Rebecca Lange-Thernes, M.Ed. ’91, receives School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award
Loyola University Maryland honored Rebecca Lange-Thernes, M.Ed. ’91, with the University’s School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award on Dec. 4, 2025. The award, which was presented in conjunction with the 34th Sister Cleophas Costello Lecture, celebrates graduates who have exemplified professional excellence, a deep commitment to public service, and an enduring dedication to advancing the mission of education in their communities.
Afra Ahmed Hersi, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education, presented Lange-Thernes with the award.
"From her two decades in the classroom to her transformative work in global education and now leading Stocks in the Future—which serves thousands of students across 16 schools—Rebecca exemplifies the impact one educator can have across a lifetime of service," said Hersi.
Lange-Thernes is the executive director of Stocks in the Future, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that provides financial education and opportunities for underserved youth to invest in their future. Through the program, middle school students gain vital skills to manage money and understand today’s global economy.
“A Jesuit education has always been my guiding source in the field of education,” said Lange-Thernes. “From my M.Ed. classes at Loyola, my work with Jesuit grassroots partners around the world, to partnering with Jesuit institutions in underserved communities in the US through Stocks in the Future, the call to excellence has been there every step of the way strengthening my faith and influencing me to seek a world of social justice. I will always be grateful for Loyola’s guidance and inspiration.”
Lange-Thernes taught in middle schools for 20 years in Maryland and Virginia before joining Lutheran World Relief. There, she developed and led immersion programs that brought constituents to Asia, Africa, and South America to witness firsthand the realities of hunger, HIV/AIDS, war trauma, and poverty, and to learn about community-driven solutions including women's empowerment, microfinancing, and entrepreneurship. She also wrote and published curriculum on these topics for both youth and adult audiences.
Lange-Thernes earned her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola in 1991. She is an active member of the Board of Advisors for Loyola’s School of Education and previously served as its chair.