October 10, 2022
Meet UCR’s new faculty members
For fall quarter 2022, UC Riverside welcomed 34 new permanent faculty members from a variety of disciplines.
Learn more about the new faculty below:
College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences
October 03, 2022
Dr. Frances Valdovinos named Assistant Dean and Director of Teacher Education
Frances Valdovinos has been named Assistant Dean and Director of Teacher Education program at UCR’s School of Education (SOE). Valdovinos joined SOE in 2016 as a student academic advisor and was recently appointed assistant dean and director of teacher education, a role she served as interim for a year.
October 03, 2022
SOE welcomes three new faculty
Join us in welcoming three new faculty! José Del Real Viramontes, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Higher Education Administration and Policy program the School of Education at the University of California, Riverside. Prior to UCR, he was an assistant professor in the Higher Education/Community College Leadership program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Cultural Studies in Education from the University of Texas at Austin. As a former community college transfer student, his research explores the
July 25, 2022
New program aims to increase Latinx students conducting environmental research
A $342,000 grant has allowed the expansion of a UC Berkeley program to UCR.
July 25, 2022
New dean of School of Education named
Joi Spencer has been named the dean of UC Riverside’s School of Education, effective Jan. 1, 2023.
Spencer is a professor of Mathematics Education at the University of San Diego, in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, or SOLES. During 16 years at USD, Spencer has been associate dean and, most recently, interim dean of SOLES.
July 05, 2022
School of Education honors faculty, students, and staff
This year, in addition to the SOE undergraduate awards, SOE established new awards that honor our exceptional graduate students, faculty, and staff. The recipients were honored at SOE’s Commencement reception at The Barn. Below is a full list of awards and honorees. Academic Excellence Award This award recognizes undergraduate students—one from each Education Concentration—who are selected by the Undergraduate Education Committee (based on faculty nominations) for achieving excellence in their academics, research, and community engagement or creative activity. Stephanie Zeng is a memorable
July 05, 2022
Highlander celebrates 10-year anniversary of DACA with FLOTUS
Ariana Aparicio Aguilar, a doctoral student in UCR's School of Education and a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, was recently invited with Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox to attend a 10-year DACA anniversary at the White House.
June 08, 2022
UC Riverside tests a reading comprehension intervention for students in the middle grades with autism spectrum disorder
The study will implement an evidence-based reading intervention program in Southern California and Central Texas
June 06, 2022
SOE donors and alumni create five new endowed scholarships to support student success
UC Riverside School of Education (SOE) is grateful to the following donors for helping create five new endowed scholarships. The new scholarships are part of UC Riverside’s student success fundraising initiative, Beyond Brilliant, which aims to raise $50 million over 5 years to broaden access to our world-class educational experience and provide additional resources for student-centered programming. Dr. Vera Machado Martinez Endowed Graduate Student Scholarship Fund, SOE’s first Beyond Brilliant Initiative gift, will provide support for students in the School of Education who seek to become
June 06, 2022
Graduate student selected to join John Smartt Summer Scholars Program
Join us in congratulating UCR graduate student Alexis Weatherspoon for being selected to the John Smartt Summer Scholars Program at The Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions. The internship program is designed to give interested master's students the opportunity to receive professional experience, connect with scholars in the higher education field, and learn fundamental research skills in connection to equity and leadership. Interns will get a $1,500 stipend, the opportunity to do and publish research, academic mentoring, and administrative experience, among other things. This year
May 26, 2022
American Council on Education awards fellowship to school psychology professor
Austin Johnson will join the 2022-23 class of ACE Fellows.
May 16, 2022
Making a difference: SOE staff spotlight
The Inland Empire Alumni Network (IEAN) for the University of California, Riverside is a group of local UCR alumni who promote a sense of community throughout the Inland Empire. They host networking and programming events that enrich student experiences and also promote student-alumni interaction to establish relationships with other Highlanders. The IEAN for UCR takes part in many volunteer leadership and service projects to represent the Highlander community’s proud and lifelong commitment. Samantha Jobelius, SOE’s enrollment manager, is the current president of the IEAN for UCR and also
May 06, 2022
School of Education launches Black Community Education Promise Program
The program supports incoming School of Education freshman or transfer students who are dedicated to serving the Black community via education upon graduation from UCR
May 04, 2022
SOE honors two alumnae for Teacher Appreciation Week
In celebration of teacher appreciation week, SOE honored two alumnae with the Alumni in Excellence Awards at an intimate reception at The Barn. This awards program, now in its second year, honors alumni currently on faculty at a K-12 school who, in alignment with SOE’s mission, are committed to advancing equitable educational systems and practices in their K-12 work. Andrea Zambrano and Alejandra Sanchez were nominated by colleagues, and selected by a panel that included Interim Dean Louie Rodriguez, Interim Assistant Dean and Director of Teacher Education Dr. Frances Valdovinos, SOE Community
April 27, 2022
Special education staff felt lower well-being and effectiveness during pandemic
Study finds certain services transitioned to technological platforms more effectively than others
March 29, 2022
Families of children with autism can get free help from UC Riverside’s SEARCH Center
Inland Empire families don’t have to wade through school and service systems alone
March 29, 2022
Experts urge reconsideration of 'standard' for time-keeping
To gauge the impacts of dark mornings in some parts of the country, we spoke with two UC Riverside experts
March 23, 2022
Study highlights need to address race and racism in teacher education programs
UCR research shows race evasiveness harms teacher educators and charts a path toward identifying and disrupting racism
March 11, 2022
UC Riverside’s FIERCE Scholars are diversifying the Inland Empire teacher workforce
A gift from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union to UC Riverside School of Education is funding a program to get local education students into graduate or credential programs
March 10, 2022
HEERF funding bolsters writing support for undergraduate students
Since the start of the pandemic, online learning and the impacts of COVID-19 have presented challenges for UCR students. With limited resources available to support student achievement and persistence, School of Education (SOE) advising staff noted flagging GPAs and higher student withdrawal rates were threatening to exacerbate gaps in educational opportunity and degree completion. In order to lessen these challenges, the SOE sought support from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to strengthen the Undergraduate Writing Support Program which was launched in 2019. The HEERF
March 09, 2022
Reading intervention strategy shows promise for students with autism
A pilot study found statistically significant vocabulary gains for students with mild to moderate autism symptom severity.
March 08, 2022
Civic engagement project receives UC systemwide award
A UC Riverside effort to get more students involved with university boards of trustees has received a VOICE Award
March 08, 2022
Racial justice group names award for education professor
A national organization dedicated to racial justice has named an award for UC Riverside education professor Tara J. Yosso. Color of Change, an online nonprofit, cited the power of Yosso’s research-based counter narratives, which shed critical historical light on the educational experiences of students of color.
Color of Change held its inaugural Black History Now Awards on its Facebook page on Feb. 24. The Tara J. Yosso Excellence in Counter Storytelling in Education Award was one of seven awards presented during the online ceremony.
March 01, 2022
‘Autism Goes to College’ wins Anthem Award
The film follows five Southern California college students on the autism spectrum as they navigate college
February 25, 2022
School of Education dissertation wins prestigious award
Arturo Nevárez received an award from the American Educational Research Association
February 16, 2022
Meet ASUCR’s new undergrad representative for SOE students
Taking on the position and responsibility to present students’ concerns to the Associated Students of UCR council could be intimidating. However, Dorothy Leigh Doronila didn’t hesitate to take on the role as ASUCR’s representative for School of Education students. Doronila is a first-generation student majoring in Education, Society, and Human Development as well as Political Sciences and Administrative Studies, with a concentration in finance. Her goal is to connect students to greater opportunities that the University of California, Riverside and extended communities have to offer. Doronila
February 14, 2022
Commencement 2022 to be in person and on campus
UC Riverside’s class of 2022 will celebrate the milestone of receiving their bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in person and on campus.
In early June, the campus will finally welcome graduating Highlanders to the commencement stage, where their friends, families, and fans can cheer them on as they cross the stage in their statement caps, crisp gowns, and commemorative sashes/stoles.
Noteworthy details:
February 01, 2022
School of Education behavior analysis program ranked among top 10 in the state
The applied behavior analysis program at UC Riverside’s School of Education was ranked No. 9 in California by an online resource for those pursuing a career in the profession.
November 30, 2021
Study confirms link between spatial and math skills
Improving students’ spatial skills could improve math skills as well
November 22, 2021
How Dora’s "mochila" (backpack) can help our students succeed
Interim Dean Louie Rodriguez encourages students to use their tools and resources to successfully guide them in their educational journeys…with a little help from Dora the Explorer.
November 17, 2021
Creating a healthy racial climate to diversify the teacher workforce
Paper offers a framework for racial literacy in teacher education
November 16, 2021
SOE Interim Dean hosts Chancellor’s Watch Party for Seal of Excelencia certification
UC Riverside is one of 10 institutions honored by Excelencia in Education with the Seal of Excelencia certification for its efforts serving Latino/a/x students.
November 13, 2021
$2.9 million grant will support literacy programs for English-language learners
The funds continue to help School of Education researcher Linda Ventriglia-Navarrette’s work.
October 27, 2021
University sets new enrollment record for fall 2021
UC Riverside has released its enrollment numbers for fall 2021, showing a record student population of 26,847. That represent a 1.6% increase from fall 2020, when 26,434 total undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled.
The student population includes 40.8% low-income students and 54.7% first-generation students. Forty-one percent of students are Latino and 35.1% Asian.
October 25, 2021
Education professor’s paper receives highest rating from What Works Clearinghouse
Asha Jitendra’s work on schema-based instruction is designed to improve mathematics learning in a wide range of learners
October 21, 2021
Educating lawmakers about ways to diversify California’s teacher workforce
Education professor Thomas Smith helped present a policy brief to legislature staffers
October 20, 2021
These inclusive practices help general education teachers foster positive relationships with children with autism
Teachers make time to find students’ interests, celebrate talents, and have one-on-one time to form stronger relationships with students with autism, finds study
October 15, 2021
Do politics in our democracy prevent schooling for our democracy?
In tense political times for public schools, new study by researchers at UC Riverside and UCLA raises concerns for civic learning and democracy.
October 15, 2021
Op-Ed: Attacks on school board meetings are threatening democracy. Will educators help save it?
UC Riverside Professor Joseph Kahne and UCLA Professor John Rogers publish op-ed in the Los Angeles Times.
September 23, 2021
SOE launches the FIERCE Scholars Program
The new program is designed to prepare current SOE undergraduate students to be community-ready and equity centered after graduation when they can return to contribute to the workforce needs of the IE Inland Empire (IE) area of Southern California.
September 22, 2021
Doctoral students receive grants for disability research
Two UC Riverside School of Education doctoral students have received grants from the Hammill Institute on Disabilities to support research aimed at improving the education of individuals with disabilities.
Zaira Jimenez, a fourth-year student; and Aya Shhub, a third-year student; will each receive $5,000 to support their studies and data collection for their dissertations.
September 22, 2021
Meet the SOE Student Ambassadors
SOE Ambassadors support the vision and spirit of SOE by collaborating with faculty and staff to provide engaging, informative, and personalized experiences for the community.
September 17, 2021
Showing we care: Centering 'cariño' in the return to in-person learning
Interim Dean Louie Rodríguez pens an op-ed in EdSource on the power of “cariño” in the classroom.
September 17, 2021
Graduate School of Education changes name
Effective Monday, Sept. 20, the Graduate School of Education will officially become the School of Education, or SOE. The new name will reflect the scope of the school’s research, community engagement, and academic programs, specifically the undergraduate degree program, which was approved in 2017 and now accounts for 60% of the school’s enrollment.
The simple name change was approved at the University of California-system level in August.
July 27, 2021
Connecting Classrooms to Congress
New social studies curriculum aims to boost civic education in a polarized nation
July 14, 2021
Mrs. Panda conquers online
The innovative Rule of 3 English-learning program completes its shift to an online portal.
June 29, 2021
GSOE's business operations manager selected for Emerging Leaders Program
Alison Rodriguez was selected for The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)'s inaugural program
June 11, 2021
UCR faculty member's book shares stories of teachers of color
“What are you … on their side?”
The comment was one of many snarky remarks white teachers made about interactions between a Latino colleague and his diverse student population.
In the staff lounge at the Sacramento, Calif., public school, the same teachers called the students “monkeys bouncing off the walls” and “losers.” The Latino teacher pushed back. But he reached a point where it was so frustrating to be in the lounge that he stopped going.
June 07, 2021
GSOE Undergraduate Education Awards
Congratulations to Samia Alkam, recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award, and Thomas Cortez, Daisy Gonzalez, and Jason Tse, recipients of the Academic Excellence Award
June 03, 2021
Professor John Levin retires
Professor John Levin, who joined the Graduate School of Education as endowed chair and professor in 2006, will be retiring