After an influential 58-year career in California’s public eye, Dr. Jack Scott (’54) will retire Sept. 1 as leader of the nation’s largest system of higher education.
Scott was elected to serve in the California State Assembly in 1996, and from 2000-08, he represented California’s 21st senatorial district, which includes Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, and a portion of Los Angeles. His expertise on California’s Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee on Education caught the eye of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appointed Scott as chancellor of the California Community Colleges in 2008.
Previously, Scott was a teacher and administrator at Pepperdine University for 10 years before becoming dean of instruction at Orange Coast College in 1973, president of Cypress College in 1978 and president of Pasadena City College in 1987.
Scott was named Abilene Christian University’s Outstanding Alumnus of the Year for 2002, and the keynote speaker at his alma mater’s Opening Assembly in 2008. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University and a Ph.D. in American history from Claremont Graduate University.