Spirit of Excellence Gala

On March 4, 2023, Irvine Public School Foundation’s Spirit of Excellence Gala brought our community together to celebrate all that we have achieved and raise funds to support all that we can imagine is possible.

The Spirit of Excellence Gala is the most highly anticipated event of the year and brings the community together to raise funds for Irvine public schools and students. When students have opportunities to think big and follow their dreams, amazing things can happen. The evening is a shining example of the difference we can make when we work together as a community in support of educational excellence.

Our mission to ensure educational excellence for every child is more important today than ever before. Please join us as we pay tribute to our collective commitment to what matters most – our future generation.

For questions, please contact Neda Eaton at neaton@ipsf.net

Join us for the 3rd Annual

Leaders in Education Forum

Thursday, November 2 | 6-7 p.m.

Arnold & Mabel Beckman Center, Irvine 92617

Tickets now available

IPSF Giving Circle Members

Supporters at the Advocate level and above receive two complimentary invitations to pre-event VIP Reception and the Leaders in Education Forum.

Giving Circle RSVP

Not a member yet? Join the Giving Circle!

General Admission

Tickets are available for $50 per guest for general seating. This event is for parents only.

Purchase Tickets

Meet the Panelists

Michael Dennin, PhD | Moderator

UC Irvine | Dean of Undergraduate Education and Vice Provost Teaching and Learning
IPSF Board of Trustees | Vice Chair

Michael Dennin has served as Vice Provost of Teaching and Learning and Dean, Division of Undergraduate Education at UCI since 2015. In this role, Michael is dedicated to enhancing the undergraduate experience at UC Irvine. He oversees programs that connect students to a wide range of academic programs and services and supports faculty and TAs in their efforts to teach undergraduate courses. In addition to his work at UCI, one of his proudest accomplishments is creating four Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCSs) on topics ranging from Superheroes to the Walking Dead – providing high-quality scientific content to a wide range of audiences, in a fun and engaging manner. Professor Dennin earned his A. B. from Princeton University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He held a postdoctoral position at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow and a Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar. He has been a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at UCI since 1997. Michael has served on IPSF’s Board of Trustees since 2015, where he currently serves as Vice Chairman.

Norma Bouchard, PhD

Chapman University | Executive Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer

Norma Bouchard, Ph.D., assumed the role of Executive Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer at Chapman University in the summer of 2021. In her capacity as the university’s Chief Academic Officer, she guides Chapman’s dedication to achieving excellence and innovation in programs, pedagogy, and research across undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr. Bouchard prioritizes delivering a personalized and comprehensive education to students, nurturing their development as leaders and global citizens equipped with the skills, competencies, and values to effect positive change in society. Prior to joining Chapman, she served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Distinguished Professor of Global Studies at Drexel University in Philadelphia (2019-2021). Dr. Bouchard’s extensive academic journey also includes leadership roles at San Diego State University and the University of Connecticut. Her academic background features a laurea in French and German literatures from the University of Turin, Italy, alongside an M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Indiana University-Bloomington. A prolific author, Dr. Bouchard has contributed 11 books, over 80 peer-reviewed articles, and more than 60 shorter publications spanning European and diasporic trans-Mediterranean and trans-Atlantic cultures. Her research delves into the intersection of literature, arts, history, philosophy, critical theory, and aesthetics. Dr. Bouchard has supervised numerous Ph.D. dissertations and delivered keynote addresses at both national and international events. She has held significant roles in professional organizations and serves on multiple editorial boards.

Ian Suttle

Capital One | Senior Vice President

Ian Suttle is a technology executive with 20+ years experience across companies, large and small. He is currently the Senior Vice President of Technology at Capital One for Business Cards, Payments, and International. Before Capital One, Ian was Senior Director of Engineering at Google for Google Support, responsible for global consumer and advertiser support experiences. Prior to Google, he was Engineering Director at Amazon where he held tech and cross-functional leadership positions in Alexa and AWS. Before Amazon, he held leadership and engineering roles at multiple startups, small, and medium-sized businesses. Ian attended California State University Fullerton, and graduated from University of Phoenix with a B.Sc. in Information Technology.

Krissyvan Truong, PhD

UC Irvine | Associate Dean, Division of Continuing Education

With over two decades of experience in higher education encompassing both student and academic affairs, Dr. Krissyvan Truong currently serves as the Associate Dean at UCI Division of Continuing Education. Her extensive leadership roles span prestigious institutions including UC Berkeley, UCLA, Columbia University, USC, CSU Fullerton, Loma Linda University, Claremont Graduate University, and the University of Redlands, offering valuable expertise in administration, academic programs, and strategic initiatives. Dr. Truong’s research concentrates on enhancing academic achievement, access, and equity for students, while her impactful teaching covers graduate-level assessment and evaluation. Her academic accomplishments include a PhD in Education (Higher Education emphasis) from Claremont Graduate University, an MA in International Education Development (Education Policy Studies concentration) from Columbia University, and a BA in Political Science with a Minor in Education from UC Berkeley.

Terry Walker

Irvine Unified School District | Superintendent of Schools

Terry Walker has served as Irvine Unified School District’s Superintendent for over 13 years. Terry completed his master’s degree in Education Administration Leadership from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in Educational Technology Leadership from the University of California, Irvine. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Before joining IUSD, Walker honed his business skills as a commercial real estate broker for two firms, negotiating scores of leases, sale, and investment transactions over a six-year span. Yet education would prove to be his true calling, and in 1997 he began his teaching career at Santiago Hills Elementary School where he ultimately earned the honor of Teacher of the Year. Walker was tapped to become director of Human Resources in 2003, and four years later he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent. In his current role, Terry provides the highest quality educational experience the Irvine Unified School District can envision. He states, “the strength of our district is its ability to leverage the individual talents of its stakeholders, including our amazing teachers, our dedicated support personnel, and our remarkable Board of Education. Fittingly, the two letters at the center of IUSD spell “US,” and it takes all of our unique gifts and capacities to pave a path of continuous improvement.”

Purchase Tickets

On October 18, 2023, IPSF will hosted the 13th annual Tee It Up for Education Golf Tournament at Strawberry Farms Golf Course. Civic, business, and education leaders throughout Orange County came together to golf and help IPSF raise funds to support public education initiatives in Irvine.

Please check back for information regarding the 2024 tournament.

For more information or questions, please contact development@ipsf.net.