Ninth Annual Educational Leadership Symposium: Investing in our Educational Future
In January, the Educational Leadership Department held its 9th Annual Educational Leadership Symposium. Centered around the theme, “Investing in Our Educational Future: Today, Tomorrow, Together”, this year’s symposium challenged attendees to think about the status of higher education as it stands today, where it should be in the future, and what educational leaders can do to accomplish these goals together. The symposium consisted of a number of engaging paper sessions and interactive workshops from graduate students and distinguished alumni, ranging in topic from strategies on how to better serve black male students to gauging the success of parental involvement among Mexican immigrant homes.
Another highlight of the symposium was the poster session that showcased various research projects by students from the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program and the Center for Evaluation and Educational Effectiveness. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with the graduate researchers, where they presented their findings from their respective studies, covering a number of topics, ranging from “The Support of College-Bound Latina/o STEM Students” to “Building Capacity Among Paraprofessionals”.
The final highlight of the day was the keynote address delivered by Patrick O’Donnell, Assemblymember of California’s 70th District, which includes the cities of Long Beach, San Pedro, and Signal Hill. First elected in 2014, Mr. O’Donnell’s distinguished career as an advocate for public education includes over 20 years of teaching experience, securing $150 million for the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program, and helping secure $15 million in the state budget to take the success of the Long Beach College Promise statewide.
In his address, Mr. O’Donnell addressed many concerns about the current state of public education and the affordability of higher education among underprivileged students, given the current economic and political climate. Mr. O’Donnell assured attendees that he will continue to invest in the future of education, and will ensure that education remains a top priority among other top public officials.
Overall, the Educational Leadership Symposium proved to be a successful culmination in the hours of research and dedication put forth by the program’s students, faculty, and alumni. All of the proceeds from the registration fees for the symposium will go toward funding the Educational Leadership Social Justice Scholarship awarded to exemplary students in the Educational Leadership Doctorate program. For more information on this scholarship, or to make a donation, please contact the Development Office.
