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Learn from the best online
All Oregon State CSSA classes are taught online by experienced faculty who are highly respected student services professionals and are known for their research, expertise and innovation.
They are passionate about promoting social justice and creating equitable and successful environments, and they are dedicated to including these aspects in all areas of their courses. These faculty members are also very heavily involved in community and professional organizations and have a wide network of colleagues.
Program faculty
Kirsten Hextrum, Ph.D.
CSSA program coordinator and instructor
Dr. Kirsten Hextrum is an Assistant Professor of Language, Culture, and Society, graduate faculty in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and the Coordinator of the College Student Services Administration Program at Oregon State University. She is a NCAA Division I two-time national champion rower and an expert on college sports access, equity and diversity. Her research explores the reproduction and contestation of state power at the nexus of school, sports and communities. Her book, Special Admission: How college athletic recruitment favors white suburban athletes (Rutgers University Press, 2021), contradicts the national belief that college sports provide an avenue for upward mobility. She has appeared as an expert in documentary films and radio programs and been quoted in over 40 national and international news media outlets including The Atlantic, The Guardian, CNN and NPR.
Prior to joining the faculty at Oregon State, Dr. Hextrum was an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies and the Edith Kinney Gaylord Endowed Presidential Professor at the University of Oklahoma (2017-2022). She received her PhD in Social & Cultural Studies of Education at the University of California Berkeley (2017). She also spent seven years working in academic support for college athletes and competing as a DI rower—two experiences which continue to inform her research, service and activism efforts.
Education
- Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Studies of Education, University of California, Berkeley
- M.A. in Education, University of California, Berkeley
- B.A. in History, University of California, Berkeley
Spirit Brooks, Ph.D.
Instructor
Dr. Spirit Brooks is the Director of the Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School and the former Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Coordinator. She is faculty in the School of Language, Culture, and Society as well as the Graduate Certificate in College and University Teaching program. Dr. Brooks has worked across multiple institutions in higher education advising and admissions and in college access programs. Dr. Brooks has a PhD. in Critical and Sociocultural Studies in Education from the University of Oregon, a M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration and a M.A.I.S. in Women and Gender Studies and Anthropology from Oregon State University. Her B.S. is in Political Science/Anthropology from the University of Oregon. As an educational anthropologist, Dr. Brooks is committed to research practices that are community-centered, rooted in collaboration, and focused on equity in outcomes in outdoor education for youth from marginalized identities and communities, particularly Indigenous youth.
Education
- Ph.D. in Critical and Sociocultural Studies in Education, University of Oregon
- M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration, Oregon State University
- M.A.I.S. in Women and Gender Studies/Anthropology, Oregon State University
- B.S. Political Science/Anthropology, University of Oregon
Marigold S. Holmes
Instructor
Marigold Holmes is the Director of International Student Admissions at Oregon State University. She has served in the field of international education for nearly 25 years. Her research interests include the role of private actors in international education, Third-Culture Kids, intercultural communication and public diplomacy. Marigold has substantial experience in public and government relations, exchange program administration, outreach and communication, international student recruitment and retention, leadership development, graduate student success and academic advising.
She has held positions in various higher education settings including Oregon State University, the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (Fulbright Japan), EducationUSA Japan and the University of Washington-Seattle. She is an active member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators and serves on the leadership team of the International Enrollment Management Knowledge Community. Marigold is a proud alumnus of the College Student Services Administration Program at OSU.
Education
- Ph.D. Candidate in Education, Leadership in Intercultural and International Education, University of Minnesota
- Graduate Certificate in College and University teaching, Oregon State University
- M.S. in College Student Services Administration, Oregon State University
- B.A. in English Literature, University of Washington, Seattle
Christopher Hughbanks, Ph.D.
Instructor
Dr. Christopher Hughbanks is the Assistant Director for Leadership and Community Development. In this role, he oversees student involvement, programming and social engagement in our residential facilities. This includes serving as the primary advisor for our area councils, NRHH and RHA, along with the implementation and assessment of our residential curricular initiatives. He is from the great state of Michigan and loves a great book, great movie, great tv show, and great lake!
Education
- Ph.D. in Language Equity & Educational Policy, Oregon State University
- M.Ed. in Social Justice Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- B.A. in Psychology, University of Michigan
Raina Martinez
Instructor
Raina Martinez is the Assistant Director for Admissions and Scholarship in the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) at Oregon State University. Raina was a first-generation college student. She declared and re-declared majors most terms, until a professor finally said, "you need to pick a major, it is time for you to graduate." Raina did graduate and then floundered for a few more years before landing an office staff position in the Financial Aid Office at Oregon State. After two years, she moved to Services for Students with Disabilities, now DAS. It was then that she heard about the College Student Services Administration program. She was accepted to the program and found an Assistantship with Student Support Services (SSS)/TRIO. She loved the work and the undergrads she worked with; she was hooked. She worked in student services around the state of Oregon. She took some time off to get her son to school and started applying for jobs. Raina found one again at Oregon State, working with first-generation and low-income students. She now works in the Educational Opportunities Program, as an Academic Counselor and teaches CSSA 559 Academic Advising.
Education
- M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration, Oregon State University
- B.A. in Comparative Religious Studies, San Jose State University
Kim McAloney, Ph.D.
Ecampus coordinator and instructor
Dr. Kim McAloney serves as the College Student Services Administration (CSSA) Ecampus Coordinator and Instructor at Oregon State University. This role engages her experience as an online instructor for five years, her dissertation about virtual liberatory women of color mentorship, and her integration of technology in the face-to-face and online classrooms, along with previous student affairs work. As an educator, she uses engaged pedagogy while teaching (in person or virtually) and values innovation and creativity with and by students. Prior to her current role, she served as the assistant director of academic engagement in the Educational Opportunities Program, where she coordinated a bridge program, academic programming, staff development and served as an academic counselor. Prior to joining EOP, Dr. McAloney worked in OSU’s Office of the Dean of Student Life, where she coordinated student support for the CSSA program and served as the on-campus coordinator for the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program. Dr. McAloney has taught undergraduate and graduate students for over a decade.
She holds a Ph.D. in Language, Equity, and Educational Policy, has earned a Graduate Certificate in College and University Teaching, a master’s degree in CSSA and a bachelor’s degree in Ethnic Studies — all here at Oregon State University. Her areas of emphasis throughout her education and career include access and equity in higher education, women of color mentorship, first-generation college students, and teaching pedagogy. Dr. McAloney is currently coauthoring a book, Liberationships: Critical Mentorship in Practice.
Education
- Ph.D. in Language, Equity and Educational Policy, Oregon State University
- Graduate Certificate in College and University teaching, Oregon State University
- M.S. in College Student Services Administration, Oregon State University
- B.S. in Ethnic Studies, Oregon State University
Brian Mills, M.B.A., ED.D
Instructor
Dr. Brian Mills is the Assistant Dean for Curriculum & Assessment in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University. Dr. Mills has nearly twenty years of research, curriculum development, teaching and assessment experience. He is a regionally and nationally recognized expert in curriculum development, educational effectiveness, and assessment (both academic and non-academic units). He has extensive experience in regional and professional accreditation. Throughout his career, Dr. Mills has gone beyond his professional role to serve on institutional, regional and national committees. In particular, he has a tenure of serving on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Dr. Mills teaches for the College Student Services Administration (CSSA) program and holds faculty rank as associate professor of humanities and director of assessment at Bushnell University. He teaches research, assessment, methods, capstones, research practicum, and has experience working with various MA thesis in Philosophy degree programs (M.Phil). Dr. Mills began teaching at Oregon State University in 2008. He received his doctoral degree from OSU's Higher Education Leadership program. His research agenda relates to the CSSA program having knowledge and experience in multicultural education pedagogy, adult education, cultural competence, social justice, and organizational leadership.
Education
- ED.D. of Education, Oregon State University
- M.B.A, Bushnell University
- B.A., History, University of Oregon
Janet Nishihara, Ph.D.
Instructor
Dr. Janet Nishihara is the director of the Educational Opportunities Program at Oregon State University and has been connected with the College Student Services Administration (CSSA) program since she was a student in the program herself. Dr. Nishihara has served in various roles, including new student orientation, developmental education, and access programs for underserved student populations. She has been involved with shared governance and with Asian American/Pacific Islander students on campus, serving as a faculty advisor for several API student organizations.
Her current areas of study include identity development among students of color, first-year student success programming, the history of students of color at Oregon State and support for first-generation and low-income students.
Education
- Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, University of Oregon
- M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration, Oregon State University
- B.A. in English Education, Oregon State University
Important dates
See our academic calendar for our full quarter term schedule.
Degree quick facts
* Oregon State University is on a quarter-term system. There are four quarters each year and classes are 11 weeks long. This program's 54 or 18 quarter credits are equal to 36 or 12 semester credits.
† Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.
‡ You can complete all or nearly all requirements of this program online. View the curriculum.
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