CSA Staff Recognized for Excellence in Community Engagement with Cone Award

In May 2026, Jenny Fukunaga, associate director of community and academic engagement, Pam Rector Center for Service and Action (CSA), was presented with the LEAD California 2026 Richard E. Cone Award for Emerging Leaders in Community Engagement for her impact on community partnerships in the L.A. community.

"Jenny's recognition is a testament to the transformative impact of community-engaged learning and the meaningful partnerships she has cultivated throughout her work," said Kawanna Leggett, Ed.D., senior vice president for Student Affairs. "She embodies LMU's commitment to educating students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership while building authentic relationships that create lasting benefits for both our students and our community partners."

The recognition was announced by LEAD California in April 2026, and on May 19, Erica K. Yamamura, Ph.D., the executive director for LEAD California, came out to LMU to present the Cone Award to Fukunaga at the annual Student Affairs Staff and Pillar Awards ceremony. Yamamura shared how Fukunaga truly exemplifies the heart and soul of the Cone Award. "In addition to the meaningful work that she is doing with college students, Jenny's commitment to building authentic relationships with community and campus partners is a quality that this award celebrates," said Yamamura. "She has a bright future in the field of community engagement and we are honored to celebrate her with the Cone Award."

Fukunaga joined the staff at the CSA in 2022, as an assistant director for community and academic engagement where she works closely with LMU's community partners to engage LMU students in service learning opportunities in the local L.A. community. She oversees LMU's community-based learning program, which integrates academic coursework with community engagement to create meaningful, reciprocal partnerships between the university and local nonprofits. In this work, Fukunaga collaborates with faculty to embed service-learning into the curriculum, coordinate with community partners across issue areas, and ensure students have impactful, hands-on experiences that connect theory to practice. At the center of this work, she is coordinating, designing, and sustaining meaningful placements, supporting student reflection and learning outcomes, and advancing initiatives that deepen civic engagement, social responsibility, and LMU's mission of educating the whole person.

Each year, Fukunaga also works with a team of student volunteers to create LMU's iconic Special Games program, partnering with student leaders and community organizations to host an annual inclusive event for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Her work ensures meaningful engagement, volunteer coordination, and a safe, welcoming environment that centers celebration, connection, and community.

Prior to her work at LMU, Fukunaga worked at Richstone Family Center, one of LMU's community partners for over four years, which gave her a deep sense of what it is like to be on the other side of a partnership with LMU. "Jenny brings a deep understanding of community partnerships from both sides of the work, having worked at one of our community partners for a number of years before joining us at LMU," said Patrick Furlong, Ed.D., director for CSA, who nominated Fukunaga. "She approaches every relationship with humility, curiosity, and care. Jenny invests the time to truly listen to students, faculty, and community partners, and because of that, the partnerships she builds are thoughtful, authentic, and lasting. She is a driving force for community engagement at LMU, and I am so excited to see what the future holds for Jenny and for all those who benefit from being in relationship with her in this important work."

Established in 1999 by LEAD California (formerly California Campus Compact), the Richard E. Cone Award for Excellence and Leadership in Cultivating Community Partnerships in Higher Education honors individuals whose work exemplifies the power of authentic collaboration between higher education institutions and the communities they serve. Presented biennially, the award recognizes leaders who have made transformative contributions to community, campus partnerships, efforts that simultaneously enrich student learning and improve quality of life in communities. Since 2017, the award has also spotlighted an exceptional early-career professional emerging as a leader in community engagement. This distinction honors individuals whose work demonstrates meaningful campus and community impact and reflects best practices in reciprocal, sustainable partnerships. Through the Richard E. Cone Award, LEAD California seeks not only to celebrate individual excellence, but also to inspire colleges and universities statewide to deepen, institutionalize, and sustain authentic community-campus partnerships.