Diverse Educational Community and Doctoral Experience (DECADE) Award: Nestor Tulagan

At the UCI School of Education's 2019 Doctoral Student Recognition Ceremony, Associate Professor Stephanie Reich invited Juan Gaytan, Co-Chair of the School of Education DECADE chapter, to present the recipient of the DECADE Equity and Diversity Graduate Student award. 

Juan Gaytan Presentation Text

​This is the second year that a DECADE award is being given. The award is designed to recognize a graduate student who is engaged with DECADE in some significant capacity leading or coordinating major efforts that align with the SoE DECADE mission which is to increase the recruitment, retention, and post-graduate success of diverse students pursuing doctoral degrees. SoE DECADE is committed to promoting equity, justice, and intellectual diversity both in the School of Education and the communities we serve. 

This year's award winner is Nestor Tulagan. Nestor has done an amazing job with the creation of Cross-Cohort Conversations. This kind of support for students on completing their milestones definitely aligns with the SOE DECADE mission of increasing recruitment (for when we tell potential incoming students about these awesome workshops), retention (because now we all know what we're doing with our milestones and how to complete them to the best of our abilities), and post grad success (because participating in this workshop offers the opportunity to develop many transferable skills). Nestor has been so influential in serving both undergraduate and graduate students through mentoring and workshops. He has put in so much effort to make sure everyone has access to resources that are critical for success, including co-creating the cross-cohort conversations. He has been continuously serving and has impacted many.

Juan Gaytan, DECADE Leader, & Nestor Tulagan