OCEAN Faculty mentors bring expertise in partnership and community-engaged research, as well as expertise in specific fields related to education. Faculty also develop their own partnerships, involve students in their partnership projects, and help connect their community partners to UCI and our broader network of resources. Our faculty represent a variety of partnership approaches. Please contact them to learn more.
Community Engagement: Where researchers contribute to, or support, community programs and partners based on their research expertise: Dr. Andres Bustamante, Dr. Sandra Simpkins, Dr. Young-Suk Kim
Design Partnerships: Where partners and researchers co-create new interventions or programs, and where research informs the design of interventions: Dr. June Ahn, Dr. Andres Bustamante, Dr. Shayan Doroudi
Research Alliances: Where researchers conduct research that informs decision-making and policies for partner districts or schools: Dr. Richard Arum, Dr. Emily Penner, Dr. Adriana Villavicencio
Teacher Partnerships: Where researchers and teacher leaders directly collaborate for teacher learning and instructional improvement: Dr. Hosun Kang, Dr. Rossella Santagata

Dr. June Ahn
Faculty Director & Professor
UCI School of Education
Partnerships: Valley High School, High School Inc., Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative, Teachers Association of La Mirada-Norwalk Area (TANLA), Practical Measures Network

Dr. Richard Arum
Professor
UCI School of Education
Partnerships: Samueli Academy, Orange County CEO Alliance, Next Generation Undergraduate Success Project

Dr. Andres Bustamante
Assistant Professor
UCI School of Education
Partnerships: Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative, El Sol Academy, Santa Ana Unified School District

Dr. Shayan Doroudi
Assistant Professor
UCI School of Education
Partnerships: Santa Ana Unified School District, ALEKS (McGraw Hill)

Dr. Hosun Kang
Associate Professor
UCI School of Education
Partnerships: Anaheim Union High School District, Crystal Cove Conservancy

Dr. Young-Suk Kim
Professor & Associate Dean
UCI School of Education
Partnerships (in development): Glendale Unified School District, Jefferson Elementary School (Anaheim)

Dr. Emily Penner
Associate Professor
UCI School of Education
Partnerships: San Francisco Unified School District (Ethnic Studies), Oregon Department of Education (various departments); CORE Districts; US Census Bureau

Dr. Rossella Santagata
Professor
UCI School of Education
Partnerships: Orange County Department of Education, Buena Park School District, Crystal Cove Conservancy

Dr. Sandra Simpkins
Professor
UCI School of Education
Partnerships: Girls Inc., Boys & Girls Club (various locations in Orange County), Math CEO, Turtle Rock afterschool program, Project Kidz Connect, and KidWorks, Center for Afterschool and Summer Excellence, University-Community Links group at UC Berkeley.

Dr. Adriana Villavicencio
Assistant Professor
UCI School of Education
Partnerships: Santa Ana Unified School District