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WASHINGTON (June 15, 2007)—Marie A. Powell, Assistant Secretary for Parental Advocacy, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has been named Executive Director of the USCCB Office of Catholic Education.
Msgr. David J. Malloy, USCCB General Secretary, announced the appointment, effective July 1.
"Marie Powell has enjoyed a distinguished career as a teacher, administrator, and tireless advocate for the rights of Catholic school students and their families in education," Msgr. Malloy said. "It is a background which makes her well suited to her new post at the Conference in which I know she will continue to build on her record of achievement."
As Assistant Secretary for Parental Advocacy at USCCB since 2002, Marie Powell has coordinated Conference efforts to assist state and diocesan Catholic school advocacy organizations to communicate effectively to public policy organizations the needs of Catholic school students, families, and educators.
As Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Arlington, from 1986 to 1995, she supervised the personnel and educational programs of over 30 Catholic schools owned by or affiliated with the Arlington diocese. She facilitated the opening of five new parish schools and the successful merger of two others into an expanded educational program on two campuses.
Marie Powell was Assistant Principal/Academic Dean, Paul VI Catholic High School, Fairfax, Virginia, from 1996 to 2002. She was responsible for the academic program for more
than 1,100 students, including over 150 students with disabilities. She promoted the successful teaching of over 15 Advanced Placement courses, and worked extensively with parents and teachers to develop strategies that would both challenge students and allow them success.
Earlier, she taught at St. John School, McLean, Virginia, and at Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington.
She has served as a member of the Richmond diocesan Commission on Education and a member of the Arlington diocesan School Board.
A member of the Advisory Committee on Public Policy and Catholic Schools, United States Catholic Conference, from 1991 to 1995, she also served on the Executive Committee and was alternating Chair of the Virginia Catholic Education Association.
Marie Powell graduated Magna Cum Laude from the College of St. Mary in Omaha, where she majored in History. She earned an M.A. at Georgetown University in 1971, where her specializations were Modern European and Chinese history.
She is married to John M. Powell and is the mother of two adult children and is a long time member of St. Ann Parish in Arlington, Virginia.