Dr. Jennifer Lovelace Named 2022 Albertus Magnus Award Winner

St. Agnes Academy Upper School Director of Student Life and Leadership, Dr. Jennifer Lovelace, is the 2022 recipient of the Albertus Magnus Award. The award, presented annually by the St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School Board of Trustees, recognizes an outstanding educator who demonstrates the Four Pillars of the Dominican charism - Study, Prayer, Community and Service.

Dr. Lovelace was honored during the school's celebration of the Feast of St. Agnes on April 29.

The Albertus Magnus recipient is a teacher held in high regard by peers, students, and parents. According to her nomination form, written by a fellow teacher, “Dr. Lovelace is a positive role model for everyone. Her dedication to the students and her colleagues exemplifies her dedication to the Dominican Pillars.”

Dr. Lovelace joined the Upper School faculty in 2009 as a member of the English Department, but in recent years has shifted her focus to student leadership. Dr. Lovelace has been the driving force behind many of the Upper School’s innovative programs and initiatives. She developed our Leadership Curriculum and is the primary teacher of those courses. As an extension of those classes, Dr. Lovelace facilitates Leadership Labs and Leadership Retreats for various groups of students. Her goal with these programs is to “make our young women aware of their potential as leaders and teach them the language of leadership,” she explained.

“Dr. Lovelace's leadership curriculum aids in creating a student-led environment where students ‘become the teacher’ by working as a team, tackling difficult conversations, and coming to a common understanding,” explained Upper School Dean Heather Valdez. “She has helped to build confidence in all the young women she has encountered. Dr. Lovelace fosters and empowers female students to be future leaders and pillars within their community.”

Among the many initiatives Dr. Lovelace has helped launch, she is particularly proud of the work she does in support of our Student Government Association and our Black Student Union. As sponsor of these groups, she has a unique opportunity to mobilize student energy and ideas. Creativity and collaboration are the hallmarks of any group Dr. Lovelace leads. She believes in actively engaging her students and her energy is contagious!

Senior Aubrey Bubrig shared, “Dr. Lovelace pushed me to run for SGA Secretary my freshman year. I ended up winning the election, and that was a huge confidence boost. Since then, I worked my way up in roles, and now I'm the SGA President. If I hadn't listened to her and just gone for it, I wouldn’t be here. She taught me to let go of expectations and let go of fears of what other people are going to think about you, because that's where the most growth happens.”

Dr. Lovelace actively recruits community leaders to come to campus as a part of the Upper School Speaker Series she helped to launch. She enjoys her time as sponsor of the Forever Friends Club, a group of students that volunteer at Madonna Learning Center, and Angels Among the Stars Club, a partnership with Angel Street Ministries to mentor young girls. Getting our students engaged in the community and giving back to the community are priorities in her work.

A lifelong learner herself, Dr. Lovelace has done limitless research on engaging the current generation of students-to be able to connect with and understand them. She lives her own life the way she guides her students to live - exploring, asking questions, and collaborating to achieve excellence. She is helping us to build a learning community where everyone belongs.

“The most rewarding part of teaching--in general--is the total humility that comes with people looking to me for inspiration, education, understanding, and empathy. They, in turn, give me their trust, respect, tears, hugs, and love.That's a very, very good trade,” said Dr. Lovelace.

The Albertus Magnus Award will be presented during the school's annual Mass observing the Feast of St. Catherine on April 29.