ACE
Mission
The Academic Community of Excellence (ACE) program develops undergraduate scholars for admission into graduate and professional programs. ACE emphasizes academic distinction, undergraduate research, and involvement in other scholarly and leadership activities. ACE is one of several strategic initiatives that exists within the Office of the Vice President for Intercultural Affairs.
Benefits and Services
- Students who are admitted to the ACE program may receive the following benefits and services:
- Residence in the ACE living learning community (sophomore year only)
- Enrollment in two academic courses entitled, Strategies for Graduate and Professional School Admission I and II.
- Graduate and professional school advising
- Access to financial awards to undertake a faculty supervised research project
- Transportation to a graduate recruitment fair attended by over 100 recruiters
- Sponsorship to attend and present at academic conferences
- Attendance at LMU’s Mane Course alumni dinner
- Access to books that address the graduate and professional school application process
- Service and social activities
Eligibility
Applicants should possess a record of academic excellence and leadership, and a commitment to service and social justice. At a minimum, applicants must:
- Possess a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or greater
- Be a rising sophomore at the time of his/her application
- Plan to pursue a graduate or professional degree
- Agree to comply with the ACE Membership Agreement
- Be in good academic standing with the University
ACE strategies for graduate and professional school admission I and II course topics and events
Fall 2010
- Exploring Graduate and Professional School
- Developing an Undergraduate Trajectory for Graduate Admission
- Competing for National and International Scholarships
- The Benefits of Undergraduate Research
- Obtaining Quality Recommendation Letters
- Developing a Résumé and Curriculum Vitae
- ACE Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Mane Course Alumni Dinner
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Spring 2011
- Undergraduate and Graduate Study Abroad
- Introduction to the Graduate Entrance Exams
- Developing a Personal Essay and Purpose Statement
- Paying for Graduate and Professional School
- ACE Scholars Recognition Banquet
- Preparing for Graduate and Professional Interviews
- Mane Course Alumni Dinner
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*Southern California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education
*Students may attend another graduate or professional school forum or information session in lieu of the Southern California Forum.
For further information
For more information contact:
Loyola Marymount University
Academic Community of Excellence
1 LMU Drive, Foley Annex 120
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659
www.lmu.edu/ace
310.338.5283/5348
Meet the Staff
Program Coordinator, Derenda King, Ed.D
Dr. Derenda King, formally Intercultural Affairs Associate in the Office of the Vice President for Intercultural Affairs, has been promoted to Director of Academic Enrichment Programs. In her new role, Dr. King will continue to assist the Vice President with planning and implementing intercultural affairs initiatives.
She will also provide leadership for the Academic Community of Excellence (ACE). ACE prepares undergraduate scholars for admission to graduate and professional programs. Her leadership for the ACE program includes designing and implementing the curriculum, teaching two courses on graduate school preparation, implementing effective recruitment strategies to identify and admit scholars, providing advice on academic and graduate school plans, and serving as the Coordinator for the ACE Living Learning Community, which is designed to strengthen the academic and co-curricular experience of sophomores in the Program.
Additionally, Dr. King will provide leadership for the LMU Transfer Student Scorecard Project, an imitative funded by the Teagle Foundation, and other academic programs. The Transfer Student Scorecard Project, in collaboration with the LMU’s Office of Student Engagement, Retention and Transition and the University of Southern California’s (USC) Center for Urban Education (CUE), focuses on increasing equitable outcomes for historically underrepresented transfer students from public community colleges.
Resident Director, Jeneane King
Jeneane King is excited to rejoin the Jesuit community and begin her first year as a member of the LMU family. Originally from Chicago, Jeneane attended Loyola University-Chicago for both her B.A. in International Studies (minors: Peace Studies and Religion, Culture & Society –RCS) and her M.Ed. in Community Counseling. During her undergraduate experience at LUC, Jeneane discovered her passion for Student Affairs while serving as a Hall Counsel President and as a RA. While obtaining her M.Ed, Jeneane served as a Graduate Hall Director for the Department of Residence Life at LUC and interned in Child and Family Therapy at the Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4). Jeneane also spent a summer working as a Dean of Residential Life for The Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth (CTY) program. Before moving to California in the summer of 2009, Jeneane worked as a full-time Resident Director for three years at The University of Illinois at Chicago. Jeneane’s passions include: the anti-stigmatization of mental health, professional football (Go Bears!), and her puggle, Leilani, who resides back in the Midwest.
Resident Advisor, Monique Mansour
Monique Mansour is originally from south Orange County, California and is entering her fourth year at Loyola Marymount University. She is a screenwriting and sociology double major and is returning as a Resident Advisor for a second year! Monique is involved in a variety of activities on campus, from being Executive Editor of Content for Passion Magazine, LMU's student-run social justice magazine, to conducting research with Dr. Rachel Washburn in the Department of Sociology, as well as helping host LMU's open house activities. In the future, Monique hopes to write, direct, and produce for children's entertainment programs, but first hopes to study abroad and attend law school. Monique loves LMU and can't wait to meet all her ACE residents! GO LIONS!