SJSU Ed.D. Leadership Program

08/22/2026

Sharing a few wonderful moments from our EdD Summer Luncheon/Pre-Fall Gathering, held last Saturday, August 15, at San José State University!

There was so much to celebrate: our two Summer EdD graduates, Cohort 13 completing their first semester of doctoral coursework, Cohort 12 returning from their global field experiences in Vietnam and Thailand, visiting Cohort 11 grads, and the launch of a new student EdD organization led by Eric Garcia from Cohort 13.

As always, the gathering was made even more meaningful by the presence of our inspirational faculty and SJSU educational leaders President Cynthia Teniente-Matson and Lurie College of Education Dean Adrienne Redmond-Sanogo.

And now, it is recruitment season again! We are excited to welcome the next generation of doctoral students, Cohort 14, who will begin in Summer 2027. Our program offers both hybrid and fully online EdD options. PK–12 experienced teachers and leaders may also pursue our combined EdD/Preliminary Administrative Services Credential in partnership with Leaders for Educational Administration at the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

If you are ready to grow, lead, and make transformational change in education — or even if you are just doctoral-program-curious — we would love to meet you. Online information sessions are held every Thursday at 6 p.m.

Register here to learn more about our EdD community, what we do, what we can offer you, and to have your questions answered:
https://lnkd.in/gG-2VxQC

07/07/2026

Cohort 13 at the Bangkok Elephant Sanctuary, Thailand

07/07/2026

2026 Dr. Hector and Catalina Garcia Graduate Endowed Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of the Dr. Hector and Catalina Garcia Graduate Endowed Scholarship! Read about what this scholarship means to them and why they are honored to receive it.

Mileidy Maldonado | ’28 Educational Leadership, Ed.D.

“I am very grateful to have been selected as the 2026-2027 recipient of the Dr. Hector and Catalina Garcia Graduate Endowed Scholarship. It is both a meaningful recognition and vital support for my family and me as I continue my doctoral journey. This scholarship motivates me to continue advocating for the Hispanic community through educational equity, mentorship, and community-centered leadership. I hope to continue creating opportunities and support systems for Latinx students and families. My experience at San José State University has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my educational journey. The supportive faculty, mentorship, and strong sense of community within the program have continuously encouraged and inspired my growth as a scholar, advocate, and educational leader, contributing to both my personal and professional development.”

Xiomara Martinez | ’28 Educational Leadership, Ed.D.

“Receiving this scholarship means more than I can put into words it is a validation of a journey that I once thought was not meant for me. As a first-generation college student, I never thought I would receive a scholarship, and I never even applied until now. Even though I am in a doctorate program, I still carry that with me every day, because I know I am creating a path for my family and my community. With over 20 years in higher education, serving my Hispanic community has always been at the heart of what I do, whether that means presenting in Spanish so that our students feel seen and heard, or simply being open about my own non-traditional journey. I was not a typical student, I took so many breaks during my undergraduate studies that it took me years to finish my bachelor’s degree. I remind my students that if I was able to keep going while being a mother and a working adult, they can do it too. Some of them are already thinking about graduate school before finishing their associates, because we have those honest conversations. I will continue to advocate for my students, connect them to resources I never knew existed, and create a sense of belonging for Hispanic students at my community college because every student deserves to see themselves reflected in someone who has walked a similar path. My experience at SJSU has been an amazing one so far. I completed my Master’s in Higher Education Leadership last year and decided to continue into the doctorate program the very next semester. I loved my HELM cohort they were such a supportive group and they continue to inspire me.”

https://blogs.sjsu.edu/graduatestudies/2026/06/15/2026-garcia-winners/

01/07/2026

Welcoming our new Dean of the Lurie College of Education

A new year and a new chapter at Lurie College. This week, we are proud to welcome Dr. Adrienne Redmond-Sanogo as the new Dean of the Connie L. Lurie College of Education.

A mathematics educator and former middle school mathematics teacher, Dr. Redmond-Sanogo has spent more than 20 years in higher education working to remove barriers to access and expand opportunities for all learners.

Over the past eight years, she has served in key senior leadership roles during periods of significant institutional change, supporting students, faculty, and academic programs through transition with a steady, collaborative, and student-centered approach. Prior to coming to San José State University in January 2026, Dr. Redmond-Sanogo held leadership positions at Oklahoma State University, where she contributed to major institutional initiatives, including supporting a college merger, strengthening diversity and inclusion efforts, improving the quality of online programs, and supporting recruitment, retention, and student success.

Dr. Redmond-Sanogo’s scholarly work centers on equity and access in STEM education, with a focus on supporting historically underrepresented learners. More recently, her research and professional contributions have explored the ethical and effective use of generative artificial intelligence to support educator preparation. In this work, she has developed faculty professional learning opportunities, contributed to national conversations, and published on the impact of AI in mathematics, science, and STEM teacher education.

As a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Redmond-Sanogo is deeply committed to the mission of the Connie L. Lurie College of Education. She is dedicated to preparing transformative educators and leaders who uplift and strengthen their communities while advancing equity, access, and innovation in education.

We’re grateful to welcome Dr. Redmond-Sanogo to our community and look forward to learning, growing, and the collective impact we will continue to make together.

11/19/2025

San Jose State University Ed.D. Candidate Susan Blanco will co-facilitate a California Reading Association-sponsored webinar on Empowering Multilingual Learners in the Classroom by Integrating Literacy and English Language Development. Susan is a Literacy Specialist and a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader and conducts research that could eliminate various achievement/opportunity gaps in reading and writing between white, English only children and children of lower socioeconomic status from multilingual and multi-ethnic backgrounds. Susan's research agenda includes understanding how oral language influences the development of stronger literacy skills among minoritized children and designing texts that increase minoritized representation so that all children are able to see themselves in the stories they read. Amazing work!

Our Ed.D. Program is committed to these kinds of research that have high impact and are able to change lives. Consider joining our program!! We offer weekly information sessions on Thursday nights from 6 to 7:30 pm. You may register by following this link: https://lnkd.in/gG-2VxQC.

Access our website, too, and learn more about who we are and what we do: https://lnkd.in/dXZH8AHK.

10/28/2025

Our very own Gianna Shields, EdD Candidate, and Sandra Zuniga Ruiz, EdD Core Faculty, will facilitate an in-person PD for teachers on how to use AI tools to construct identity-affirming math lessons. Join the PD on 11/12/2025, learn a lot, and enjoy free food!

✨ Join Us for Math Institute Session 3!

How can teachers use AI to create math lessons that honor student identity and foster belonging?💡

Join Lurie College’s Gianna Shields and Dr. Sandra Zuñiga Ruiz for an engaging, hands-on session on Planning Identity-Affirming Math Lessons with AI — hosted in partnership with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

Together, we’ll explore how educators can use AI to enhance collaboration and design inclusive, identity-affirming math classrooms.

📅 Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025
🕓 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 The Sobrato Center for Nonprofits, San José
🍽 Dinner provided for all attendees!

Bring your curiosity, creativity, and passion for inclusive math education 💛

🔗 RSVP today at https://www.tfaforms.com/5200238 or scan the QR code!

10/22/2025

EdD Candidate Clarissa Mae Calimbas's dissertation research seeks to understand the impact of involvement in student organizations on minoritized students' academic and graduation success. In particular, she is focusing on Filipinos and Filipino-American students and their experiences. Based on Fall 2024 data, Asian and Asian-American students comprise the second largest ethnic group in the California State University system, and at San Jose State University alone is about 36% of the entire student body. Clarissa Mae's research is important and timely, and provides universities with information about how to become better at improving the services and supports they offer to all students, especially those from minoritized groups. SJSU's Ed.D. Program strongly supports these kinds of equity-minded, equity-oriented, and equity-informed research. Leading for transformational change matters to us.

Get to know us! Learn more about our program and what we offer by joining one of our information sessions, usually on Thursdays beginning at 6 PM. You may register here: https://lnkd.in/gG-2VxQC.

Access this link, too, if you'd like to explore various aspects of our program: https://www.sjsu.edu/edd/.