FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:	
			Director, Public Relations
			(909) 621-8219
			ninae@pitzer.edu


President Marilyn Chapin Massey
Announces Plans to Retire

Claremont, Calif. (Nov. 15, 2000) – Marilyn Chapin Massey has announced that she 
will retire as president of Pitzer College, a member of the prestigious Claremont 
Colleges, on June 30, 2002. 
Massey, who became Pitzer's fourth president on July 1, 1992, will retire a year 
from June to spend more time with her family.
"The past decade saw significant changes that set the stage for Pitzer to excel in 
the 21st Century," Massey said.  "At the same time, Pitzer can be proud of major 
improvements in the educational environment at the College and a strengthening of 
Pitzer's continuing commitment to its deepest purposes: intellectual discovery, 
accessibility and social responsibility."
As president, Massey has guided Pitzer from regional to national prominence.  
Her notable achievements include increasing the market value of the College's 
endowment from $27 million to nearly $50 million; expanding the campus with three 
architecturally noteworthy buildings; leading a comprehensive, strategic planning process 
to chart the College future course; beginning a campus master planning process to 
determine current and future facility needs; dramatic improvements in admission 
selectivity; increasing the number of external studies programs run by Pitzer from two to 
11, including the innovative Pitzer in Ontario program; major strides toward integrating 
new technology into the educational process; and significant successes in fundraising, 
particularly with philanthropic foundations.
Before becoming Pitzer's president, Massey served as vice president for academic 
affairs at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, where she was credited with 
revamping the curriculum and attracting new financial resources.  Before joining 
Marymount Manhattan in 1987, Massey held administrative and teaching positions at the 
College of New Rochelle, Mundelein College and Harvard and Duke universities.
As a scholar, Massey has written extensively on the subject of the philosophy of 
religion, including two books: "Christ Unmasked: The Meaning of 'The Life of Jesus' In 
German Politics" (University of North Carolina Press, 1983) and "The Feminine Soul: 
The Fate of an Ideal" (Beacon Press, 1985).
Born in Dayton, Ohio, Massey grew up in Chicago and attended Marquette 
University in Milwaukee, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English and a master's 
in the history of religion.  She holds a second master's degree in interdisciplinary 
religious studies and a doctorate, with distinction, from the University of Chicago.
Massey is married to actor James Massey.  The couple has two grown daughters, 
Lisa and Sarah.
A national search for a new president will begin immediately.
Massey succeeded Frank Ellsworth, who served as president of Pitzer College 
from July 1, 1979 to June 30, 1991.  Others Pitzer College presidents are Paul B. 
Ranslow (interim), July 1, 1991 to June 30, 1992; James B. Jamieson (interim), Oct. 1, 
1978 to June 30, 1979; Robert H. Atwell, July 1, 1970 to Sept. 30, 1978; and John 
Wellen Atherton, July 1963 to June 1970.

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