University of the Pacific President Pamela A. Eibeck announces retirement

After serving 10 years as president, Eibeck to retire July 1.

Board of Regents appoint Provost Maria Pallavicini as interim president during search process.

University of the Pacific President Pamela A. Eibeck has announced her retirement, effective July 1, 2019. Eibeck shared her decision earlier today with Pacific students, faculty, staff and the university's extended community of alumni, donors and partners. 

"Serving as Pacific's president for the past decade has been one of the great highlights of my career," said Eibeck. "I am proud of what we have accomplished to deliver on our promise of a student-centered education and to set Pacific on a strong and sustainable path for the future." 

Eibeck was selected as Pacific's 24th president in 2009. During her tenure, she spearheaded the development of a long-term vision for the university (Pacific 2020) and its 2017 update (Pacific 2020R), integration of the university's three campuses (Sacramento, San Francisco and Stockton) to operate as one university, 63 percent growth in graduate student enrollment, and nearly tripling of the endowment to over $450 million. More recently, Eibeck has overseen the Board of Regents' plan to reallocate university spending toward more competitive compensation for Pacific employees and to bring revenue and spending into alignment. She also worked with Pacific's community partners to launch the Beyond Our Gates initiative to improve early literacy in Stockton, for which she was recognized with an ATHENA Leadership Award in 2015. 

Eibeck was instrumental in helping raise more than $219 million toward a $300 million goal as part of Leading with Purpose: The Campaign for University of the Pacific. Under her leadership, Pacific's donors established nearly $50 million in new endowed scholarships and $21 million in new academic program support. They also contributed to facilities projects, including the purchase and renovation of a new San Francisco campus in the heart of the South of Market district. 

"On behalf of the Board of Regents, I extend my sincere appreciation to President Eibeck for her many years of service to the university," said Board of Regents Chair Kevin Huber. "President Eibeck not only cherished and celebrated Pacific's rich legacy, but she was always willing to take on the challenging tasks needed to make Pacific better and sustain our great university well into the future. The Board of Regents is deeply grateful to the president and her husband Bill for their dedication and service to Pacific." 

The Board of Regents appointed current provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, Maria Pallavicini, as interim president, effective July 1, while it conducts a formal search process for Pacific's next president. Pallavicini has served as provost since 2011. As the chief academic officer, she provides leadership and oversight for the academic division, academic administration and university library. 

"I am honored to serve the university as interim president to ensure there is continued implementation for the board's strategic initiatives," said Pallavicini. "I am pleased to have the opportunity to work alongside the president in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition." 

Media contact: 
Deidra Powell  | 209.946.2313 (Office) | 916.534.6559 (Cell) | dpowell@pacific.edu 
Keith Michaud | 209.946.3275 (Office) | 209.470.3206 (Cell) | kmichaud@pacific.edu