SPOTLIGHT on education
Dr. Irma Becerra (second from left) walks with students in front of the Sacred Heart of Mary Chapel. Marymount was founded in 1950 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary congregation.
Marymount University’s Dr. Irma Becerra Jumping in with both feet to prepare students for success
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r. Irma Becerra has been president of Marymount University only since July, but she clearly has jumped in with both feet. On November 10, she won first place in the 2018 DC’s Dancing Stars celebrity dance competition. “I like to dance a lot, but have never before danced professionally. It was more demanding than I thought it would be,” Dr. Becerra said. “I think I’ll quit while I’m on top.” In addition to the $55,000 she raised leading up to the competition, first prize earned an extra $10,000 for 28
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Marymount. The $65,000 is being used to start the Sister Majella Berg Internship Fund, which provides a stipend to students working in unpaid internships. Dr. Becerra is a firm believer in the benefits of such practical experience for her students, and Marymount’s proximity to Washington offers rich opportunities. “We are 10 minutes from the White House,” she said. “D.C. is our classroom.” Marymount’s main academic and residential buildings are on Glebe Road in Arlington. The university’s Ballston Center for