As every generation of students continues to learn with its own unique grasp of technology, the Graduate School of Education (GSOE) is providing local teachers with the tools to adapt and become leaders themselves as they find new applications for technology in the classroom. Since 2010, GSOE has partnered with the non-profit NapaLearns to support over 150 of Napa’s educators to earn master’s degrees in the Innovative Learning Program.

Left to Right: NapaLearns Fellow of the Year Julie Meyer-Houston with Finalists Lisa Gottfried, Scott Marsden, and Jen Ellison

"One out of three teachers in Napa Valley Unified alone who has a Master’s Degree has gotten it from Touro,” said Graduate School of Education Professor Dr. Pam Redmond. “That’s really exciting because it’s the actualization of the Touro mission, which is to serve, to lead, to teach; and we’ve been doing it!”

In celebrating the landmark of 150 fellows, NapaLearns named Julie Meyer-Houston, GSOE 2017 and fourth grade teacher at Canyon Oaks “Fellow of the Year”. Jen Ellison, GSOE 2018 of Phillips Elementary, Lisa Gottfried, GSOE 2016 of New Tech High, and Scott Marsden, GSOE 2014 of American Canyon High were each honored as finalists.

In the Innovative Learning program, teachers take the leap into new practices inside a space where they can experiment with leading technology and the latest teaching strategies. NapaLearns fellows have used iPads for learning English as a second language, blog writing as preparation for the professional world, and robotics to provide hands-on experience in science and mathematics.

"The Innovative Learning program has launched my teaching career into new and exciting directions,” said Mr. Marsden, who began teaching digital media after graduating from the program. “It has led to my partnering with the Napa Valley Film Festival to bring filmmakers to my school.”

Today, Mr. Marsden teaches a robotics class, and his students compete annually at UC Davis’s CSTEM RoboPlay Competition.

“I don't think I would be doing either of these things without my experience in the Innovative Learning program," he said.

A Mosaic Celebration
Diversity Student Scholarship Fundraiser

Farragut Inn will turn into a kaleidoscope of colors on Wednesday, April 17 as Touro University California (TUC) holds its third annual Mosaic Celebration: Diversity Scholarship Fundraiser. Attendees will have the chance to be wowed by the pop-up exhibition and live art performance by Jermaine Dante’ Burse. And TUC will be treated to special encore performances by Lenny Williams, Former Lead Singer of Tower of Power. The evening’s silent auction, live auction, hosted bar, and heavy hors d’oeuvres will lift spirits high in celebration of the recipients’ community impact.

Net proceeds from this event support diversity student scholarships which will be awarded to students to help them in their pursuit of becoming healthcare, education, and public health professionals who will go on to have a lasting impact in their communities.

Awards will also be given to two exceptional leaders who embrace diversity and inclusion in their work and lives: CC and Regina Yin, founders of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) and owners of Yin McDonald’s; and Medic Ambulance Service, established in Vallejo in 1979 by Rudy Manfredi and the exclusive ambulance provider for almost all of Solano County.

Tickets are available here

Rahil Hudda, SGA President, COM 2022

Spring semester at Touro started off full speed ahead! We have had a wide array of student and school-led events in the past few months that have kept us on our toes and filled with 

enthusiasm. Have a talent? Want to showcase your skills? Now's your chance! Touro's annual talent show will be held on April 4th. Stay on the lookout for more details!!

As always, please don't hesitate to contact SGA for any and all concerns, questions, ideas, and/or suggestions on how to improve campus life! SGA highly encourages everyone to stop by and chat with our provosts at our monthly Pastries with the Provosts events to have their ideas become a reality.

Also, don't forget to wear your badges!! Badge access has been implemented throughout campus and all members of the Touro community are expected to be wearing their badges.

Huge shout out and thank you to the 2018-2019 SGA Board! The new board is excited and looking forward to following in all of your footsteps. Go Bulls!

 

TUC’s OPSC Physician of the Year, Dr. Alesia Wagner

OPSC Physician of the Year Dr. Alesia Wagner and outgoing president Dr. Richard Riemer

A mentor known for welcoming her students with an open door and a selection of chocolates, Dr. Alesia Wagner, Associate Professor of Primary Care in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, was named 2019 Physician of the Year by the Osteopathic Physician and Surgeons of California. Nominated by her students, this annual award is bestowed by the OPSC committee for a person’s commitment to Osteopathic Medicine.

“It is a huge honor to be recognized and nominated by my own students for this prestigious award,” said Dr. Wagner. “During my acceptance speech, I challenged everyone to mentor someone. Mentoring students is my passion and the rewards are immeasurable – the feeling of helping a student follow in my footsteps goes beyond anything I could imagine.”

Dr. Wagner’s recognition comes with other stunning achievements from the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Howard Feinberg was presented with the Service to the Profession award, Dr. Richard Riemer was honored as past president, and student doctor Alexander Wulff was named student leader of the year. Dr. Riemer passes leadership of OPSC to TUC Adjunct Faculty Member Minh Quang Nguyen, DO, and TUC student Emma Schatz is the new student member to the Board of Directors. 

The CEHS has long been a leader on campus in the area of recruiting diverse students, faculty and staff. We were the first on campus to have a collegewide diversity committee made-up of students, faculty and staff, and thanks to our inaugural Dean Dr. Jim O’Connor were the first on campus to raise funds and offer diversity scholarships to CEHS students.  We are also offering the first Dr. Jim O’Connor Diversity Scholarship, which will recognize an LGBTQ student or a diverse student doing work with LGBTQ communities. Diversity is integral to everything we do inside and outside of the classroom, and we place this near and dear to our hearts in changing the face of healthcare and education and creating leaders who will transform our workplaces and communities to ones of inclusion as opposed to segregation and exclusion.

We carry this tradition forward as part of the universitywide Mosaic Diversity Scholarships and have exemplar models of students who have received this award in the past and have carried on the torch of giving. You have probably seen some of awardees in recent news and video articles. One example is 2018 recipient Marcus Chen, who will soon go on a clinical rotation to provide care to a rural and underserved area at the only medical center within an hour’s drive, and then a maximum security prison where he says he is eager to apply what he has learned at last year’s Social Justice series on mass incarceration to a real life setting.

Learn more about other Diversity Scholarship recipients
Taurean Gibson, Graduate School of Education
Juanisha Cox, Graduate School of Education
The 2018 Social Justice in Public Health Fellows
Luz Hernandez, School of Nursing

I Am Touro:

Paisley Rosengren, Learning Specialist, LMFT

Why Mindful Meditation?

Because mindful breathing is one of the most effective ways to lower everyday stress levels and improve a variety of health factors ranging from mood to metabolism.  For me it is the game-changer. I am a pretty anxious person and mindful meditation has freed me from the prison of constant worry. I still worry (I have 2 teenage sons) but I don’t experience the gut wrenching, “winter is coming” fear and dread that I used to feel.  Now, I feel peaceful and calm.

Why Wellness?

When working with clients, I look at the whole person. Often a client would come in and want to tell me all about how terrible a person in their life is and why they are not happy.  I would ask them to first tell me 3 things: What do you eat? What do you do to be active? How much sleep are you getting? They would tell me that I’m not listening-they don’t have those problems, they have a problem with their partner, child, boss etc. I believe that if you aren’t taking good care of yourself, that the other things in your life probably aren’t going well.  I think that first you have to look within and find ways to take good care of your body, mind, and spirit and the other things are easier to sort out. I’m kinda big on finding balance.