Ed leadership scholarship honors a mother’s love

From her childhood in Upstate New York to the beginning of her time on faculty at San Diego State University, Dr. Cythnia L. Uline always had the benefit of a steadfast supporter in her corner. 

“My mom was made of love,” recalls Uline, a professor emerita in educational leadership.

Virginia P. Uline had never been a confident student herself, choosing secretarial school instead of college as a young woman. But she was always there to encourage her daughters on their educational journeys.

“I think because of her own struggles very early in her schooling, she nurtured our confidence as individuals and raised us as people who could make a difference in the world,” Cynthia recalls. “It wasn’t school for school’s sake, but school for pursuits that would make a difference.”

Virginia was especially supportive as Cynthia pursued her doctorate at Penn State University while a working mother of two. Virginia was there to help with the early morning feedings and to look after her grandchildren when her daughter was in class or at work. 

Though Virginia passed nearly two decades ago, Cynthia can still hear the sound of her mother’s voice cheering her on across a crowded auditorium during her doctoral hooding. 

And Cynthia knows her mom would be proud to have her legacy associated with the SDSU Department of Educational Leadership.

A Fitting Tribute

Last year, Cynthia and her husband, Dean Emeritus Joseph F. Johnson Jr., created the Virginia P. Uline Endowed Scholarship, which supports students in the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (PK-12 Concentration) program.

“She passed away during our first year on faculty (at SDSU) and I know that she's up there being so honored,” Cynthia said of her mother. “She's telling everybody that she is named in a scholarship supporting other students and their families on their doctoral journeys, just the way she loved doing for me.”

Supporting Ed.D. students is certainly near and dear to Cynthia’s heart, as well. She served as a founding director of SDSU’s program, which was among the first independent doctoral programs ever authorized by the California State University.

Since its launch in 2007, the program has empowered 16 cohorts of practicing educational leaders to hone their leadership skills and become “equity champions.”

“Our graduates are serving as principals, as district leaders, as superintendents, and as higher ed faculty across California and beyond,” Cynthia said. “And they're out there doing amazing work. I consider this part of my legacy, so the opportunity to support students in the future is really exciting to both of us.”

Added Johnson: "I think that there is a recognition in our field that we're not going to have great schools that achieve outstanding results for all populations of students if we do not have knowledgeable, visionary leaders who believe it and who are committed to making it happen. 

“This is a doctoral program that has kept that vision at the forefront.”

This is the second endowed scholarship Uline and Johnson have started in the college. The first was the Gilda Johnson Shumate Endowed Scholarship. Named in honor of Johnson’s mother, it supports current and future educators who are involved with the university’s Black Resource Center.

Someone in Their Corner

Uline and Johnson are excited that their latest scholarship will go to support working professionals, many of whom are raising families, in a field where resources are often limited. That's especially true in a community like San Diego, where the cost of living is among the highest in the nation.

But more than the money, Cynthia said she hopes the scholarship shows students that they have someone in their corner — much like her mother was for her.

"Having someone say, 'You can do this' is really valuable to folks as they're coming into a doctoral program," Uline said.

Donate to the Virginia P. Uline Endowed Scholarship by entering “Virginia P. Uline Endowed Scholarship” in other designations.

To learn more about supporting transformative educators through philanthropy, please contact Megan Beardsley, senior director of development, at [email protected] or 619-594-2277.