Meeting Speaker for July 25, 2011 - Dr. Jack Scott

Dr. Jack Scott began his term as the 14th Chancellor of the California Community Colleges on January 1, 2009.  A former state legislator and community college administrator, Dr. Scott has demonstrated a deep commitment to the California Community Colleges and the opportunities they offer to millions of Californians each year. 

A member of the California Legislature from 1996 to 2008, Dr. Scott served as Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education.  He authored 146 bills in the Assembly and Senate that were signed into law, including several key bills important to the community colleges.  Dr. Scott was named Legislator of the Year by many organizations, including the California Federation of Teachers, Association of California Community College Administrators, and California State University. 

Prior to being elected to the Legislature, Dr. Scott was President of Pasadena City College (1987–95).  The hallmark of Dr. Scott’s presidency was the launch and completion of a $100 million master plan to meet the college’s needs into the 21st century.  Dr. Scott also served as President of Cypress College (1978–87), Dean of Instruction at Orange Coast College (1973–78), and as a teacher and administrator at Pepperdine University (1963–73).

Dr. Scott has been honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges in 2008 and California Community Colleges in 2006, and in 1993 he received the Harry Buttimer Award, given annually to two distinguished administrators in the California Community Colleges.  He was named the Alumnus of the Year at Claremont Graduate University in 2000 and at Abilene Christian University in 2003.  In 1991, Dr. Scott received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University.

Dr. Scott is a past president of the Association of California Community College Administrators and the former chair of the Accrediting Commission of Western Association of Schools and Colleges. He is a Distinguished Professor of Higher Education at Pepperdine University and is the first person to be honored as President Emeritus of Pasadena City College. 

Born and raised in Sweetwater, Texas, Dr. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in American history from Claremont Graduate University.