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Department Chair

Dr. Yeunjoo Lee | |
Department Chair |
|
Phone | (661) 654-6478 |
Fax | (661) 654-2479 |
ylee@csub.edu | |
Office | EDUC 219 |
More Information
Other:
Dr. Lee is a Professor of Special Education and the Chair of the Advanced Educational Studies department. She earned two Master of Arts degrees (Intellectual Disabilities and Therapeutic Recreation) and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Special Education) from the University of Georgia. Since she joined CSUB in 2001, she has developed numerous new courses and taught multiple classes in technology, moderate/severe disability, early childhood special education, and educational research. Her research interests are in the areas of teacher preparation, intellectual disabilities, and assistive technology. She also served as a Principal Investigator of Project PURPOSE (Preparation Using Research-based Practices to Optimize Special Education, 2014-2019), a federal grant award from US DOE, and a co-PI for the CSUB Integrated Teacher Education Program, a grant award from California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Full-time Faculty

Matthew Kabel | |
Program Advisor, Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-6214 |
Fax | (661) 952-5122 |
mkabel@csub.edu | |
Office | EDUC 212 |
More Information
Other:
Matthew Kabel is a Special Education Lecturer, University Advisor, and Intern Supervisor at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). Matthew has an Education Specialist Credential and a Master’s in Special Education from CSUB. He worked in K-12 education for 11 years before transitioning to the Department of Advanced Educational Studies at CSUB. During his time in K-12 education Matthew worked as an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter, a Special Day Class (SDC) teacher, and Resource Specialist Program (RSP) teacher in both elementary and secondary education. Additionally, he co-wrote the Scaled-Up Multi-Tiered System of Support (SUMS-MTSS) grant for his district and led the MTSS team for two years. The focus of this framework is to re-align state, regional, county, district, school, community, and families towards supporting all student's academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs by utilizing evidence-based practices (EBP). During this time, he was brought onto the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) team to support student's social and emotional development. Matthew is currently the President of the California Association of Resource and Specials Educators Plus (CARSplus). CARSplus is the largest association of special educators in the state of California. The association’s goal is to support special educators so they can do their best work in growing and supporting students with special needs.

Diane McNett | |
Antelope Valley Program Coordinator, Lecturer |
|
Phone | (661) 952-5089 |
Fax | (661) 952-5122 |
dmcnett@csub.edu | |
Office | AV 309 |
More Information
Other:
Mrs. McNett has been a member of the CSUB Special Education faculty since 2011. She is passionate about teaching and has taught every grade level from pre-k – 12th grade. She has taught both General Education and Special Education (Special Day Class, Resource Class and Inclusion). At the District Level Mrs. McNett served as Department Chair and Intern Mentor. Mrs. McNett earned her degree in Liberal Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from CSUN and her Education Specialist Credential and Master’s Degree in Special Education at CSUB. She enjoys having the opportunity to mold and shape the future teachers of exceptional students.

Dr. Sarana Roberts | |
Program Director, Assistant Professor |
|
Phone | (661) 654-2527 |
Fax | (661) 654-2479 |
sroberts21@csub.edu | |
Office | EDUC 218 |
More Information
Other:
Dr. Sarana Eyire Roberts is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the Advanced Educational Studies Department. She works with students who are at risk of academic failure and students with disabilities to improve reading, vocabulary, language development and self-efficacy in each of these areas. In addition, she works to advance practices in Teacher Education for special education teachers. At CSUB, Dr. Roberts is a university supervisor, clinical practice instructor, and teaches core courses in the Special Education Credential Program.
Part-time
Jane Brown | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 952-5080 |
jbrown6@csub.edu |

Nancy Collins | |
Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 952-5080 |
ncollins@csub.edu |

Linda Fiddler | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
lfiddler@csub.edu |

Anthony Goss | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
agoss4@csub.edu |
Kate Herman | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
kherman3@csub.edu | |
Office | EDUC 233 |
Office Hours | (661) 654-3055 |
More Information
Education:
Kate Herman received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the Pennsylvania State University in 2011 and a Master’s Degree in Special Education in 2013. Kate is currently a doctoral candidate in CSUB’s Doctoral Program of Educational Leadership.
Kate Herman received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the Pennsylvania State University in 2011 and a Master’s Degree in Special Education in 2013. Kate is currently a doctoral candidate in CSUB’s Doctoral Program of Educational Leadership.
Teaching:
She is credentialed in Special Education N-12 and English Language Arts in Pennsylvania and holds an Educational Specialist credential in California. She has taught Special Education and English Language Arts in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and abroad in the Netherlands and came to California in 2020. Kate was also the founding Special Education Coordinator at a school for science and technology in Denver. Kate currently serves as CSUB’s AB-130 coordinator working with teacher candidates to meet the basic skills requirements and subject matter competency. She is a lecturer who coordinates the GREAT residency, supervises student teachers, and teaches courses in Special Education
Research:
Her research interests include teacher residencies, inclusion, and teacher and leader self-efficacy.
Her research interests include teacher residencies, inclusion, and teacher and leader self-efficacy.
Other:
In her free time, Kate loves to spend time cooking with her husband and reading to her daughter.
In her free time, Kate loves to spend time cooking with her husband and reading to her daughter.
Jillian Kabel | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
jkabel@csub.edu |
Salvador Lopez | |
Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
slopez10@csub.edu |
Angelica Martinez | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
amartinez275@csub.edu |

Wesley Neal | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
wneal@csub.edu |
Susan Norman | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
snorman@csub.edu |
Julie Peña | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
jpena30@csub.edu |
Julius Steele | |
Special Education Lecturer |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
jsteele8@csub.edu |

Mario Uresti | |
Special Education Lecturer |
|
Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
muresti1@csub.edu |
Staff
Julia Bavier | |
Admissions & Graduation Advisor (Bakersfield Campus) |
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Phone | (661) 654-3193 |
Fax | (661) 654-2199 |
jbavier@csub.edu | |
Office | EDUC 130 |
Gillermina Martinez | |
Clinical Practice Coordinator |
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Phone | (661) 654-2728 |
gmartinez7@csub.edu | |
Office | EDUC 114 |
Ryan Otawka | |
Department Coordinator |
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Phone | (661) 654-3055 |
Fax | (661) 654-2479 |
rotawka@csub.edu | |
Office | EDUC 238 |
Stephanie Prielipp | |
Credential Analyst |
|
Phone | (661) 654-3074 |
Fax | (661) 654-2277 |
sprielipp@csub.edu | |
Office | EDUC 135 |
Jenny St. George | |
Admissions & Graduation Advisor (Antelope Valley Campus) |
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Phone | (661) 952-5083 |
Fax | (661) 952-5122 |
jst-george@csub.edu | |
Office | AV 303 |
Amanda Thrasher | |
Assessment & Records Coordinator |
|
Phone | (661) 654-2091 |
Fax | (661) 654-2277 |
athrasher@csub.edu | |
Office | EDUC 133 |