Elizabeth Truesdell

Elizabeth Truesdell, PhD, is a Professor and Director of Special Education Programs at the Department of Education within the School of Liberal Arts and Education at Dominican University of California. She currently serves as chair of the Education Department and teaches in credential and master's programs after 21 years of educational experience beginning as a high school English teacher. At Dominican, she has directed both Single Subject and Masters of Science in Education programs.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Education from UC Santa Barbara (2005)
• MEd from UC Santa Barbara (2003)
• BA in English from University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (1998)

Dr. Truesdell specializes in pre-service teacher education, analyzing public policy impacts on educational systems, and implementing 21st Century Skills (communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking) in classrooms. Her expertise spans educational technology integration, innovative online pedagogy, and cultivating international partnerships through virtual instructional models that bridge teacher preparation with real-world classroom applications.

Her recent publications (2019-2024) reveal a cohesive trajectory toward technology-mediated global collaboration in teacher education. Key themes include virtual instructional rounds for anti-bias training, digital literacy development through community engagement, and online program design that fosters international partnerships while addressing 21st-century skill integration in diverse educational contexts.

Professional recognition includes:

• CCTC Quest Grant (2014)
• Strategic Initiative Fund Grant (2011)

As an educator and program director, Dr. Truesdell has mentored countless credential and master's students while securing grant funding for innovative teacher preparation initiatives. Her partnership-focused approach connects Dominican University with local public schools to develop practical training models that address contemporary educational challenges through technology integration and policy-responsive curriculum design.

She actively builds international networks through virtual instructional rounds, creating collaborative frameworks for teacher development that emphasize anti-bias practices and cross-cultural competency in global educational settings.