When co-host Vanna White tested positive for COVID-19 before Wheel of Fortune shot their “Teachers Week” episodes in July, the hit game show called on a CSUDH alumna to fill in—2023 California Teacher of the Year Bridgette Donald-Blue.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Donald-Blue, who currently serves as a K-3 Math Intervention Teacher at Coliseum Street Elementary in downtown L.A. “It was such a complete departure from what I do in the classroom! I enjoyed the day. It was also a great opportunity to champion the cause of education and the work that teachers do every day.”

The episodes aired during the first week of October in order to coincide with World Teachers Day. Donald-Blue served as Vanna’s “substitute” for the entire week of five episodes.

---

$10,766,053

Outside funding for research and sponsored projects continues to be a key driver of innovation at CSUDH. The most recent year saw the university bring in $4.92 million from federal sources, and $4.88 million from the state of California (separate from base budget allotments). These awards fund faculty research on topics ranging from climate equity to black soldier fly larvae, and support university projects like improving student mental health and boosting sustainability on campus.

To discuss funding opportunities or submit a grant proposal, please email
the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs at srp@csudh.edu.

---

The federal government is turning to CSUDH to help diversify the teacher pipeline and tackle shortages in this crucial profession. The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded $1.59 million to the College of Education through its Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence program.

The funding will support Multilingual/Minoritized Educators Networked-Learning and Development, or MEND, a project to dramatically increase and retain the number of multilingual and minoritized teachers in Southern California.

MEND will specifically target CSUDH’s elementary education teacher preparation program, focusing on pre-service teachers’ wellness, academic pursuits, and high-quality early clinical experiences in schools.

“In Los Angeles County, we have such diversity in language education and language experiences,” said Professor of Teacher Education and MEND Co-Principal Investigator Pablo Ramirez. “We are seeking to transform teacher education so that it’s reflective of the needs of our communities.”

Co-Principal Investigator Edward Curammeng, associate professor of teacher education, said that when the team began their proposal in Fall 2022, the grant parameters seemed to be written for them. In fact, the MEND team’s proposal earned a perfect score from three independent reviewers—a rare achievement that reflects the trailblazing work of the college.

“The models we are going to co-create with students, teachers, and mentors will be groundbreaking,” Ramirez said. “We need to take teacher education in a different direction, and this is just one step.”

“With so many teachers leaving the profession, we need to provide support structures so that there is a solid sense of community and material resources to ensure our students will be teachers for the long haul,” Curammeng said. “They need to be sustained throughout the trajectory of their careers.”

College of Education Dean Jessica Pandya said the federal funding is a testament to the critical work CSUDH is doing in teacher preparation. “With these additional resources, we can continue to produce the passionate, dedicated, and culturally conscious teachers that Southern California needs.”

---