Mary K. McCullough, Ph.D., a professor of educational leadership, serves as the chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at LMU School of Education and is currently the interim chair of the Department of Specialized Programs in Professional Psychology. She has previously served as Interim Dean of the SOE from 2018 to 2021 and as Associate Dean for Faculty.
Dr. McCullough has held several other leadership positions at LMU and SOE, including Inaugural Director of the Doctoral Program, Director of the Administration Programs, and Faculty Senate President.
Her research areas include the principalship; organizational change; generations in the workplace; and culture and climate in organizations. She facilitated a combined $5,000,000 grant process for California Secondary Schools and served as chair for several secondary WSCUC accreditation site visits.
Dr. McCullough has been honored as an impactful educator, administrator, and leader throughout her career. Her recognitions include Outstanding Administrator of the Year from the Torrance Unified School District; Outstanding Alumna of the Year from Mount St. Mary’s College; Outstanding Graduate of the Year from the National Catholic Educational Association; and the Hidden Heroes Award from LMU’s CSJ Center for Reconciliation and Justice. Professor McCullough served for three years as editor of the journal Educational Leadership and Administration: Teaching and Program Development, the journal of the California Association of Professors of Educational Administration, and was the longtime editor of the Journal of Catholic Education.
She has edited two books including “The Just One Justices: The Role of Justice at the Heart of Catholic Higher Education,” and authored books and articles on K-12 and university leadership, and organizational change.
She earned her Ph.D. in Policy, Planning, and Administration at USC and had a distinguished career as a principal and assistant principal in public and Catholic schools prior to joining LMU.