The Attallah College of Educational Studies hosted its annual undergraduate Senior Symposium during the fall 2025 semester, bringing together students and faculty for a showcase of capstone research from the CES 492 course. The symposium, a culminating experience for Liberal Studies, Community Educational Studies and Integrated Educational Studies majors, featured formal presentations, Q&A sessions and discussions highlighting the practical fieldwork and scholarly inquiry completed over the past two semesters. The sessions were led by Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Programs, Jillian Wood and Attallah College Dean Roxanne Greitz Miller. 

This year’s presenters explored themes of student agency, mental health, academic achievement, and early childhood independence. 

Montessori Approaches to Early Childhood Independence 
Malia Matsuura, an integrated educational studies major with a minor in psychology graduating in spring 2026, is continuing her studies in the Integrated Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. She presented research on how Montessori pedagogy supports autonomy in children ages 3 to 6. Through interviews with Montessori educators and more than 60 hours of classroom observation, Matsuura found that thoughtfully designed learning environments, self-directed tasks and guided facilitation help young learners develop confidence, problem-solving skills and emotional regulation. She will transition to the MAT program this summer and plans to become an elementary school teacher. 

Challenging Student-Athlete Stereotypes 
Jax Hudson, an integrated educational studies major with a minor in leadership studies graduating in fall 2025, investigated how athletic participation can support academic performance. During his fieldwork at a local high school, Hudson coached football, monitored players’ grades and tracked practice schedules. His study challenges long-standing stereotypes by showing that student athletes often develop strong discipline, time management skills and academic focus. Hudson hopes to become a college or NFL football coach. 

Theatre Education as a Pathway to Student Agency 
Paige Shubert, a double major in theatre and integrated educational studies graduating in fall 2025, presented research on how elective theatre courses influence student agency in high school settings. Through a literature review and fieldwork in two Orange County theatre programs, Shubert analyzed how classroom structure, artistic choice-making and performance-based learning foster student engagement and autonomy. Shubert plans to pursue a career as a theatre educator. 

Teacher Practices That Support Student Mental Health
Erin Brewer, an integrated educational studies major with an English minor graduating in fall 2025, is continuing her studies in the Integrated Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. Her project examined how educators can promote positive mental health outcomes in K-12 classrooms through a literature review, interviews with educators and observations in ninth- and 11th-grade English classes. Brewer will transition to the MAT program full time in spring and plans to become a high school English teacher. 

The Senior Symposium remains a signature undergraduate event for Attallah College, offering students the opportunity to present research and engage with connections between theory, practice and community-based learning.