Meet the new faculty

Get to know the newest educators in the College of Education.

2023-2024

Dr. Christian Bracho

• Assistant professor in the Teacher Education Department.
• Teaches History of American Education in, and is coordinator of, the M.A. in Education, Curriculum & Instruction program. He will teach Cross-Cultural Education in the spring.
• Has researched Mexican teacher movements, teacher identity, Latinx communities, queer theory and Hispanic-serving institutions.
• Education:
  • Ph.D., International Education — New York University
  • M.S., Secondary English Curriculum — University of Rochester
  • B.A., English and Comparative Literature — University of Rochester

Dr. Branson Boykins

• Assistant professor in the Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling Department.
• Teaches Counseling Theories, Counseling Techniques, Cross-Cultural Counseling and Couples Counseling.
• Has research interests grounded in multicultural psychology and best practices when working with marginalized populations, especially racial minorities.
• Education:
  • Ph.D., Counseling Psychology — Western Michigan
  • University. M.A., School & Community Psychology — Wayne State University
  • B.A., Psychology — Michigan State University

Dr. Rita Suh

• Lecturer in the Teacher Education Department.
• Teaches Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Schools and Teaching and Learning Language Arts K-8.
• Has expertise in second language acquisition, issues of equity in schools, and culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy.
• Education:
  • Ed.D., Educational Leadership, concentration in Teacher Education in Multicultural Societies — USC
  • M.A., Education, option in Reading/Language Arts — CSULB
  • Reading Language Arts Specialist Credential — CSULB
  • Multiple Subject Credential — CSULB
  • B.A. Sociology, Minor in Education— UC Irvine.

 

Troy Loker

• Lecturer in the Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling Department and coordinator of fieldwork for School Psychology.
• Teaches Practicum and Internship Supervision, Child Development and Intro to School Psychology.
• Has experience in, and focused research on, supporting LGBTQ+ youth in schools, advancing implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports in urban schools, school climate and the dual-factor model of mental health.
• Education:
  • Ph.D., School Psychology — University of South Florida
  • Ed.S., School Psychology — University of South Florida 
  • M.A., School Psychology — University of South Florida. B.S., Psychology - University of Florida.

Erika Garcia

• Lecturer and university supervisor in the Teacher Education Department.
• Teaches Teaching and Learning of History and Social Science K-8 and Teaching and Learning Reading K-8.
• Is a former bilingual education teacher who has researched how teachers can leverage the cultural and linguistic funds of knowledge of emergent bilinguals in the classroom curriculum.
• Education:
  • Ed.D., Educational Leadership— USC
  • M.A., Education, Dual Language Development — CSULB
  • B.A., Social Welfare, Minor in Education — UC Berkeley