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For the past two days, a site visit team of four people has been interviewing all members of the SLHS community, to verify all the information that appears in their self-study report – 49 standards! This afternoon at the exit report, the team shared all their findings, and the process for next steps. Nearly all the standards were “verified,” and the team was very complimentary for the program, faculty, and students. Final outcomes will be announced in March 2025. Congratulations to Chair Laura Epstein, AOC Mallorie Desimone, all the SLHS faculty, and to Carlos Julio for working with Laura and the department to create  one of the most clear and complete websites they had seen. 

This month’s GCOE Research Roundtable featured the editors and co-authors of Advancing Equity and Inclusion in Early Childhood Education (IGI Global, 2024). Amber Friesen, Maryssa Mitsch, Karina Du, Mayumi Hagiwara, and Jennifer Ward presented together to summarize several chapters of the book and provide overall context for the publication. It was a great space for us to hear current research and perspectives on inclusive early childhood education, and to appreciate the outcomes of hard work by this solid group of scholars.

Upcoming GCOE Roundtable Dates:

                Thursday November 14, 1:00 p.m.

                Thursday December 12, 1:00 p.m.

Dr. Yvonne Bui (Department of Special Education) has been appointed as the Faculty Associate Director of Asian American Collective Action for Racial Equity and Solidarity (AA CARES) within Asian American Studies, College of Ethnic Studies for the Fall 2024 semester. AA CARES strives for healing, innovation, and nurturing our communities’ continued commitment for liberation and justice. The organization is uniquely situated to uplift and give voice to the lived experiences of diverse segments of our multi-ethnic and intersectional communities. We develop programs, research innovation, and support youth (or future leaders) and the broader San Francisco Bay Area community and beyond. Learn more here: https://aa-cares.com/ Congratulations, Yvonne!

Dr. Amber Friesen, Dr. Maryssa Mitsch, and Doctoral Candidate Karina Du have recently had their co-edited book published – congratulations! Titled Advancing Equity and Inclusion in Early Childhood, this work profiles many of their esteemed colleagues/students including Dr. Maria Zavala (Elem), Dr. Mayumi Hagiwara (SPED), Dr. Maryssa K. Mitsch (SPED), Dr. Erica Bosque (Social Work), and 6 doctorate students from our joint program with UC-Berkeley including Sara Burton Ucar, Karina Du, Jaqueline Anton, Prince Estanislao, John Kim and Hadas Arbit. They hope this book contributes to the growing number of voices seeking meaningful, high-quality, equitable and inclusive opportunities for young children, their families, and the communities they live within them. Congratulations to all these authors, and to Amber, Maryssa, and Karina for conceptualizing and collecting this important work into one volume.

Dr. Alex Mejia (SED) has been selected to be part of Cultivating New Voices Among Scholars of Color (CNV) for the 2024-26 cohort, a program through the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). The program is designed to provide two years of support, mentoring, and networking opportunities for early career scholars of color. It aims to work with doctoral candidates and early career postsecondary faculty of color to cultivate the ability to draw from their own cultural and linguistic perspectives as they conceptualize, plan, conduct, write, and disseminate findings from their research. Congratulations, Alex – it’s great to know you have this well-deserved opportunity.

Dr. Mary Requa (SPED) has been has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant as a co- PI with colleagues Yiyi Wang and Zhuwei Qin entitled, Supporting Neurodiverse Students in Engineering Teamwork through an AI-Driven Platform. This is a three year grant worth $399,979. We are excited to learn with you, Mary, and are proud of your accomplishment!

Dr. Gloria Soto (SLHS and SPED) has published an article with Jennifer Vega, rising second-year graduate student in SLHS, in one of the most prestigious ASHA journals, The American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, entitled "Designing cultural adaptations of caregiver-implemented interventions for Latin/x caregivers of children who use AAC: Key considerations." The article provides key considerations and practical guidelines for developing effective caregiver-implemented augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions that respect and integrate cultural values and practices for Latin/x caregivers of children who use AAC. Congratulations, Gloria and Jennifer!

Dr. Betty Yu (SLHS) has been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Recognition for Special Contributions in Multicultural Affairs, by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Her award was announced on July 16, 2024 and she will be attending an awards ceremony in December at the ASHA Convention. Congratulations, Betty – we are so proud to see your research and dedication recognized by this important professional organization.