Rate My Professor Erika Daniels

Erika Daniels, Ed.D., is a Professor of Literacy and Middle Level Education in the School of Education at California State University, San Marcos, within the College of Education, Health and Human Services. She earned her BS in General Studies for Elementary Education and MS in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Southern California, followed by an Ed.D. in Literacy from the joint doctoral program between the University of San Diego and San Diego State University. Before joining CSUSM as a full-time faculty member, Daniels taught kindergarten and sixth grade in East Los Angeles, as well as middle school and ninth grade in Oceanside, California. At CSUSM, she instructs undergraduate courses in Applied Child and Adolescent Development, literacy methods for teacher credential candidates, advanced literacy courses and provides thesis advising for master's students, and supports doctoral candidates in the Joint Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership with the University of California, San Diego.

Daniels currently serves as Director of Community Engagement for The Alliance to Accelerate Excellence in Education, a regional partnership involving CSUSM, community colleges, and K-12 school districts to enhance pathways to college access and success. Her research interests center on literacy practices for reluctant and disengaged learners and the influence of school contexts on the motivation of young adolescents, encompassing middle level education, teacher preparation, and social-emotional support for middle school students. She has authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, including "Curricular Factors in Middle School Teachers' Motivation to Become and Remain Effective" (2017), "Educators' Perceptions of Middle Level Education in a State Without a Middle Level Teacher Credential" (2021), "Problematizing the Relationship between State Policy and Educator Preparation" (2022), "Relationships Matter: Fostering Motivation through Interactions" (2015), "Middle School Journal: Clinical practice in the center" (2017), and "IN SEARCH OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER: Navigating Research, Reality, and Mission" (2012). With 279 citations documented on ResearchGate, her scholarship advances understanding in motivation, literacy instruction, and effective teacher education for middle grades. Additionally, she contributes to professional development through syllabi and resources on middle level literacy education, such as EDMI 521 and EDMS 522 courses.