Meet the Speakers
The next generation of highly qualified teachers are not hard to find. They are here, our diverse CSUSB students from all walks of life who are highly capable and driven to pursue excellence and share their passion for learning. With encouragement and support from our trained staff, advisors, faculty, and administrators, we can help these students develop a love of learning into a love of teaching and pursue the honorable and rewarding teaching professions. The need for teachers—especially those from underrepresented and minority backgrounds—has never been greater. To that end, we are pleased our Celebration of Teaching event can play a robust role in uplifting and assisting the next generation of educators forward, toward a brighter, diverse future.
Chinaka DomNwachukwu, Ph.D., Dean of CSUSB's Watson Rodriguez Watson College of Education, oversees academic and administrative leadership across three departments. His background includes theological studies and a role in accreditation at Azusa Pacific State University.
Sastry G. Pantula, Ph.D., dean of CSUSB's College of Natural Sciences, has an extensive career including roles at Oregon State University, the NSF, and over 30 years at North Carolina State University in various statistical and leadership positions.
Jesse Venegas is a Math Program Specialist with the San Bernardino City Unified School District, where he serves as a K–12 instructional leader. In this role, he coordinates curriculum development, provides professional learning opportunities, and coaches teachers in evidence-based mathematics instruction. He also holds a Single Subject Credential in Mathematics and has many years of experience as a classroom mathematics teacher. We are thrilled to welcome him as a speaker and look forward to the insights he will share with our future generation of educators.
With 36 years in education, Dr. James Huff is the Project Impact Director, a veteran, and a former Assistant Principal at Patriot High School. His career spans UC Riverside, Jurupa School District, and Special Education teaching, emphasizing inclusive learning and educational excellence.
Dr. Jordi Solsona-Puig is an Assistant Professor at the Watson College of Education, Department of Teacher Education & Foundations. He serves as the Bilingual Authorization co-coordinator at the WCOE, where he also acts as the Dual Immersion Symposium Chair, and as Principal Investigator for the IBAP and ExMILE grants. He is a proud Co-Chair of the Council on Plurilingual Educators Preparation (CPEP), and he has been selected to serve as a Board member of the California Association for Bilingual Teaching (CABTE). With over two decades of dedicated teaching experience and research, Dr. Solsona-Puig initially ventured to California in 2012 as a visiting teacher, immersing himself in a Spanish dual immersion program while also instructing Social Studies and Digital Literacy in English at the Middle School level before transitioning to higher education.
Matt Rauch represents the Morongo Unified School District, where he supports a diverse community of students and educators. He serves as the Resident Program Facilitator and Acceleration of Learning Program Coordinator. He'll be sharing insights about his district, its mission, and what prospective credential candidates can expect when beginning their careers in Morongo USD.