Faculty and Staff in the News
Academic excellence at the College of Education begins with our internationally renowned faculty. As award-winning scholars, professionals, and innovators in research, outreach, education, and more, they are just as likely to publish in The New York Times as the The Oregonian. In the classroom, they are passionate teachers who inform and inspire. Out in the field, they are dedicated mentors who help students build real-world skills and strong professional networks.
We are the highest-ranked academic unit at the University of Oregon, due largely to a decades-long record of national and international research and development in special education, counseling psychology, educational leadership, and school psychology. Our research culture is unique and highly influential because our faculty have a long tradition of translating research into effective models, methods, and measures that improve lives. Our innovations have an enduring impact in Oregon and across the nation.
Books from our faculty reflect the extent of expertise and interest within their departments and programs. As a college in a research university, our faculty’s variety of interests connect research to teaching and teaching to learning.
Faculty and Staff Support Students to Graduation and Beyond
Our students are smart, creative, and increasingly diverse. Our faculty and staff support and celebrate their successes. With over 26,321 College of Education alumni to date, we work hard to provide inspiring educational opportunities in the classroom and beyond.
Leilani Sabzalian, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies in Education, Co-Director of the Sapsik’ʷałá Program, and a Triple Duck. Her work focuses on supporting the next generation of Indigenous educators to become teachers within their communities and creating more just and affirming spaces for Indigenous students in public schools. Her research also prepares educators to challenge colonialism in curriculum, policy, and practice, and implement important Indigenous-led initiatives, including Tribal History/Shared History, a law that mandates curriculum on tribal history and sovereignty in all K-12 public schools in Oregon.
She is the author of several books, including Indigenous Children’s Survivance in Public Schools, Teaching Critically About Lewis and Clark: Challenging Dominant Narratives in K-12 Curriculum co-authored with Drs. Alison Schmitke and Jeff Edmundson, and the forthcoming text, Teaching Indigenous Studies: An Introduction for K-12 Educators, co-authored with Dr. Meredith McCoy and Helen Thomas.
Other featured media:
- Clearing a Path for Indigenous Teachers feature in American Indian Magazine co-written with Michelle M. Jacobs, PhD.
- Leilani Sabzalian and Princess Bass-Mason Interview, Illumination Ongoing Story and Public History Project, Springfield History Museum, Springfield, Oregon.
- Indigenous students deserve Indigenous teachers Leilani Sabzalian and Indigenous Education, featured in the Oregon Quarterly.
- Reclaiming Indigenous Kinship Education: Lessons from the Sapsik’ʷałá Program with Michelle M. Jacob, PhD and Leilani Sabzalian, PhD.
Products with a Purpose
The College of Education HEDCO Building is the anchor innovation hub among the six buildings that house the majority of our classrooms, research and outreach units, clinics, and faculty labs. Driving change by developing highly scalable products and services has always been part of the distinctive culture of our college. In fact, the research and development work of our faculty has created an “EduTech” industry in Eugene and Lane County. Our research and development has always been inspired by our desire to effect evidence-based change that redresses disparities in education and health – “products with purpose.” This work is now focused on addressing racism and bias.
Career Trek engages students in highly interactive, developmentally-appropriate, and gamified career exploration
Designed specifically for elementary school, CareerTrek scaffolds vocabulary and activities to introduce and reinforce key, evidence-based career development concepts.
CareerTrek is developed by IntoCareers, an outreach unit at the College of Education.
KinderTEK® iPad math, KinderTEK Pro Connected, KinderTEKOffline
KinderTEK™ was developed by the Center on Teaching and Learning in collaboration with Concentric Sky, Inc with funding from the Department of Education.
Used by approximately 5,000 elementary students and over 200 teachers in almost 100 schools in 50 districts. In 2020, KinderTEK Pro Connected and iPads were made freely available to 180 Head Start families to foster math learning and communication.
MOCCA: Multiple-choice Online Causal Comprehension Assessment
MOCCA is a computer-adaptive online assessment to diagnose specific types of poor comprehension in grade 2 to 8 students.
MOCCA was developed by four universities — the UO, University of Minnesota, Georgia State University and Chico State University. Work continues with Emberex to improve access to and use of the assessment tool.
Cultivate School and Community Learning Collaborative
Research and Evidence-Based Professional Development for K12 and Early Learning
Oregon Research Schools Network (ORSN) is now Cultivate! Cultivate partners with ESDs, Districts and Schools to deliver research and evidence-based Professional Development that supports developing High Quality Environments for Children & Adults to learn and work.