Graduate School of Education: 0606lovejoy.html

Marjorie Lovejoy, who spent 38 years on staff at the Graduate School of Education, has called it a day.

Her GSE tour of duty began in 1968 in the dean’s office and passed through Educational Research and its Applications (ERA); the teacher education program (in the old division of curriculum and instruction); education psychology, (now Cognition and Development); Developmental Teacher Education program; a return to the dean’s office; and Policy, Organization, Measurement and Evaluation, where she served as area assistant.

Born and raised in the segregated South in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lovejoy came to California in November 1964 with her sister. “I wasn't very smart in high school,” she said, “so when I graduated in '64, I knew that I would never make it in college.”

Maybe as a student, but certainly not as a dedicated university employee.

After a few babysitting jobs, she joined the Neighborhood Youth Program where she had a choice to work in downtown Oakland or UC Berkeley. At 18, she started work as a casual in Sproul Hall, before starting full time in the School of Education shortly afterwards.

“I grew up here,” Lovejoy reflected on her time in the School of Education. “I will always have great memories and I have so much to be thankful for.”

Well-wishers at her retirement party, April 20, included former faculty members Harry Stehr, Lilly Fillmore and Guy Benveniste; retired staff members Carol Rader, Carol Page, Shelley Okimoto and Eowyn Mader; and her eldest daughter, niece and sister. In addition, former GSE Dean and professor Bill Rohwer; former UC Berkeley, now New York University professor Pedro Noguera; and Humboldt State psychology professor Brent Duncan sent letters of admiration with their best wishes. Lovejoy also received a new iMac as a gift for her many contributions to the school.

“Marjorie set the tone by putting people first,” said longtime GSE Staff Personnel Analyst Barbara Nakakihara. “She was probably the only person that everyone here liked.”