California State University San Marcos awarded its first doctoral degrees in education yesterday.
The recipients were top school district administrators, mostly from North County.
The joint Cal State San Marcos-University of California San Diego program, which has enrolled 65 students since it was launched in 2005, is designed for the working educational professional, allowing the workplace to become a laboratory.
Andrés Peter Santamaría, a principal at Maie Ellis Elementary School in Fallbrook, said he achieved a lifelong learning goal by earning his doctorate.
“Education is a priority for me in my life,” Santamaría said. “That's why I work in education.”
“This fulfills my goal of completing the highest level of education.”
The other doctorates were awarded to Jeff Felix, Coronado Unified School District superintendent; Kevin Daniel Holt, San Marcos Unified School District superintendent; Luis Angel Ibarra, Oceanside Unified School District associate superintendent; Michelle Lustig, San Diego County Office of Education, foster youth services coordinator; Karen Schultz Rizzi, Escondido Union High School District, educational services assistant superintendent; and Melavel Odviar Robertson, Poway Unified School District assistant superintendent.
