New Director for CSUSM School of Education

Manuel Vargas, a teacher educator with over 30 years of experience in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade (P-12) and higher education, has been appointed the new director of the School of Education at California State University San Marcos. The appointment took effect July 15, 2013.

Vargas was previously dean of the School of Education and Human Performance at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) in North Carolina where he had also served for over 25 years in various capacities including tenured professor of education, department chair and associate dean for graduate programs, and interim dean in the School of Education and Human Performance. His experience in higher education also includes teaching at Sonoma State University, Appalachian State University and Salem College.

His professional goals and scholarly activities focus on working with underrepresented groups in education, especially African American and Latino/a college students. Vargas is concerned about the future of public education, which he says leaves many children of color behind while others race to nowhere.

“We often pay lip service to diversity causes, but fall short of sustained and effective programs,” said Vargas, who has made it an immediate goal to increase the number of faculty of color within the School as well as enroll more men and minorities to become future teachers in order to build a more diverse teaching force for the region.

“Dr. Vargas, with his demonstrated commitment to diversity, educational access and social justice, is an ideal fit for leading our education programs,” said College of Education, Health and Human Services Dean Janet Powell. “We are impressed with his accomplishments in the field of education and are fortunate to have him join our team of highly-qualified and talented educators.

” Vargas holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of the Americas, and earned his master’s degree and doctorate in school administration from the University of Alabama.