Staff

CE⁴R Director: Dr. Magaly Lavadenz

Magaly Lavadenz is Professor and Director of Bilingual/Bicultural Education at Loyola Marymount University. She served as Associate Director of the Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from 2002-2005. She is a founding member and President of the California Association for Bilingual Teacher Educators, Past President of the California Association for Bilingual Education, served as Elementary Chair of the California Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, and serves on several other professional boards. She is also the Director of LMU’s new Center on Equity and Excellence in English Learner Education and Research.

She joined the faculty of LMU in 1993. Previously, she worked in the Teacher Professional Development program at WestEd. Born in Cuba, she is a former bilingual classroom teacher and ESL Teacher Specialist at the K-12 levels. She has conducted professional development in Guatemala, Mexico, China, England, Spain, Egypt, and Guam. Her research interests include recruitment and retention of Latino and bilingual teachers, the experiences of the Central American immigrant community, public policy affecting language use and education for Latinos, and metacognitive processing in biliteracy. This research has been published in several books and journals.

Magaly completed her B.S. in Elementary Education from Oakland University in Michigan, an M.A. in Educational Psychology and Counseling from California State University, Northridge and a Ph.D. in Education, specializing in Language, Literacy and Learning from the University of Southern California.

CE⁴R Associate Director: Dr. Elvira G. Armas

Elvira G. Armas joined the staff at LMU in 2006 and is assigned on a halftime basis as the Associate Director of the Center for Equity and Excellence in English Learner Education and Research (CE⁴R). Her work at the Center includes creating a structure for the successful launching of the Center’s activities, assisting in the research design and evaluation of the PROMISE Initiative, promoting and publicizing the work of the Center, and assisting in the development and implementation of the Leadership for Biliteracy Certificate courses. Concurrently, Elvira is working with the Los Angeles County of Education (LACOE), Multilingual Academic Support Unit as an English Learner Specialist.

In her career as an educator, Elvira has served as a bilingual teacher, ELD/Bilingual program coordinator, staff developer and curriculum materials developer. In addition, she has taught reading, writing and second language learning methods as well as language foundation courses for schools of education at the university level.

Elvira earned her Ed.D. from USC in the area of Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Language, Literacy, and Learning. She also received her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at USC and holds a Bilingual Teaching Credential and an Administrative Services Certificate.

Dean of the School of Education: Dr. Shane Martin

Shane P. Martin, an educational anthropologist by training and an expert in the areas of intercultural education, cultural diversity, and Catholic schools, is the dean of the Loyola Marymount University School of Education.

Beyond LMU's walls, Martin is visible in the education community as a board member of Green Dot Public Schools, Teach for America, Los Angeles, and California Charter Schools Association. Professional activities include serving as president of the Association of Jesuits Colleges and Universities in Education Council.

Martin earned his Ph.D. in International and Intercultural Education at the University of Southern California, a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Theology degree at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, with a specialization in Hispanic Ministry. An LMU alumnus, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History.

Martin's published books are: Equity, Advocacy and Diversity: New Directions for Catholic Schools (NCEA, 2004), with E.F. Litton, and Cultural Diversity in Catholic Schools: Challenges and Opportunities for Catholic Educators (NCEA, 1996).