Dr. Pamela A. Eibeck served as University of the Pacific's 24th president from 2009 to 2019. Under her leadership, Pacific began to implement a bold vision to become a leading, student-centered university in Northern California.

During her decade of service at University of the Pacific, Eibeck led a number of successful initiatives, including:

  • Spearheading the development of a long-term strategic vision for the university (Pacific 2020) and its 2017 update (Pacific 2020R);
  • Developing a firm university presence in three of Northern California's most important cities: Sacramento, San Francisco and Stockton;
  • Playing an instrumental role in raising over $219 million toward the university's $300 million goal as part of Leading with Purpose: The Campaign for University of the Pacific;
  • Helping to grow Pacific's endowment by $300 million, from $157 million to more than $450 million;
  • Championing a strong McGeorge School of Law, with academically robust enrollments and a prosperous future;
  • Providing more competitive pay for Pacific employees as well as developing a plan for long-term fiscal sustainability; and
  • Modernizing many of Pacific's business practices in the areas of human resources, technology, compliance and capital improvements.

As a leader in higher education, she chaired the Association for Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) from 2014 to 2016 and is a former vice chair of the NCAA's D1 Committee on Academics. She served on the board of directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council and Valley Vision.

Eibeck is a stalwart supporter of the San Joaquin region and convened Pacific's community partners to launch the "Beyond Our Gates" initiative, a comprehensive effort to improve early literacy in Stockton, for which she was recognized with an ATHENA Leadership Award in 2015.

Eibeck's presidency followed a distinguished career as a researcher, teacher, educational reformer and university administrator. She received her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. She taught and earned tenure at University of California, Berkeley, served as a tenured professor and administrator at Northern Arizona University, and served as dean of the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech.

An expert in heat transfer, Eibeck conducted experimental research related to electronics cooling and thermal tiles used by NASA on its aerospace vehicles. Her later work focused on engineering educational reform, including using technology in the classroom and attracting young people and women to the profession.

Eibeck became a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2008. She received the Distinguished Engineering Educator Award from the Society of Women Engineers in 1996 and the Boeing Outstanding Educator Award in 1999.

President Eibeck is married to William D. Jeffery, a retired lawyer and law professor and native Californian. They have four children: sons Andrew, Kevin and Will, daughter Katherine, and four grandchildren.