Sable Fest ‘22 (left) and Reese Ger ‘24 (right) attending the Carter Center Executive Briefing
By Kendra Pintor
Scripps alum Barbara Bruner ’76 has made a $37,000 gift to support students’ participation in the Carter Center Executive Briefing, expanding opportunities for them to develop compassionate, globally minded leadership skills. Her longstanding support has sponsored 22 students since 2007 and reflects her commitment to helping the next generation of Scripps leaders make a meaningful difference in the world.
Scripps College alum Barbara Bruner ’76 has made a designated gift to expand leadership opportunities for students through the Laspa Center for Leadership. Her gift of 100 shares of Amgen stock, valued at approximately $37,000, will support student participation in the Carter Center Executive Briefing, which brings emerging leaders together with experts to explore pressing global issues. The funds may support other Laspa Center initiatives if the briefing is not offered in a given year.
“I’ve made gifts to support this opportunity for years, but I wanted this one to recognize Scripps’ Centennial,” says Bruner. “It felt like a fitting way to celebrate the College while helping students see the world more broadly.”
Through programs like the Executive Briefing, the Laspa Center helps students dare to write their own story by developing the skills, perspectives, and networks to lead the causes that mean the most to them. Its programming emphasizes experiential learning, mentorship, strategic thinking, empathy, communication, and effective management.
The Impact of Giving
Barbara Bruner ’76 (center) with students selected to attend the Carter Center Executive Briefing
More than 87 percent of Scripps students complete at least one internship during their time at Scripps. In 2025, thanks to the generous support of the donor community, Scripps was able to award 100 internship grants, enabling students to take advantage of unpaid or underpaid opportunities.
“Leadership takes many forms,” Bruner says. “You don’t have to hold a title or be highly visible to make a difference. You can lead quietly through your actions and your values.”
“Barbara’s generosity opens doors that change the trajectory of our students’ lives,” says Gretchen Maldonado, director of the Laspa Center. “For years, she has invested not only in our students, but in the kind of leaders they can become.”
For Bruner, the Carter Center reflects the leadership qualities she hopes students will carry forward. “President Carter embodied integrity, decency, compassion, and a deep sense of morality,” she says. “Those qualities are more important now than ever.”
Bruner’s connection to the Carter Center grew out of a career dedicated to service. After graduating from Scripps, she worked as a paramedic in Pasadena before transitioning into pharmaceutical sales.
The Scripps Student Experience
Founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the Carter Center works in more than 80 countries to promote human rights, improve global health, and reduce human suffering. Its annual Executive Briefing convenes donors, scientists, advocates, and leaders to discuss global challenges.
“My visit to the Carter Center was beyond amazing,” shares Kaye Sklar ’11. “Not only was it a great opportunity to learn about the work of the Carter Center and meet the people who work there and those that support them, but I also loved getting a sense of the history of President Carter and his role in the United States past and present.”
Students have described the experience as transformative, citing the opportunity to learn from leaders addressing urgent global challenges and to deepen their understanding of compassionate, values-driven leadership.
“The opportunity to attend The Carter Center Executive Briefing was an impactful, inspiring experience,” says Sable Fest ’22. “I left the trip feeling incredibly motivated by The Carter Center’s work to eliminate and eradicate neglected tropical diseases in underserved populations.”
Since 2007, Bruner has sponsored 22 Scripps students to attend the Executive Briefing. This new gift will ensure that number continues to grow.
“I hope this gift helps students see the world more globally, deepens their compassion, and expands their expectations for leadership,” Bruner says. “They don’t have to simply wish things were better—they can take concrete steps to make a difference.”
Give Today! Through Scripps Forward: The Centennial Campaign for Scripps College, we aim to surpass $100 million in donor support over three years and secure a future of infinite possibility for the next century. Your generosity helps talented students fully engage in Scripps’ academic and co-curricular life.