Maureen Kindel Ed.D., a public affairs professional and founding co-chair of LMU School of Education’s Board of Visitors, was named the school’s 2022 Educator of the Year. She will be celebrated for the honor at a virtual gathering on Saturday, April 30.
SOE’s Educator of the Year Award has been awarded annually since 1996. “Throughout her career, Kindel has made substantial, transformative contributions to the field of education overall, and to LMU SOE via her 15 years of service to the Board of Visitors, our chief external advisory and stakeholder community,” says SOE Dean Michelle D. Young. “Her commitment to enriching the lives of all learners is unparalleled, and we’re proud to bestow this honor upon her as she steps away from her leadership role with us.”
Kindel began her career with Tom Bradley, the only Black mayor and longest-serving mayor in Los Angeles. Bradley named her Commissioner and President of the Los Angeles City Board of Public Works, the first woman in the history of the city to preside over this $5 billion agency, which had over 6,000 employees providing essential daily city services. In this role, she set the tone for the involvement of minority and women-owned businesses in public contracting.
Kindel is a founder of Kindel Gagan, a public affairs consulting firm comprised of principals with long and distinguished careers in the field of advocacy and public affairs. She is thoroughly familiar with the organizational and regulatory process of governments and institutions throughout the Los Angeles region, including Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, school districts, regional authorities, universities, business and civic organizations, and community interests.
In mid-career, Kindel served two terms on the Board of Regents at Loyola Marymount University, which spurred her interest in lifelong learning. Subsequently, Dr. Kindel pursued her interest and enrolled in the School of Education, where she obtained a Master’s and then Doctorate in Education for Social Justice. She embraced public education as a professional and personal passion. Kindel has been an advisor to Los Angeles Unified School District’s Superintendents and school board members, and has served as Chair of the L.A. Chamber Education Committee and the Los Angeles Business Council Education Committee. Her dissertation, “The 1992 California Charter School Law: Its History & Unintended Consequences,” provided the impetus for innovative approaches in the education system of California. With these tools and resources, Dr. Kindel has helped design, organize, and lead three major education summits in Los Angeles, integrating participation by business and civic leaders, educators, and public officials in examining both the current status and the acute needs of the public education system.
Democracy and social justice are the other great passions in her life. Her association with Nelson Mandela in the early days of his freedom placed Dr. Kindel as an informal advisor to Madiba Mandela in regard to equity in government contracting and civil society, which was an extension of her work in Los Angeles with Mayor Bradley. This experience in South Africa brought her to become involved in international democracy building. Her seventeen-year association as a board member of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) provided her the path to being a participant in election assistance, rights for women and people with disabilities, and transparency in the election process.
She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and is Secretary of the 1984 Olympic Foundation, the repository of the 1984 Olympic proceeds, whose mission is sports and youth.
In the words of LMU Chancellor Michael Engh, “Kindel applies her talents, insights, contacts, and people skills—all for the public good, and in this case, in the world of education. She speaks up, addresses people with power and influence, and advocates for the improvement of the civic community. She does so with determination and generosity.”
Kindel will offer brief remarks focused on the topic of excellence and equity in education during the April 30 awards ceremony.
