Cal State San Bernardino’s Courtney Doussett, Outstanding Doctoral Student, and Lisa Green, Outstanding Graduate Student, will be honored by the College of Education at its 2016 Commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 18.
The college’s ceremony, which will be held in conjunction with the College of Arts & Letters, will begin at 8 p.m. at Citizens Business Bank Arena, 4000 E. Ontario Center Parkway in Ontario. Parking at the arena will be $5 in lots A, B, C and D. Patrons are encouraged to bring exact change.
More than 450 students are expected to participate in the two colleges’ graduation exercises, which will cap CSUSB’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration.
Doussett, of Palm Springs, will graduate with a doctorate in educational leadership. She was already working as a community college instructor and part-time lecturer at CSUSB in kinesiology when she decided to pursue a doctoral degree to become a professor. “I chose educational leadership to allow greater flexibility in career paths as I could eventually move into college leadership at some point,” she said.
Doussett said her husband was her greatest source of inspiration during her academic journey. “He was the one who encouraged me to continue my education when I originally had only intended to complete a bachelor’s degree,” she said. “Throughout this entire process, he provided the support and guidance I needed to complete both my master’s and doctorate degrees.”
Doussett represented CSUSB at the annual California State University Student Research Competition, which she said motivated her to continue in her research interests. Her doctoral dissertation was on “The impact of a classroom-based physical activity program on teacher perceptions of student engagement,” which took a look at teachers’ perceptions before, during and after the implementation of a physical activity program called “ABC for Fitness.”
“With so much of the public educational discussion revolving around student engagement and student success, a detailed look into a classroom-based physical activity program would be a cost-effective approach to student engagement, which is linked to student success,” the abstract of Doussett’s dissertation said.
Doussett will be a full professor at the College of the Desert, where she has been adjunct instructor, and will continue to advance her education in kinesiology and education, writing for publication, and completing work to become a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
Green, a Corona resident, will graduate with a master of science degree in counseling and guidance, along with a credential in pupil services. During her time as a graduate student at CSUSB, she has been selected on eight separate occasions as the Outstanding Student of the Quarter in her classes.
While enrolled at CSUSB, she also worked as a teacher in the Corona-Norco Unified School District, the same district in which she attended as a youngster, graduating from Corona High School.
“As a school teacher for the last 10 years, I see many students on a daily basis who bring struggles with them into the classroom, which can hinder them in reaching their full potential,” Green said of her reason to pursue a graduate degree. “Between lesson planning, meetings, professional development, copying, and teaching, I am constantly searching for more time during the day to give them the one-on-one attention some of them so desperately need. This propelled me to begin my journey in being a school counselor, so that I may better serve my students and help them become successful.”
Green’s final project was on art and play therapy for students 6 to 11 years old. She and another member of her cohort wanted to research the benefits of art and play therapy for elementary-age students. “After extensive research on the benefits of art and play therapy with elementary-age students, I witnessed the growth that took place with the students that were part of our program,” she said. “Younger students can sometimes struggle in finding the words to describe how they are feeling or struggles that they have experienced. Art and play therapy allows them an alternative way of communication.”
In addition to pursuing a position as a school counselor in the Corona-Norco district, Green plans to enroll in marriage and family therapy classes with the goal of becoming a licensed clinical counselor, as well as a doctoral degree.
CSUSB will hold three other commencement ceremonies on June 18: The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at 8 a.m., the College of Business and Public Administration at noon and the College of Natural Sciences at 4 p.m.
All of the commencement ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena will be webcast live on the Creative Media Services webcast page.
For electronic images of Courtney Doussett and Lisa Green, and for more information about the June 2016 graduations, visit the CSUSB Commencement website or contact the Office of Special Events and Guest Services at (909) 537-7360.
For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.