Dr. Leena Furtado is a professor of Curriculum and Instruction Program in the College of Education and has served at CSUDH for 19 years. Apart from effective teaching, quality research, and service she has been active in coordinating the MA: Curriculum and Instruction Program and the MA: Science Emphasis Program Option in the Graduate Education Department.  Dr. Furtado attests her active scholarship, implementation of research-oriented teaching and instructional pedagogies, curriculum design, analysis, teacher leadership, and the periodic program assessments in COE instrumental to have her embark upon a much greater commitment towards the academic excellence of CSUDH students.

Dr. Furtado is the director, principal investigator, and author of the Department of Education PPOHA (Promoting Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans) grants. The PPOHA grants awarded to CSUDH are namely, the Graduate Writing Institute for Excellence (GWIE-2014-2019); and Promoting Excellence in GraduateEducation (PEGS-2010-2015). Collectively, the $6million grant supports the hiring of staff, graduate writing consultants, faculty fellows, disseminate travel scholarships, and research assistantships. The grant supports all students and faculty in the 24 Masters and professional and certification degrees with enriched academic and professional writing, critical thinking, and comprehension skills development. Advanced students receive thesis and research writing support with several students undertaking the role of a research assistant on a faculty supported research. RAs receive the unique opportunity to engage in collaborative research, co-publish, and present at state and national conferences. Additionally, Dr. Furtado collaborates and extends campus-wide support to entities such as the Career Center, Educational Opportunity Program, Toro Learning Center, McNair Scholars Program, and Minority Biomedical Research Support-Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (MBRS-Rise). Most importantly, the PPOHA grants have supported the establishment of the Graduate Writing Center in the library, a highly utilized and sustained academic support system akin to most research universities.