Fielding Graduate University Launches Marie Fielder Center for Social Justice Research

Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education named for pioneer

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Jan 26, 2016, 02:06 ET

(L-R) Orlando Taylor, Fielding Graduate University's vice president of strategic initiatives and research, and Fielding President Katrina Rogers present Walter Bumphus with the inaugural Marie Fielder Medal at the Jan. 15 Santa Barbara launch of the Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education.

Fielding Graduate University is an accredited nonprofit leader in blended graduate education, combining face-to-face and online learning. Our curriculum offers quality degrees and courses for professionals living and working anywhere in the world. Fielding's faculty members represent a breadth of scholarship and practice in the fields of educational leadership, human and organizational development, and clinical and media psychology. Maintaining Fielding's reputation for quality programs faculty are mentors and guides to self-directed students who use their skills to become powerful, and socially-responsible leaders in their communities, workplaces, and society.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On January 15, 2016, Fielding Graduate University launched its brand new Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education, a multidisciplinary research and advocacy center aimed at advancing diversity and inclusion throughout society. It honors the life and legacy of the late Marie Fielder, PhD, a brilliant and influential African American educator and champion for social justice, who was a member of Fielding's founding family in the 1970s.

The Center's goal is to become a significant national entity for advancing public discourse and advocacy on social democracy, leadership and especially education—K-12 through university.

"Social and ecological justice has resided at the cornerstone of Fielding's mission since its founding in 1974," says Katrina Rogers, PhD, president of Fielding. "Among its earliest leaders was Dr. Marie Fielder, who lived her life in pursuit of justice and inclusion of all people in all aspects of civic life. Through the Marie Fielder Center, Fielding reaffirms its commitment to conducting the research, providing the public and academic education, and engaging in the advocacy required to ensure that while 'the arc of the moral universe is long, it bends toward justice.'"

The Center is directed by Orlando Taylor, PhD, Fielding's vice president for strategic initiatives and research and a national leader in advancing inclusion and diversity in higher education.

At the Santa Barbara event, a national gathering of Fielding students, alumni and faculty members, Fielding also presented the inaugural Marie Fielder medal to Walter Bumphus, PhD, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). In addition to being one of the few leaders in the field of education to chair the AACC Board of Directors, receive the AACC Leadership Award and receive the Association of Community College Trustees' Marie Y. Martin CEO of the Year Award, Dr. Bumphus is well-known for his work towards making community colleges a national engine to promote affordability and accessibility for generations of students.

Fielding Graduate University is an accredited nonprofit leader in blended graduate education. Our curriculum offers quality degrees and courses for professionals anywhere in the world, in the fields of educational leadership, human and organizational development and clinical and media psychology. Fielding students use their skills to become powerful and socially responsible leaders in their communities and workplaces, and in society.

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