Congratulations to Javier Hernández, Cohort III, CSULA emphasis in Urban Educational Leadership, who successfully defended his dissertation proposal on Thursday, August 21, 2008, at CSU Los Angeles. Javier's proposal is entitled State Mandated Instruction: Exploring the Literacy Motivation and Engagement of English Language Learners. He will use case study methodology to construct a picture of how instructional practices in a scripted literacy program impact ELLs' reading motivation and engagement.  Appreciation is expressed to committee members who helped to guide his work: Sharon Ulanoff, Ph.D., CSULA Chair; Mark Warschauer, Ph.D., UCI Primary Reader; Norm Unrau, Ed.D., CSULA Reader; Rebecca Black, Ph.D., UCI Reader; and Diego Vigil, Ph.D., UCI Department of Criminology, Law and Society. Additional appreciation is extended to Lawson Bush, V, Ph.D., CSULA Co-director, for his support and guidance.

Congratulations to Tabia Lee, Cohort IV, CSULA emphasis in Urban Educational Leadership, who successfully defended her dissertation proposal on Monday, June 9, 2008, and on Thursday, August 28, 2008, at CSU Los Angeles. (Ms. Lee had a second proposal defense due to an unexpected tragedy in the family of one of her committee members). Her proposal is entitled: The Human Fallout: Educators' Perspectives about No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Implementation in Urban Schools. Her critical qualitative study, among other things, aims to raise the critical consciousness of participants and readers alike regarding the implementation of NCLB in urban schools.  Appreciation is expressed for expertise and support to Candidacy committee members Lawson Bush, V, Ph.D., CSULA Chair; Thurston Domina, Ph.D., UCI Primary Reader; William M. Vega, Ed.D., Member by Exception, CSULB; Sharon Ulanoff, Ph.D., CSULA Reader; and Melina Abdullah, Ph.D., CSULA Pan African Studies, Outside Member from CSULA.