NEW FACULTY ONMEET THE OUR HORIZON JANET BANG, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
“My research focuses on how children learn language from their everyday interactions,” says Dr. Bang. “This work includes families from a variety of diverse linguistic backgrounds as well as families with typically-developing children and children with developmental disorders.” With that in mind, Dr. Bang is dedicated to using her research to empower families and educators with new insights into how to support children’s development.
LORRI CAPIZZI, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR COUNSELOR EDUCATION Dr. Capizzi has extensive experience working with first-generation low-income students in K-12 and in higher education. “My professional interests include examining social justice-based school counseling and its role in increasing access to higher education for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness,” says Dr. Cappizzi. Previously, she taught both undergraduate and graduate-level courses and placed and supervised school counselors with Lurie College. REBECCA CRUZ, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
“My research interests include teacher education and development, critical disability theory, cultural and linguistic diversity, and policy impact on schools as well as issues of equity, inclusion, and attitudes toward individuals with disabilities,” says Dr. Cruz. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a master’s degree in special education from SFSU and worked in middle and high school settings to develop co-teaching and inclusion models.
MEGAN CUELLAR, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR COMMUNICATIVE DISORDERS & SCIENCES Dr. Cuellar researches and teaches coursework in neurological communication disorders with a specific interest in swallowing disorders and motor speech disorders. “My research aims to use whole EEG neuroimaging techniques to explore the effects of stimulating mirror neurons in order to enhance swallowing and motor speech communication abilities in clinical populations,” says Dr. Cuellar.
MARÍA LEDESMA, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
“My research interests include equity oriented critical policy analysis, including contextualizing and historicizing the history and application of race-conscious social policy in higher education and the examination of leadership for social justice,” says Dr. Ledesma. She is also interested in exploring the experiences of faculty of color who identify as first-generation. As a doctoral student, María was selected to sit as the 32nd Student Regent for the University of California, the first Latina to hold this post. AUBREY URESTI, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR COUNSELOR EDUCATION Dr. Uresti, a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) and a National Certified Counselor, has experience in all levels of K-12 education as a teacher, school counselor, therapist, supervisor, and consultant. “My research focuses on the individual, family, and extended family-level experiences of adolescents who have a parent in jail or prison, as well as their meaningmaking processes regarding parental incarceration,” says Dr. Uresti.
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