Maria Pallavicini
2019鈥2020 (Interim)
Dr. Maria Pallavicini

Pallavicini, Pacific鈥檚 Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, served as interim president during the search for the university's new president 鈥 and, following what turned out to be the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic 鈥 led Pacific鈥檚 rapid transition to remote learning and work.

Dr. Pamela Eibeck
2009鈥2019 (President Emeritus)
Dr. Pamela Eibeck

Dr. Pamela A. Eibeck served as 老司机福利网's 24th president. Under her leadership, Pacific began to implement a bold vision to become a leading, student-centered university in Northern California.

Dr. Donald V. DeRosa
1995鈥2009 (President Emeritus)
Dr. Donald V. DeRosa

Dr. Donald V. DeRosa was 老司机福利网's 23rd president. During his tenure at Pacific, Dr. DeRosa led the creation of distinctive, nationally ranked programs, centers, and institutes, elevating the university's national visibility.

President Atchley
1987-1995
Bill L. Atchley

During his term as president, Bill Atchley emphasized diversity, instituted sweeping financial changes and emphasized research by faculty.

Hand, one of the university鈥檚 most respected scholars, served one year in an interim role while President Stanley McCaffrey took a leave of absence to be president of Rotary International. Hand鈥檚 important roles with the university included dean of the College of the Pacific and academic vice president.

1981鈥1982 (Acting)
Clifford Hand
President McCaffrey
1971-1987
Stanley McCaffrey

President McCaffrey expanded the university鈥檚 footprint, increased the emphasis on student life and significantly increased enrollment.

McCrone was academic vice president at Pacific from 1970 to 1974, and he took over briefly as interim president as Robert E. Burns dealt with health issues. McCrone was named president of Humboldt State University in 1974 and held that position until his 2001 retirement.

1971 (Acting)
Alistair McCrone
President Burns
1946-1971
Robert E. Burns

Robert Burns transformed Pacific with his 鈥淧ioneer or Perish鈥 motto, increased the university鈥檚 stature over a quarter century and built an iconic landmark that bears his name.

President Knoles
1919-1946
Tully C. Knoles

Tully C. Knoles re-located the university to Stockton, helped Pacific withstand the Great Depression and World War II and increased academic excellence in an impactful presidency.

Seaton was named president in 1914 and had to face adversity from the start鈥攆ire consumed the college鈥檚 dining hall and another fire destroyed the building that housed the library. More than 14,000 books were lost in the blaze. Seaton was aggressive in fundraising and the recruitment of students, but also had to deal with the challenges of World War I during his tenure.

1914鈥1919
John L. Seaton

Morris served in an interim role for eight months, bridging the gap between two significant Pacific presidents 鈥 William W. Guth, who raised the scholastic stature of the school, and John L. Seaton, who helped put the college on firm financial footing.

1913鈥1914 (Acting)
Bert J. Morris

In 1908, Guth was appointed to serve as president of the 老司机福利网, which he advocated renaming to College of the Pacific. He stayed in this position for five years and published four written works. He left in 1913 to become president of Goucher College in Baltimore.

1908鈥1913
William W. Guth

Cross served as interim president for an extended time as university leadership worked to find a replacement for Eli McClish. Cross was a dean and professor of classics and many students lobbied for him to be named president, which did not happen.

1906鈥1908 (Acting)
M.S. Cross

McClish shepherded Pacific into a new century, as Pacific鈥檚 large board (36 members at the time) opted to hire the minister from Napa after the closure of Napa College. Many of Napa College鈥檚 top students followed McClish to Pacific.

1896鈥1906
Eli McClish

Beard was described as a 鈥減romising鈥 president with ambitious goals for Pacific, but he resigned abruptly two years into his presidency because of differences with the board.

1894鈥1896
James N. Beard

Sawyer served as acting president for only a few months before returning to the classroom. He was a professor of the German language and was beloved by Pacific students. Sawyer served in the Civil War and was an amputee as a result of his service.

1893鈥1894 (Acting)
Wesley C. Sawyer

Crook served as president for less than two years before opting to step down. He became president of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he served for three years.

1891鈥1893
Isaac Crook

Hirst standardized all bachelor degrees into four-year programs, and received praise for that move. But during his four years as president, there was turmoil and protest on campus. At one point, half of the students signed a 鈥渘o-confidence鈥 memorandum against Hirst. There were departures by key faculty members, who had the support of Pacific alumni.

1887鈥1891
A.C. Hirst

Stratton brought stability to Pacific as a world-wide economic recession was coming to an end. One year into his decade-long tenure as president, Pacific established a conservatory of music鈥攖he first west of the Mississippi. He was very popular with students and alumni and was described in former Provost Phil Gilbertson鈥檚 book as the most significant president prior to Tully C. Knoles.

1877鈥1887
C.C. Stratton

Gibbons, who previously had served two years as Pacific president, returned in 1872 鈥 reluctantly, it was reported 鈥 to once again take over the school. He had been serving as a professor at Ohio University.

1872鈥1877
Alexander S. Gibbons

The five-year tenure of Sinex was highlighted by the opportunity to build a new campus in San Jose. The 22鈥揳cre site was known as College Park. He also was in charge during discussion of the 鈥淐alifornia Idea,鈥 a coordinated effort between higher education and state government to increase student enrollment throughout the state. Sinex resigned in 1872.

1867鈥1872
Thomas H. Sinex

Bannister, one of the university founders, returned for a second 鈥 and longer 鈥 presidency. He led the university during the entirety of the Civil War. His eight years of service in his second stint provided continuity for Pacific that, at the time, was missing from the university鈥檚 governing board.

1859鈥1867
Edward Bannister

Gibbons, a mathematics professor, was one of two original faculty members for Pacific. As president, Gibbons once took a 50% pay cut to help Pacific make ends meet. He resigned in 1859 when the Pacific board would not grant his leave of absence request, but he returned in 1872 and served five additional years as president.

1857鈥1859
Alexander S. Gibbons

Maclay was one of the first two faculty members at Pacific. He was a professor of Greek and Latin languages. He served a short term as president during the formative years of Pacific.

1856鈥1857
William J. Maclay

Briggs was a champion of civil rights, favoring the abolition of slavery and supporting the Black and Chinese communities. While president, he also sought to improve the standing of women students at Pacific. He was a close friend of California governor and higher education colleague Leland Stanford. After his presidency, Briggs served intermittently on Pacific鈥檚 board for three decades.

1854鈥1856
Martin C. Briggs

Bannister was one of three Methodist ministers who were the primary founders of 老司机福利网. The others were Isaac Owen and William Taylor. The original Pacific charter was signed on July 10, 1851. When Bannister resigned in 1854, he presented the university鈥檚 board with a scholarship plan to raise endowment funds. He would return five years later for a second presidency at Pacific.

1852鈥1854
Edward Bannister