On February 4th, 2025, CSUN’s office of Research and Sponsored Programs hosted a luncheon for principal investigators (PIs) to celebrate their achievements in bringing invaluable funding to the university. The Michael D. Eisner College of Education, as one of the largest grant-earners in the university, was prominently featured. Read below about our PIs and their accomplishments.

Flavia Fleischer

Flavia Fleischer, Professor of Deaf Studies, is a Co-PI on 1.) Project PRISM-Ed (Preparing a Pipeline for Recruitment and Retention of Social Justice and Equity-Minded Deaf Educators) funded by the United States Department of Education

Nathan Durdella

Nathan Durdella, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, is a Co-PI on the project 1.) Bridging the Gap: Enhancing AIMS2 for Student Success, funded by the United States Department of Education

Dimpal Jain

Dimpal Jain, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, is a Co-PI on the 1.) HSI Planning Project: CSUN START, funded by the National Science Foundation

Pete Goldschmidt

Pete Goldschmidt, Professor of Educational Psychology and Counseling, has received $445,399 in funding in support of the project 1.) Evaluating English Language Progress Models:  The Sensitivity of Claims about Progress Across State Models, funded by the State of Mississippi

Jennifer Vargas Pemberton

Jennifer Vargas Pemberton, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Counseling, has received $5,120,613 in funding in support of the projects 1.) Trauma Recovery Center Grant, funded by the California Victim Compensation Board 2.) Campus Sexual Assault (CT) Program, funded by the California Office of Emergency Services

Dr. Pemberton is also a Co-PI on the project 1.) Rape Prevention and Education Program – Community Mobilization for the Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence, funded by the California Department of Public Health

Sheri Strahl

Sheri Strahl, Educational Psychology and Counseling, is a Co-PI on the project 1.) Underserved Child and Youth Advocacy Program (XY) funded by the California Office of Emergency Services

Shari Tarver-Behring

Shari Tarver-Behring, Dean of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education and Professor of Educational Psychology and Counseling, has received $209,633 in funding in support of the projects 1.) Professional Development Services in Support of Private Schools, funded by the Los Angeles Unified School District 2.) Los Angeles Educator Pathways Partnership, funded by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

Christine Hayashi, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, has received $12,699, in funding in support of the project 1.) Professional Development Services in Support of Private Schools, funded by the Los Angeles Unified School District

Susan Belgrad, Professor Emeritus of Elementary Education, has received $200,000 in funding in support of the project 1.) EMPOWERING CALIFORNIA K-12 EDUCATORS TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH OF PLANET EARTH, funded by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Dr. Belgrad is also a Co-PI on the project 1.) Bridging the Gap: Enhancing AIMS2 for Student Success, funded by the United States Department of Education

Sandra Chong

Sandra Chong, Professor of Elementary Education, is an Investigator on the project 1.) Integrated Teacher Preparation Program Implementation and Expansion Grants funded by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Alexandria Hollett

Alexandria Hollett, Assistant Professor of Elementary Education, is an Investigator on the project 1.) Integrated Teacher Preparation Program Implementation and Expansion Grants funded by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Gregory Knotts

Gregory Knotts, Professor of Elementary Education, has received $329,999 in funding in support of the project 1.) Integrated Teacher Preparation Program Implementation and Expansion Grants, funded by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Dr. Knotts is also an Investigator on the project 1.) Cal State Northridge Integrated Teacher Prep Expansion Grant funded by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Ivan Cheng

Ivan Cheng, Professor of Secondary Education, has received $3,038,434 in funding in support of the projects 1.) Collaboration Resulting in Educators Applying Technology Effectively (CREATE) Project, funded by the United States Department of Education 2.) Teachers Empowered to Advance Mathematics for Students (TEAMS) Project, funded by the CSU Chancellors Office

Brian Foley

Brian Foley, Professor of Secondary Education, has received $1,470,629 in funding in support of the projects 1.) Extending and Enhancing the STEM Teacher Pipeline through a Community of Learners and Virtual Lesson Study, funded by the National Science Foundation 2.) Geogebra Institute Subaward for University of Oregon Western Regional Noyce Network, funded by the University of Oregon 3.) SFVSP From Phenomena to Model (Ph2M), funded by the UC Regents

Dr. Foley is also a Co-PI on the 1.) California Science Project, funded by the University of California and San Fernando Valley Science Project Lesson Study, funded by the UC Regents.

Dr. Foley is also an Investigator on the projects 1.) CSUNoyce II, funded by the National Science Foundation 2.) San Fernando Valley Science Project (ESSA) and (State), funded by the UC Regents.

Julie Gainsburg

Julie Gainsburg, Professor of Secondary Education, is Co-PI on the project 1.) CSU Center for Transformational Educator Preparation Programs (CTEPP) funded by the California State University Chancellors Office

Norman Herr

Norman Herr, Professor of Secondary Education, is Co-PI on the project 1.) EMPOWERING CALIFORNIA K-12 EDUCATORS TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH OF PLANET EARTH, funded by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Dr. Herr is also an Investigator on the projects 1.) SFVSP From Phenomena to Model (Ph2M) funded by the UC Regents 2.) CSUNoyce II, funded by the National Science Foundation 3.) San Fernando Valley Science Project (ESSA) and (State), funded by the UC Regents

Kathleen Rowlands

Kathleen Rowlands, Professor Emeritus of Secondary Education, is a Co-PI on the project 1.) California Subject Matter Project Grant for the Cal State Northridge Writing Project, funded by the UC Regents

Jenn Wolfe

Jenn Wolfe, Associate Professor of Secondary Education, has received $912,485 in funding in support the projects 1.) CSMP Learning Acceleration Funds, funded by the UC Regents 2.) Central American Studies in K-12 Classrooms, funded by the University of California Irvine 3.) ESSER: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, funded by the UC Regents 4.) California Subject Matter Project Grant for the Cal State Northridge Writing Project, funded by the UC Regents 5.) CSUN Writing Project CSMP Supplemental Funding Grant, funded by the UC Regents 6.) Cal State Northridge Writing Project – CSMP, funded by the UC Regents

Victoria Berrey, Director of the Family Focus Resource Center, is an Investigator on the project 1.) Help Me Grow funded by the Child Care Resource Center

Nancy Burstein

Nancy Burstein, Professor of Special Education, has received $432,000 in funding in support of the project 1.) Teacher Residency Grant, funded by the Los Angeles Unified School District

Zhen Chai

Zhen Chai, Professor of Special Education, has received $2,003,263 in funding in support of the projects 1.) The Bridge Project: Bringing Early Childhood Special Educators and Behavior Interventionists Together Through Interdisciplinary Evidence-Based Preparation to Serve Young Children with High-Intensity Needs, funded by the United States Department of Education 2.) Project CREATE: Preparing Culturally Responsive Early Educators in Teacher Education, funded by the United States Department of Education

Dr. Chai is also a Co-PI on 1.) The Bridge Project: Transdisciplinary Preparation of Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Special Educators, Behavior Interventionists, and Speech and Language Pathologists to Serve Young Children with Disabilities, funded by the United States Department of Education

Fatmana Deniz

Fatmana Deniz, Assistant Professor of Special Education, is a Co-PI on the project 1.) Educator preparation to Empower All students through Culturally sustaining and High leverage Inclusive Teaching, funded by the United States Department of Education

Rachel Friedman-Narr

Rachel Friedman-Narr, Professor of Special Education, $2,945,255 in funding in support of the projects 1.)  Links, funded by the California Department of Education 2.) IDEP: Interdisciplinary Deaf Education Teacher Preparation, funded by the United States Department of Education 3.) Project PRISM-Ed (Preparing a Pipeline for Recruitment and Retention of Social Justice and Equity-Minded Deaf Educators), funded by the United States Department of Education

Amy Hanreddy

Amy Hanreddy, Professor of Special Education, has received $604,957 in funding in support of the projects 1.) Cal State Northridge Integrated Teacher Prep Expansion Grant, funded by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing 2.) Inclusive Post-secondary Education Pilot Programs, funded by California State University Long Beach

Kathryn Peckham-Hardin

Kathryn Peckham-Hardin, Professor Emeritus of Special Education, has received $1,236,536 in funding in support of the project 1.) I-PREP: Inclusive Preparation for Resourceful and Effective Professionals, funded by the United States Department of Education

Ellen Schneiderman

Ellen Schneiderman, Professor of Special Education, is a Co-PI on the project 1.) IDEP: Interdisciplinary Deaf Education Teacher Preparation funded by the United States Department of Education

Samantha Toews

Samantha Toews, Assistant Professor of Special Education, has received $1,159,721 in funding in support of the project 1.) Reconceptualizing Educator preparation to Empower All students through Culturally sustaining and High leverage Inclusive Teaching, funded by the United States Department of Education

Dr. Toews is also a Co-PI on 1.) Project I-PREP: Inclusive Preparation for Resourceful and Effective Professionals, funded by the United States Department of Education

Ivor Weiner

Ivor Weiner, Professor of Special Education, has received $8,450,092 in funding in support of the projects 1.) CalFresh Outreach, funded by the North Los Angeles County Regional Center 2.) Project Diaper, funded by California Family Resource Association CFRA 3.) Antelope Valley SELPA Parent Partners, funded by Antelope Valley SELPA 4.) Santa Clarita Valley SELPA Parent Partners, funded by Santa Clarita Valley SELPA 5.) Chatsworth Library, funded by North Los Angeles County Regional Center – NLACRC 6.) Family Focus Resource Center, funded by North Los Angeles County Regional Center – NLACRC 7.) Community Navigator Program, funded by Heluna Health 8.) Van Nuys Family Resource Center and Library, funded by North Los Angeles County Regional Center – NLACRC 9.) Family Focus Empowerment Center, funded by the California Department of Education 10.) Family Resource Center (Early Start), funded by North Los Angeles County Regional Center – NLACRC

Dr. Weiner is also an Investigator on the project 1.) Help Me Grow funded by the Child Care Resource Center

Merilla Scott

Merilla Scott, Executive Director of Strength United, has received $23,209,606 in funding for the following projects 1.) Rape Prevention and Education Program – Community Mobilization for the Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence, funded by the California Department of Public Health 2.) Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Intervention and Treatment (CAPIT) – San Fernando Valley, funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services 3.) Sexual Assault Response Team (XS) Program, funded by the California Office of Emergency Services 4.) CalOES RAPE CRISIS PROGRAM NW16, funded by California Office of Emergency Services 5.) Underserved Child and Youth Advocacy Program (XY), funded by California Office of Emergency Services 6.) COUNTY VICTIM SERVICES (XC) PROGRAM, funded by Los Angeles County 7.) Domestic Response Abuse Team (DART) – Foothill/Mission/North Hollywood/West Valley, funded by the City of Los Angeles 8.) Family Justice Center (FJ) Program, funded by the California Office of Emergency Services 9.) SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION (SD) PROGRAM, funded by the California Office of Emergency Services 10.) Congressional Directive Spending Project, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 11.) AT – Child Abuse Treatment Program, funded by California Office of Emergency Services 12.) CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER (KC) PROGRAM, funded by the California Office of Emergency Services 13.) Community Public Health Teams, funded by Rising Communities 14.) FAMILY PRESERVATION – Van Nuys/Santa Clarita/West San Fernando Valley, funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services 15.) OVC FY24 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program, funded by the Office for Victims of Crime

Dr. Scott is also a Co-PI on the 1.) Campus Sexual Assault (CT) Program funded by the California Office of Emergency Services

Sarah Oesterle, Director of Development

Sarah Oesterle, Director of Development, Michael D. Eisner College of Education, has received $300,000 in funding in support of the project 1.) The SimPact Mental Health Project, funded by the Keck Foundation

Joshua Einhorn, Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Joshua Einhorn, Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, has received $183,454 in funding in support of the project 1.) CSU Center for Transformational Educator Preparation Programs (CTEPP), funded by the CSU Chancellors Office