TLS Colloquy Speakers

Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Ph.D.

Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Ph.D., is Professor of Latina/o Studies and Race and Resistance Studies at San Francisco State University. He was a founder of the Roses in Concrete Community School, a community responsive lab school in East Oakland and has been a classroom teacher and school leader in East Oakland (CA) for the past 28 years. Duncan-Andrade’s pedagogy has been widely studied and acclaimed for producing uncommon levels of social and academic success for students. He lectures around the world and has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters on effective practices in schools.  He has written two books and his third book with Harvard Press is due out Spring 2022. In 2016, Duncan-Andrade was part of the great educators invited to the White House on National Teacher Appreciation Day by President Obama, and in 2019 he was chosen as the Laureate for the prestigious Brock International Prize in Education. In 2021, he was selected to join the Board of Prevent Child Abuse America. Duncan-Andrade has also been ranked as one of the nation’s most influential scholars by EdWeek’s Public Influence Rankings.

Duncan-Andrade’s transformational work on the elements of effective teaching in schools is recognized throughout the U.S. and as far abroad as New Zealand.  His research interests and publications span the areas of youth wellness, culturally and community responsive pedagogy, trauma responsiveness, curriculum change, teacher development and retention, and cultural and Ethnic Studies. He works closely with teachers, school site leaders, union leaders and school district officials to help them develop community responsive classroom practices and school cultures that foster wellness, self-love, confidence, and academic success among all students.  Duncan-Andrade holds a Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Studies in Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature, both from the University of California – Berkeley.

Cynthia Wise, Ph.D.

Dr. Cynthia Wise (pictured on the left) is a recent graduate from New Mexico State University's College of Health, Education and Social Transformation. Rather than stopping there, Dr. Wise immediately enrolled in NMSU's Masters in Government program where she is continuing her research into the experience of transfronterizo students who cross the U.S./Mexico border daily to attend school in the U.S. Before entering the doctoral program, Dr. Wise was an Emmy Award-winning journalist, with more than 30+ years' experience in radio & television broadcasting. Cynthia serves on many committees: the American Educational Research Association's Education Change Special Interest Group, Transform Education New Mexico, the Statewide Ethnic Studies Council, the Alma d'arte Charter High School Governance Council and is Vice President of NMSU's Graduate Student Council. Cynthia is proudest of her role as "mom" to her daughter Eryn, a senior at Life Pacific University in Southern California. 

Kristin Kew, Ph.D.

Dr. Kristin Kew (pictured on the right) is an Assistant Professor with the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation at New Mexico State University. Her teaching and research interests include educational change, school reform, community organizing, the principalship, and leadership succession. The focus of her teaching and scholarship is to re-frame educational leadership and change to make both more inclusive, equitable, and focused on providing culturally relevant, responsive, and affirming school environments for students.  Her co-edited book, The Future Directions of Educational Change: Social Justice, Professional Capital, and Systems Change, published in English and Korean, purports that quality and equity are equally important in reshaping existing education systems both within the United States and globally.

Manuel Bustamante, Ph.D.

Dr Manuel Bustamante (pictured in the middle) is an Associate Professor with Western New Mexico University's School of Education. A native New Mexican, Dr. Bustamante has been with WNMU for 20 years.  His research focus includes: Multicultural Education, Ethnic Studies, Instructional Technologies and Design, and issues surrounding marginalized populations in the Borderlands. Dr. Bustamante is a member of the New Mexico Ethnic Studies Council and was selected by the New Mexico Public Education Department to serve on the Social Studies Curriculum Task Force.