Skip to main content

Loyola receives gift to fund leadership development initiatives in the School of Education

DawnMarie Cunnion, Ed.D., M.Ed. ’93.
DawnMarie Cunnion, Ed.D., M.Ed. ’93.

A gift from DawnMarie Cunnion, Ed.D., M.Ed. ’93, and Robert J. Cunnion, III will establish an endowed fund to sponsor research on evidence-based coaching and leadership development within Loyola’s School of Education.

“We are honored and deeply appreciative of the Cunnion family's generous gift," said Afra Ahmed Hersi, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education. “The creation of the Cunnion Family Endowed Leadership Research Fund will strengthen our commitment to develop transformative leaders who are prepared to tackle today’s complex challenges in schools and communities.  It will enhance our ability to pursue evidence-based research and develop innovative coaching and leadership programs within Loyola’s School of Education. Dawn’s powerful advocacy for coaching and the development of strong, resilient leaders has been truly inspirational.”

Dawn Cunnion most recently served as associate head of Brentwood School, an independent, K-12 school in Los Angeles. She retired in June 2024 after 27 years with the institution, including prior roles as Brentwood’s Lower School director and assistant head of school. She serves on the Board of Advisors for Loyola’s School of Education and as the chair of the Consultative School Board at Our Lady of Malibu. 

“Our support of the Leadership Research Fund comes from a belief that leaders do not work in a vacuum, and that collaboration is critical to being an effective leader,” said Dawn Cunnion. “Whether serving as a professional coach or receiving mentorship, having someone to act as a thought partner has been an instrumental part of my professional journey. Loyola not only recognizes the importance of these relationships but has also built coaching into its Educational Leadership program. That approach demonstrates that the Ignatian tradition of ‘care for the whole person’ is lived each day along with a thoughtful vision of how to best prepare students for the future.”

Dawn Cunnion earned her M.Ed. in Educational Administration with an emphasis on private school leadership from Loyola in 1993 and her Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Leadership Policy Studies from Arizona State University. 

“The opportunity to complete my master’s degree at Loyola was a gift,” she said. “Small classes, instructors who were knowledgeable and caring, and specialized coursework designed to prepare me to be a leader of a private school provided me with a transformational experience. It is that experience and the memories of not only what I learned, but the relationships that were forged, that keeps me involved with Loyola and inspires me to give back to a community that made such a difference in my life.”

The Cunnions have also funded the Cunnion Family Fellowship in Education, which is dedicated to supporting graduate students in Loyola University Maryland's School of Education. The fellowship provides financial aid to educators who are pursuing advanced degrees.

“Dawn and Bob Cunnion continue to make an incredible impact on Loyola University Maryland’s School of Education through their generosity and dedication,” said Mary Lineburger, ’99, assistant vice president of major gifts. “Dawn’s ongoing service on the Board of Advisors, combined with her insightful contributions and unwavering belief in the importance of building a strong professional coaching system, has been invaluable to Dean Hersi and the entire School of Education. Their philanthropy and vision are helping to shape the future of education and strengthen our commitment to excellence.”

About the School of Education
Loyola University Maryland’s School of Education offers leading undergraduate and graduate education programs for aspiring and current educators, educational leaders, and counselors, who are called to work with K-12 learners but require certification and training or improved teaching and leadership skills. Loyola’s mission-driven approach inspires and engages a community of accomplished educators who bring about ethical and fundamental change to help all children reach their full potential.