September 2019

Marissa Moreno, who earned a Ph.D. in higher education in 2019, had a paper accepted for publication in the Community College Journal of Research and Practice. Her paper is titled "Access for Whom? The Impact of Dual Enrollment on College Matriculation among Underserved Student Populations in Texas." Moreno is a lead counselor at the Lee College Advising and Counseling Center in Baytown.

Guillermo Ortega, a doctoral student in the higher education program, has been accepted to the Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success apprenticeship program. Ortega will receive a $500 dissertation scholarship award and be paired with a faculty research mentor. Ortega’s dissertation explores experiences, engagement and persistence for Latina/o student-athletes.    

August 2019

David Sanchez, a doctoral student in the professional leadership – K-12 program, has been named assistant principal of Spring High School in Spring ISD. He previously served as assistant principal at Stevenson Middle School in Houston ISD.

Michelle Hall, who earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2018 from the College, has been named assistant principal of Turner Elementary School in Willis ISD. Hall was previously the icoach at Meador Elementary.

Yonelly Gutiérrez, a program manager in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, accepted an appointment to the UH Hispanic Alumni Association board in August. Gutierrez, who earned an M.Ed. in higher education in 2019, is responsible for fundraising, evaluation and planning efforts within the organization.   

July 2019

Patrick Sajovec, a doctoral student in the school psychology program, has won the July Golden Paw Award as the UH Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services employee of the month. Sajovec works as a graduate assistant in the department.

Bradley Smith, a professor in the school psychology program; Han Joe Kim, an assistant professor in the measurement, quantitative methods and learning sciences program; and Jorge Gonzalez, a professor in the school psychology program, received a $180,844 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation in July. Smith serves as principal investigator. The funds will be used to conduct an evaluation for LEAD (Letting Everyone Achieve Dreams), a program that supports middle school students with mentoring, social emotional learning classes, a summer wilderness program and more.

Several faculty members received UH Alternative Textbook Incentive Program awards for 2019-20. Funds will go toward implementation of an open or alternative textbook in their courses:

• Eulises Avellaneda, a clinical assistant professor of bilingual education
• Kristen Hassett, a clinical associate professor of special populations
• Laura Turchi, an assistant professor of secondary education
• Jane Cooper, a clinical assistant professor of teacher education

Patrick Lukingbeal, who earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology and individual differences in 2015, has been named executive director of UH Integrated Enrollment Services. Lukingbeal previously served as director of UH Wellness and is currently an adjunct professor in the College’s counseling program.