St. Mary’s Academy

 
 

Program Director: Ms. Danielle Edwards

St. Mary's Academy was founded in 1889 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet as a private high school for young women. It is the oldest continuously operating Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Together with the students' families, the administration, faculty and staff are committed to forming a Christian community that nurtures and challenges each young woman to attain her full potential.

701 Grace Ave.
Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 674-8470 X303

dedwards@onwardscholars.org


Application Timeline

  • JANUARY 20

    Application deadline
    Submit personal essay
    Recommendation form due

  • JANUARY 26

    Semifinalist group interview

  • FEBRUARY 10, 11, 13

    Finalist interview by appointment

  • MARCH 1

    Decisions emailed

  • MARCH 10

    Class of 2029 program commitment deadline

 Submit your application to
Onward Scholars at SMA today!

Meet Ms. Edwards

Ms. Danielle Edwards is thrilled to return to her birthplace of Inglewood, CA, and assume the helm of Onward Scholars Program Director at St. Mary’s Academy. As a proud product and proponent of girls schools, she approaches the work of scholarship, mentorship, and access on behalf of bold, goal-oriented young women with passion, purpose, and proximity.

With nearly two decades of varied experience in PK-12th grade education, Danielle has been blessed by her roles as an Educator, Admissions professional, DEI practitioner, and Special Needs Advocate. She earned a Bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Spanish from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, also studying at La Universidad Nacional in Heredia, Costa Rica. She ultimately earned a Master’s in Social Justice Education and Bilingual Teaching Credential from UCLA’s Teacher Education Program in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies.

Before joining the Onward Scholars Program, Danielle served as an Admissions Officer for Stanford University’s Online High School. She spent the summer months as a Classroom Support Coordinator with USC’s Bovard Scholars Program. Danielle served as the inaugural Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as an Admission Counselor at Harvard-Westlake School. She credits her time as the Associate Director of the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs, however, as the catalyst for her drive to champion equitable access to exceptional education for intellectually curious students everywhere.

When not working with students, you can likely find Danielle in a yoga studio, serving the community alongside her sisters of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Jack and Jill of America, Inc., or out enjoying all that Los Angeles has to offer with her husband and two children.