The Center for Catholic Education consists of staff and faculty that are dedicated to Catholic education and embrace Jesuit values and traditions.
Lauren Casella, Ed.D.
Lauren Casella, Ed.D., serves LMU as the interim executive director of the Center for Catholic Education and director of the Catholic School Leadership Academy. She is an assistant clinical professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Administration.
Her teaching and research activities focus on Catholic leadership formation, mission and Catholic identity, school culture, Catholic school governance, and board formation. Dr. Casella teaches research methods and doctoral writing seminars, chairs doctoral research exploring themes of belonging and social justice leadership, and leads improvement science projects focused on academic excellence.
In addition, Dr. Casella serves on the Board of Directors for the National Catholic Educational Association and was appointed to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' Catholic Education Council by Archbishop Gómez.
Dr. Casella earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern California and a master of science degree in leadership and supervision from Loyola University Chicago. She holds a General Administrative Credential and a Teaching License in the state of Illinois.
Christopher Aquino, Ed.D. ’23
Director of Catholic Teaching Programs
Sister Mary Angela Shaughnessy, SCN, J.D., Ph.D.
Senior Distinguished Fellow
Rachelle Henry-Hendricks
Senior Administrative Coordinator