Doctoral Student Academic Technology Equity Fellowship
CSUN's Office of Academic Technology in collaboration with the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, and the Research and Sponsored Programs office, are excited to announce Kari McCoy, Fall 2024 P12 Educational Leadership Cohort, as the 2024-25 Doctoral Student Academic Technology Equity Fellow!
Kari McCoy is a dedicated educational leader and a doctoral student at California State University, Northridge. With a background in educational counseling, clinical counseling, and teaching, she has served in various roles, including school counselor. Kari is passionate about promoting equity in education, particularly through the integration of technology.
As the founder of the LEAP Children's Museum in Santa Clarita, she is committed to creating innovative learning environments for children. Her research interests focus on bridging the digital divide and ensuring that all students have access to the technological resources they need to succeed.
Through the fellowship, Kari plans to bring AI experts from the community into the local high school district, connecting industry leaders with educators to empower students with cutting-edge knowledge and skills. This initiative aims to prepare students for a wide range of careers, as artificial intelligence is expected to play a significant role across various industries in the future.
Purpose
CSUN's Office of Academic Technology in collaboration with the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, and the Research and Sponsored Programs office, launch the Doctoral Student Academic Technology Equity Fellowship. This fellowship supports doctoral-level research and professional development in topics that include:
- Digital Equity
- Identification and promotion of best practices in technology-based education
- Solutions toward improved access to technology regardless of ability and socio-economic background
These topics are presented in the context of minority-serving institutions (in higher education settings) and Title I schools/districts (in elementary and secondary settings) with a large number of first-generation and/or low-income students.
As a collaborative initiative, the fellowship presents an opportunity to support doctoral student research skills and writing development; faculty development in academic technology; institutional efforts to advance equity and social justice; and campus resources to enhance services to students, faculty, and staff.
Background
Since 2008-09, the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Program has supported student dissertation research and scholar-practitioner leadership development. Further, the doctoral program has been a collaborative partner to support faculty and staff in critical engagement of challenges in campus climate and student learning and development. The transition to remote learning and the emergent challenge of digital equity among students revealed the need to stimulate research in the area of digital divide and social justice with the ultimate goal to facilitate equitable access to technology.
Eligibility
Doctoral students who are admitted or currently enrolled in CSUN's Educational Leadership Program are eligible to apply.
Expectations
Fellows will have an opportunity to conduct doctoral-level research and develop writing skills; participate in faculty development with Academic Technology; enhance institutional efforts to advance equity and social justice; and promote technology resources and services for students, faculty and staff. Under the direction of the AVP of Academic Technology Fellows will be expected to: (1) participate in staff meetings and/or individual consultations in Academic Technology, and (2) facilitate a faculty workshop on academic technology, or deliver a talk to campus constituencies on a topic of scholarly and/or research significance related to equity in technology and education.
Deadline
This is an annual fellowship to start in summer and end at the end of the spring term. The application deadline for the next Fellowship is June 1, 2023, at 11:00 pm.
Selection Process and Award
A committee comprised of representatives from the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Academic Technology, and Research and Sponsored Programs will review applications and select a final candidate. Successful fellows will receive a $2,500 stipend. Fellows may request reimbursement for expenses incurred directly related to the fellowship. Those expenses will be deducted from the final award.
Application Procedures
Applications will be completed using the InfoReady system. Incomplete applications or those received outside the InfoReady system (i.e., via email) will not be considered. The application includes a vita that you will attach at the end of the application form and must include the following:
Background:
Name
Date
Advisor/Dissertation Chair
Program Entry Term
Cohort: 〇 K-12 〇 Community College
Guided Questions:
Briefly share your general availability to participate in meetings to support fellowship activities.
Briefly describe what you feel are the most important professional development training needs of faculty/staff in higher education and/or PK-12 school settings related to technology (250 words maximum).
From your experiences in your area of professional practice, briefly describe the most pressing issues in digital equity in higher education and/or PK-12 school settings (250 words maximum).
For more information, please contact the Doctoral Program Office at (818) 677-2403 and edd.mdecoe@csun.edu.
Stephen's proud of his connections to CSUN, having earned his bachelors in Child and Adolescent Development and a masters in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in early childhood education (ECE).
Among Stephen's current projects is the Masters of ECE podcast, a collaborative project to share their experiences and knowledge. The cohosts make hot topics in the field of ECE relatable and easily consumable. Topics covered include gender identity in ECE, language and literacy, mental health care for ECE professionals, and leadership. Past research endeavors include infant language development, men in the early childhood field, and the development of college professors.
Stephen is dedicated to learning more about ways for faculty to integrate technology into their courses, ensuring students are engaged and participating in the learning process. This includes utilizing accessible programs, accessible documents and files for individuals of differing abilities (deaf/blind/etc.), and resources to make technology widely accessible to students to close the digital equity gap.
In addition to the opportunity to explore research interests, Stephen will receive a $2500 award to support his studies.
Office of Academic Technology in collaboration with the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, and the Research and Sponsored Programs office, are excited to announce Guadalupe Carrasco Cardona, CC21 Educational Leadership Cohort, as the 2022 Doctoral Student Academic Technology Equity Fellow!
Guadalupe currently teaches at the Roybal Learning Center in downtown Los Angeles and is an adjunct lecturer at CSUN and CSULB. In addition, Guadalupe is the chair of The Association of Raza Educators (Los Angeles chapter), co-founder of XOCHITL Los Angeles, a member of Ethnic Studies Now Coalition’s Coordinating Committee, and a founding member of the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Coalition.
Among Guadalupe's current projects is working on the UTLA/NEA "We Are Ethnic Studies" Career Ladder Project, which intersects with her areas of scholarly focus on the impact of Chicana/o Studies/Ethnic Studies on student success. In reflecting on her teaching philosophy and pedagogical practice, Guadalupe is dedicated to developing critical curriculum and facilitating a student-centered classroom environment based on mutual respect, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Guadalupe Cardona is fascinated with how technology can be used to connect students to the content and curriculum when socio-economic barriers exist. As a high school teacher, she created programming, such as Community Couch Time and Community Couch Time: Ethnic Studies Edition on her YouTube channel La Trenza Lupe This Ethnic Studies vidcast series has already been featured on CNN en Español, Eastsider LA, UTLA Weekly and more. She continues to explore ways to bridge the digital divide in education and how technology can be used as a critical pedagogy tool.
She earned a BA in Chicana/o Studies and Latin American Studies from UCLA and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction, Language and Literacy from ASU. She is now pursuing her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Cal State Northridge and is set to graduate with the Class of 2024. Guadalupe has spent her personal life and career re-membering herself and helping others on their quest for self-identity and the tools for telling their own stories.
In addition to the opportunity to explore her research interests in the field, Guadalupe will receive a $2500 award to support her studies.
To learn more, view Guadalupe Cardona's research presentation: Packback: Does AI have your back? An instructor’s autoethnographic account of Instructional AI in an Equity & Diversity Class
CSUN's Office of Academic Technology in collaboration with the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, and the Research and Sponsored Programs office, are excited to announce Autumn Fabricant as the 2021 Doctoral Student Academic Technology Equity Fellowship Recipient!
Autumn Fabricant currently teaches at CSUN in Academic First Year Experiences and the Michael D. Eisner College of Education. She will be starting CSUN’s Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership in Fall 2021. Her research interests include access and equity in higher education, a sense of belonging in college students, community-based learning, first-year students, and student success.
In reflecting on equitable access to technology, Autumn notes that “digital equity has come to the forefront this past year as universities have transitioned most instruction to online and virtual formats. Despite the currency of the issue, the digital divide has detrimentally affected student success in higher education long before COVID-19. According to the Digital Equity in Education project at USC’s Pullias Center for Higher Education, this disproportionately impacts students from lower-income families.” As the inaugural fellow, Autumn wants to explore current research on digital equity and see how that can be applied on CSUN’s campus.
To learn more, view Guadalupe Cardona's research presentation: Digital Equity and Validation: Exploring the CSUCCESS Program and First-Year Student Experiences at CSUN."