UC Santa Barbara, Gevirtz School

06/05/2026

UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Dennis Assanis announced the appointment of Jaime Lester as the new Jules Zimmer Dean of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, effective July 1, 2026.

Lester is the Vice Dean and Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education, where she had a central role in the creation of a new multi-year academic strategic plan. Lester partnered with research centers and faculty to increase externally funded doctoral research assistantships, led new initiatives to support student success and retention, supported faculty in securing external funding for research and student support, and facilitated cross-disciplinary networking initiatives to support collaborative development of new curricula and research. She also worked to create new degree programs, including online programs, as well as new partnerships across Hopkins and with community organizations.
More information at https://education.ucsb.edu/about/news-press/ggse-news/jaime-lester-appointed-new-dean-gevirtz-school

Image: Portrait of Jaime Lester in a gray blazer and blue blouse.

05/22/2026

The “Strengthening Minds and Hearts” program, led by principal investigator, Arlene Ortiz, Ph.D., at Harding University Partnership School (HUPS) , is committed to helping students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

05/22/2026

Are you a STEM major and interested in teaching? Become a CalTeach Learning Assistant and earn $18 an hour. The program is open to those pursuing a STEM major, have taken at least on CalTeach course and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Apply by the May 28 deadline here, and link in bio:

05/08/2026

Thank you to all of our cooperating teachers!! Before, during and after National Teacher Appreciation Week, we extend our deepest appreciation to the 155 “cooperating teachers” in the Santa Barbara/Goleta/Carpinteria area .hr who serve as mentors in our Teacher Education Program . Cooperating teachers are invaluable to the growth and success of our teacher candidates! Learn more about how TEP students work with local teachers: https://bit.ly/42W8n5v

05/05/2026

05/04/2026

Please join us on May 6 and RSVP (we’ll have tacos!)
RSVP link in bio
https://forms.gle/6id8azLVe2UUnoVE6

What’s Brewing in Education &
Applied Psychology?
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
6:45 pm - 8:30 pm
Talks begin at 7:15 pm
At Night Lizard Brewing 617 State St.

Titles and speakers for the 8-minute talks include the following:
“Borderland Parentocracy in Cross-Border Special Education Systems: A Qualitative Study of Mexican Mothers”
Fernanda Castellon, Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Clinical & School Psychology; Associate Director, Koegel Autism Center

“When Large-Scale Randomized Controlled Trials Are Not Feasible or Necessary: Calibrating Effect Sizes with Small Samples”
Yixiao D**g, Assistant Professor, Department of Education

“Insights into Graduate Students’ Math Identity Through Storytelling.”
Royce Olarte, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Education

“Examining School Climate Perceptions of Latine Adolescents in California”
Jennifer Quintanilla, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Counseling, Clinical & School Psychology

04/22/2026

Carolyn Sattin-Bajaj, professor in the Department of Education, has written a commentary for The Brookings Institution on “How immigration enforcement is harming US schools and students.”
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-immigration-enforcement-is-harming-us-schools-and-students/

In this piece, Sattin-Bajaj summarizes what the existing research tells us about the likely impacts of aggressive immigration enforcement on students, and the implications for educators, school leaders, and policymakers. The research links heightened enforcement to chronic absenteeism, poorer mental health, lower test scores, and reduced college enrollment, particularly among Latino and English learner students.

04/14/2026

The South Coast Writing Project Summer Institute is for teachers by teachers. Develop curriculum for your classroom and receive resources from sponsors. Stipend available. Interactive workshops open to all K-16 educators. Complete the Google form (link in bio) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeED8F_Sn94jAUAmAWGFNEyGP6vY9sxEd2IfWikhfFXJVd1Tw/viewform to submit your interest,
and contact Camille Despain with questions. Mail to: [email protected].