Marymount California University Names Executive Director for Waterfront Campus

Marymount California University (MCU) President Michael Brophy announced the appointment of Thomas Mead as the executive director of the University’s Waterfront Campus located in San Pedro’s historic district. Mead will assume the leadership position July 1 and is responsible for campus operations on W. Sixth St. and at the John M. and Muriel Olguin Campus of San Pedro High School.

“Tom Mead brings to MCU a breadth of experience in higher education” said Dr. Brophy.

“It is my goal to continue Marymount’s mission of developing the whole person and encouraging our students to pursue lives of leadership and service, which in turn will improve the lives of the people in our community,” said Mead.

Prior to joining MCU, Mead was employed by the University of Phoenix as director of student services and operations. He has an MBA and masters of Adult Education and Training from University of Phoenix. He and his family reside in San Pedro.

About Marymount California University

With campuses along the picturesque coastline of Rancho Palos Verdes, in the vibrant community of San Pedro, and serving the lakeside communities of Lake County, California, Marymount California University challenges its students to pursue lives of leadership and service. In the spirit of its founding order, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, the University strives to graduate students who embody the virtues of integrity, respect for human dignity and commitment to justice. Marymount offers M.S. degrees in Community Psychology and in Leadership and Community Development and B.A. Degrees in Business, Liberal Arts, Media Studies and Psychology. Pending WASC approval the university plans to begin offering a Master’s in Business Administration in the fall 2014.

Marymount California University Names Director of High School Site Program

Marymount California University announced the appointment of Lynn Busia, EdD, as its director of the High School Site Program. Dr. Busia will lead the new program, which launches this fall, between the University and the 10 high schools of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District and Newport Mesa Unified School District, as well as San Pedro High School and Mary Star of the Sea High School.

The High School Site Program gives students the ability to earn a total of 60 units of college-level credit while attending classes at their local high school site. Classes will be offered after school, during the summer, and online and will run concurrently with selected advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses. Many of these courses are preapproved for transfer into California State Universities and University of California schools as well as private colleges and universities, which means that students graduating high school with credits from these courses will be preparing to enter colleges and universities with an advanced class standing.

Dr. Busia was most recently employed as administrator of pupil services with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. Since 2007 she has taught as an adjunct faculty member at the Institute of School Leadership and Administration at Loyola Marymount University. Dr. Busia received her doctorate in organizational change and leadership from Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology.

About Marymount California University

With campuses along the picturesque coastline of Rancho Palos Verdes, in the vibrant community of San Pedro, and serving the lakeside communities of Lake County, California, Marymount California University challenges its students to pursue lives of leadership and service. In the spirit of its founding order, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, the University strives to graduate students who embody the virtues of integrity, respect for human dignity and commitment to justice. Marymount offers M.S. degrees in Community Psychology and in Leadership and Community Development and B.A. Degrees in Business, Liberal Arts, Media Studies and Psychology. Pending WASC approval the university plans to begin offering a Master’s in Business Administration if the fall 2014.

Marymount Celebrates Commencement Ceremonies

On Saturday May 11, Marymount California University held its commencement ceremony on its Main Campus in Rancho Palos Verdes. A total of 139 students received their diplomas, including 52 students who received a bachelor's degree. This was the second year that Marymount awarded Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Business, Liberal Arts, Media Studies and Psychology. Journalist, author and radio-television personality Patt Morrison gave the commencement speech and received an honorary doctorate of humanities from the University. View graduation slideshow.

Ghana Exchange Program

The Rev. Professor Samuel K. Adjepong of Accra, Ghana, visited Marymount California University where he signed an agreement with MCU President Dr. Michael Brophy for the two campuses to offer a student and faculty exchange program. Students from Marymount’s campuses will have an opportunity to learn about such diverse topics as African Studies, Global Information Systems, Business and Psychology as well as participate in research related to land and resource management. In return, Methodist University College of Ghana students will have the opportunity to attend classes at Marymount.

Dr.  Adjepong addressed campus leaders with a lecture “Tertiary Education System in Ghana.” President Brophy visited Ghana in 2012 to learn about this rapidly growing university. Marymount first learned of the incredible work led by Dr.  Adjepong through Craig and Loren DeRoy of the Medeem Institute at Marymount. It is expected that the first MCU students to study in Ghana will be in 2013-14.

Senior Capstone Showcase Successful!

On April 24, Marymount seniors presented their capstone research projects at the Waterfront Campus to an audience of fellow students, faculty, staff and community members. The capstone project is a yearlong effort that seniors undertake to demonstrate their comprehension of a specific area of interest and to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to the real world. A wide range of topics were presented in the areas of Arts & Media, Business, Liberal Arts, and Psychology. Marymount's very first Psychology capstone was presented on the topic of "Parental Incarceration: The Effects On Children's Academic and Problem Solving Abilities". Other featured capstones included "Autism: Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Treatment Methods Today", "Anorexia: A Cross-cultural Perspective", "Gay Marriage: A Civil Rights Issue", and "MCU Bio-Diesel Program Analysis".

view slideshow

Great News for Marymount!

Last week WASC approved MCU's first graduate programs! M.S. programs in Community Psychology and Leadership and Community Development begin in August as we make the transition to University status.

Special thanks to Provost Schauer and the faculty and staff who developed this application. Once again, WASC gave MCU high marks for the thought and planning that was devoted to this endeavor.

It is hard to believe that just four years ago Marymount hadn’t yet submitted the application for four-year status. This recent development is yet one more tribute to everyone who has helped Marymount develop a winning story with great momentum.

Festival of One Acts & Short Plays

The Voice Newsletter

This newsletter was produced through a combined effort  AM 311 Digital Advertising Design, Professor Michael Powe and AM 112 Introduction to Journalism, Professor Mary Ann Maskery.

"Rock The Boat" Film Screening

Site Pacific Arts & Media Student Exhibition Reception

Featuring works by Fine Arts, Media Studies, Music, and Theater

Exhibition Dates: April 15th - April 25th 12pm-2pm 

Building 544 S. Pacific San Pedro, CA  90731 (corner of Pacific Ave and 6th street)

Sustainability Week

1st Annual Green Prix of Long Beach 
April 20th, 11 AM – 8 PM
7th & Pacific in Long Beach

Farm to Table Dinner, Green Film Screenings, Local Retail Vendors, Children’s Workshops, Food Trucks, Live Music & an Art Show. Should be educational and fun!

California Native Plant Society
CA Native Plant Week, April 14-21

Event and resources available through the local South Coast chapter (see flyer attached).
A great organization to support, especially considering our commitment on campus to native landscaping.

WASC ARC 2013

Marymount's Provost Ariane Schauer is attending the 2013 Western Association of Schools and Colleges annual Academic Resource Conference in San Diego beginning April 10. This conference will focus the ways academic leaders can adapt current practices and use innovations most effectively right now, in preparation for higher education’s next horizon. This conference is considered the western region’s pre-eminent meeting place for vision, values, and networking as its member institutions explore innovations, share results, and plan for the future.

Language Fair

Sponsored by International Studies with the indispensible co-sponsorship of Student Life and the Peace Center.

Marymount students get a feel for Lake County

CLEARLAKE -- For Eric Benitez, who had never ventured outside of Southern California, Lake County was a breath of fresh air. "The air is definitely different," said Benitez, 19, as he stopped near a big oak tree in an otherwise open field. "It's so clean."Benitez, one of 18 Marymount California University (MCU) students who are spending their spring break in Lake County, took a look around the vast expanse of oak-studded grasslands inhabited only by wild life. "The nature - that's different, too," he said.

The MCU (formerly Marymount College) contingent began its first full day in the county at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, combining a guided tour of one portion of the park in Clearlake with a morning of picking up trash and litter, including a couple of tires and an old shopping cart buried in a creek bed.
"It's a way of giving something back," said Michaela Sears, MCU assistant director of student life and orientation.

read full article at Lake County Record-Bee

Marymount California University introduces students to community Lucerne campus!

LUCERNE, Calif. – On Tuesday evening at the Lucerne Hotel, Marymount California University hosted a dinner to update community leaders about the college’s new campus at the site and to introduce a host of visiting students.

Marymount President Dr. Michael Brophy said the evening also was an opportunity for the university to bring together its two families – the new one in Lake County and those students and staff who came from Southern California.

The students have kept busy during their spring break visit, taking part in what Brophy called an “archaeological dig” at Anderson Marsh – which college officials said actually was a trash cleanup project – and enjoying time at Blue Lakes, with plans to visit Lucerne Elementary School and a food pantry, with a hike of Mt. Konocti and a visit to the redwoods also planned. They’re staying at the Lodge at Blue Lakes due to construction still being under way at the Lucerne Hotel.  Full article at Lake County News.