CSUN Chosen for Chancellor's Office Diversity Initiative

In January, the MDECOE was selected as one of five CSU colleges of education to participate in the Chancellor’s Office Learning Lab for Improvement: CSU Educator Preparation Diversity Initiative. This is a collective of improvement-minded leaders to support system-wide goal of improving the diversity of teacher candidates completing CSU credential programs. With support and coaching by EdQ and WestEd, these five colleges are focused on changing processes and programs to increase the diversity of candidates in our teacher-preparation programs. Serving on the MDECOE team are Dean Shari Tarver-Behring, Credential Office Director Tina Torres, MDECOE Recruitment Specialist Jacyln Kietzman, MDECOE Grants Officer Josh Einhorn, MDECOE Web Developer Ian Carroll, Educational Psychology & Counseling Professor Pete Goldschmidt, and Secondary Education Department Chair Julie Gainsburg, who also serves as the Team Lead for this initiative. Efforts to date include a social media campaign targeting potential applicants of color, collaboration with CSUN's undergraduate advisors, personal phone calls to potential program applicants, and a partnership with CSUN's Black House and Department of Africana Studies to host a mini-conference to inspire undergraduates of color to consider teaching careers. On October 15, Julie Gainsburg presented the team's work to over 40 CSU deans and associate deans.