Faculty

The Ed.D. Leadership Program faculty are scholars, researchers, and practice-based experts from within and outside SJSU who are committed to preparing collaborative, transformative leaders capable of building school systems free from oppression, injustice, and inequality as well as to closing the opportunity gap resulting in educational disparities and social inequalities.

Program Director

Ferdie Rivera, Ph.D. (Interim)

ferdinand.rivera@sjsu.edu
Sweeney Hall 402

 

Ferdie Rivera

Core Faculty

Rebeca Burciaga, Ph.D. | Professor, Educational Leadership & Chicana and Chicano Studies, Program Founder and Coordinator, Emancipatory Leadership MA Program

Liliana Castrellón, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership

Arnold Danzig, Ph.D. | Professor, Educational Leadership

Brent Duckor, Ph.D. | Professor, Teacher Education

Deanna Fassett, Ph.D. | Professor, Communication Studies

Maria Fusaro, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development

Veneice Guillory-Lacy, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership

Lara Kassab, Ed.D. | Associate Professor, Teacher Education

Sudha Krishnan, Ed.D. | Assistant Professor, Special Education

Saili Kulkarni, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Special Education

María Ledesma, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Professor, Educational Leadership

Cara Maffini, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development

Roxana Marachi, Ph.D. | Professor, Teacher Education

Robert Marx, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Child & Adolescent Development 

Kathleen McConnell, Ph.D. | Associate Chair & Professor, Communication Studies 

Dolores Mena, Ph.D. | Professor & Graduate Program Coordinator, Counselor Education

Ellen Middaugh, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development

Nikos Mourtos, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Professor, Aerospace Engineering

Eduardo Muñoz-Muñoz, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Teacher Education

Rachel O'Malley, Ph.D.| Professor, Environmental Studies

Luis Poza, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Teacher Education

Lisa Simpson, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Associate Professor, Special Education

Emily Slusser, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Professor, Child & Adolescent Development

Grinell Smith, Ph.D. | Professor, Teacher Education

Megan Thiele, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Sociology & Interdiscriplinary Social Sciences

Kim Tsai, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development

Tammie Visintainer, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Teacher Education

David Whitenack, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Professor, Teacher Education

Affiliated Faculty

Thomas (Tom) Altura, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, School of Management

Allison Briceno, Ed.D. | Associate Professor, Teacher Education

Roxanne Fuentes, Ed.D. | Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Superintendent, Berryessa Union School District

Michael Gallagher, Ed.D. | Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Superintendent, Sunnyvale School District

John Pappalardo, Ed.D. | Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Chief Financial Officer, Cambrian School District

Senorina (Noni) Reis, Ed.D. | Professor Emerita, Ed.D. Leadership

Shelly Viramontez, Ed.D. | Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Superintendent, Campbell Union Elementary School District  


Core Faculty Directory, Bios, and Highlights

 

Rebeca Burciaga, Ph.D.Rebeca Burciaga
Professor, Educational Leadership
& Chicana and Chicano Studies, Program founder and Coordinator, Emancipatory Leadership MA Program
rebeca.burciaga@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-3644
Twitter: @qvo 

 

 

  Arnold DanzigArnold Danzig, Ph.D.
Professor, Educational Leadership
arnold.danzig@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-3722

 

 

Brent DuckorBrent Duckor, Ph.D.
Professor, Teacher Education
brent.duckor@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-3342

 

 

Maria Fusaro, Ed.D. Maria Fusaro
Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development
maria.fusaro@sjsu.edu

 

 

María Ledesma, Ph.D.Maria Ledesma
Department Chair & Professor, Educational Leadership
maria.ledesma@sjsu.edu 

 

 

Cara Maffini, Ph.D.Cara Maffini
Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development

 

 

 

Roxana MarachiRoxana Marachi, Ph.D.
Professor, Teacher Education
roxana.marachi@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-3729
Twitter: @ConnectEdProf 

 

Robert Marx, Ph.D.Robert Marx
Assistant Professor, Child & Adolescent Development

 

 

Kathleen McConnell, Ph.D.Kathleen McConnell 
Associate Chair & Professor, Communication Studies
kathleen.mcconnell@sjsu.edu

 

 

 

Dolores Mena, Ph.D.Dolores Mena  
Professor & Graduate Program Coordinator,
Counselor Education
dolores.mena@sjsu.edu

 

 

Ellen Middaugh, Ph.D.Ellen Middaugh
Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development

 

 

Nikos MourtosNikos Mourtos, Ph.D.
Chair & Professor, Aerospace Engineering
nikos.mourtos@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-3867

 

 

Eduardo Munoz-MunozEduardo Muñoz-Muñoz, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Teacher Education
eduardo.munoz-munoz@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-3771

 

 

Rachel O'Malley, Ph.D.Rachel O'Malley
Professor, Environmental studies
rachel.omalley@sjsu.edu

 

 

 

Luis Poza, Ph.D.Luis Poza
Associate Professor, Teacher Education
luis.poza@sjsu.edu 

 

 

Lisa Simpson, Ph.D.Lisa Simpson
Department Chair & Associate Professor, Special Education

 

 

Emily Slusser, Ph.D.Emily Slussor
Department Chair & Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development
emily.slusser@sjsu.edu
(408) 924-3752

 

Megan Thiele, Ph.D. Megan Thiele
Associate Professor, Sociology & Interdiscriplinary Social Sciences
megan.thiele@sjsu.edu

 

 

Kim Tsai, Ph.D.Kim Tsai
Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development

 

 

David Whitenack, Ph.D.David Whitenack
Department Chair & Professor, Teacher Education
david.whitenack@sjsu.edu
(408) 924-3736

 


Affiliated Faculty Directory, Bios, and Highlights

 

Thomas (Tom) Altura, Ph.D.Thomas Altura
Associate Professor, School of Management
thomas.altura@sjsu.edu

 

Allison Briceno, Ed.D.Allison Briceno
Associate Professor, Teacher Education

 

Roxanne Fuentes, Ed.D.
Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Superintendent, Berryessa Union School District

 

Michael Gallagher, Ed.D.
Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Superintendent, Sunnyvale School District

Senorina (Noni) Reis, Ed.D. 
Emerita Professor, Educational Leadership

 

John Pappalardo, Ed.D.
Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Chief Financial Officer, Cambrian School District

 

Shelly Viramontez, Ed.D.
Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Superintendent, Campbell Union Elementary School District
 


Current Faculty Resources