Rebecca M. Bustamante

Rebecca M. Bustamante, Ph.D., is an Associate Dean in the College of Education at California State University, Long Beach, where she serves in leadership roles related to outreach and educator certification. She previously held the position of Associate Dean of Research, Inclusion, and Graduate Programs at Sam Houston State University, where she was also a tenured professor in the Department of Educational Leadership. Her career spans over 30 years across K–12 education, higher education administration, and international contexts in the U.S. and Latin America.

• PhD in Leadership Studies, University of San Diego
• MA in Linguistics and TESOL, San Jose State University
• BA in Communications, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• California Teacher Certification: Multiple-Subjects Bilingual (BCLAD)-Spanish
• Additional Graduate Work: Human Resource Management (UC Berkeley), International Studies (American University), and International Educational Policy (PUC-Rio, Brazil)

Dr. Bustamante’s research centers on organizational culture and strategic planning for diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational settings. She focuses on culturally responsive leadership development, faculty development, and systemic approaches to supporting marginalized and minoritized students in higher education. Her work emphasizes inclusive practices, leadership preparation, and institutional transformation.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in equity-focused research across K–12 and higher education, with a particular emphasis on cultural competence, intercultural dynamics, and student persistence. She frequently employs mixed methods and qualitative approaches to explore complex socio-educational phenomena. Her scholarship has been published in high-impact journals such as Review of Higher Education, Educational Administration Quarterly, and Journal of International Students.

• Leadership Academy, American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE), 2019
• Teaching Excellence Award, College of Education, Sam Houston State University, 2016
• AERA National Mentor Award Nominee, Div. G-Social Context of Education, 2015
• SHSU University-Wide Faculty Mentor Award, 2013
• Research Excellence Award, College of Education, Sam Houston State University, 2010

Dr. Bustamante has mentored numerous doctoral students to dissertation completion and has coordinated doctoral programs. She has secured external grants and led curriculum development initiatives, particularly in leadership and diversity training. Her professional service includes facilitating the Texas Academic Leadership Academy (TALA) and serving on promotion and tenure committees.

She has been actively involved in developing and teaching courses across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels in various formats, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online. Her leadership extends to designing professional development opportunities and contributing to institutional effectiveness through assessment and inclusion initiatives.