Nechochea

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2007
Media Contact: George Cagala, (760) 750-4012

Juan Nechochea Named Distinguished Professor at CSUSM

Juan Necochea of the College of Education at California State University San Marcos has been named recipient of the 2008 Brakebill Distinguished Professor Award, announced President Karen S. Haynes.

“It is a great honor to be selected for the Cal State San Marcos Brakebill Distinguished Professor Award,” said Necochea. “This recognition for excellence in teaching is very near and dear to my heart, for I cannot separate who I am from what I do.  When your avocation becomes your vocation, you are truly one of the fortunate ones who have the opportunity to live your dreams, while making a difference.”
 
College of Education Dean Mark Baldwin called Necochea a "superb teacher" whose student evaluations are consistently at the top of the rating scale.

“The preservice and inservice teachers who lack confidence in teaching second language learners and diverse populations leave Juan's course with a level of confidence even they did not expect to achieve," said Baldwin; this despite the fact that students characterize his courses as "among the most difficult," but at the same time, "one of the most useful in the entire preparation program."

Dr. Necochea possesses four credentials and two masters degrees in addition to his Ph.D.  He worked as an elementary school teacher and a high school principal before arriving at CSUSM.  He is the principal investigator for the College Assistance Migrant Program, funded through the U.S. Department of Education for over $4 million.  His vita lists 50 publications and 71 presentations.  He is also the executive director of Encuentros Summer Academy, which gives teenage Latino boys the opportunity to look at college as an option for their futures.  He is co-director for our Center for the Study of Border Pedagogy.

Former Brakebill awardee, Professor Laurie Stowell, nominated Necochea and calls him "the heart and soul of multicultural/multilingual education in the College of Education." She wrote in her nomination letter that "he is the kind of faculty member new untenured faculty could aspire to be."

The Harry E. Brakebill Distinguished Professor Award is presented annually to a CSUSM faculty member who demonstrates outstanding contributions to students, his or her academic discipline, and to the campus community. Brakebill was a former executive vice chancellor of the CSU, who also served as a valued volunteer in CSUSM’s early years. He passed away in 2000.

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