On May 4, LMU School of Education‘s Dean Michelle D. Young was appointed chair of a new executive committee, the Education Deans and Directors Council, of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU). Founded in 1955, AICCU is comprised of 85 independent, nonprofit colleges and universities in California. Member institutions work together to articulate their collective principles and priorities in the higher education ecosystem of California.
Young will spearhead a nine-member group of fellow deans and directors of education programs, who together will advocate for their shared goals as private schools within the state’s large and diverse higher-ed community. “It’s an honor to serve as the first chair of this new committee,” she said. “As the past year-plus of struggling with Covid has shown us, PK-12 schools and educators serve essential functions in every community across our country. All education programs must offer candidates a research-focused and equity-driven curriculum that will prepare them to help their own future students thrive. Our new committee will be a first step toward clarifying a shared vision of how to do this, and how we can support one another’s efforts.”
Young’s term as chair will last for one year, and her membership on the committee is set to end in 2023.
