UC Santa Barbara Gevirtz School alumni April Regester and Ralph Cordova have both received tenure at the University of Missouri, St. Louis in the Department of Educator Preparation, Innovation and Research. Cordova completed his Ph.D. in Cultural Perspectives in the Department of Education in 2004 and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in 1993 from the Teacher Education Program, and Regester completed her Ph.D. in Special Education, Disabilities and Risk Studies in the Department of Education in 2009, along with a M.A. in Special Education and a Preliminary Education Specialist Credential from the Teacher Education Program.
Cordova currently holds an Associate Professor position at the University of Missouri, St. Louis (UMSL), where he researches the “intersection where primary & second language and literacy development, collaborative professional learning, and, creativity and the arts overlap.” During his early teaching career, Cordova was a teacher-researcher in elementary bilingual Spanish/English schools in Santa Barbara. Cordova also founded the Cultural Landscapes Collaboratory in 2003 and developed ResponsiveDesign in 2009.
Regester is also an Associate Professor at UMSL, where she researches friendship and social supports for severely disabled people, autism, inclusive education, and college and adult life skills for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Supported Living. Regester conducted a Post Doctoral Fellowship at the UCSB Koegel Autism Center. Regester also teaches courses at UMSL in various categories of special education, while also advising students working toward an M.Ed. in Special Education.