paravastu (Cohort 11)
Thanh Van Thai (Cohort 11)

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

Blanca Moncada (Cohort 12)

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

VanNessa Hulme Silbermann (Cohort 12)
Spike Osorio (Cohort 12)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Spring 2026 News letter by SJSU Lurie College of Education - Issuu