School of Educational Studies SES at Claremont Graduate University

📣SES Student Feature: Cathy Longstreet ⭐

We are pleased to share that Cathy Longstreet, a doctoral student in Educational Studies from the joint PhD program between San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University, presented at the 6th International Emerging Rural Scholars Summit 2024. Cathy delivered a Lightning Talk titled “The Impact of School Counselor Support on Rural First-Generation Students’ FAFSA Completion,” contributing valuable insights to this international forum focused on rural research and innovative ideas.

⭐SES Alumni Feature ⭐Dr. Matthew Witenstein, who earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Research from CGU SES, has been appointed as an Action Research and Rights Faculty Fellow at the Human Rights Center at the University of Dayton. In this new role, Dr. Witenstein will be connecting faculty across campus with action research through a human rights lens, contributing to impactful, interdisciplinary work.

Dr. Witenstein’s extensive experience in educational leadership, highlighted by his tenure as Senior Research Fellow at CGU and his past role as Secretary of the Comparative & International Education Society (2020-2023), continues to enhance the field of educational research.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Witenstein on this significant achievement and encourage our community to explore his recent publications for further insights into his scholarly work.

Image credit: https://udayton.edu/directory/education/eda/witenstein_matthew.php

Claremont Graduate University was represented at the 10-year anniversary gala of the Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley by Joel Pérez, Ph.D., Yoné Rodríguez, and DeLacy Ganley.

🌟 Honoring Chancellor Maenette Benham: 2024-2025 Distinguished Bowen Lecturer 🌟

We are delighted to share that University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu Chancellor Maenette Benham was honored as the 2024-2025 Distinguished Bowen Lecturer by the Claremont Graduate University School of Educational Studies. This distinguished series, in its 41st year, celebrates influential scholars in higher education.

Chancellor Benham’s lecture, titled “In Our Mothers’ Voice: Ulu a‘e ke welina a ke aloha,” delivered on October 7 at the CGU campus, captivated attendees by weaving ancestral stories, professional knowledge, and community-based action.

Image credit and to read more:

Chancellor Benham honored as Distinguished Bowen Lecturer - Ka Puna O Kaloi The Claremont Graduate University (CGU) School of Educational Studies honored University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu Chancellor Maenette Benham as its 2024-2025 Distinguished Bowen Lecturer. The Distinguished Bowen Lecture, now in its 41st year and named in honor of Dr. Howard Bowen, features some o...

Faculty Feature: Dr. Frances Marie Gipson in WalletHub!

We're excited to share that Dr. Frances Marie Gipson, Clinical Professor and Director of the Urban Leadership Program at Claremont Graduate University’s School of Educational Studies, was recently featured in WalletHub's article on the Best & Worst College Cities and Towns in America. 🎓

Read Dr. Gipson’s full feature here: 🔗 https://wallethub.com/edu/e/best-worst-college-cities-and-towns-in-america/8974
🔗 https://wallethub.com/edu/e/best-worst-college-cities-and-towns-in-america/8974 =Frances_Marie_Gipson

Best College Towns & Cities in America Best College Towns & Cities in America

🌟 Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Fernando Rodríguez-Valls 🌟 We are proud to share exciting news from Dr. Fernando Rodríguez-Valls, an SES and Teacher Ed PhD alumnus and current Professor at California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Rodríguez-Valls, who coordinates the COE Bilingual Authorization Program, has successfully designed and gained approval for a new course: Strategies to Build Anti-Racist and Cooperative Linguistic Ideologies in TK-12 Classrooms. Launching first in Spring 2025 in Spanish, participants will earn 1 CEU upon completion.

Let’s celebrate Dr. Rodríguez-Valls' dedication to advancing plurilingualism and inclusive education.



Image Credit: https://ed.fullerton.edu/seced/about-us/faculty/

🌟 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Linda Perkins at Texas A&M University 🌟

Dr. Linda Perkins from the School of Educational Studies (SES) recently presented an enlightening lecture at Texas A&M University. This event was hosted both in-person and virtually, featuring a special “breakfast with graduate students” that sparked meaningful discussions on race and education. Dr. Perkins’ continued contributions inspire both scholars and students alike. We encourage our SES community and beyond to check out her thought-provoking book, “To Advance the Race”, for deeper insights here: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p087837

📢 Check Out This Blog Post by SES Emerit Faculty Member, Charles T. Kerchner!

Charles T. Kerchner, SES Emerit Faculty Member, has shared a recent blog post titled “Pro-Choice Is Personal for Me.” In this piece, Dr. Kerchner shares a deeply personal perspective that encourages reflection and dialogue.

We invite all members of the SES community to read and engage with this important work. Dr. Kerchner's writing continues to foster meaningful discussions that resonate beyond the classroom.

🔗 Read the full blog post here: https://charlestaylorkerchner.substack.com/p/pro-choice-is-personal-for-me?r=x2h4l

🎃Happy Halloween from CGU’s School of Educational Studies!

Spooky season is upon us, and we’re embracing all the fun and festivity here at SES! Whether you’re carving pumpkins, dressing up in costumes, or just enjoying some treats, we hope you have a fantastic and safe celebration. 🎉🍬

Wishing our entire SES community a spook-tacular Halloween! 👻

🎓 Shape the Future of Education with CGU’s School of Educational Studies 🎓

At the School of Educational Studies (SES), we’re dedicated to preparing education professionals who prioritize equity and social justice. Our programs blend hands-on experience with a multidisciplinary curriculum, empowering graduates to lead in diverse roles—from university presidents to school superintendents.

Our alumni are driving change in institutions such as Cal Poly Pomona, UC Irvine, Los Angeles Unified School District, and many more. 🌍

Ready to design your own master’s or doctoral program? Or become a highly effective teacher through our credentialing programs? Explore the possibilities at SES today!

Visit our website: https://www.cgu.edu/school/school-of-educational-studies/

🌟 Calling All SES Students! Share Your Accomplishments & Stay Connected 🌟

Do you have exciting news, accomplishments, or events you'd like to share with the CGU community? We want to hear from you! Whether it's a milestone, an event, or a helpful resource for fellow students, we encourage you to submit your updates to [email protected]. Your news could be featured in our next newsletter or on our social channels!

Plus, if you're posting something related to the School of Educational Studies (SES)—whether it’s about studying, life on campus, attending virtual classes, or engaging with SES programs—be sure to tag us! We’d love to see and share your experiences.

📧 Submit your news: [email protected]
📱 Tag us in your posts about SES, studying, campus life, or virtual classes!

Let’s keep celebrating and supporting each other’s successes as a community! ✨

🌟 Explore CAFE Resources: Video Series on YouTube 🌟

Looking to enhance your academic and professional journey? The Center for Academic & Faculty Excellence (CAFE) is offering an amazing video series hosted by Dr. M. Gloria González-Morales! These sessions provide practical advice for both students and faculty:

1️⃣ Every Semester Needs a Plan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ_Oe-FKpIM
2️⃣ Mentoring and Being Mentored: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SFsQKih89Y
3️⃣ Personal Strategic Planning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGDbsOZrOnw

You can watch these insightful sessions on YouTube anytime! 🎥

For more details be sure to check out the SPARK 2024 newsletter. Don't miss out on these valuable resources! 🌱

🌟 Urban Leadership Scholars Meet with Senator Polanco 🌟

We are proud to share that our Urban Leadership scholars had the incredible opportunity to meet with Senator Polanco as part of their Models of Leadership cohort course. The evening was filled with gratitude and thoughtful reflections. We are so grateful for Senator Polanco’s time and insights, and we celebrate our UL scholars as they continue to grow as leaders in their communities.

Picture 1 - UL Cohort
Picture 2 - DoctorXhood Cabinet Members in the UL Program

🎉 Faculty Achievement: Dr. Guan Saw Wins NREA Best Research Award! 🎉

We are excited to announce that Dr. Guan Saw has been awarded the National Rural Education Association (NREA) Best Research Award for his paper, "Disparities in STEM Education and Pathways of Rural and Small-Town Students by Remoteness."

Dr. Saw will be presenting his research at the NREA Annual Conference later this month in Savannah, Georgia.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Saw on this incredible achievement! 👏👏

Discussions that Matter: A Lecture by Carl Cohn
📅 Monday, December 2, 2024
⏰ Fellowship at 5:00 pm | Lecture at 6:00 pm
📍 Stauffer's Albrecht Auditorium

Join the SES community for Magic Monday this December, featuring an insightful lecture by Professor Carl Cohn, Emeritus Faculty of CGU. Professor Cohn will present his talk titled:
"The November Election Results: The Potential for Ending the School Cultural Wars Across the Country and Here in California."

In his lecture, Professor Cohn will explore how progressives are pushing back on extremist takeovers of public school districts and share details about a new initiative, sponsored by the Hewlett Foundation, aimed at increasing political knowledge and skills for superintendents.

This is an incredible opportunity for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the SES community to come together for fellowship and enrichment.

🗓 Event Schedule:

4:00 – 5:00 pm: On-campus office hours with core SES faculty (by appointment)
5:00 – 5:45 pm: Fellowship and informal gathering (Stauffer 106)
6:00 – 6:50 pm: Enrichment activity: Professor Cohn’s lecture
Please register here to aid our planning: https://tinyurl.com/CarlCohnDec2024.

We hope to see you there for this important discussion!

SPARK: Student Spotlight ✨

Meet Marclem Hernandez, a Ph.D. student in Education (2025) at the School of Educational Studies. Marclem joined CGU in 2022 after earning his Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University. Currently, he serves as the Assistant Director of Admissions at CGU, where he manages admissions and recruitment for the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and 5C initiatives.

Beyond his professional role, Marclem is an active member of the CGU community, serving on the executive team of the Graduate Student Council. In this position, he has been a passionate advocate for students and has worked tirelessly to enhance the graduate experience by fostering communication between students and university administration.

Balancing the demands of his Ph.D. studies and his role at CGU, Marclem emphasizes the importance of effective time management, self-care, and mindfulness. His commitment to leadership, student engagement, and higher education continues to drive his journey as both a student and a professional.

Join us in celebrating Marclem's accomplishments and his impactful work in the CGU community! 🎓

🎓 Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Paul G. Morehouse 🎶

We’re proud to highlight Dr. Paul G. Morehouse, an Early Childhood Music Specialist with over 30 years of experience. Paul has been a passionate advocate for the role of rhythm and music in early language development. His curriculum, "Rockin' Words and Rhythm!", focuses on how rhythmic patterns in music and language can support cognitive growth in young children.

Backed by exciting new research from the University of Cambridge, which shows that infants learn languages through rhythmic information (much like nursery rhymes and songs), Paul's work continues to gain validation. His 2016 independent research project further explored the powerful connection between music and language development, making him a true pioneer in the field.

We look forward to seeing the continued impact of Paul's innovative contributions on early childhood education! 🌟

🗓️ Upcoming Events at CGU! 🗓️

Don't miss out on some amazing workshops and events this fall, hosted by the Center for Writing & Rhetoric and Career and Professional Development! Whether you're looking to improve your grant writing, power through your dissertation, or learn how to leverage AI in your job search, we’ve got something for everyone:

✨ Dissertation Bootcamp
📅 October 12, 2024 | 9:00am - 3:00pm

✨ Literature Reviews Workshop
📅 October 16, 2024 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

✨ AI-Powered Job Search Workshop
📅 October 23, 2024 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

✨ Accountability Groups Workshop
📅 November 14, 2024 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

🔗 Be sure to RSVP for these events, and for more details on what's happening this fall, check out the CGU SPARK Fall 2024 Newsletter! Let’s make the most of this academic year! 💪