Loyola Marymount University School of Education’s capital campaign has raised $20.4 million to enhance its impact in the real world of schools, to work to close the achievement gap and to improve educational opportunity and equity for all students.
“This is a tremendous achievement for the School of Education and a strong statement from our benefactors and partners that they believe in the impact of our work,” said Shane P. Martin, dean and professor of the School of Education. “The many generous gifts have given the SOE the opportunity to continually challenge the unacceptable status quo and prepare the next generation of leaders for our schools, districts and communities. Our truly transformational work will continue stronger than ever with this support.”
During the campaign, SOE raised funds to support student scholarships, attract new faculty, grow research opportunities and foster innovative and entrepreneurial programs and partnerships. The School of Education attributes their success in reaching this historic milestone to the generosity of its alumni and friends through their contributions to the SOE Annual Fund and the inspiring philanthropy of individual major gift benefactors and partner foundations and corporations.
As an indicator of the school’s success, SOE is again among the top ranked schools in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 edition of Best Graduate Schools of Education, climbing an unparalleled 48 positions in two years. This rise can be greatly attributed to the quality of its faculty, as well as the SOE’s doctoral program in educational leadership, which was established in 2004.
SOE added 12 new tenure-line faculty positions during the campaign, including two highly distinguished professors – internationally recognized scholar Antonia Darder and Martha McCarthy, an expert in educational law and policy. Darder holds the Leavey Presidential Chair in Ethics and Moral Leadership, an endowed chair, and McCarthy is the President’s Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership.
Three centers were established during the campaign: the Center for Catholic Education, Center for Equity for English Learners and Center for Math and Science Teaching. The SOE grew partnerships at the local and state level, notably the expansion of the LMU Family of Schools collaborative and the partnership with Teach For America. LMU/Teach For America added the San Francisco Bay Area to its existing program in Los Angeles, making the School of Education TFA’s exclusive partner in California.
Reflecting on the future of the SOE, Martin said, “Change remains urgently needed in our schools, and our values do not allow us to wait for someone else to instigate it. Through our people, partnerships and programs, the School of Education will continue to lead the way toward the educational opportunities our children deserve.”
The SOE’s campaign launched in late 2005 with a target of $10 million as a part of the university-wide capital campaign, “Right Place. Right Time. The Campaign for LMU.” In 2009 the SOE goal was raised to $20 million and the campaign was extended through the LMU centennial, which concluded in May 2012. The university’s campaign raised more than $411 million.
