Student & Alumni Achievements

Highlights from the UC LEAD Ed.D. community — graduate milestones, research recognition, fellowships, leadership appointments, publications, and conference presentations.

Chrispeels Fellows

A dedicated place to recognize Chrispeels Fellows and highlight fellowship work, projects, and community impact.

View Chrispeels Fellows

2025

Recent highlights

Celebrating Our Doctoral Graduates in Educational Leadership

We are proud to honor our newest graduates who recently earned their Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Their dedication, scholarship, and commitment to equity and excellence in education have inspired our community. Congratulations to our graduates on reaching this meaningful milestone.

June 2025

Grad SLAM finalist

Congratulations to 2025 Grad SLAM finalist Camie Lau Dyess, JDP Cohort 19, on reaching the finalist round and presenting their research in a three-minute pitch.

May 2025

Camie Lau Dyess featured as a Grad SLAM finalist

2024

Awards, talks, and conference recognition

AAHHE graduate fellowship acceptance

Congratulations to Ariana Ordonez, Cohort 19, on her acceptance into the AAHHE graduate fellowship program.

September 2024

The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) addresses issues affecting Hispanics in higher education, including representation, access, and advancement.

AAHHE graduate fellowship cohort group photo

Alumna Sara Vogel on the TEDx stage

Dr. Sara Vogel, an EDS alumna from the Class of 2019, delivered her first TEDx talk at the University of the Pacific in April 2024.

May 2024

TEDx talk: Pleasure and Power: Why Pleasure Must Be Part of Consent Education

Dr. Sara Vogel is a trauma-informed sex educator and former higher education leader whose work focuses on consent education, sexual wellness, and student support.

She is currently serving as a Fulbright Research Chair in Indigenous Studies at Vancouver Island University, where she is researching decolonizing and Indigenizing sexual wellness and empowerment education, with a focus on Hawaiian and Pasifika narratives.

Her chapter on podcasting, sexual education, and entrepreneurship was recently published in The Professional's Guide to Sexuality Consultation: An Exploration of Entrepreneurship, Strategic Planning, and Business Influence.

Connect with Sara: Instagram @drsaravogel
Visit her website: drsaravogel.com

AERA conference collaboration

Congratulations to JDP alumni Dr. Theresa Meyerott, Dr. Amanda Corona, Dr. Claudia Pena, and Sinai Cota for presenting together at the AERA conference. Their roundtable focused on learning and leading during and after the pandemic.

April 2024

JDP alumni presenting together at the AERA conference

CSU San Marcos Grad Slam award

Congratulations to Shanelle Watkins, JDP Cohort 18 student, winner of the 2024 CSU San Marcos Grad Slam Graduate Non-STEM Award.

April 2024

Shanelle Watkins recognized for a CSU San Marcos Grad Slam award

Leadership appointment

Congratulations to Dr. Rafe Edward Trickey, Jr., Ed.D., on being selected as Taft College’s new Superintendent/President.

April 2024

Watch the news story · Read the news article

2023

Commencement and community stories

Cultural Proficiency presentation in Hawaii

Congratulations to Dr. Brooke Soles and Cohort 19 members Ariana Ordonez and Lucio Lira for presenting at the 13th Conference on Education and Justice at the University of Hawaii, Manoa.

October 2023

Their presentation focused on the Cultural Proficiency Framework and its relevance to Latinx and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Congratulations 2023 JDP Graduates

Celebrating doctoral graduates and cohort community.

June 16, 2023

Amanda Corona featured in UC San Diego Today

A commencement story of gratitude featuring Amanda Corona and mentor Dr. Theresa Meyerott.

June 2023

UC San Diego Today: “I Am Forever Grateful”

“I Am Forever Grateful”

As UC San Diego Commencement approached, graduating students shared messages of gratitude for people at the university who made a difference.

“Theresa Meyerott (a.k.a. Dr. M!) was like an angel sent from heaven to help me navigate the doctoral process and even navigate life after the JDP...”
Amanda Corona, Ed.D. Educational Leadership, on her mentor Dr. Theresa Meyerott

Amanda Corona with mentor Theresa Meyerott

From right to left, Amanda Corona with doctoral mentor Theresa Meyerott

Milestone spotlight

Growing up as a foster youth, Sade Burell, Cohort 17, overcame significant barriers and earned her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Congratulations on this major milestone.

June 5, 2023

Watch her story: CBS8 San Diego video

Read the article: Former foster child, mother of two, graduates with Ph.D.

2022

Graduates and awards

Congratulations 2022 JDP Graduates

Celebrating cohort completion and commencement moments.

2022

Lighthouse Award Winners

Nine educators were honored with the Lighthouse Awards by the San Diego County Office of Education for promoting educational equity.

Winter 2023

Read about the 2023 Lighthouse Award Winners

Congratulations to two of our JDP alumni for their achievements:

Turnaround School Site Leader Award: Matthew Steitz (JDP Cohort 2), Principal, The Preuss School UC San Diego
Equity Champion Award: Tiffany Campbell (JDP Cohort 13), Deputy Superintendent, San Marcos Unified School District

2021

Conference presentations

AERA San Diego 2022 conference presenters

AERA Events & Meetings

Fall 2021

Changing the Negative Arab Narrative in Our Schools: Dr. Rania Saeb (JDP Cohort 14 Alumna) and Dr. Brooke Soles, CSUSM

Perceptions of Formal and Non-formal Leaders on Cultural Proficiency in Educational Practice and Organizational Change: Dr. Brooke Soles, Dr. Jaime E. Welborn, and Baramee Peper Anan (JDP Cohort 15 Current Student)

Forgotten Latinx Voices: A Phenomenological Study of Summer Melt during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Jessica Resendez (JDP Cohort 15 Current Student)