Inspiring a Culture of Learning: Recognizing Exceptional Educators in Human Services
Outstanding educators are central to professional development and continuous learning. At UC Davis CPE Human Services, we recognize exceptional instructors and program collaborators for their commitment and service to both education as well as the field of human services. The dedication of our instructors is vital to our mission, ensuring that students receive the highest quality education and are well-prepared to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. These educators share an enthusiasm for their work and a deep commitment to improving the well-being of individuals and communities. By sharing their expertise, they have profoundly impacted the lives of their students and they people they serve, fostering a culture of compassion, resilience and continuous improvement.
Outstanding Service Award Recipients
Beth Cohen
Beth, one of our most beloved instructors, is a prolific curriculum designer who specializes in trauma-informed approaches, secondary traumatic stress, mindfulness and burnout. She is an invaluable asset to Human Services, pioneering Secondary Traumatic Stress training for social workers and serving as our lead consultant in the field. Her students ranked the effectiveness, presentation and delivery of her instruction at a 4.9/5, citing her “great understanding of trauma and the daily challenges and stresses that social workers experience.”
Roger De Leon
Roger is one of the founding members of the Parent Partner program and advisory board at UC Davis Human Services. He uses his lived experience of successfully navigating the child welfare and court systems as a parent to inform his teaching and advocacy work. One of his students said “he has a way of drawing people in. He teaches from his heart... generating a level of inspiration and motivation that you don't get from all instructors.” Roger is tirelessly driving our programs forward by launching classes, leading panel discussions and expanding his advocacy for parent partners nationwide.
Misty Kerrigan
Misty is an invaluable instructor for Human Services. She creates programs to help leaders support the most vulnerable populations in the mental health field and helped pilot the standardized Foundational Wraparound curriculum, which has become a staple curriculum offered by the RCFFP. Most recently, Misty developed a Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression training, which was met with enthusiasm from our participants. Misty is an essential part of the Human Services team’s collaborative efforts – during a critical time for the RCFFP, she stepped in to help navigate rebuilding instrumental relationships and demonstrated exceptional work and flexibility.
Tammy Rice
Tammy is one of the most highly requested instructors in Human Services and specializes in diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership and training for trainers. Her students have praised her interactive teaching style, saying “she needs to teach every training we are offered.” Tammy has gone above and beyond by supporting a uniquely challenging, high-profile statewide project for Human Services. She joined the collaborative curriculum development process under a very tight timeframe with unusual challenges and has proved an invaluable addition to the project.
Geneva Shaw
Geneva is an invaluable asset to the Human Services team and serves as a lead trainer for classes about the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). She is the creator of the one-of-a-kind ICWA Specialist training, which filled a huge training need for human services staff throughout California. Geneva’s commitment to developing the complex curriculum was tremendous and she continues to show her dedication by remaining on board as a main trainer in the program. This training has garnered state-wide interest, and she is becoming a highly sought-after instructor. As a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, Geneva’s heart is in her work, and it is palpable.