Faculty

Assistant Dean | Senior Director of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership Program

Dr. Kellie Albrecht is the Assistant Dean for the School of Education, Senior Director of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership program, and a Professor of Education. She is responsible for Ed.D. program operations, program development and improvement, faculty training, curriculum development and assessment, and advising doctoral students with their dissertation research. Dr. Albrecht served as the Chair of the Educational Effectiveness Committee (EEC), a member of the Academic Council and Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Prior to teaching in higher education, Dr. Albrecht was an elementary school educator having taught in grades 1, 4, 5, and 6. Dr. Albrecht's experience teaching in urban schools sparked her passion for educating in diverse settings. Her experience working with culturally diverse and underrepresented children led to an interest in English language development and differentiated instructional practices. Additionally, Dr. Albrecht is the mother of four children, her oldest being identical twin boys. Dr. Albrecht's doctoral dissertation was an interpretive phenomenological analysis focused on identifying twins as a cultural group, which investigated individual needs for educating twins. The dissertation is titled, Beyond Bonded Voices: A Qualitative Study with Adult Monozygotic (Identical) Twins.

Dr. Albrecht's experience in higher education includes MAED program development and improvement, faculty training and professional development, advising graduate and postgraduate qualitative research projects, teaching undergraduate, graduate, and multiple and single subject credential courses, supervising student teachers in the field, assessing teaching performance assessments (TPAs), and facilitating TPA student workshops.

Areas of Expertise

• Qualitative Research Methodologies: Action Research, Grounded Theory, Interpretive
• Phenomenological Analysis, Case Study
• Twins’ Research
• Differentiated Instructional Practices
• English Language Development
• Classroom Management
• Curriculum Design, Assessment, and Evaluation
• Distance Learning: Online Asynchronous & Synchronous, Blended/Hybrid
• Program/Course Development, Design, and Improvement
• Technological Pedagogy

Lead Graduate Advisor | Credential Analyst

Director, M.A. Educational Leadership

Biography

My career in education began at the high school level and I enjoyed years of teaching English and theology classes. My posts as ASB advisor and basketball coach provided additional ways to connect with my students. A couple years as the school's communications director came at the same time I began teaching for Concordia University, Irvine, in 2002. At that time, I taught in the CUAccelerate program which is a hybrid on-campus and online program. A move to Arizona led to five years of instruction for University of Phoenix where I taught a range of writing courses to include expository, research, and technical writing. While I enjoyed that post, I decided to pursue courses in the field of education and started teaching for Grand Canyon University in both their graduate and undergraduate programs. In 2012, I was thrilled to join the CUI ranks again as a Professor of Education for the MAED Curriculum & Instruction program. I also serve as the Subject Matter Expert for the following MAEd courses: Curriculum Design and Assessment (EDU/EDUT 520), Coping with Stress and Violence in Today's Classrooms (EDU 524), and Educational Discourse: Change and Reform (EDU 550). My role as Program Director for Curriculum & Instruction provides opportunities to work with other instructors and stay current with all the courses offered. I'm currently working on a PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. I have a true love for the online classroom and truly look forward to the start of each new term.

Administrative Assistant to the Dean/HR Specialist

Director, MAED Learning, Design, and Technology & Curriculum & Instruction

Biography

Professor Sandy Mercier has been a full-time faculty member in the School of Education since 2014. Sandy attended Concordia University, Irvine both as an undergraduate and graduate student. She currently teaches MAED online courses for both the Curriculum & Instruction and Learning, Design, and Technology programs. She is also the Director of CUI's Learning, Design, and Technology program. Prior to moving into higher education, she taught various grade levels including Kindergarten, 6th, 7th-8th Literature, and K-8 Computers. Sandra's passion is sharing her love of teaching, implementing fun technology, and creating engaging lessons with her MAED students. Sandy and her husband, Nathan, have been blessed with three children. Their family is very involved with St. John’s Lutheran Church and School in Orange, CA.

Education

• Master of Arts in Education – Awarded May 2006, CUI - Major: Curriculum and Instruction; Concentration: K-12 Instruction
• Bachelor of Arts in Education – Awarded May 1999, CUI - Major: Liberal Studies; Concentration: Child Development; Christ College Certificate
• California Clear Multiple Subject Credential – Awarded August 2003, CUI - Supplementary Authorization: English/Literature

Areas of Expertise

• Educational Technology
• Innovative, Technology-based Tools
• Enhancement Strategies for K-12 Curriculum
• Brain-Based Teaching and Learning
• Curriculum Design and Assessment
• Coping with Stress and Violence
• Social and Emotional Learning/Mental Health Support
• Child, Family, and Community

Coordinator, MOUs & Faculty Onboarding

Biography

Prior to his full time faculty appointment, Charlie Rodrigues most recently served Concordia University Irvine as Assistant Registrar in addition to his adjunct faculty role in the M.A. Education program. His doctoral research is investigating the effectiveness of the onboarding process for incoming full and part time university faculty. As a proud alum of Concordia for both undergraduate and graduate degrees, he also spent 10 years as an educator in public and Lutheran schools. His breadth of experience will serve him well as he will be teaching in the M.A. Education and teacher credential programs. Charlie and his wife Melissa – also an educator – are raising two active boys (ages 6 and 2) and attend Bethany Lutheran Church in Long Beach. They enjoy spending time with extended family, reading, and traveling.

Director, Servant Leadership Institute

Degrees Earned

• Ed.D., Educational Leadership, University of California, Los Angeles
• M.A., Denver University
• B.A., Concordia Teachers College, Seward, NE

Biography

Dr. Kent Schlichtemeier is a teacher. He started his teaching career in 1978 teaching 6th-8th grades in Oxnard, CA. After completing his Master’s degree at Denver University in 1984, he continued his teaching career at the high school level in Orlando, FL. Dr. Schlichtemeier served in the School of Education at Concordia University, Irvine from 1988-2003 where he mentored future teachers. In addition to teaching at Concordia, Dr. Schlichtemeier was the women’s basketball coach until retiring in 1993 to pursue his doctorate degree. During the final two seasons of his tenure as coach, the Lady Eagle Basketball team made two consecutive appearances at the NAIA National Basketball Tournament after winning the Golden State Athletic Conference Championships. Dr. Schlichtemeier was voted the District Three NAIA Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1993 and was voted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. Dr. Schlichtemeier has served as a teacher and assistant principal at Orange Lutheran High School from 2003-2007, before returning to teach at Concordia University. He enjoys frequent opportunities to speak at sports banquets, school graduations, athletic camps, teacher conferences, and leadership retreats.

Areas of Expertise

• Instructional Leadership
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Assessment
• Organizational Culture
• School Climate
• Instructional Leadership
• Action Research

Co-Director of Undergraduate Teacher Credential Programs | Director of M.Ed. | Professor of Science Education

Prof. Michael Schulteis has been at Concordia University since 2003 teaching in the School of Education specializing in Science and Mathematics education as well as classroom management. His most recent interest is in taking students and teachers abroad to learn about educational opportunities in Asia having led trips to Australia, China, Hong Kong (SAR), and Vietnam. He currently serves as the Director of the Masters In Education (MEd) and Co-Director of Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs. Prior to arriving at Concordia University, he taught at the Junior High School level as a 7th-grade homeroom teacher teaching multiple subjects and as a science specialist for grades 6-8. At the High School level, Michael taught chemistry, biology, and honors biology as well as being a coach and the taxidermy club advisor. Most recently he taught Grade 8 Science for a year at Concordia International School in Shanghai, China along with his wife who taught Grade 5. Dr. Schulteis earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (Biology) in 1995, California Teaching Credential in 1996 and his Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction in 1998 all from Concordia University, Irvine. In 2005 he earned his Doctor of Science Education degree from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia. His dissertation thesis was "The Condition and Effects of Evolutionary Education in the Parochial School." Beyond his teaching duties, Prof. Schulteis serves as a Faculty Marshal at the University. Dr. Schulteis is a mentor for the American Meteorological Society Datastreme program. He is also a sought after seminar presenter and has made presentations to teachers across the United States, as well as from around the world including teachers from Korea, Japan, China, South Africa, and Australia.

Dr. Schulteis is married and his wife also teaches at Concordia and is in the Mathematics Department. They have 2 boys. He enjoys travel, gardening, Disney, and fishing. He has the distinction of having visited every Disney Park in the world.

Education

• ScEdD, Doctor of Science Education, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia
• M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, Concordia University Irvine
• B.A., Biology, Concordia University Irvine

Areas of Expertise

• Science Education
• Quantitative Methods
• Action Research
• Lutheran Education
• International Teaching

Program Coordinator, School Counseling

Degrees Earned

• PHD in Education (School Psychology emphasis) from Chapman University - 2020
• M.A. in School Counseling and M.A. in School Psychology from Chapman University - 1999
• B.A. in Psychology from Biola University - 1996

Biography

Dr. MaryAnn Seng is a professor of education in the area of school counseling. Prior to her arrival at Concordia University, Seng was a counselor briefly and a school psychologist for 20 years in the Long Beach Unified School District. Her roles in the district included being a bilingual consultant (for the Khmer language), crisis team member, and the coordinator of the school psychology internship program. She also served as a faculty coordinator/counselor at Webster University's Irvine campus. Her knowledge of the Khmer language/culture allowed her to be a community member advisor to the Long Beach Police Department and the Department of Mental Health's Asian Unit for several years. She is currently a board member of the Pediatric Arthritis and Lupus Foundation. Her current research interest involves the educational needs of children with medical conditions.

Senior Director, MAED School Counseling

Biography

Dr. Jill Swisher serves as Program Director for School Counseling in the School of Education. She has served in the M.A.Ed department for 15 years, most recently as director of advising and previously assistant director of M.A.Ed programs. Prior experience includes marketing operations for several nonprofit organizations. Jill offers additional expertise in educational telework, with doctoral research on the importance of organizational support in remote worker satisfaction and performance. She enjoys volunteering at her church and children's school, as well as on various local committees.

Director, MAED Educational Administration

Biography

Dr. Tanya Tarbutton serves as an Assistant Professor of Education and Program Director for MAED, School Administration emphasis. Prior to joining Concordia University, Dr. Tarbutton worked as a supervisor and instructor at several higher education institutions in Southern California, mentoring and supporting new administrators and teachers. In this capacity she evaluated and prepared administrative candidates as well as teacher candidates for teaching and learning in the 21st Century. Dr. Tarbutton has also participated on Academic Advisory Boards focused on transformational change and presented at international conferences. Before entering higher education, Dr. Tarbutton worked as a site based school administrator, resource teacher and general education teacher. As an immigrant, she brings a unique perspective grounded in more than 20 years of career experience.

Education

• Ed.D, Educational Leadership & Management, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA.
• M.A., School Administration, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA.
• M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA.
• B.A., Elementary Education, Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada
• B.A., Sociology Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada

Areas of Expertise

• Curriculum Development and Alignment
• Mentorship and Support of Administrators and Teachers
• Instructional Platforms and Strategies

Dean, School of Education | Assistant Professor of Education

Biography

Professor Heather Vezner enjoyed being a classroom teacher for 17 years. Her experiences in the classroom included serving as an elementary education teacher, early childhood program administrator, and parent educator for a grant-funded early education program. She first came to Concordia University in 2009 in the role of Field Experience Coordinator and TPA Assistant Coordinator. She has also served as Director of Student Teaching, Director of Preliminary Teacher Credential Programs and Assistant Dean. Her areas of research and expertise include: early childhood education, literacy development, mentoring, teacher preparation, and leadership development.

Teaching Credentials and Certificates

• California Multiple Subject Clear Teaching Credential, 2009
• Illinois Early Childhood Teaching Credential, 2007
• M.A. - Early Childhood Education, Concordia University, Chicago, 1996
• Illinois Elementary Education Teaching Credential, 1993
• B.A. - Elementary Education, Concordia University, Chicago, 1993

Professor

Degrees Earned

• Ed.D., Instructional Leadership, Argosy University, 2007
• MAEd., Supervision and Administration, University of Phoenix, 2002
• B. A., History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1995
• B. A., Geography/Environmental Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, 1995

Biography

Dr. Catherine Webb is a Professor of Education and Coordinator of the California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA). She serves on the Institutional Review Board at Concordia University Irvine and is the Subject Matter Expert for EDUA 516, EDUA 517, EDUA 561, EDUA562 and EDUA563 (5 of the 8 Administrative courses in the MAEd. program). Dr. Webb serves as a generalist currently teaching Education Technology, Administration, and Curriculum and Instruction courses in the MAEd program as well as Dissertation Seminars for the Doctoral Program.

Dr. Webb served as a K-8 teacher, special education teacher, site administrator, and district administrator for over 15 years in California and Arizona. She holds a Clear Administrative Services credential and Clear Teaching credential in both states. Dr. Webb defended her dissertation on the efficacy of professional learning communities and the impact school improvement initiatives have on student academic achievement. Dr. Webb’s expertise lies in curriculum, Instruction and assessment, administration, and technology. Dr. Webb served as a consultant and professional development presenter, serving school districts nationwide. Dr. Webb has worked in Higher Education since 2007.

Areas of Expertise

• Technology
• 21st century Teaching and Learning
• Classroom Management
• Instructional Leadership
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
• Diverse Learners
• School Improvement
• Common Core Standards
• Action Research
• APA