E3 Newsletter - Summer 2023

School of Education Newsletter, Volume 5, issue 3

Update from the Dean

Dear Friends of the School of Education,

I am pleased to share that following multiple requests from our alumni, current students, and community partners, we are piloting our first-ever summer mini-newsletter to supplement our regular E3 series.

As you will see in this edition of our E3 newsletter, the summer 2023 has been an active time for the School of Education. Foremost, faculty, staff, and I were honored to celebrate with the class of 2023 and their loved ones; we had 26 master’s students and 29 doctoral students graduate in June 2023. This year’s graduation activities were especially historic because the Inaugural EdD Muckleshoot cohort, a group of 10 women, the majority Native American women, just earned their doctoral degrees. In June 2023, we also admitted over 100 new graduate students in our Educational Administration, EdD in Educational Leadership, MEd for Practicing Educators, and Teacher Certification programs, another truly an incredible time for us all to collectively celebrate the start of new academic journeys.

In this version of our E3 newsletter, we share some recent transitions and updates, as well as highlight some of the amazing accomplishments of alumni, current students, faculty, and staff.

I thank Taylor Merwin and Nicco Eblum-Tabanda in the School of Education, along with Brian Anderson and Khadijah York-Whalen in the Office of Advancement, for supporting the development of this edition of E3.

I look forward to staying in touch. In the meantime, have a great start to the autumn 2023 quarter and season.

Respectfully,

Rachel Endo
Dean & Professor, School of Education

Congratulations, Class of 2023

The faculty and staff in the School of Education at UW Tacoma congratulate the class of 2023 for all of their accomplishments! On June 09, 2023, UW Tacoma’s campus-wide commencement activities took place at the Tacoma Dome and our hooding ceremony later in the day at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.

We are especially honored to celebrate the accomplishments of the Inaugural Muckleshoot EdD cohort. The cohort started their program in June 2020 at the beginning the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the leadership of Dr. Robin Zape-tah-hol-ah Minthorn, Dr. Michelle Montgomery, Dr. Denise Bill, Dr. Amy Maharaj (part of the inaugural cohort), Ashley Walker, and others, the EdD Muckleshoot cohort became one of the few known academic program in the nation situated on tribal lands at Muckleshoot Tribal College. The program is unique for its Indigenous approach in the curriculum and program. A total of 10 incredible women, the majority Native American women, graduated from the inaugural cohort. Click here to view the EdD Muckleshoot Cohort photo album.

Welcome, Dr. Kristina Henry Collins

Dr. Kristina Henry Collins has been named Executive Director of the UW Robinson Center for Young Scholars, effective September 15, 2023. Dr. Collins is also an Affiliate Faculty in the UW Tacoma School of Education.

Dean Rachel Endo remarks: “I was honored when Dr. Collins reached out shortly after her appointment at UW was announced to inquire about having a connection with the UW Tacoma School of Education. The voting faculty were unanimous in appointing her as an Affiliate Faculty, as Dr. Collins is a nationally known researcher for advancing our field’s understanding of talent development, especially among children and youth from diverse backgrounds.”

Dr. Collins comes to UW from Texas State University, where she was an Associate Professor in the Curriculum & Instruction Department. Her primary research interests include STEM identity and talent development; multicultural gifted education; and mentoring across the lifespan.

Saiyare Rafaei Joins the UW Tacoma School of Education’s Advisory Board

Dean Rachel Endo is delighted to share that Saiyare Rafaei (they/their) is the newest member of UW Tacoma School of Education’s Advisory Board.

Rafaei is an Iranian Chinese artist based in the traditional lands of the Puyallup people (Tacoma, WA) whose primary mediums include community murals, printmaking, digital drawings and meticulous pointillism pen drawings. They are a member of Justseeds Artist Cooperative and strives to utilize art as a means of community building, education, and healing. Rafaei graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a BA in Environmental Studies and minors in Anthropology, Hispanic Studies, and Studio Arts. Rafaei was the previous Coordinator for Sustainability Integration in the PLU Diversity Center. They are currently a program manager at the Pierce Conservation District, supporting community gardens in Pierce County, doing communications and co-managing the Farm Foundations program.

Get to Know ASUWT’s Education Representative Santino Wong

Santino Wong, a graduate student in the Teacher Certification Program (Dual-Track K-8 Special Education), is the School of Education’s representative of the Associated Students of UW Tacoma. ASUWT is UW Tacoma’s official student body government. Wong’s term runs from August 2023 through June 2024. 

Q1: Tell us a bit about what drew you to the UW Tacoma School of Education’s Teacher Certification Program. 

In my junior year at UW Tacoma, I was looking to develop my skills beyond my major of Communications. I found the Education Minor in Teaching, Learning, and Justice would prepare me to apply to the graduate-level Teacher Certification Program. During my TEDUC 290 class, I volunteered at a local elementary school. There, I found my passion for special education. I feel that the growing number of immigrants and teacher shortages could lead to students with special needs to lose their right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Puget Sound area. I want to help fill the gap in this area. 

Q2: What are your 2-3 priorities this academic year 2022-2023 as the School of Education’s student government representative? 

Following the campus-wide campaign "You Belong Here," my first priority is to create a belonging environment for School of Education students and affiliate communities. I am currently working with staff members Liz Rangel, Nicco Eblum-Tabanda, and Taylor Merwin, to revive our social media platforms, including Instagram, LinkedIn, Discord, and more. 

Later, I am looking to advocate for a student lounge for School of Education students only. When I interviewed students from the School Psychologist Program and the previous Teacher Certification Program cohorts, they shared there is insufficient study space for a bigger group project and a quiet space to take a break before the evening class. 

Finally, I am also looking to build connections with UW Bothell School of Education Studies and UW Seattle College of Education in order to represent UW's Education together and promote leadership from UW Tacoma. 

Q3: What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 

I still play Pokémon Go and I am open for challengers, please message me when you're ready to compete. Besides video games, I love traveling during term breaks and am trying to conquer 50 states before 50! 40 left to go, better catch up ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ).

Farewell, Dr. Robin Zape-tah-hol-ah Minthorn

Dr. Robin Zape-tah-hol-ah Minthorn (Kiowa/Apache/Nez Perce/Umatilla/Assiniboine), who served exceptionally well as EdD Faculty Program Director, Director of Indigenous Education Initiatives, and an Associate Professor in the UW Tacoma’s School of Education since August 2019, resigned from UW Tacoma on July 31, 2023. She was named Chair and Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies with the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma and started there on August 01, 2023. We thank Dr. Minthorn for all of her outstanding service during her time at UW Tacoma and congratulate her on her new leadership role.

Dr. Chris Knaus Appointed as Interim EdD Director

Dr. Chris Knaus, Professor in the School of Education at UW Tacoma, has agreed to serve as Interim EdD Program Director, effective August 01, 2023. Dr. Knaus served as Inaugural Director of the EdD Program from 2013-2016 and has significantly contributed to the program over the past decade. Dr. Knaus is also chairing the EdD Faculty Director search advisory committee, which will launch in autumn 2023 quarter; more information will be shared in the coming weeks. Click here to learn more about Dr. Knaus.

Dr. Michelle Montgomery Appointed Interim Cohort Director of Muckleshoot Programs

Dr. Michelle Montgomery (enrolled Haliwa Saponi/descendant Eastern Band Cherokee), who has a primary appointment at UW Tacoma as an Associate Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, has agreed to serve as Interim Cohort Director of Muckleshoot Programs for the School of Education, effective August 01, 2023 through February 29, 2024. She will collaborate with Interim EdD Faculty Program Director Dr. Chris Knaus and MEd Faculty Program Director Dr. Matthew Weinstein, on supporting the EdD and MEd Muckleshoot cohorts. Click here to learn more about Dr. Montgomery.

Maria Hamilton Interviewed for Feature UW Tacoma Story

Maria Hamilton, Director of Operations in the UW Tacoma’s School of Education, was interviewed on July 14, 2023 for a feature story about how her lived experiences growing up have shaped her approach to supporting her teenage daughter in planning for college. Read the full story here.

School Psychology Students Participate in Project UNIFY

10 EdS in School Psychology students in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 signed up as facilitators for Project UNIFY, a partnership between Tacoma Public Schools and UW Tacoma, to elicit feedback from middle and secondary students and their caregivers about topics ranging from their schooling experiences, discipline, and ways to increase caregiver/student engagement.

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