BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mariama Smith Gray, Ph.D.
Mariama Smith Gray, Ph.D.
Mariama Smith Gray, Ph.D.
President, CAPEL 2025–2026 | Associate Professor, California State University, East Bay
Dr. Gray is a cultural anthropologist of education and mixed methods researcher whose scholarship examines the systems, policies, and practices that produce socio-spatial inequities in education. Her current research, the Great Migration Study, explores
President, CAPEL 2025–2026 | Associate Professor, California State University, East Bay
Dr. Gray is a cultural anthropologist of education and mixed methods researcher whose scholarship examines the systems, policies, and practices that produce socio-spatial inequities in education. Her current research, the Great Migration Study, explores the educational and lived experiences of African American adults of Southern U.S. ancestry who came of age in Northern California during the Great Migration (1910–1970).
At CSU East Bay, she serves as PASC/CASC, M.S., and CalAPA Coordinator, preparing and supporting current and aspiring educational leaders. Dr. Gray holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, and is both an undergraduate and master's alumna of Stanford University.
Ellen Edeburn, Ed.D.
Mariama Smith Gray, Ph.D.
Mariama Smith Gray, Ph.D.
Co-President-Elect, CAPEL | Associate Professor, California State University, Northridge
Dr. Edeburn is a member of the doctoral core faculty at CSUN, where she serves as doctoral advisor, graduate coordinator, and co-chair of the Eisner College of Education's Equity and Faculty Affairs Committee. Her research explores the intersection of
Co-President-Elect, CAPEL | Associate Professor, California State University, Northridge
Dr. Edeburn is a member of the doctoral core faculty at CSUN, where she serves as doctoral advisor, graduate coordinator, and co-chair of the Eisner College of Education's Equity and Faculty Affairs Committee. Her research explores the intersection of racially minoritized students and their learning environments, focusing on school culture, educator agency, educational leadership, educational justice, and anti-racist pedagogy across the P-20 continuum.
Before joining CSUN, Dr. Edeburn spent more than 20 years in public education as a high school teacher, middle school principal, and central office director of curriculum and instruction.
Kimmie Tang, Ed.D.
Mariama Smith Gray, Ph.D.
Kimmie Tang, Ed.D.
Co-President-Elect, CAPEL | Special Education Faculty, Alder Graduate School of Education
Dr. Tang has spent nearly three decades educating, advocating, and researching for inclusive and equitable education. Her work spans roles as educator, administrator, faculty member, program developer, consultant, and researcher across multiple instit
Co-President-Elect, CAPEL | Special Education Faculty, Alder Graduate School of Education
Dr. Tang has spent nearly three decades educating, advocating, and researching for inclusive and equitable education. Her work spans roles as educator, administrator, faculty member, program developer, consultant, and researcher across multiple institutions, including California State University, Dominguez Hills, and Biola University. Her international work in Cambodia focuses on professional development in culturally responsive pedagogy for school administrators, teachers, and staff.
Her research centers on equipping general and special education teachers and administrators to address challenges facing marginalized populations. Prior to higher education, she worked extensively with students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities across all grade levels, including at-risk students and English Language Learners. Dr. Tang holds a doctorate in educational leadership and a master's in special education.
She serves as Co-Editor of CAPEL's journal, Managing Co-Editor for CAPEL Research and Publications, and holds board roles with OCSB Parent Council, CAAPAE, and ARNA-ARC.
Julie Jhun, Ed.D.
Ken Magdaleno, Ed.D.
Kimmie Tang, Ed.D.
Secretary, CAPEL | Associate Professor & Department Chair, California State University, Dominguez Hills
Dr. Jhun serves as Chair of the Division of Graduate Education in the College of Education at CSU Dominguez Hills, where she previously directed the School Leadership Program offering Preliminary and Clear Administrative Services Credent
Secretary, CAPEL | Associate Professor & Department Chair, California State University, Dominguez Hills
Dr. Jhun serves as Chair of the Division of Graduate Education in the College of Education at CSU Dominguez Hills, where she previously directed the School Leadership Program offering Preliminary and Clear Administrative Services Credentials and a Master's in School Leadership.
With more than 20 years in K-12 education, her career began as a Teach For America corps member and grew into over a decade as principal of a public charter high school in Los Angeles. Her scholarship focuses on preparing equity-driven school leaders, strengthening leadership pipelines, and advancing the retention and sustainability of school administrators.
Dr. Jhun earned her Ed.D. from UCLA, a master's degree from Loyola Marymount University, and completed her undergraduate studies at Oberlin College and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Monique Lane, Ph.D.
Ken Magdaleno, Ed.D.
Ken Magdaleno, Ed.D.
Board Member, CAPEL | Director, Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Equity and Social Change, Saint Mary's College of California
Dr. Lane is a motherscholar, award-winning educator, and scholar-activist whose work is rooted in Black feminist pedagogy and critical methodologies. Born and raised in South Los Angeles, she is a three-time UCLA
Board Member, CAPEL | Director, Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Equity and Social Change, Saint Mary's College of California
Dr. Lane is a motherscholar, award-winning educator, and scholar-activist whose work is rooted in Black feminist pedagogy and critical methodologies. Born and raised in South Los Angeles, she is a three-time UCLA alumna, earning her Ph.D. in Urban Schooling in 2014, followed by a Provost's Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Columbia University's Teachers College.
Before entering higher education, Dr. Lane taught high school English at her alma mater in South Los Angeles, where she was recognized as Faculty Member of the Year. At Saint Mary's College, she received the 2025 Teaching Excellence Award, which honors one faculty member annually for sustained teaching excellence.
Her scholarship focuses on Black girlhood studies and Black feminist pedagogy, with work featured in Equity & Excellence in Education, International Journal of Educational Reform, and The Urban Review. She is the author of Engendering #BlackGirlJoy: How to Cultivate Empowered Identities and Educational Persistence in Struggling Schools (Peter Lang, 2021).
Ken Magdaleno, Ed.D.
Ken Magdaleno, Ed.D.
Ken Magdaleno, Ed.D.
Board Member, CAPEL | Founder & CEO, Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research (CLEAR)
Dr. Magdaleno is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research (CLEAR), a nonprofit serving the Central Valley and California statewide. CLEAR focuses on developing social justice educational leaders through mentoring, address
Board Member, CAPEL | Founder & CEO, Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research (CLEAR)
Dr. Magdaleno is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research (CLEAR), a nonprofit serving the Central Valley and California statewide. CLEAR focuses on developing social justice educational leaders through mentoring, addressing systemic inequities, and publishing the Journal of Leadership, Equity, and Research (JLER).
His career in education spans roles as elementary principal, middle and high school teacher, assistant principal, principal, coach, and guidance counselor, in addition to serving as Director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at California State University, Fresno.
Dr. Magdaleno earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCLA. His research interests center on Critical Race Theory, social justice and equity, transforming power structures in educational leadership, and developing educational leaders of color through mentoring.
Noni Mendoza-Reis, Ph.D.
Noni Mendoza-Reis, Ph.D.
Noni Mendoza-Reis, Ph.D.
Board Member, CAPEL | Professor Emerita, Educational Leadership, San José State University
Dra. Mendoza-Reis is a distinguished scholar in educational equity, leadership preparation, and culturally sustaining pedagogy. Her work emphasizes justice-centered approaches to leadership and critical consciousness — what she frames as Equity-Princ
Board Member, CAPEL | Professor Emerita, Educational Leadership, San José State University
Dra. Mendoza-Reis is a distinguished scholar in educational equity, leadership preparation, and culturally sustaining pedagogy. Her work emphasizes justice-centered approaches to leadership and critical consciousness — what she frames as Equity-Principled Action — encouraging educators to challenge inequities through third-space leadership practices.
Her scholarship amplifies the voices of women of color in academia and advocates for systemic change in leadership preparation programs, with notable works including Why Are There So Few of Us? and Baila Conmigo: Changing the Pedagogical Culture of Schools with Latino English Learners.
Through research, editorial contributions, and scholarly leadership, she continues to shape transformative, equity-centered practices across K-12 and higher education.
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