June 28, 2023
Dear Pitzer Community,
It has been my honor and privilege to serve you as Pitzer College’s interim president. Although this is my final message in that role, it is far from farewell—I happily anticipate returning to the Board of Trustees, and I will forever be a proud Pitzer parent.
I’ve now seen the College from multiple viewpoints through these roles. Each perspective has reinforced my conviction that Pitzer is a leading light in higher education. And that is because of you: our students, faculty, alumni, staff, families, and friends.
The caliber and character of Pitzer students astonish me every day. Our students help all of us to do and be better, and their accomplishments during their four years in Claremont provide a preview of the extraordinary lives they will lead after graduation, thanks in large part to our amazing faculty. From our newest hires to our newest emeriti, Pitzer professors are some of the most dedicated teachers, scholars, and creative minds in higher education.
The educational journey at Pitzer is supported at every turn by our caring and dedicated staff, who work so hard and care so much about our students. And our alumni? They are a testament to how each student’s years at Pitzer can change the rest of their days.
I’ve spoken to many graduates, from the women of the ’60s to our 2023 alums, and they have told me similar tales. Drawn to a bold school with big ideas and deeply held values, they left the Mounds ready to help reimagine the world. Despite many changes in the 60 years since Pitzer’s founding, our mission to be mindful of the future remains the same.
So, I tip my bright orange hat to you, the Pitzer community. Thank you for entrusting me with this role following President Oliver’s retirement last year. And now I join you in extending a warm Sagehen welcome to Strom Thacker, who becomes Pitzer’s seventh president.
I look forward to Strom’s leadership and can’t wait to see what the College’s next chapter holds. As Strom said in his video greeting to the community last winter, there’s no place like Pitzer.
Provida Futuri,
Jill Klein P’15
Interim President
