September 2022

Lateef Oresanya has been named curriculum implementation coach in the Postsecondary Programming department at Houston ISD. Oresanya previously served as an Advanced Placement physics teacher at George Bush High School in Fort Bend ISD. He earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership – K-12 and principal certification from the College in 2022.

Francisco Usero-González, who earned a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction – early childhood education in 2022, won the second place Dissertation Award from the Texas Association for Bilingual Education. His dissertation is titled “A Mixed-Method Study Exploring Latinx Families’ Beliefs About School Involvement, the Use of Social Media and Actual Involvement.” Usero-González is currently an assistant professor of bilingual education at Sam Houston State University.

Lauren Fuller, who earned a B.S. in psychology and a minor in health in 2021, won the 2022 Best of Show Student Poster award at the American School Health Association Conference. Kayce Solari Williams, a clinical associate professor of health, was the second author. Fuller is currently a graduate student in the Master in Public Policy program at the UH Hobby School of Public Affairs.

August 2022

Doctoral student Stephanie Navarro has been selected by the Society for Research in Child Development as a Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar. The program provides mentorship, seminars and other professional development opportunities for scholars from traditionally under-represented groups. Navarro, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in school psychology, is also a graduate research assistant in the Social Development Lab directed by Julie Dunsmore, a professor of human development and family studies.

Jorge Mendoza has accepted a position as an instructional designer at San Jacinto College. He earned a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction – learning, design and technology in 2022 and a B.S. in teaching in 2011. He previously worked as a bilingual teacher for 11 years at Conroe ISD. 

Erin Van Pelt has been named assistant principal of Wilchester Elementary School in Spring Branch ISD. Van Pelt previously served as an assistant principal at Roberts Elementary School in Houston ISD and a gifted and talented magnet coordinator at River Oaks Elementary School in the district. She earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2015.

Asna Masood has been named assistant principal at Hollibrook Elementary in Spring Branch ISD. Masood previously worked as science department chair at the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at James D. Ryan Middle School in Houston ISD. She earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2021 and a B.A. in interpersonal communications from UH in 2006.

July 2022

Matthew Campbell has been appointed as the K-12 social studies coordinator for Conroe ISD. Campbell previously served as a curriculum coach in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and an adjunct professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the College. He earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership – social studies/social education in 2018.

Karen Peña has been named assistant principal of Fred Roberts Middle School in Pasadena ISD. Peña previously served as a reading language arts content specialist in the district. She earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2022.

Graduate student Jamie Kendall has been named assistant principal of Forest Brook Middle School in Houston ISD. Kendall, who is pursuing an M.Ed. in administration and supervision, previously worked as a campus leader intern at Herrera Elementary in the district.

Krysti Turnquest has been appointed principal user experience researcher at Optum (a business of UnitedHealth Group). She previously worked as project director for the Accelerated Transfer Academy at UH-Downtown. Turnquest earned a Ph.D. in measurement, quantitative methods and learning sciences in 2022.

Graduate student Marshal James DuPas Jr. has been named assistant principal at Bonham Elementary School in Houston ISD. DuPas, who’s pursuing an M.Ed. in administration and supervision, previously worked as a principal intern in Hilliard Elementary School in the district.

Graduate student Julie Vanhaverbeke has been named dean of instruction at Tanglewood Middle School in Houston ISD. Vanhaverbeke, who’s pursuing an M.Ed. in administration and supervision, previously worked as a principal resident at HISD’s Sam Houston Math Science and Technology Center.

Undergraduate student Luis Gonzalez has been selected as a graduate intern with the Gardner Institute, a nonprofit focused on postsecondary success. Gonzalez, who’s pursuing a B.S. in human development and family studies, will graduate in summer 2022. He currently works at UH as a peer assistant in exploratory studies and a student assistant in the office of undergraduate academic affairs. He plans to enroll in the higher education master’s program in the fall of 2022.

Shannon Ramirez has been named assistant principal of academies and career and technical education at Ross S. Sterling High School in Goose Creek Consolidated ISD. Ramirez previously worked as a career and technical education specialist for the district’s central office. She earned an Ed.D in professional leadership – literacy education in 2020 and an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2022.

Luis Landa has been appointed principal at Sharpstown International School in Houston ISD. He previously served as principal at Sutton Elementary and Chavez High School in the district. Landa earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership – K-12 from the College in 2018.

Laura Chaffin has been appointed assistant principal at Dr. James "Red" Duke Elementary in Alvin ISD. Chaffin earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision from the College in 2021. She most recently served as the PASS behavior teacher at Bob and Betty Nelson Elementary in the district.