History and Facts

OUR PAST

SOLES: An Abridged Timeline
SOLES, in its past and present states, is the second oldest academic unit at the University of San Diego. 

• 1949: Charters granted for the San Diego College of Women (SDCW) and San Diego University, which was comprised of the San Diego College of Men (SDCM) and the Law School.
• 1951: Construction of SDCW completed (now Founders and Camino Halls)
• 1952: Mother Margaret Guest appointed department chair of SDCW.  Mother Rosalie Hill is named honorary president of the university.
• 1960: First Masters of Education degree from SDCW
• 1963: SDCM adds Single-subject Teaching Credential
• 1972: SDCW and SDCM merge to become the School of Education (SOE).  Monsignor William Elliott is appointed dean of SOE.
• 1979: Drs. Joseph Rost and Phil Hwang establish first doctoral program in leadership studies in the United States.  Dr. Edward DeRoche is appointed dean of SOE.
• 1989: DeForest Strunk Chair in special education is endowed creating the first SOE Chair at USD.
• 1998: Dr. Paula Cordeiro is appointed dean of SOE.
• 2005: The School of Education becomes the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES).
• 2007: Construction of Mother Rosalie Hill Hall is completed.  SOLES moves to its new home.
• 2008: SOLES is ranked among the top 100 national universities in graduate education programs.
• 2009: SOLES celebrates its 60th birthday and the doctoral program in leadership studies turns 30.  SOLES is ranked among the top 100 universities in graduate education programs for the second year in a row.
• 2009/2010: SOLES becomes the new home of the university's renowned NROTC program and the Naval Sciences minor for undergraduates.

Our Home

Before moving to its current location, SOLES/SOE resided in several other locations on campus, including Harmon Hall (current site of Degheri Alumni Center) and the west campus buildings of Coronado and Barcelona.  SOLES now resides in the Mother Rosalie Hill Hall, a state-of-the art facility that incorporates cutting edge technology in its classrooms.  Hill Hall, one of the university’s newest buildings, sits on a picturesque mesa in the northwest corner of campus.  SOLES celebrated its new home with a dedication ceremony on October 20th, 2007. 

Our Namesake

In 1945, Mother Rosalie Hill, superior vicar of the Society of the Sacred Heart, stood on a hilltop in San Diego with Reverend Charles F. Buddy, first bishop of the Diocese of San Diego.  The two religious leaders envisioned building two institutions that would provide the best in sacred and secular learning.  A few years later those colleges were founded.

Mother Hill was a gifted educator and administrator and served as principal of the Sacred Heart School in Boston during the 1920’s.  In 1929, Mother Hill was named Vicar of the Sacred Heart Western Province and served as the supervisor for the San Francisco College for Women in the 1930’s.  It was in San Francisco that Mother Hill met Bishop Buddy and the two made plans to establish a university in San Diego.  Mother Hill was the founding president of the San Diego College for Women and served as an honorary president until her death on December 12th, 1964.  Mother Hill embodied the compassionate service and dedication to educational equity that is foundational to the mission and vision of SOLES.

Bishop Charles Buddy is also honored as an educational pioneer in Hill Hall.  The building’s Sala (Spanish for “living room”) and main lobby has been named the Bishop Charles Francis Buddy Sala.  In addition to honoring Bishop Buddy’s vision, the Sala also recognizes 15 pioneers in education whose work and accomplishments mirror the vision of SOLES.   These individuals are: Mary McLeod Bethune, Don Bosco, Confucius, John Dewey, WEB Dubois, Paulo Freire, Fredrich Froebel, Horace Mann, Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, Tomas Rivera, Carl Rogers, Janet Erskine Stuart, Lev Vygotsky, and Booker T. Washington. 

OUR PRESENT

• SOLES is home to 2 departments (Leadership Studies and Learning & Teaching) and 2 program areas (Counseling and Martial & Family Therapy)
• These departments and programs offer a total of 13 degree programs with multiple specializations, as well as 15 credential & certificate programs
• SOLES is also home to undergraduate minors in Leadership Studies, American Humanics and Naval Sciences
• Total enrollment for SOLES as of Fall 2009: 656 students (Click here for more on Admissions)
• Graduate Students: 549
• Undergraduate Students: 107
• The doctoral program in leadership studies has over 315 alums whose diverse work is showcased in the Dissertation Library in the Hill Hall Reading Room.  Click here for a complete list of doctoral dissertations.
• We are proud of the commitment and contributions of our 41 full-time faculty members, 40+ affiliate faculty members, and 30 administrators & staff. 
• Our faculty are involved in numerous research projects, utilize new and innovative pedagogies, and engage in a diverse range of scholarship activities that embody a commitment to a model of education that serves the goals of social justice.  Click here to learn more about the work of our esteemed faculty.
• SOLES is home to and affiliated with 10 academic Institutes and Centers that strengthen connections for SOLES students and faculty both locally and internationally.  Click on the Center or Institute to be redirected to its website.
• Autism Institute (2005)
• Character Development Center (1995)
• Center for Education Policy and Law (2007)
• COMPASS Family Center (2006)
• Educational Leadership Development Academy (2001)
• Global Center (2001)
• The Caster Family Canter for Nonprofit Research (2004)
• Leadership Institute (2000)
• Manchester Family Child Development Center (1989)
• Mobile Learning Technology Center (2012)
• SOLES has a highly engaged and committed Advisory Board comprised of local business and community leaders, alumni, and current & former educators from San Diego county.  Click here to learn more about our Advisory Board.
• The work of our faculty, students, alums and friends is highlighted in our bi-annual newsletter Horizons.  Click here to read the latest issue or search our archives.
• Each year, SOLES honors legendary contributions to the field of education made by individuals in San Diego and Imperial Counties with our Remarkable Leaders in Education ceremony and award.  Click here to learn about our Remarkable Leaders.

OUR FUTURE

• Since 2008, as part of SOLES’ Strategic Plan and its highlight on internationalization, all SOLES students are required to participate in an international experience as part of their program requirements.  Through this, the work of the SOLES Global Center and other endeavors, SOLES aims to be an example for peer institutions in the area of internationalization.  Learn more about the SOLES Strategic Plan by clicking here.
• SOLES programs and personnel are doing important and innovative work that is often highlighted by our local and national communities.  These achievements and noteworthy events are regularly highlighted on our News feed for friends & alums of SOLES.  Click here for SOLES News & Events.