Ronda Kalaji

Posts by Ronda Kalaji

From Community College to Chapman: Natalie Almendarez Mcafee ’26 Carries Forward a Passion for Teaching

May 7, 2026 by | Attallah College of Educational Studies

When Natalie Almendarez Mcafee BA’26 reflects on the educators who shaped her life, one thing becomes clear: she wants to be that person for someone else.  Mcafee is among the inaugural students to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from Attallah College of Educational Studies at Chapman University, a milestone she describes as nothing short of an

California Approves New $10,000 Stipend for Student Teachers Beginning in 2026–27

December 16, 2025 by | Attallah College of Educational Studies

California has approved a new statewide stipend program designed to provide financial support to student teachers completing the unpaid classroom hours required for credentialing.  Signed into law on June 27, Assembly Bill 121 establishes the Student Teacher Stipend Program, which will provide a $10,000 stipend to eligible student teachers who complete a minimum of 500 hours of student teaching.

Advancing Social Justice Through Research: Cristal Flores Awarded Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship

October 8, 2025 by | Attallah College of Educational Studies

Cristal Flores, Ph.D. in Education candidate, has been awarded Chapman University’s Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year. This honor recognizes Flores’s commitment to advancing equity and social justice through her research on immigrant Latina motherhood and community resilience.  A Journey Rooted in Advocacy and Representation  Flores has long been involved in social justice work,

Dean Roxanne Greitz Miller is Leading Attallah College with a Student-First Vision

October 8, 2025 by | Attallah College of Educational Studies

Roxanne Greitz Miller, dean of Chapman University’s Donna Ford Attallah College of Educational Studies, brings a career-long commitment to students and educators to her leadership role. She became Attallah’s dean in February 2022 and recently completed the evaluation process for a second dean appointment, building on her prior service as interim dean and vice provost

Attallah College Welcomes Dr. Carla Smith, Instructional Assistant Professor of School and Clinical Counseling

August 13, 2025 by | Attallah College of Educational Studies

Attallah College of Educational Studies is pleased to welcome Carla Smith, Ph.D., as an instructional assistant professor of school and clinical counseling. Dr. Smith brings more than two decades of experience as an educator and professional school counselor, most recently serving as counseling faculty and program coordinator for the school counseling program at Texas A&M

Dean’s Dozen Wraps Up 2024-25 With Impact and Insight

July 1, 2025 by | Attallah College of Educational Studies

Chapman University’s Attallah College of Educational Studies closed out the 2024–25 academic year by celebrating the achievements that shaped it. Among the highlights was Dean’s Dozen, a select group of students recognized for their academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to educational equity.  The Dean’s Dozen is a selective council of 12 student leaders, drawn from

Leadership Studies Minor Capstone Course Mobilizes Students to Aid Orange County Youth

May 20, 2025 by | Attallah College of Educational Studies

Students completing Chapman University’s Leadership Studies minor, offered through Attallah College of Educational Studies, finish their program each spring with LEAD 497, “Senior Seminar: Leadership Integrative Capstone.” The course turns leadership theory into practice; this semester, the class partnered with StandUp for Kids to address urgent challenges facing unhoused and at-risk youth in Orange County.  Led by Tara Widner,

Alumna Tracy Walder Named Keynote Speaker for Attallah College Ceremony

May 18, 2025 by | Attallah College of Educational Studies

Tracy Walder, a 2007 graduate of Chapman University’s Attallah College of Educational Studies and a member of the college’s Advisory Board, will return to campus to deliver the keynote address at the 2025 Attallah College Degree Ceremony. Walder joined the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center just weeks after earning a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of

Attallah College Ph.D. in Education Students Shine at Leatherby Libraries Research Awards

May 16, 2025 by | Attallah College of Educational Studies

Chapman University’s Attallah College of Educational Studies celebrates the Ph.D. in Education students who earned second and third place honors in Leatherby Libraries’ 2025 Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Research Prize, spotlighting the college’s expanding research profile.  Robin Gomes, Connor Bogenreif, and Mirvais ‘Mir’ Aminy earned second place for their research project, The Role of Repertoire Selection and Teacher Collaboration in

Log In
Open Main Menu