Welcome back and support for our community

January 24, 2025

Dear Pitzer Community,

As we conclude the first week of classes of the spring semester, I’m reminded again of the joy of seeing the campus repopulate with students after the break. Welcome back!

Even as we find comfort in coming together again as a community, we recognize the numerous challenges all around us—locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. From the fires that have devastated areas of southern California and hit many in our community directly or indirectly to the disorienting uncertainties brought about by abrupt changes associated with national political transition, events around us can weigh heavily on the hearts, minds, and safety of many in our community.

Pitzer is a robust and diverse community, built on a set of core values and a commitment to social justice and local and global engagement. These values have been important touchstones throughout our history and will continue to guide our actions. During challenging times such as this I am buoyed by the sight of us all coming together as a community and leaning ever more heavily into our shared values in support of our students, faculty and staff vulnerable to these changes. We must continue to prioritize the wellbeing of our community members in an inclusive way and engage each other and those outside of our community constructively and with mutual respect. Pitzer will remain a place where everyone feels seen, heard, valued, and supported.

Times like these can feel isolating, but none of us is alone in this. There are a variety of offices, programs, people and other resources available that are ready and willing to assist members of our community. If you are a student in need, please reach out to Student Affairs, and if you are a faculty or staff member, please contact Human Resources. Across the campus, there has been direct and frequent outreach to those impacted and in need, and this will continue as new challenges arise.

Let us all take care of and for each other as we continue to strengthen our community to ensure our individual and collective wellbeing as we meet current and future challenges. It is a privilege to be part of a community that remains steadfast in our pursuit of a just and compassionate community and world.

Provida Futuri,

Strom C. Thacker
President