Faculty
The Ed.D. Leadership Program faculty are composed of scholars and researchers from across SJSU who are committed to preparing collaborative, transformative leaders capable of building school systems free from oppression, injustice, and inequality as well as to closing the opportunity gap resulting in educational disparities and social inequalities.
Program Director
Ferdie Rivera, Ph.D. (Interim)
|
![]() |
Core Faculty
Rebeca Burciaga, Ph.D. | Professor, Educational Leadership & Chicana and Chicano Studies, Program Founder and Coordinator, Emancipatory Leadership MA Program
Arnold Danzig, Ph.D. | Professor, Educational Leadership
Brent Duckor, Ph.D. | Professor, Teacher Education
Maria Fusaro, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development
María Ledesma, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Professor, Educational Leadership
Cara Maffini, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development
Roxana Marachi, Ph.D. | Professor, Teacher Education
Robert Marx, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Child & Adolescent Development
Kathleen McConnell, Ph.D. | Associate Chair & Professor, Communication Studies
Dolores Mena, Ph.D. | Professor & Graduate Program Coordinator, Counselor Education
Ellen Middaugh, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development
Nikos Mourtos, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Professor, Aerospace Engineering
Eduardo Muñoz-Muñoz, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Teacher Education
Rachel O'Malley, Ph.D.| Professor, Environmental Studies
Luis Poza, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Teacher Education
Lisa Simpson, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Associate Professor, Special Education
Emily Slusser, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Professor, Child & Adolescent Development
Megan Thiele, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Sociology & Interdiscriplinary Social Sciences
Kim Tsai, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development
David Whitenack, Ph.D. | Department Chair & Professor, Teacher Education
Affiliated Faculty
Thomas (Tom) Altura, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, School of Management
Allison Briceno, Ed.D. | Associate Professor, Teacher Education
Roxanne Fuentes, Ed.D. | Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Superintendent, Berryessa Union School District
Veneice Guillory-Lacy, Ph.D | Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership
Lara Kassab, Ed.D. | Associate Professor, Teacher Education
John Pappalardo, Ed.D. | Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Chief Financial Officer, Cambrian School District,
Core Faculty Directory, Bios, and Highlights
Rebeca Burciaga, Ph.D.![]() Professor, Educational Leadership & Chicana and Chicano Studies, Program founder and Coordinator, Emancipatory Leadership MA Program rebeca.burciaga@sjsu.edu (408) 924-3644 Twitter: @qvo |
![]() Professor, Educational Leadership arnold.danzig@sjsu.edu (408) 924-3722 |
![]() Professor, Teacher Education brent.duckor@sjsu.edu (408) 924-3342 |
Maria Fusaro, Ed.D. ![]() Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development maria.fusaro@sjsu.edu |
María Ledesma, Ph.D.![]() Department Chair & Professor, Educational Leadership maria.ledesma@sjsu.edu |
Cara Maffini, Ph.D. |
![]() Professor, Teacher Education roxana.marachi@sjsu.edu (408) 924-3729 Twitter: @ConnectEdProf |
Robert Marx, Ph.D.![]() Assistant Professor, Child & Adolescent Development |
Kathleen McConnell, Ph.D.![]() Associate Chair & Professor, Communication Studies kathleen.mcconnell@sjsu.edu |
Dolores Mena, Ph.D.![]() Professor & Graduate Program Coordinator, Counselor Education dolores.mena@sjsu.edu |
Ellen Middaugh, Ph.D.![]() Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development |
![]() Chair & Professor, Aerospace Engineering nikos.mourtos@sjsu.edu (408) 924-3867 |
![]() Assistant Professor, Teacher Education eduardo.munoz-munoz@sjsu.edu (408) 924-3771 |
Rachel O'Malley, Ph.D. |
Luis Poza, Ph.D.![]() Associate Professor, Teacher Education luis.poza@sjsu.edu |
Lisa Simpson, Ph.D. |
Emily Slusser, Ph.D.![]() Department Chair & Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development emily.slusser@sjsu.edu (408) 924-3752 |
Megan Thiele, Ph.D. |
Kim Tsai, Ph.D.![]() Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development |
David Whitenack, Ph.D.![]() Department Chair & Professor, Teacher Education david.whitenack@sjsu.edu (408) 924-3736 |
Affiliated Faculty Directory, Bios, and Highlights
Thomas (Tom) Altura, Ph.D. |
Allison Briceno, Ed.D. |
Roxanne Fuentes, Ed.D. Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Superintendent, Berryessa Union School District |
Veneice Guillory-Lacy, Ph.D. |
Lara Ervin-Kassab, Ed.D. |
John Pappalardo, Ed.D. Lecturer, Ed.D. Leadership Program and Chief Financial Officer, Cambrian School District |