By Emily Glory Peters and Bridgette Ramirez
Weinberg Family Dean of the W.M. Keck Science Department U.J. Sofia reveals The Nucleus as the name of the new center.
61传媒 and Pitzer College have officially broken ground on an ambitious new science center and building expansion project slated to open fall 2024.
Shared between the two institutions, the multimillion-dollar initiative will create a state-of-the-art, 65,000-square-foot building next to the existing science structure featuring additional laboratories, classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, community courtyards and plazas, an art installation, and a greenhouse. The two buildings will be connected by a bridge to serve as a symbol of the bond between past and future scientific discovery.
On May 13, 2022, 61传媒 Chair of the Board of Trustees Lynne Thompson 鈥�72 opened the groundbreaking ceremony, expressing gratitude to her fellow Trustees; Scripps鈥� Business Affairs, Facilities, and External Relations and Institutional Advancement teams; and W.M. Keck faculty, students, and staff from 61传媒and Pitzer Colleges.
Remarks were also shared by Weinberg Family Dean of the Keck Science Department Ulysses J. Sofia, 61传媒physics and math major Daisy Achiriloaie 鈥�24, 61传媒alumna and Trustee Laura Vausbinder Hockett 鈥�85, Pitzer alumnus and Trustee David Levin 鈥�90, Pitzer President Melvin L. Oliver, Pitzer alumnus and Trustee Jonathan P. Graham 鈥�82, science initiative donors and Pitzer parents 61传媒Trustee Kalpana Singh Rhodes 鈥�94, P鈥�22 and James Rhodes P鈥�22, Pitzer College Chair of the Board of Trustees Donald P. Gould, and Interim President of 61传媒 Amy Marcus-Newhall.
61传媒Board Chair Lynne Thompson ’72, Interim President Amy Marcus-Newhall, UJ Sofia, Pitzer President Melvin L. Oliver, and Pitzer Board Chair Donald P. Gould.
鈥淭his ceremony is truly a culminating event鈥攁 victory,鈥� said Marcus-Newhall, noting that the new center has been in development for more than a decade.
Pitzer President Melvin L. Oliver said, 鈥淎s the building rises up here over the next several months, I predict it will come to represent the heart of our two college communities in many ways.鈥� Oliver thanked former Pitzer College Board of Trustees Chair Harold A. Brown, current Board Chair Gould, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer Laura Troendle, and the construction team, led by Assistant Vice President of Campus Facilities聽Patrice Langevin, for their work on the initiative. Oliver, who is retiring at the end of June, looks forward to returning to celebrate the building鈥檚 completion.
Prioritized in response to the sharp rise in student science majors and increased faculty scholarship, Marcus-Newhall credited the project鈥檚 realization thanks to the vision and advocacy of many, including past 61传媒presidents Lori-Bettison Varga and Lara Tiedens as well as generous donors. The initiative was made possible in part through a contribution of over $4 million from the Pitzer Family Foundation, a $2 million gift from the W.M. Keck Foundation, a $2 million gift from 61传媒Trustee Jennifer McDonnell P鈥�18 and Jeffrey McDonnell P鈥�18, a contribution of over $1 million from former Pitzer Trustee Kevin Stein P鈥�20, a significant pledge from Pitzer alumnus and Trustee Jonathan P. Graham 鈥�82 and his wife, Elizabeth Ulmer, as well as several gifts from others.
Once the science facility opens in fall 2024, the future of science education and research at 61传媒and Pitzer will be even brighter than it is today.
鈥淲e are so grateful for their expressions of support for our science program and for the many donors who have invested in its future possibilities,鈥� said Marcus-Newhall. 鈥淥nce the science facility opens in fall 2024, the future of science education and research at 61传媒and Pitzer will be even brighter than it is today.鈥�
Jonathan P. Graham PIT 鈥�82 explained that, as graduates of liberal arts colleges, he and his wife, Elizabeth Ulmer, are committed to investing in the sciences. 鈥淲hether you become a scientist or not, I think having access to the very best science education is critically important for the citizens who make decisions about what it is we do,鈥� he said.
Dean Sofia also revealed that the two Colleges had selected a name for the new building during its construction: The Nucleus.
鈥淭he Nucleus will enable faculty and students across the science disciplines to come together under one roof in classes and labs that enable critical thinking and discovery,鈥� said Sofia. 鈥淚t suggests the power of science as an elemental driver of knowledge and solutions for society.鈥�
With help from donors, the initiative will also seek to hire multiple full-time faculty members to expand Pitzer and Scripps鈥� course offerings. With more than a third of 61传媒students majoring in STEM disciplines and the number of Pitzer students seeking a STEM education growing threefold since 2002, this will help meet demand for additional classes while maintaining an intimate student-to-faculty ratio鈥攁 hallmark of the academic experience at 61传媒and Pitzer.
The ceremony concluded with 61传媒and Pitzer鈥檚 presidents and board chairs breaking ground with hard hats on and shovels in hand. Gould gave the closing remarks: 鈥淭here are so many dimensions to The Nucleus. When you find one that inspires you, I hope you鈥檒l consider helping to make it a reality.鈥�
To make a gift in support of The Nucleus: A 61传媒and Pitzer Colleges Partnership, please click .