Michelle D. Young Ph.D., professor and dean of LMU School of Education (SOE), has named Manny A. Aceves ’04, M.A. ’07, Ed.D. ’13, to the newly created position of Associate Dean for Preparation Partnerships and Strategic Engagement.
In this role, Aceves will nurture the SOE’s relationships with existing partners and will cultivate new and mutually beneficial partnerships that support preparation, professional development, outreach, and impact in traditional public, charter, Catholic, and independent schools, districts, and organizations. “With two advanced degrees from the SOE and a proven track record from his prior time on our staff, Dr. Aceves is poised to forge relationships that will benefit our students and partners alike,” says Young.
A former classroom teacher and school-network leader, and a founding associate board member of Teach for America Los Angeles, Aceves joins the SOE from KIPP SoCal Public Schools, a non-profit network of 20 charter public schools, where he has served as the Chief External Impact Officer since February 2018. In that role, he oversaw government relations, advocacy and community engagement, development, and marketing and communication efforts. Prior to joining KIPP SoCal, he was the Associate Dean for Strategic Partnerships and Educational Effectiveness for the SOE. He has remained connected to the school as a part-time faculty member, and as a member of its Board of Visitors.
The appointment comes at a time of tremendous shifts in PK-12 education, which has been delivered largely online during the past year due to the pandemic. As schools make plans to re-open this spring, they are grappling with how to minimize learning losses, which are especially pronounced in underserved communities. “The strengths of our partnerships are more important now than ever, as we build the capacity of current and future educational professionals to support student learning, development, and equitable outcomes,” says Young. “Working with our partners is an essential part of our vision to create a more equitable ‘new normal’ in education to ensure that no students are left behind, no matter how or where they’re being taught. Dr. Aceves’s classroom and leadership experience, and his orientation toward social justice, make him uniquely qualified to connect us with partners who share this vision.”
“I’m pleased to return to LMU, where I spent my entire academic career,” says Aceves. “The SOE has a tremendous opportunity to lead with a focus on advancing racial and social justice and also to transform educational practices in our country so that students receive an equitable education. I look forward to working with the partners who will be an integral part of that transformation.”
