October 18, 2023
Dear Pitzer Faculty and Staff,
I am pleased to announce that Gary Cordova has accepted the role of Interim Vice President for Advancement & Communications at Pitzer, beginning October 19, 2023.
Gary is rejoining the Pitzer Community after more than 20 years of senior-level engagement, development, and communications work at various educational institutions in Oregon and Hawaii. Most recently, he was the Vice President for Advancement at Chaminade University in Honolulu, and he has also worked in leadership roles at Willamette University and the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business.
Throughout his career, Gary has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to develop teams and build infrastructure to drive successful engagement and fundraising initiatives. Much of his work has focused on supporting student access, social justice, sustainability, endowment fundraising, and faculty programming and research.
A few of you may remember Gary from his time at Pitzer from 1997-2000, when he served as Secretary to the Board of Trustees and College, as well as Assistant Vice President for Advancement & Campaign Director. In that role he provided valuable strategic support to Pitzer’s fourth president, Marilyn Chapin Massey, and he led the planning efforts for Pitzer’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign.
In addition to his management and leadership skills, and earlier familiarity with Pitzer, Gary is a passionate and talented writer and storyteller, which will benefit the College as we continue to share the Pitzer story broadly. He earned a Master of Arts (AM) degree in English and American Literature from the Wallace Stegner Writing Program at Stanford University. Gary graduated cum laude from the University of Northern Colorado with a double major in English and Journalism.
Gary is ready to hit the ground running. “I am both excited and humbled to re-join the Pitzer Community after several years. It is truly a homecoming for me. I very much look forward to partnering with leadership, faculty, staff, and stakeholders to advance Pitzer’s core values and to tell the story of the College’s good work locally and nationally.”
Please join me in welcoming a creative and dynamic leader who will work alongside our dedicated staff in Advancement & Communications as we build community and resources in support of Pitzer’s mission.
Provida Futuri,
Strom C. Thacker
President
