Ed Week – the College of Education’s Annual Week-long Event Delivers Lectures, Mixers, Info Sessions, and a Job Fair

Each spring semester, the College of Education (CED) comes together to create a week-long, student-centered event cycle devoted to highlighting the college’s programs and the field of education. This interactive week held April 9-14, brought together College of Education faculty, staff, and students for a multitude of events that aimed to connect with current and prospective students on various levels through lectures, panel discussions, college program info sessions, resume writing workshops, and culminated in an afternoon-long educators’ job fair with students hired on the spot. With 25 events to select from, Ed Week gave students both in the College of Education as well as university-wide an insider opportunity to learn about CED undergraduate, graduate, and credential programs from faculty, advisors, current students, and the Dean.

Lectures and panel discussions included, the annual Veffie Milstead Jones Endowment Lecture, “Beyond Lip Service: Understanding, Promoting, and Quantifying Equity and Excellence in Urban Education”, presented by Dr. Donna Y. Ford, Professor of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University, which kicked off a great start to the week. Dr. Ford spoke passionately to an audience of over 250, which included students, faculty, staff, emeriti, donors, and administrators from neighboring school districts about inequity in education identifying the large underrepresentation of students of color in gifted education.

Chinese and U.S. pedagogical practices were examined and compared during Tuesday’s panel discussion featuring Educational Administrator Professor Dr. Charles Slater, and a delegation of six visiting faculty from various universities and institutes in China. The discussion gave the visiting delegates an opportunity to share their experience in the Chinese educational system to a packed conference room of students, staff, and faculty.

Educational Leadership Assistant Professor, Dr. Shametrice Davis, moderated a panel discussion featuring Brandi Taylor, Deja Powell, and Meklit Molla, all second year students from the Student Development in Higher Education (SDHE) program. This two-hour conversation, “Going Beyond the Single Narrative: Media Images of African Americans” examined images of Africans Americans in the media, with a discussion focused on the need for powerful images to become the norm, rather than the exception. The audience helped drive the conversation, asking thoughtful questions and offering their own experiences.

Other presentations included a session on vicarious trauma led by clinicians and victim advocates from the Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center. In this powerful discussion, clinicians Alexis Begué, Heather Hutchison, and Norma Vargas outlined the impact of trauma, both direct and vicarious, facing educators and children alike in today’s world.

A hands-on art workshop focusing on incorporating the arts into one’s teaching practice was led by Professor Geraldine Walkup from the College of the Arts. In this workshop, attendees learned how arts integration can enhance a student’s learning experience, increase academic performance and foster deeper engagement in the classroom.

In addition to formal presentations and lectures, there were several opportunities for current and prospective students to mix and mingle with staff, faculty, and other students. For two days, CED staff and current students manned info booths on the Quad where students could drop by and talk to CED advisors about the many programs offered within the college and have their questions answered.

Student mixers and program-specific info sessions rounded out the week, along with a chance to have pizza with the Dean, Dr. Shireen Pavri. These informal sessions, aimed at fostering a sense of community, allowed all students a chance to meet others within their program.

Resume writing workshops and an educators’ job fair culminated the diverse range of offerings. On Friday, the University Student Union ballrooms were filled with over 80 employers from school districts and organizations from throughout California, as well as Washington State, Arizona, and as far away as Alaska. The job fair attracted 528 CSULB students, recent alumni, and other guests, with some organizations even interviewing and offering jobs during the fair.

When asked what she enjoyed most about this past Ed Week, College of Education student, Emely Lopez a junior Liberal Studies major enrolled in the ITEP program said, “What I loved most about Ed Week was the Educators' Job Fair. It was exciting to see so many students dressed up, ready to present themselves to school districts from all over California. As an undergrad, I gathered so much information to prepare myself as I am looking into school districts to work for once I have received my teaching credential.”

Ed Week shines a light on the field of education by creating space and additional access for students to hear from experts in the field, meet others in their programs, learn more about the myriad paths a career in education can take, and how the college’s programs and faculty prepare students for a successful career ahead. With this Ed Week a wrap, the College of Education looks forward to preparing next year’s event!

The College of Education wishes to thank student Miracle Terrazas, who designed all Ed Week promotional material.