The 2020 Dr. J Student Fellows

The 2020 Dr. J Student Fellows, with donors (l-r): Connor Cox, Christian Banuelos, Joe Beyers, donor, Morgan Remy, Kathy Beyers, donor, Becky Dressen, John Romo, donor, Ann Lippincott, donor, Bridget Sandoval, Natalie O'Sullivan, Samantha Rojas, Kevin Valdez (not pictured, Noelle Ferrer)

The Teacher Education Program at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara has named its 2020 Dr. J Student Teacher Fellows:

Christian Banuelos
Connor Cox
Becky Dressen
Noelle Ferrer
Natalie O’Sullivan
Morgan Remy
Samantha Rojas
Bridget Sandoval
Kevin Valdez

The Dr. J Student Teacher Fellowship honors the legacy of Dr. Richard Jamgochian, former Director of the Teacher Education Program. From 1968-1991 Dr. Jamgochian, or “Dr. J” as he was affectionately known, was an enthusiastic and tireless advocate for teacher education in general and for the UCSB Teacher Education Program (TEP) in particular. Colleagues credit his personal management style for building and refining TEP, which prepared more than 5,000 teachers during his tenure and was cited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 1991 as “an exemplary program.”

Recipients of the fellowship not only must show promise as future teachers but also must exemplify the ideals that Dr. J promoted. According to Dr. J, teaching involves much more than imparting knowledge. He believed that teachers should see self-actualization as their greatest goal.

The Dr. J Student Teacher Fellowships are offered by GGSE through the Teacher Education Program. TEP offers Multiple-Subject, Single-Subject and both Level I Education Specialist Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe Teaching Credentials with a Master’s Degree in Education. These programs provide future teachers with a solid theoretical foundation integrated with extensive fieldwork, leading to both a California State Teaching Credential and a Master’s Degree in Education.