The Elton and Janice Gallegly Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement is about to open its doors to the public. The center’s opening will be officially marked at a ceremony taking place May 4 at the Gallegly Center in the Pearson Library. The event is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.

California Lutheran University announced the launch of the Gallegly Center in March 2013, and the Board of Regents voted Oct.14, 2017 to authorize construction of the center. The construction of the center has taken about five months to complete.

The Gallegly Center is established in partnership with Cal Lutheran’s Master of Public Policy and Administration program and serves the purpose of preparing and supporting students to lead lives of public service. It also serves to redefine what it means to be civically engaged, according to the center’s website.

The Gallegly Center offers graduate students full tuition coverage through its fellowship. The center also offers a visiting scholars and speakers program and various experiential learning opportunities.

“This is not just a building with someone’s name on it,” said Elton Gallegly, the longest serving congressional representative in Ventura County history.

Gallegly has been a resident of Simi Valley for 51 years. He began his career in public service on the Simi Valley City Council, and was later appointed mayor. He retired in 2012 after working for more than 35 years in the public sector.

The new area in the Pearson Library will serve as a hub for the Gallegly Fellows program. In addition to providing study and collaboration space for students in the library, it will also feature a replica of Gallegly’s office.

Associate Vice President of Planning and Services Ryan Van Ommeren said the Gallegly Center will be a part of the library but “separately enclosed within glass” and will thus be a “very desirable study space” with two computer workstations.

Yvonne Wilber, librarian and head of undergraduate instruction and outreach, said the newly enclosed atrium in the library will offer students “more room for study and collaborative projects.”

“The enclosure of the atrium provides needed additional study space,” Wilber said. “Although I don’t think creating a museum to honor a public figure is appropriate in the library, I will work toward it being a space for critical engagement and action.”

The replica of Gallegly’s office is true to scale and will house its original furniture as well as memorabilia from his many years of service, Gallegly said.

Gallegly said, “The real heart and core of the center is going to be the computer laboratory that will house all of the documents that dealt with the issues that took place during [his] 26 years” as a congressional representative.

One of the speakers at the opening ceremony is former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Gallegly said he worked with Rice while he was serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

“She is one of the brightest people I have ever known. One of the most highly respected, by democrats and republicans alike, and she has a remarkable resume and she’s a remarkable human being,” Gallegly said.

Rice will be giving her speech in the William Rolland Stadium about an hour after the official opening ceremony.

Gallegly said that they’re expecting about 2,000 attendees.

The ceremony is free to students who wish to attend. Reservations for the ceremony have to be made in advance and can be accessed online.

Julia Westman
Reporter