Lissa Stapleton
Dr. Lissa D. Stapleton was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Stapleton attended Wright State University (WSU) and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Social Work and a minor in African and African-American Studies. Highly involved as an undergraduate, she was encouraged to continue her education at the University of Dayton. She graduated in 2006 with a Masters in Science and Education in College Student Personnel. Once graduated, Stapleton worked as a Community Director in Residence Life at California State University, Northridge and as a Spirituality Living Learning Specialist for Semester at Sea. Through her residential life work with the Lighthouse Living Learning community, international service work with the Deaf Jamaican and Ghanaian communities, and scholarly curiosity on ways to improve d/Deaf college students’ lives, Stapleton decided to pursue her doctorate at Iowa State University. Stapleton graduated in 2014 with her Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Higher Education and Social Justice and a minor in Women’s Studies. She most recently won the 2015 Melvene D. Hardee NASPA Dissertation of the Year award, and she was the runner up for the American Association for Blacks in Higher Education Dissertation of the Year award. She previously taught at the University of Southern Mississippi in the Higher Education Student Affairs program and her research continues to interrogate issues of environment, equity, and access for Deaf students, faculty, and staff with a particular interest in the intersections of race, gender, and sexual orientation.
Elyse Sullivan
Dr. Elyse Sullivan joined the Michael D. Eisner College of Education as a full time tenure track professor this year. She has taught the past 10 years as an Adjunct Professor in the ELPS department, teaching curriculum, finance, law, personnel and ethical leadership. Elyse graduated from UC Berkeley as an undergrad and received both her teaching credential and Master in Administration, with honors, from CSUN. In 2004, she received her Ed.D. from USC.
Elyse has been a teacher, Principal and Assistant Superintendent working with administrators,teachers,parents and students in K-12. She has spent the majority of her career working with minority student populations in LAUSD, Pasadena Unified and Whittier City School District. Elyse is very passionate about student and teacher learning, believing that each contributes to the success of the other. She believes that building school culture and having high expectations for achievement contribute to a powerful and successful learning environment. She is very excited about joining the ELPS Team on a full time basis.
Matthew Goodlaw
Matt is an interdisciplinary social researcher who is clearly focused on practical issues. This purpose has led him to the field of education. Prior to joining the Michael D. Eisner College of Education at CSU, Northridge he worked as a statistical supervisor in a State Education Agency as well as a Director of Data in a large and growing Charter Management Organization. His substantive interests include the application of political economic and social psychological theory to organizations and institutions in order to generate testable hypotheses with respect to equilibria and disequilibria. While most of his methodological training has been quantitative in nature, he is also interested in focus groups, one on one discussions, and other qualitative methods of gathering observations. Matt was lucky enough to receive training and mentorship from CSUN giants: Dr. Pete Goldschmidt, Dr. Andrew Ainsworth, and Dr. Michelle Wittig as well as take classes from some of the best including Dr. Adele Gottfried and Dr. Miguel Ceja. In his new role with the MDECOE, he aims to, on the solid foundation that has been set, enhance the data driven culture of the College.
On the weekends, Matt makes functional and symbolic pottery. His work is generally considered stoneware and is made on the pottery wheel. He likes to create vessels that can be used in daily life that stimulate the user to look anew at ordinary things. His pottery is informed by the people he does pottery with and by his daily experiences and interactions. He also likes to ride mountain bikes.
Brittany Swinson
Hi Matadors!!!! My name is Brittany Swinson and I am the new Events Coordinator for the Michael D. Eisner College of Education. As a California State University Northridge Alumna, I love CSUN! It has been a dream come true to comeback and serve the very institution that helped mold and developed my love for event planning.
My working background is very diverse. I have a wide range of experience in hospitality management, event planning, and human resources. Throughout my career I have coordinated events ranging from the Annual Pier to Pier walk while at Sketcher USA to student outreach events including The Big Show, Tickle Me Tuesdays, and the Student Showcase here at CSUN. As a student, I served as the Director of Homecoming and Spirit in Associated Students, Peer Counselor for the Student Health Professionals Pre-Entry Program (SHP-PEP), New Student Orientation Leader, and Black Reign Dance Team President.
I am enthused about being back at CSUN and enhancing the events in the college. I look forward to collaborating with all departments and centers on current and new events. If you have sometime stop by and say hello. I’m located in the Dean’s office.
My contact information is brittany.swinson@csun.edu at ext. 5475