Office of the Dean

Edward Abeyta, Ph.D., is Associate Dean at the University of California (UC) San Diego Division of Extended Studies, where he provides academic and administrative leadership across a broad portfolio that includes Education and Community Outreach, Pre-College, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, UCTV, and UC San Diego’s community-facing arts and cultural programs. His work centers on expanding educational access, strengthening university–community partnerships, and advancing innovative models of lifelong and life-wide learning.

Abeyta’s scholarship and professional practice explore the intersection of continuing education, workforce development, and social mobility. He is the author of "Reinventing Lifelong Learning: The Coming Renaissance of Continuing Education and Community Outreach," which examines the evolving role of universities in preparing individuals and communities for a rapidly changing economic and civic landscape. His writing emphasizes the need for responsive, inclusive, and future-focused educational systems that support learners across the lifespan.

During his tenure at UC San Diego, Abeyta has been instrumental in designing and scaling programs that foster college readiness, career technical education, adult and encore learning, and high-impact community engagement. He collaborates closely with faculty, campus leadership, regional school districts, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners to advance research-informed initiatives that bridge gaps in educational opportunity and extend the university’s public mission.

Abeyta holds a Ph.D. in Education and is recognized for his commitment to evidence-based practice, institutional stewardship, and transformational leadership. His ongoing efforts strengthen UC San Diego’s role as a catalyst for educational innovation, civic engagement, and lifelong learning throughout the San Diego region and beyond.

Laura Fandino directs the public-facing science and sustainability programs for the University of California (UC) San Diego Division of Extended Studies. She is a scientist and lawyer by training, receiving a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. 

Fandino's scientific research primarily focused on the molecular ecology of bacteria associated with marine phytoplankton blooms. She has been published in the field of microbial ecology.

Morgan Appel is Assistant Dean for Teacher and Community Education (TCE) at University of California (UC) San Diego Division of Extended Studies, overseeing a diverse array of globally based programming for PK-post retirement, including opportunities for students, practitioners, administrators, parents, and community stakeholders in English and Spanish. He previously served as Director of Education Programs at UC Irvine’s Division of Continuing Education (DCE) following a research appointment at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine.

With expertise in binational education transformation and policy, Appel has worked with a number of school districts, universities, and research institutes in the United States and Latin America to explore the impacts of change agentry across segments of education. Professional specialties include gifted and talented education; the neuroscience of teaching and learning; arts integration; expanded learning; parent and caregiver education; and organizational behavior in educational institutions. Beyond his current administrative appointment, Appel teaches a variety of courses at both UC San Diego and UC Irvine and is the host of Creative Conversations on the Education Channel at UCTV.

He serves on the boards of Reality Changers, Discovery STEAM Charter School (Chula Vista), as well as on the CEO Advisory Committee for Promises2Kids. In 2023, Appel was appointed as a volunteer lead educator for California by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Organization.

Josh Shapiro is responsible for using data and research to improve the performance and opportunities of the University of California (UC) San Diego Division of Extended Studies. He assists with setting the division's future strategy by identifying and leading innovation and development initiatives. 

Through his leadership with the division's Center for Research and Evaluation and Institutional Research, Shapiro leverages his academic interests in the workforce, economic development and jobs of the future to ensure alignment between courses, skills, and industry needs. Additionally, he has conducted a number of community-based research projects building indicators and dashboards to measure collective impact as well as working with non-profits throughout San Diego County to demonstrate social change. 

Shapiro is deeply embedded in the Educational Technology community and continues to identify and deploy novel initiatives, including micro-credentials and stackable credentials, virtual reality classrooms and new delivery platforms to improve learning outcomes. Through his development role, he was instrumental in creating the first Income Share Agreement between UC San Diego Extended Studies and a Workforce Investment Board. He has been awarded $3.5M in grants and philanthropy for this initiative and gained local and national media attention for delivering an innovative program to serve underrepresented and unemployed individuals. 

Shapiro has taught Research Methodology classes for UC San Diego and is trained in both Qualitative and Quantitative methodologies, with a specialization in labor market data. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from UC San Diego and a B.A. in Social Thought and Analysis from Washington University in St. Louis.

Gurpreet Dhiman is the Assistant Dean of Finance & Administration for the University of California (UC) San Diego Division of Extended Studies. In his role, he provides leadership and oversight for a comprehensive administrative portfolio that includes finance, human resources, facilities, information technology, real estate, operations, and instructor services. Working in close partnership with campus and divisional leadership, Dhiman supports the division’s mission of expanding access to lifelong learning, professional education, and innovative academic programming.

Dhiman is responsible for advancing sound financial planning, effective resource stewardship, and compliant administrative practices that enable the Division to operate efficiently while remaining responsive to the evolving needs of learners, instructors, and industry partners. His work emphasizes alignment with UC policies and regulatory requirements, continuous process improvement, and the development of sustainable systems that support program growth and instructional excellence.

With a collaborative and service-oriented leadership approach, Dhiman works across functional areas to strengthen organizational effectiveness, enhance service delivery, and ensure that operational infrastructure keeps pace with the Division’s academic and strategic priorities. Through this work, Dhiman helps create an environment in which faculty, instructors, staff, and students can thrive in support of the division’s mission of serving as a catalyst for positive change by advancing global access, equity, social and economic mobility through educational enrichment across the lifespan.

Dhiman currently sits on several campus-wide governance committees, is a LEAD graduate through the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, serves as treasurer of the U Holding Company for UC San Diego Park & Market, and is an active member of the advisory council to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration for Academic Affairs. Dhiman holds an MBA from Western Governor’s University and a B.A. in Business Economics from UC Irvine.