Meet the Editorial Team

AllisonSmith-500x500

Editor in Chief

Allison Smith, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts Global. She is deeply involved with the California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE), previously serving on its Board of Directors and currently serving on the policy and conference planning committees. She is the Past-President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities with education programs (AICCU-ED). Dr. Smith’s current research focuses on aspects of clinical practice, including the CalTPA and video mentoring. She is also a Clinical Practice Fellow with the Association of Teacher Educators. Her involvement in education at the state and national levels, along with her work on the journal, Issues in Teacher Education, keeps her informed and current in the field of education.

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Associate Editor

Nilsa J. Thorsos, Ph.D., is a Professor of Education and Department Chair for Teacher Education in the Sanford College of Education at National University. In addition, she currently serves as Associate Editor for the journal Issues in Teacher Education. Dr. Thorsos comes from a multicultural family and is part of the Puerto Rican diaspora. Her areas of academic interest include literacy, bilingualism, special education, teacher preparation, and mentoring women in higher education. Dr. Thorsos served as President of the California Association Professors of Special Education (CAPSE). She is a collaborator for the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women—SoCal (NACOPRW) newsletter. She is the author and editor of numerous conference papers, articles, book chapters, and whole books in the field of education.

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Article Editor

L. Erika Saito, Ph.D., is an Executive Director, Curriculum & Instruction at Teach Us and former Assistant Professor in the Sanford College of Education at National University, and also serves on the Inclusive Excellence Council there. Dr. Saito is a California credentialed teacher with a background in K–12 that includes over 15 years as a classroom teacher, literacy coordinator, and English Language Development/Sheltered Programs Department Chair. Dr. Saito is a fourth-generation Japanese American, with a family history that has inspired her to be actively involved in organizations such as the Asian American Education Project, working directly with K–12 teachers, districts, and organizations across the west to support and build awareness for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history. Her research centers on Asian American history, co-ethnic communities, ethnic identity, social and emotional learning, English learners, and societal reception. She is currently the K–12 Level Chair for CATESOL, Secretary for AERA’s SEL special interest group, and Vice-President for the California Association for Asian Pacific American Education (CAAPAE).

JenniferPreimesberger-500x500

Managing Editor

Jennifer Preimesberger, Ed.D., is Associate Professor in the Sanford College of Education at National University. Before coming to National University, she was the founder and chief administrator of the University of San Diego’s English Language Academy. In that role, she developed a multilevel curriculum to help students attain academic and linguistic proficiency that would facilitate their entrance into U.S. colleges and universities. Before that, as a school principal in the Diocese of San Diego, she oversaw and managed the total school program; supervised, evaluated, and mentored professional personnel and auxiliary support staff; provided instructional leadership; tracked and assured quality standards in student achievement; and monitored the financial operations of the school. Today, she applies all those experiences and skills in her work as Director and Faculty Liaison for the Center for Innovation, Development, Evaluation and Research.

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Copy Editor

Gabriela Walker, Ph.D., is a Professor at National University. Growing up under communism, where freedoms and available wealth were limited, and now crystalizing her personality and knowledge in an advanced democracy, Dr. Walker brings a range of perspectives to special education and disability studies. Before starting her graduate studies, she worked with the Roma (Gypsy) population with disabilities in an urban setting. She went on to earn degrees in Global Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in Special Education from the University of Georgia, and in Inclusive Education and Psychology from the University of Bucharest, Romania. Dr. Walker’s current interests include research on autism spectrum disorders, methodologies for teaching special populations (including assistive technology), global special educational policies, healthicization and ecology of populations with disabilities, and disability rights.