Board of Visitors

The purpose of SOE’s Board of Visitors (BOV) is to support the Dean in advancing the school’s vision by building a more robust culture of philanthropy in support of SOE’s programs, scholarships, and faculty support and research; building strategic partnerships; and strengthening programs that prepare teachers, educational leaders, and mental health professionals.

The BOV serves as LMU School of Education’s most fervent ambassadors and provides thought partnership, expertise, and strategic guidance to advance SOE’s mission, elevate its impact, and support its ongoing commitment to excellence.

Dean’s Leadership Council

Loyola Marymount University Spirit Mark

Marlene Canter

Director, Joseph Drown Foundation

Marlene Canter’s LinkedIn

Tony L. Digiovanni ’71

Board Chair, Claremont Lincoln University

Tony Digiovanni’s LinkedIn

Deborah Duncan LMU SOE Board of Visitors Portrait

Debra Duncan, M.B.A. ’86

Education Advocate

Debra Duncan’s LinkedIn

man wearing a white shirt and a tie

Dan Estes ’09, M.A. ’14

Senior Director of Programs and Operations, Specialty Family Foundation

Dan Estes’ LinkedIn

Matt Hill School of Education Board of Visitors Portrait

Matt Hill, Ed.D. ’18

Chief Executive Officer, Waterford.org

Matt Hill's LinkedIn

Mary Odell LMU SOE Board of Visitors Portrait

Mary Odell

Board Chair, Riordan Foundation

Catherine Sanders LMU SOE Board of Visitors Portrait

Catherine Sanders

Senior Program Officer, Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation

Catherine Sanders’ LinkedIn

Jane Wakahiu Portrait in White Nun Habit and cream blazer

Sr. Jane Wakahiu, LSOSF, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President of Program Operations and Head of Catholic Sisters Initiative, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Jane Wakahiu’s LinkedIn

Innovation and Leadership Council

Adriana Abich Portrait Dark Haired Woman in white posing outside

Adriana Abich

Chief Executive Officer, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy

Adriana Abich's LinkedIn

Veronica Alvarez Dark Haired woman in black posing outside

Veronica Alvarez, Ed.D. ’18

Executive Director, Create CA

Veronica Alvarez' LinkedIn

Woman with dark hair and grey blazer posing outside

Christina Arellano, M.A. ’17, Ed.D. ’21

President, Pax Christi Academies

Christina Arellano's LinkedIn

Woman with brown hair in teal blazer posing

Karisa Avalos ’04, M.A. ’07

Board Co-Chair, SOE Alumni Association

Karisa Avalos' LinkedIn

Tommy Chang portrait of a dark haired man in black suit

Tommy Chang, Ed.D. ’13

Chief Executive Officer, New Teacher Center

Tommy Chang's LinkedIn

Woman in Blue and Black posing in front of white background

Cristina de Jesus, Ed.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Green Dot Public Schools

Cristina de Jesus' LinkedIn

Shawna Draxton LMU SOE Board of Visitors

Shawna Draxton, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Westside Innovative School House (WISH) Charter

Shawna Draxton's LinkedIn

Paul Escala portrait dark haired man in black suit in front of a blue background

Paul Escala

Senior Director and Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Paul Escala's LinkedIn

Karla Estrada Portrait woman with dark hair in white blazer posing in front of a white background

Karla Estrada, Ed.D. ’13

Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, LAUSD

Karla Estrada's LinkedIn

Loyola Marymount University Spirit Mark

Carrie Fuller, Ph.D.

Managing Director of School Networks, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Carrie Fuller's LinkedIn

Andrew Furedi portrait man in front of orange brick wall

Andrew Furedi, Ed.D. ’09

President and Chief Executive Officer, Para Los Niños

Andrew Furedi's LinkedIn

Korey Hlaudy Portrait, man with silver hair in maroon sweater, in front of a grey background

Korey Hlaudy, M.A. ’14, Ed.D. ’22

Board Co-Chair, SOE Alumni Association

Korey Hlaudy's LinkedIn

Lara Mayra portrait dark haired woman in grey blazer posing outside

Mayra Lara, Ed.D. ’18

Director of the Greater Los Angeles Region, EdTrust West

Mayra Lara's LinkedIn

Laura Robinson Mcgowan Portrait woman with curly hair in white fuzzy sweater

Laura J. McGowan-Robinson, Ed.D. ’16

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Diversity in Leadership Institute

Laura McGowan-Robinson's LinkedIn

Veronica Melvin LMU SOE Board of Visitors Portrait

Veronica Melvin

President and Chief Executive Officer, LA Promise Fund

Veronica Melvin's LinkedIn

Nick Melvoin Portrait, man in blue suit in front of a brown background

Nick Melvoin, M.A. ’10

Board Member, Los Angeles Unified School Board

Nick Melvoin's Bio

Mary Grace ONeill Portrait woman with brown shoulder length hair in red

Mary O’Neill Grace, Ph.D.

Educational Leadership Consultant

Mary O’Neill Grace's LinkedIn

Ana Ponce LMU SOE Board of Visitors Portrait

Ana Ponce, Ed.D. ’13

Executive Director, Great Public Schools Now

Ana Ponce's LinkedIn

Sofia Roditti portrait dark haired woman in white and blue in front of blue background

Sofia Roditti, Ed.D.

Chief Executive Officer, Equitas Academy Charter Schools

Sofia Roditti's LinkedIn

Blake Silvers Portrait, Man in blue suit in front of a grey background

Blake Silvers ’00, M.A. ’05

Superintendent, Wiseburn Unified School District

Blake Silvers' LinkedIn

Man in white shirt and yellow tie posing in front of a tree trunk

Erin Studer

Executive Director of Charter School Programs, CHIME Institute

Erin Studer's LinkedIn

Manwith dark hair, dressed in black suit standing in front of a sandstone building

Robert Tagorda

Chief Academic Officer, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Robert Tagorda's LinkedIn

Matt Wunder Man in glasses wearing pattern shirt standing outside

Matthew Wunder, M.A. ’91

Chief Executive Officer and Superintendent, Da Vinci Schools

Matthew Wunder's LinkedIn

Casey Yeazel LMU SOE Board of Visitors Portrait

Casey Yeazel, M.A. ’03

President, St. Bernard College Preparatory

Casey Yeazel's LinkedIn