Faculty & Staff
Lidiana Portales Blair is the coordinator of the Urban Dual Credential Program, as well as a faculty member and university supervisor. She loves mentoring the next generation of teachers and working with UDCP students is a career highlight! Dr. Portales Blair started as a dual-immersion elementary teacher in Santa Barbara. She then taught in Philadelphia before returning to California and working as an instructional coach in Los Angeles. She earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from CSULB, an M.Ed. from UC Santa Barbara, and a B.A. from the University of Southern California. She holds a multiple subject credential with a bilingual authorization from UC Santa Barbara. If you have questions about UDCP, please send an email to Lidiana.PortalesBlair@csulb.edu
Kristy Manning previously taught for 12 years as an elementary school teacher in California, Florida, and New Mexico. During her time in New Mexico, she worked as a math intervention teacher and mentor teacher for the Albuquerque Public Schools. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in History and a Master's in Teacher Education from Claremont Graduate University. She has a clear multiple-subject credential for general education. She is honored to work with UDCP teacher candidates, hoping to support their dreams in becoming successful leaders in education.
Stephanie Hunt began teaching in the UDCP program in 2017. Prior to this, she spent 15 years in the classroom working with special education students in both the elementary and high school settings. After earning her BA at the University of California, Berkeley, she received her Education Specialist Credential and MS in Special Education at CSULB! Go Beach! She is overjoyed to be “home” at last and to work with talented and inspiring students, who consistently bring dedication and passion to the teaching profession.
Mardell Nash is a faculty member and university supervisor at Cal State Long Beach. Mardell has taught multiple grades in special education and general education in Kansas City, Fallbrook, and in the Los Alamitos School District. She received her master's degree and teaching credentials from San Diego State University. Mardell created an award-winning inclusive program in the Los Alamitos School district called "The Community of Learners". The program provided an opportunity for students in general education and special education to learn together in the same classroom. Mardell loves working in the UDCP program mentoring students to help them prepare for a successful career in the field of education.
