Convocation 2017: Celebrating & Strengthening Our Impact

The College launched the new academic year with its annual Convocation, which brings together all faculty, staff, and the College’s student leaders. This year’s theme was “Celebrating and Strengthening Our Impact.” Newly appointed Dean Dr. Shireen Pavri set the stage for the day in remarks that outlined the state of the College, including the next steps for a new strategic plan.

The first part of day focused on celebrating the College’s impact on its graduates and alumni, and the impact they in turn have on students, youth, administrators and clients in their professional spheres. An inspiring video featuring four alumni was screened, followed by a panel of four highly talented graduates who are professional educators representing a variety of different programs in the College.

After engaging with Provost Brian Jersky, the second part of the day provided the opportunity for the College community to reflect on the impact of its programs, faculty and staff and to consider ways to further strengthen this impact in alignment with the new strategic plan. Interactive discussions engaged small groups in dialogue around various aspects of the plan.

The alumni video featured Eris Ann Gallego, who is a graduate of the Integrated Teacher Education Program with an undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies, a Multiple Subject Credential, and an Education Specialist Credential and is currently an Education Specialist in the Anaheim Elementary School District; Rosezetta Henderson, a Senior Disability Specialist at the University of California, Irvine who completed the MS in Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education program; Cynthia Pulido, who completed the UTEACH program and earned her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and Multiple Subject Credential, completed the MA in Education, Mathematics Education program and currently works as a teacher at Washington Elementary in Bellflower; and Javier de Santiago, an Integrated Curriculum Coach in Long Beach Unified School District who completed the MA in Education, Educational Technology and Media Leadership program.

The student panel featured Felicia Anderson, the principal of Richard D. Browning Higher School, who is a graduate of the Multiple Subject Credential Program, Administrative Services Credential Program, and the Educational Leadership Doctorate; Arturo Covarrubias, a graduate of the M.S. in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy program and currently a therapist at the Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center; Maria Jacqueline Hernandez, a Math 7 ACC teacher in Long Beach Unified School District who graduated from the Integrated Teacher Education Credential Program with an undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential; and Thy Pech, a teacher at Lindberg STEM Academy who completed Single Subject Credentials in History and Social Science and the MA in Education, Social and Cultural Analysis of Education program.

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