Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Grant
Training and mentorship for leaders in education and teaching
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Supporting Aspiring Hispanic Educators
In 2023, Concordia University Irvine received a $3 million grant as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program (PPOHA). The grant-winning initiative – Vocación – helps further Concordia’s mission to enroll and graduate more Hispanic postbaccalaureate students in the School of Education.
About PPOHA
Through Vocación and PPOHA, Concordia pursues and upholds core goals and initiatives as we train and mentor leaders in education and teaching.
PPOHA Purpose
Create and sustain the Vocación Graduate Resource Center (GRC) for multi-tiered support. The center will coordinate and systematize the support efforts provided by the SOE into a cohesive space for student persistence measures.
Increase access to School of Education graduate programs for Hispanic and low-income students by promoting programs to undergraduate and master’s level students and offering financial assistance.
Initiate and sustain a formalized faculty-student mentoring program in the Ed.D. program to ensure that all student populations receive equal access to faculty mentors.
Redesign degree programs to provide a pathway from master’s level to doctoral level programs and adds a practicum component for the doctoral level.
Provide professional development for all graduate level faculty and course developers in the School of Education who will be trained on specifically designed academic instruction in English (SDAIE) and asset-based mindset strategies.
Improve belonging for Hispanic students by making a more welcoming and inclusive community in the School of Education.
Increase enrollment and graduation rates of Hispanic students.
Graduate Resource Center
The Graduate Resource Center provides extra writing and success coaching for students in the School of Education.
Services offered include:
- Financial aid, health and wellness, counseling, and career support referrals
- Personal, spiritual, social, and career development appointments
- Mock interviews
- Resume development
- Personal and academic coaching
- Writing support
- General support for navigating your program
Meet Our Faculty
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Cari Chittick
Director of Lutheran Teaching Programs and LCMS Placement, Professor of…
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Kathy Mueller
Administrative Assistant to the Dean/Assistant Director of Events and Partnerships
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Sandra Mercier
Director, MAEd Learning, Design, and Technology & Curriculum & Instruction
Future Faculty Fellows
The Future Faculty Fellows Program scholarship was established to benefit Hispanic and other underserved students who seek financial aid for their M.A. or Ed.D. in Leadership program. This PPOHA-funded scholarship is applied directly to reduce the recipient’s cost of tuition and is targeted toward students interested in careers in higher education.
Fellowships are awarded throughout the academic year and may provide scholarships from $3,000-$10,000 annually. Recipients must make satisfactory progress in their academic program each year. They’ll be in a cohort of other fellows as they progress through the program for the scholarship to be renewed.
PPOHA Future Faculty Fellows Application
A completed M.A. or Ed.D. application, FAFSA, and the FFF application are required to be considered for this scholarship. Learn more about the FFF eligibility requirements or FFF income requirements.