CSUDH’s College of Education and President Thomas A. Parham were invited to share how CSUDH is supporting and nurturing Black students and future educators during the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) 49th annual conference, “Reimagining Education: Focusing on Innovation, Equity, and Social Emotional Learning,” which took place in Los Angeles Nov. 10-14.
On Nov. 10, CSUDH welcomed a group of conference attendees for a tour of campus and a lunchtime presentation. College of Education representatives gave introductions to their programs, focusing on the students they serve, teacher and leadership pathways and pipelines, and the innovative curricula and student supports they provide. Presenters included Esports General Manager Ruben Caputo, Chair of Liberal Studies Dr. Laurie Inman, Assistant Professor in Teacher Education Dr. Edward Curammeng, and Associate Professor in Graduate Education Dr. Kitty Fortner.
CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham also welcomed and addressed NABSE, emphasizing the university’s commitment to equity and transformation.
“We take particular pride here in helping to transform and prepare our students to be social justice advocates, and come equipped with the values and mindset of being able to lean in and give back,” Parham said, adding that “the most important thing is providing students with a cultural comfort zone.”
For Thandabantu Maceo, Chairperson of NABSE’s Higher Education Commission and organizer of the visit, the president’s shared vision for CSUDH as a bastion of academic excellence and agent for social change was “captivating and inspiring.”
Then on Nov. 12, Parham served on a conference panel to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the business model. Faculty from the College of Education also presented “Navigating the Same Storm in Different Boats.” Delivered by Dr. Kitty Fortner, Dr. Laurie Inman, and Adjunct Professor Marcia Reed, it focused on the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the field of education, racial inequity, and the College of Education’s focus on the social-emotional learning of students and faculty.
“The faculty presentations were exciting,” Maceo said, noting their “deep appreciation, dedication, and commitment to scholarship, teaching, and the general learning mission.”
