Pamela A. Eibeck
President, University of the Pacific
Pamela A. Eibeck became the 24th President of University of the Pacific on July 1, 2009. She is Pacific's sixth President since the University moved to Stockton in 1924 and the first woman to hold the office.
Under her stewardship, the University has enjoyed a $16 million increase in endowment investments. Eibeck has dedicated the $7.5 million Janssen-Lagorio Gymnasium, the $10 million John T. Chambers Technology Center, the $5 million Alex and Jeri Vereschagin Alumni House and the $10 million renovation of the Pacific McGeorge Legal Studies Center. Pacific's enrollments are also stronger than ever: more than 21,000 students applied to be members of University of the Pacific's fall 2011 freshman class, with 960 enrolling. And President Eibeck has made connecting with the community a major priority with her Beyond Our Gates campaign.
Eibeck's Presidency follows a distinguished career as a researcher, teacher, educational reformer, and university administrator. She received her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering between 1979 and 1986 from Stanford University. She joined the faculty at the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned tenure and served from 1985 to 1995. In 1995, she became a professor and chair of mechanical engineering at Northern Arizona University, where she later served as director of the honors program and then vice provost for undergraduate studies. In 2004, Eibeck was named dean of the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech, one of the nation's largest engineering colleges with 4,400 students, 156 faculty and five research centers.
An expert in heat transfer, Eibeck conducted experimental research related to electronics cooling and thermal tiles used by NASA on the space shuttles. Her later work focused on engineering educational reform, including early use of multimedia in the classroom, curriculum development and, most recently, ways to attract young people and women to the profession. She has authored or co-authored nearly 50 articles and papers.
Eibeck became a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2008. She received the Distinguished Engineering Educator Award from the Society of Women Engineers in 1996 and the Boeing Outstanding Educator Award in 1999.
Eibeck is married to William D. Jeffery, a law professor and a native of California. They have four children. Sons Andrew and Kevin live in the Bay Area. Daughter Katherine attends the University of Southern California. Their youngest son, Will, attends Santa Clara University.
Learn more about the President's Family.
August 2011