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Dr. Donna Andrade honored by Jesuit Secondary Education Association

On June 25, in Santa Clara, California the Board of Directors of the Jesuit Secondary Education Association (J.S.E.A.) bestowed the Ignatian Educator Award on Donna M. Andrade, Ed.D., Fairfield Prep’s Academic Dean. Dr. Andrade received the prestigious award in a ceremony at Santa Clara University that marked the culmination of a week-long Jesuit educators’ colloquium. Rev. Ralph E. Metts, S.J., President of the J.S.E.A., and Dr. Robert A. Perrotta, Chairman of the J.S.E.A. Board of Directors (and Fairfield Prep’s principal) presided at the ceremony, which took place before five hundred Jesuit educators who had gathered from around the globe for the purpose of participating in Colloquium 2010.

Dr. Andrade was lauded for her distinguished service to Jesuit secondary education at Fairfield College Preparatory School and for the many significant contributions she has made throughout the years to the J.S.E.A.

The official citation read aloud at the bestowal made reference to Dr. Andrade’s pioneering work in diversity as exemplified by her creation of the Students for Educational Excellence through Diversity program at Prep (S.E.E.D.), her vital participation in the establishment of the J.S.E.A.’s national Diversity Conference and her having generously served two terms as the Diversity Conference’s national chairperson.

The citation also made reference to the achievement award for scholarship that was awarded to Dr. Andrade by Phi Delta Kappan for her doctoral dissertation. She was also praised for her leadership and guidance in the formation of Prep’s Jesuit Educators’ Academy and for her direction of the Curriculum Design and Review Process at Fairfield Prep.

It was noted that a key element in the S.E.E.D. program’s ongoing success at Fairfield Prep was Dr. Andrade’s wisdom in ensuring that the program would go beyond merely recruiting students of color for Prep in order to provide them and their parents the services and academic support which are necessary for educational success. (As a further testament to Dr. Andrade’s foresight it should be noted that the S.E.E.D. program has become a model for similar programs in Jesuit schools nationwide.)

Dr. Andrade is the ninth recipient of the Ignatian Educator Award, which J.S.E.A. instituted eighteen years ago. Fairfield College Preparatory School is pleased and honored that this dedicated woman for others has received the nationwide recognition that she so richly deserves for her many years of devoted service to advancing the cause of Jesuit education at Fairfield Prep and beyond. Congratulations Dr. Andrade!