The Marshall McLuhan Center was established in 1981 by Mary McLuhan daughter of the late Marshall McLuhan less than a year after his passing.

"One of the most important responsibilities of the Marshall McLuhan Center on Global Communications is to promote the use of communications technologies in the teaching-learning environment. As the world of communications undergo revolutionary change, our children need the insight and guidance of excellent teachers to help them to be prepared for the 21st Century challenges of the "information age." The presentation of the Marshall McLuhan Distinguished Teachers Awards offers occasion to acknowledge the precedent-setting work of dedicated teachers throughout the world and to encourage others towards similar achievements."
Mary McLuhan, Founder and Chairman.

The inspiration for the Marshall McLuhan Distinguished Teachers Awards Program came from broadcasting legend Walter Cronkite, and was developed with former U.S. Secretary of Education and and advisory board member The Honourable Shirley M. Hufstedler and implemented by Mary McLuhan. The emphasis of the program was to honour with recognition and cash awards those educators who best demonstrated innovative applications of communications methodologies in their teaching learning environment, and who contributed to human communications in the classroom.

" Our teachers need all the inspiration, recognition and appreciation that we can give them. The McLuhan Distinguished Teacher Awards has helped towards that end and I hope that you will continue in your fine work." (Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley in a letter to the Center founder Mary McLuhan dated March 1986)

Celebrating the first Los Angeles Distinguished Teacher Awards: (Left to right) The Honourable Shirley Hufstedler Esq., former U.S. Secretary of Education and a member of the Advisory Board of the Marshall McLuhan Center on Global Communications; The Honourable Thomas Bradley, former Mayor of Los Angeles; and Mary McLuhan, Chairman of the Marshall McLuhan Center on Global Communications.

The Marshall McLuhan Center on Global Communications is a charitable public benefit corporation registered in the State of California 1981.