Marymount Institute Updates
September 30, 2024
Dear Colleagues,
Last year, I created a task force to address pressing needs facing the Marymount Institute for Faith, Culture, and the Arts and its crucial role on our campus in promoting interdisciplinary scholarly and creative activity centered in the humanities. In line with the task force’s recommendations, I announced in March that the Marymount Institute would report directly to me as part of the reorganization of the Provost’s Office and Academic Affairs. This reporting line honors the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary’s crucial role in the merger of Marymount College and Loyola University and uplifts the Marymount tradition of education in the university’s infrastructure.
The task force, co-led by Lane Bove, former senior vice president for Student Affairs, and Mary Genino, R.S.H.M., LMU Trustee, delivered additional recommendations for the institute's future after its extended period of dynamic activity under Professor Theresia de Vroom’s leadership. I am now in the process of reviewing and implementing these recommendations. One of the most pressing matters at hand is appointing the next director of the Marymount Institute, who will articulate a clear vision for the future of the institute.
As such, I have engaged Jennifer Abe, professor of psychological science, to serve in a one-year interim position as director of the Marymount Institute. The institute will have three goals during this period before a new director is hired: establish the institute as an open, collaborative, and vibrant presence on campus grounded strongly in R.S.H.M. charism and identity; increase the visibility of R.S.H.M. contributions to LMU’s narrative and identity; and discern a broader vision that addresses how the R.S.H.M. legacy might best be expressed at LMU. Achieving these tasks will require time and great care, and I am deeply grateful for the insight and ongoing support of Professor Abe, the task force, and the advisory board.
The university is poised to bring the Marymount Institute into its next phase of success in supporting, honoring, and preserving the Marymount tradition of education at LMU. Furthermore, I am uplifted by the outpouring of support for the institute and especially moved by the donation from the sisters of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary to honor the 50th anniversary of the merger between Loyola University and Marymount College.
I look forward to sharing more news with you about the institute and our search for its next director in the coming months and thank Professor Abe for her leadership during this time of transition. I hope you will join me in acknowledging and celebrating the members of the task force, listed below, who have volunteered their time to serve our campus community.
Sincerely,
Tom
Thomas Poon, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
Professor of Chemistry
Marymount Institute Task Force Membership
Lane Bove, Ed.D., Task Force Co-Chair, Marymount College and LMU Alumna
Mary Genino, RSHM, Task Force Co-Chair, Trustee
Jennifer Shimako Abe, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology
Patrick Furlong, Ed.D., Director, The Pam Rector Center for Service and Action
Michael Horan, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Theological Studies, former Member of the Marymount Institute Advisory Board
Layla Karst, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Theological Studies, Chair of the Mary Milligan RSHM Lecture Series
Leon Wiebers, MFA, Professor of Costume Design, Chair of Theatre Arts, Faculty Senate President