Lori Stanley

Executive Director

After an extensive national and local search process, Mrs. Lori Stanley was selected as the first layperson to hold the Executive Director position in the 21 years of the Institute’s existence. Lori joins LIS with many years of experience in pastoral ministry, organizational leadership, marketing and development. She is a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Church in Westminster where she serves as a lector, a member of the pastoral council and co-facilitator alongside her husband in the married couples bible study group. After graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a BA in Liberal Arts, Lori worked as a litigation claims analyst for a major insurance company.

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She credits her role as a CCD aide while a junior at Mater Dei to be what piqued her interest in teaching about God and the Sacraments. Over the years Lori has spent time teaching 3rd grade, 5th grade religion, and Confirmation classes. She has been a Director of Religious Education, Director of marketing, retreat leader and a consultative board member. She and her husband of 29 years have been active facilitators in the Catholic Engaged Encounter ministry in the Diocese of Orange for the last 15 years.

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She was introduced to the Spiritual Exercises 10 years ago and credits the application of its principles with providing personal insight, contentment and joy in her life. Lori is eager to use her experiences and gifts to promote and serve others in line with the mission of LIS. Lori is one of 7 children born to Deacon Joe (deceased) and Dolores Stripling. She and her husband have one child in college. For enjoyment, Lori can be found listening to live jazz music, playing golf, writing calligraphy and reading autobiographies.

Lupe Vizcarra

Director of Finance and Operations

Lupe grew up in Orange County.  Not only was she a student at St. Anthony Claret Parish and Rosary High School (now Academy) but her mother, Juanamaria, worked for the Diocese of Orange for almost 40 years.  She grew up in and around the hallways, offices, and people of Marywood Center eventually working there herself in different departments as a high school and college student.  She went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Cal State Fullerton.  In 1997, the California Province of the Society of Jesus formed the Loyola Institute for Spirituality and she became one of its founding members along with one other lay person and three Jesuits.   She served at LIS until 2007.   Inspired by her work at LIS she obtained a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and continued her professional growth and advancement within the nonprofit sector. 

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After many years dedicated to her career, Lupe took some time to further her education and enrich her personal life.  She met her husband, Robert, in 2011 and has a beautiful daughter.  She returned to LIS in 2015 as Director of Finance and Operations.  As she has expressed, it has not only been an honor for her to return to serve with more knowledge and experience, but to return to a place that already felt so familiar and was so welcoming.

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She enjoys her growing daughter and family the most; but going to the movies, travel, being outdoors, and afternoon tea are a close second.

Ryan Pratt

Administrative Assistant

A graduate of Loyola High School of Los Angeles, Ryan holds a B.A. in Religion with a Minor in History from the University of Southern California, as well as an M.A. in Theology from Loyola Marymount University.  As an undergraduate student, he was a member of the inaugural class of inductees for USC's chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa, the National Honor Society for Religious Studies and Theology.  During his graduate years, he was "Recognized for achievement in Graduate Study" by LMU's chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa.

While in college, Ryan served as a student worker in the USC School of Religion and as a graduate research assistant to LMU theologian, Fr. Thomas P. Rausch, S.J., Ph.D., assisting in the research and/or proofreading of four works authored or edited by Fr. Rausch.  Ryan later served as a catechist for both First Communion and Confirmation candidates, participated in the ministry of the Saint Sebastian Sports Project, and wrote for the Diocese of San Bernardino's Seasons of Faith, a resource aide for adult faith-sharing groups.

Ryan joined LIS in 2013 as an administrative assistant, aiding the staff in various ways, including the maintenance of the LIS databases.  He has served as a Core Team member of the Catholic Bible Institute, co-sponsored by LIS in the Diocese of Orange. 

In parish life, Ryan enjoys serving as a lector, proclaiming the Word of God.  His intellectual interests include ecclesiology, biblical studies, ecclesiastical history, the intersections of theology and popular culture, and the lives and legacies of both St. Thomas More and St. Ignatius de Loyola.  In his spare time, he can often be found proudly cheering for his beloved USC Trojans.