Wasserman Dean Christina Christie and SEIS leadership team welcome students and new faculty.
The UCLA School of Education and Information Studies celebrated its first in-person Convocation since 2019 on Sept. 25, kicking off the fall quarter for new and returning students and faculty. Wasserman Dean Christina Christie introduced new members of her leadership team, including Eddie Cole, associate dean for equity, diversity and inclusion and professor of education and history; Annamarie Francois, associate dean for public engagement; Georgia Lazo, associate dean for university partnership schools at UCLA; John Rogers, associate dean for research/public scholarship and professor of education; and Tonia Sutherland, associate dean for faculty development and associate professor of information studies.
Remarks from Cecilia Rios-Aguilar, chair, UCLA Department of Education, and Todd Franke, interim chair, UCLA Department of Information Studies encouraged the students to make the most of their time in SEIS.
Dean Christie discussed the turmoil of the spring quarter, including the effects of protests that erupted on campus in response to war and violence in the Middle East.
“As we finished up the school year, some were understandably left with a feeling of unfinished business,” she said. “As the conflict in the Middle East continues, and as we enter a contentious presidential election season, we are likely to find ourselves once again in passionate debates and disagreements.
“The profound act of listening is essential,” stated Christie. “We must actively leave room for our full diversity of voices to be heard. And as we share our ideas with one another, we must do so with empathy and civility. We must remember how much we share in common, even when it seems like we have entirely different perspectives. And finally, our shared commitment to social justice and equity—and our shared optimism that this is achievable—means we are all working toward the same goal, even when our paths toward the goal may diverge.”
Dean Christie encouraged students and staff to, “… approach our work and our interactions with thoughtfulness and intention. As I look out at you today, I know that you represent the future of our fields. You are the ones who will push our thinking. You are the ones who will engage with the difficult questions, listen to the answers that challenge you, and address the many serious challenges ahead. There is work to be done, and there are conversations to be had. I know we are up to the task.”
Dean Christie moderated a panel of six new SEIS faculty members, including Julissa Muñiz, assistant professor of education; Lori Patton Davis, professor of education and the new Heyman Endowed Chair and faculty director of the UCLA Educational Leadership Program; Jordan Rickles, assistant professor of education; Cinthya Salazar, assistant professor of education; Melissa Villa-Nicholas, assistant professor of information studies; and Jin Wang, assistant professor of education. Encompassing academic and cultural backgrounds from across the globe, the new faculty members shared their academic trajectories and their hopes for their students at UCLA.
Professor Rickles emphasized to students that, “… faculty are people – don’t be intimidated by them.” He also exhorted them to take more risks and take advantage to try new things, as time will be limited after graduation.
“Whatever gives you joy… don’t lose that,” echoed Professor Villa Nicholas.
Amy Gershon, director of the Office of Student Services, welcomed students with an icebreaker exercise and introduced representatives of SEIS student organizations, including the IS Student Governing Board, the Graduate Students Association in Education (GSAE), USAB, and the student research journal, Interactions.