San Pedro | California | Fall 2011 Marymount College and San Pedro Marymount College Board of Trustees
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MarymountTODAY College PALOS VERDES • SAN PEDRO | CALIFORNIA | FALL 2011 MARYMOUNT COLLEGE AND SAN PEDRO MARYMOUNT COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Burt Arnold Chair President’s Message: Alex Cappello Vice Chair An Era of Transformation Sr. Antoine-Marie Baurier, RSHM Secretary Dr. Michael S. Brophy Undoubtedly, the 2010-2011 school year was President, Marymount College a transformational one for Marymount College. Ty F. Bobit We succeeded in making a successful transition Patricia Dilligan to become a four-year college. We invested Rick Edler more than $4 million in our current facilities to enhance the learning and Richard D. Farman living environments for our students, and we added new faculty and staff to Bonifacio Garcia support the needs of our students during a period of more than 40 percent Richard M. Grotz enrollment growth. We look forward to the 2011-2012 school year as a time David A. Herbst of even greater transformation. Sr. Joan Lescinski, CSJ Brian W.G. Marcotte This year, we anticipate reaching an all-time-high enrollment; however, we William P. McGinn remain committed to maintaining small class sizes and providing the personal, Sr. Alice F. Molina, RSHM transformative experiences that remain the hallmarks of a Marymount College John Murnane education. In May, we will graduate our first bachelor’s degree candidates, Sr. Mary Leah Plante, RSHM who will be working tirelessly this year to complete their graduation require- Lia V. Reyes ments. In order to meet the needs of our upper-division students as well as our Thomas S. Ricci growing student body, Marymount College has developed a multifaceted plan Caroline A. Sayers that includes upgrading existing facilities and services at the Main Campus Dr. Sue Soldoff and the Palos Verdes Drive North residential community in San Pedro, as well Sr. Gregory Naddy, RSHM as expanding facilities to include more administrative, classroom and exhibi- Trustee Emerita tion space in the downtown San Pedro Waterfront District. When students returned in August, they found increased faculty and staffing in many essential areas, faster Internet connectivity, expanded food services offerings and upgraded residential facilities at Palos Verdes Drive North, Dr. Michael S. Brophy President increased shuttle service, and new classrooms located at 222 West Sixth Street Kelly Curtis in San Pedro – our Waterfront Campus. We also have made arrangements with Director, Communications the Arcade Building to showcase student artwork. In addition, prospective Megan McCormick students who would like to “finish what they started” and complete their Alumni Relations/ Communications Coordinator bachelor’s degrees at Marymount College will find weekend, evening and Karen Holden, Holly Mavar accelerated online courses to meet their needs. Writers We are excited about the future of Marymount College, both in Rancho Palos Ann Lee, S’Pacific Image Designer Verdes and in the vibrant and culturally rich community of San Pedro. We look Ogden Photography forward to a year of continued transformation that will enrich the lives of our Photos students, faculty and staff, as well as the communities in which we live and learn. TODAY is published by Marymount College Sincerely, 30800 Palos Verdes Drive East Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 310-377-5501 www.marymountpv.edu Michael S. Brophy, Ph.D., M.F.A. President, Marymount College MarymountTODAY College Fall 2011 Table of Contents President’s Message 2 Four Decades of Alliance 4 Student Life 6 Transfer Student Program 8 Advancement 10 Campus News 12 Alumni Notes 14 Cultural Arts Calendar MISSION Marymount College is a Catholic institution that welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds into a quality, values-based education. We foster a student-centered approach to learning that promotes the development of the whole person. In the spirit of our founders, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, we challenge our students to pursue lives of leadership and service. FOUR DECADES A Good Start for Marymount College OF ALLIANCE and San Pedro For nearly 40 years, Marymount “It is a natural fit for Marymount College to expand into the San Pedro community,” said Marymount College President Michael S. Brophy. “San Pedro offers our students an im- College has maintained a mutually portant ‘extended classroom,’ in which students are transformed through a combination of beneficial relationship with the traditional academic learning and real-world experience. Working, volunteering and taking part in local activities helps students understand the world outside the classroom and cre- San Pedro community. This year ate lives of leadership and service.” the College plans to invest quite Participation in San Pedro’s community and cultural events has created a buzz among stu- a bit more in this vibrant Los dents and members of the downtown community. From mentoring students at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Los Angeles Harbor to donating blood at Providence Little Company Angeles neighborhood. While of Mary Hospital’s blood drives, and from preserving the native habitat at White Point to the College’s main campus is in performing jazz at the Grand Annex, students and residents alike are realizing the benefits of this relationship. Rancho Palos Verdes, both student “Marymount’s presence means so much for downtown San Pedro,” said Liz Schindler residential sites are located in San Johnson, president and executive director of the Grand Vision Foundation. “Downtown Pedro. In addition, many faculty San Pedro has many of the elements of a college town. Students are just what our local business community needs to energize our quaint and historic town.” and staff members of the College “My students are so revved up about participating in downtown San Pedro’s First Thurs- make their homes there. days,” said Marymount Fine Arts professor Paul Eastup. “They look forward to it every month.” First Thursday is a unique event, with free music, dancing, and performances on the street while many businesses, restaurants, and art galleries and studios stay open late. 2 | Marymount College TODAY | Fall 2011 COLLEGE RECEIVES DONATION FOR DOWNTOWN SAN PEDRO FACILITY This school year, Marymount College will again increase its On July 11, 2011, Marymount College President Michael S. Brophy presence in the downtown area to accommodate growth; serve announced a significant financial contribution from local donors, upper-division undergraduates and develop graduate programs; who directed their donation toward a new college facility located and connect to local business, municipal, arts and not-for-profit at 430 West Sixth Street in San Pedro. groups. The Marymount College Waterfront Campus is a new administrative and academic center located at 222 West Sixth The donors, Marylyn and Chuck Klaus, provided a gift for a Street, and students will have the opportunity to exhibit their building that will offer space for “the arts,” including student in- visual and multimedia art in rotating exhibitions at the Arcade Building. In addition, classes and performances will be offered at struction, exhibition space, faculty offices and research. Curricu- the Grand Annex and the Warner Grand Theatre this fall. lum from the Media Studies bachelor’s degree program will be “Looking into our next academic year, we plan to hold more taught in this location. The site will be named the Marylyn and classes on Sixth Street, as well as offer film series, theatrical pro- Chuck Klaus Center for the Arts, in honor of the donors. ductions, guest lectures and gallery exhibitions,” said Dr. Brophy. “We will increase our participation in the First Thursday Art Walk “This significant gift from the Klauses furthers the College’s de- and become more deeply involved in service and philanthropic sire to expand our arts programming in downtown San Pedro,” projects in San Pedro.” said Dr. Brophy. In speaking about her motivation to donate In a more long-term strategy announced in June, Marymount to the College, Marylyn Klaus said, “I have been a longtime College proposed a 20-year master plan for one of its San Pedro champion of Marymount College and its involvement in San residential sites, located at 1600 Palos Verdes Drive North, which Pedro. My husband, Chuck, and I are delighted by Marymount’s includes the construction of residential and academic facilities. expanded presence in the San Pedro community. Putting Mary- The College is in the early stages of the mandatory Los Angeles mount College and San Pedro together is a win-win situation.” County Conditional Use Permit process and does not anticipate CUP approval before December 2012. This location is one of several San Pedro sites where Marymount “The Palos Verdes Drive North San Pedro master plan centers College will be offering instructional and performance capabili- on developing a small college campus where students will live, ties. Theater and music instruction and performance programs attend classes and study,” said Dr. Brophy. “Projects will be completed in steps over the duration of 20 years. First steps will and cultural arts programming for the community are based at the include the construction of an aesthetically pleasing parking lot Warner Grand Theatre and Grand Annex. Also scheduled for this to curtail street parking on Palos Verdes Drive North, as well as a fall are student art shows at the Arcade Building gallery. Addition- maintenance facility, and upgrading the existing townhomes to ally, in August, students, staff and faculty occupied an entire floor accommodate the growing need for student housing.” of the downtown San Pedro building located at 222 West Sixth Subsequent steps include the construction of an educational Street, a location formerly occupied by Northrop Grumman. building with student facilities, a dining commons and recreation- al features, and eventually new residential dorm-type units built in “Our integration into the culturally rich San Pedro community con- the iconic “California Craftsman” style. The plan also reaffirmed tinues to grow. Although we have had students living in San Pedro the College’s commitment to move forward with construction at for more than 37 years, we now have opportunities to learn more the College’s main campus in Rancho Palos Verdes.