Inside UCR

UCR professor named editor of prestigious education journal

David Danelski — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

As the editor for two forthcoming annual volumes of a leading education research journal, UCR education professor Rita Kohl will help curate the nation’s most rigorous scholarship on how racism shapes the U.S. education system.

UCR-led civics education group receives $600,000

David Danelski — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0800

The UCR-led Civic Engagement Research Group, led by Professor Joseph Kahne, will receive $600,000 in grants for its Civic Impact Project, which aims to improve education in civics in the United States and strengthen democracy.

Scholar recognized for advancing social change through technology

David Danelski — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700

A UC Riverside education scholar Avriel Epps has been named the inaugural recipient of the Dáaiyah Bilal-Threats Visionary Award, honoring her work advancing equity and justice through technology.

Highlights from UCR’s 71st Commencement

Malinn Loeung — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

UC Riverside concluded its 71st Commencement season on June 17, with UCR’s Class of 2025 walking at eight discipline- or degree-based ceremonies. Approximately 6,100 graduates, 35,000 in-person guests, 32,000 online streamers, and about 375 volunteer staff participated in the celebrations, which started on June 6. Highlanders belonging to specific groups also took part in additional micro celebrations organized by various student resources like the University Honors Cording, and year-end celebrations hosted by UCR’s ethnic and gender centers.

Tara Yosso honored by national educational research association

David Danelski — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0700

UC Riverside education professor Tara J. Yosso, has been named a 2025 fellow by the American Educational Research Association, or AERA, in recognition of her exceptional and sustained research contributions.

Business, education, and engineering grad programs ranked high

UCR News — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0700

UC Riverside’s business, education, and engineering programs placed high in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 rankings of graduate programs in the U.S.  The School of Business climbed 17 positions for its part-time Master of Business Administration, or MBA, program to rank No. 56 in the nation. The Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering, or BCOE, ranked No. 89 overall, saw increases in five programs. The School of Education ranked No. 90 overall among 258 schools with doctoral-level programs.

UCR scholars receive grants for education equity research

David Danelski — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Scholars from UCR’s School of Education have received two $75,000 grants from the Spencer Foundation to support research focused on improving social-emotional learning for immigrant students and advancing racial equity in teacher education.

Ariana Aparicio Aguilar wins ‘Seed to Tree’ scholarship

Malinn Loeung — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0700

UC Riverside doctoral student’s research will help advance equity in higher education.

SOE unveils new mural featuring Pops Peterson’s “Walk With Her”

Jordan Cornet — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0800

The UC Riverside School of Education, or SOE, has introduced a new mural in Sproul Hall, featuring "Walk With Her," a piece by artist Maurice “Pops” Peterson. The artwork reinterprets Norman Rockwell’s iconic 1964 painting, “The Problem We All Live With,” which depicts Ruby Bridges, one of the first Black students to integrate into an all-white elementary school in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

UCR scholars honored by the White House for early career achievements

UCR News — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

UCR professors Rachel Wu, Eunsoo Cho and Mahesh Raj Neupane have each received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, or PECASE, according to a recent announcement from The White House.

UCR professors ranked among nation's top 200 education scholars

David Danelski — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

UCR education professors Eddie Comeaux and Rita Kohli have been named among the nation’s top 200 education scholars in a ranking by the American Enterprise Institute, or AEI.

Teacher education director to join Hispanic leadership academy

David Danelski — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700

UCR’s Frances Valdovinos has been named a fellow by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, or HACU, for this year’s Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo.

UCR education professor wins prestigious school psychology award

David Danelski — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700

The American Psychological Association will honor UC Riverside assistant professor Stephanie Moore with the 2024 Lightner Witmer Award, which recognizes early-career professional and academic school psychologists who have demonstrated sustained, outstanding scholarship.

Racial justice teacher development institute wins $100,000 grant

David Danelski — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Professor Tara J. Yosso honored for lifetime achievements

David Danelski — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Education professor Tara J. Yosso honored by the American Educational Research Association for her lifetime achievements.

Fellowship supports probe of meritocracy ideology high schools

David Danelski — Mon, 22 May 2023 00:00:00 -0700

UCR School of Education professor Suneal Kolluri will probe the paradox of the meritocracy ideology in U.S. high schools with a fellowship from the Spencer Foundation recently awarded by the National Academy of Education

Education professor honored by national education research association

David Danelski — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0800

The American Educational Research Association, or AERA, has honored UC Riverside education professor Joseph Kahne as a 2023 AERA Fellow for his exceptional contributions to education research.

School of Education authors recognized for work to improve racial climate in teacher education programs

David Danelski — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Education professor to be recognized for exposing inequities faced by teachers of color

David Danelski — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0800

School of Education dean works for equity in education

David Danelski — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Joi Spencer, the new dean of the School of Education, comes to UC Riverside with deep ties to Inland Southern California and a mission to help the region realize greater educational equity in public education.

UCR professor receives grant to probe racial barriers in teacher education programs

UCR News — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Rita Kohli, an associate professor in the UCR School of Education, has received a $50,000 grant from the Chicago-based Spencer Foundation to probe the experiences of teacher educators of color as they navigate systemic racism in teacher education programs throughout the United States.

School of Education grad students, faculty member, alums win AAHHE fellowships

David Danelski — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0800

The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, or AAHHE, has honored two UCR School of Education graduate students, a faculty member, and two alums with 2022-23 fellowships.

OASIS initiative provides $1.7 million for UCR research projects

David Danelski — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0800

UCR's Office of Research and Economic Development (RED) has announced over $1.7 million in competitive funding for faculty research projects through its Opportunity to Advance Sustainability Innovation and Social Inclusion initiative, known as OASIS. The projects range from probing the severity of COVID-19 infection in Riverside County, through sustainability and resilience in agriculture; to finding ways to mine lithium needed for electric car batteries from brine below the Salton Sea.

Meet UCR’s new faculty members

Imran Ghori — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0700

For fall quarter 2022, UC Riverside welcomed 34 new permanent faculty members from a variety of disciplines. Learn more about the new faculty below:   <strong>College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences</strong>

Highlander celebrates 10-year anniversary of DACA with FLOTUS

Malinn Loeung — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Ariana Aparicio Aguilar, a doctoral student in UCR's School of Education and a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, was recently invited with Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox to attend a 10-year DACA anniversary at the White House.

American Council on Education awards fellowship to school psychology professor

Holly Ober — Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Austin Johnson will join the 2022-23 class of ACE Fellows.

School of Education launches Black Community Education Promise Program

Holly Ober — Fri, 06 May 2022 00:00:00 -0700

The program supports incoming School of Education freshman or transfer students who are dedicated to serving the Black community via education upon graduation from UCR

Reading intervention strategy shows promise for students with autism

Holly Ober — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0800

A pilot study found statistically significant vocabulary gains for students with mild to moderate autism symptom severity.

Civic engagement project receives UC systemwide award

Holly Ober — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0800

A UC Riverside effort to get more students involved with university boards of trustees has received a VOICE Award

Racial justice group names award for education professor

Imran Ghori — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0800

A national organization dedicated to racial justice has named an award for UC Riverside education professor Tara J. Yosso. Color of Change, an online nonprofit, cited the power of Yosso’s research-based counter narratives, which shed critical historical light on the educational experiences of students of color. Color of Change held its inaugural Black History Now Awards on its Facebook page on Feb. 24. The Tara J. Yosso Excellence in Counter Storytelling in Education Award was one of seven awards presented during the online ceremony.