Amy Marcus-Newhall was appointed as the 11th president of Scripps College by a unanimous vote of the College’s Board of Trustees. She will hold the title of the W.M. Keck Foundation Presidential Chair, established in 1980.
“With an impressive track record as a leader, a deep understanding of the transformative power of a Scripps education, and a commitment to cultivate an environment where all members of our community can thrive academically, professionally, and socially, Dr. Marcus-Newhall is the clear choice for the next president of Scripps College,” says Laura Hockett, chair of the Scripps College Board of Trustees. “We have the utmost confidence in her ability to propel the College’s ambitious vision for the future and cement its position as a world-class educational institution as Scripps approaches its centennial anniversary.”
Dr. Marcus-Newhall served as interim president of the College from 2015–16 and from 2021–22. The College flourished under her leadership as she deployed her institutional knowledge, familiarity with The Claremont Colleges consortium, and focus on building community to significantly advance Scripps’ strategic priorities. Accomplishments during her interim presidencies included: collaborating with Pitzer College to establish a new two-college science program and financing the construction of a cutting-edge science facility, restoring employee retirement benefits suspended during the pandemic, and securing a $15 million matching grant to increase scholarship funds for underrepresented students.
She also has served as the vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty of Scripps College for 12 years, leading strategic initiatives to enhance the curriculum, to improve faculty compensation and retention, and to develop a strategic plan to foster diversity and inclusion.
“Dr. Marcus-Newhall is a seasoned, results-oriented and collaborative higher education leader who has spent her career in service of Scripps College’s educational mission,” says Hockett. “She is highly respected by Scripps faculty, students, staff, alums, and families for her inclusive leadership style, commitment to Scripps’ mission, and warm affection for the people who comprise this special community.”
Prior to her role as vice president and dean of faculty, Dr. Marcus-Newhall was a faculty member in Scripps’ department of psychology for 18 years, where her scholarship focused on intergroup relations and the intersection of work and family. She received her master’s degree and PhD in social psychology from the University of Southern California and her AB magna cum laude in psychology and American studies from Occidental College.
“The two years I spent in the office of the president have been among the most gratifying in my career and I’m proud of what we achieved collectively in those years. As president, I will build on those accomplishments to define a vision that reinforces Scripps’ core identity, cements its enduring purpose, and strengthens its extraordinary community.”
Read President Marcus-Newhall’s complete message to the community here.