LUCERNE, Calif. – On Tuesday evening at the Lucerne Hotel, Marymount California University hosted a dinner to update community leaders about the college’s new campus at the site and to introduce a host of visiting students.
Marymount President Dr. Michael Brophy said the evening also was an opportunity for the university to bring together its two families – the new one in Lake County and those students and staff who came from Southern California.
The students have kept busy during their spring break visit, taking part in what Brophy called an “archaeological dig” at Anderson Marsh – which college officials said actually was a trash cleanup project – and enjoying time at Blue Lakes, with plans to visit Lucerne Elementary School and a food pantry, with a hike of Mt. Konocti and a visit to the redwoods also planned. They’re staying at the Lodge at Blue Lakes due to construction still being under way at the Lucerne Hotel.
Speaking to more than 100 people in the hotel’s dining room, with its view of Clear Lake, Brophy said of the building, “This is an amazing testament to this county leadership.”
He gave special mention to Kelly Curtis Intagliata, Marymount’s director of communications, who played an important role in selecting the new university name; retired County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox; Cox’s successor Matt Perry; Eric Seely, deputy county administrative officer for special projects; and Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook for their work to give Marymount a home in Lake County.
Last fall, Marymount signed a lease agreement with the county of Lake for the Lucerne Hotel, which will become its third campus, in addition to Rancho Palos Verdes and San Pedro.
Built in the 1920s, “the Castle” – as community members have known the hotel for decades – was purchased by the county in 2010 and then offered as an educational campus through a request for proposals sent out to colleges and universities.
Brophy said that request for proposals – written by Cox, who has since retired – landed on his desk in June 2011.
“It really inspired us,” said Brophy, explaining that Marymount’s trustees thought a rural location would be great to add to its research offerings.
Brophy said Lake County will be the university’s rural research location, with Rancho Palos Verdes the urban location and students also able to work at a Methodist university in Ghana.
This year, Marymount will have what Brophy called a “quiet” opening as small numbers of upper division and graduate students begin arriving.
During his Tuesday evening remarks Brophy explained that students from Southern California will come to Lake County to take part in internships and research on a wide range of topics.
In 2014 college officials expect to offer more educational opportunities. “We’re going to deliver in a major way” at the upper class levels, said Brophy, with Marymount to seek accreditation to award degrees to students who study at the Lucerne campus.
In the meantime, they’re searching for a campus executive director who is expected to be in place by July or August, Brophy said.
That individual, Brophy explained, will – among other things – work on “town and gown” relations and hiring staff.
Over the next 18 months the university will be looking for good educational talent for the Lucerne campus, Brophy said.
Marymount is expanding its educational offerings in many ways. Last September it announced the application to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for accreditation for two new master’s degrees programs – master of science in community psychology and a master of science in leadership and community development – for a fall 2013 launch.
College officials also reported that Marymount will begin offering professional development and personal enrichment courses beginning late this summer targeting local educators, members of the business community and Social Services and Mental Health employees.
In addition, they are planning for a transfer program to begin in fall 2014 for students from Yuba College and Mendocino College.
Brophy said Tuesday that the institution’s new name – Marymount California University, announced last week – also is an acknowledgement that Marymount has moved beyond its Southern California roots and found a new home in Lake County, Brophy said.
He offered his thanks to everyone who had welcomed Marymount California University to Lucerne.
Marymount’s students, he added, would make everyone proud.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.