Pitzer College

Pitzer College is a private residential liberal arts college located in Claremont, California, and is one of the Claremont Colleges. Founded in 1963, it is named after Russell K. Pitzer, a California oil developer and philanthropist who provided the initial funding for the college. The college is known for its strong programs in Environmental Studies, International Relations, and Psychology, and has a strong affiliation with the University of Southern California, Pomona College, Claremont Graduate University, Harvey Mudd College, Scripps College, and Claremont McKenna College. Pitzer College has a diverse range of students, with many attending from California, New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois, and has a strong network of alumni, including Google employees, Harvard University researchers, and Stanford University professors.

● History

Pitzer College was founded in 1963 by Russell K. Pitzer, with the help of Donald McKenna, a former Stanford University administrator, and John W. Atherton, a former Pomona College professor. The college was established as a Women's college, but became co-educational in 1970, following the lead of Scripps College and Mount Holyoke College. The college's early years were marked by a strong focus on Social Justice and Community Service, with many students participating in Civil Rights Movement protests and Vietnam War demonstrations, alongside students from University of California, Berkeley and University of Michigan. Pitzer College has also been influenced by the Claremont Colleges' Intercollegiate Athletics programs, which include teams from Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, and Harvey Mudd College.

● Academics

Pitzer College offers a range of undergraduate degree programs, including majors in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Politics, Sociology, and Psychology, with many students going on to attend graduate programs at University of California, Los Angeles, University of Chicago, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The college is also known for its strong programs in International Relations, Environmental Studies, and Media Studies, with many students participating in study abroad programs at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Australian National University. Pitzer College has a strong faculty, with many professors having received awards from National Science Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Guggenheim Fellowship, and has a strong network of alumni, including NASA researchers, World Bank employees, and United Nations officials.

● Campus

The Pitzer College campus is located in Claremont, California, and is situated near the San Gabriel Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The campus is home to a range of buildings, including the Gold Student Center, the Broad Center, and the Athenaeum, which hosts events and lectures featuring speakers from University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and California Institute of Technology. The college also has a range of outdoor spaces, including the Pitzer College Organic Farm, which provides produce to the college's dining hall and supports Sustainable Agriculture initiatives, and the Robert J. Atherton athletic fields, which host Intercollegiate Athletics events with teams from Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, and Harvey Mudd College.

● Student_life

Pitzer College has a range of student organizations and clubs, including the Pitzer College Student Senate, the Pitzer College Debate Team, and the Pitzer College Outdoor Adventure Club, which organizes trips to Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park. The college also has a strong focus on Community Service, with many students participating in volunteer programs at Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, and Sierra Club, and has a range of cultural organizations, including the Pitzer College Asian American Student Union, the Pitzer College Black Student Union, and the Pitzer College Latinx Student Union, which host events and celebrations with students from University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, and California State University, Los Angeles.

● Athletics

Pitzer College is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and competes in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), alongside teams from Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, and Harvey Mudd College. The college has a range of athletic teams, including Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, and Tennis, and has a strong rivalry with Occidental College and University of Redlands. Pitzer College athletes have gone on to compete at the Olympic Games, NCAA Championships, and Professional Sports leagues, including the National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer, and have been recognized with awards from NCAA, USA Today, and ESPN.

● Notable_alumni_and_faculty

Pitzer College has a range of notable alumni, including Google employees, Harvard University researchers, and Stanford University professors, as well as Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award winners, and MacArthur Fellowship recipients. The college's faculty includes Guggenheim Fellowship winners, National Science Foundation grant recipients, and Fulbright Scholarship holders, and has included visiting professors from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Australian National University. Notable alumni include Susan Straight, a National Book Award finalist, and Brady Walkinshaw, a former Washington State Representative, who have gone on to work at Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook, and have been recognized with awards from Time Magazine, Forbes, and Fast Company.