Occidental College President Dr. Jonathan Veitch ’77 to Return to Classroom
Loyola alum Dr. Jonathan Veitch ’77, who has spent the last 10 years as President of Occidental College, announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down from his role to return to teaching and research. After a sabbatical, Veitch plans to return to Occidental as a professor.
“I got into the profession because I wanted to read and write and teach. I became an administrator by happy accident. It was a long, circuitous route, but it has been a rewarding one… And as a professor, I look forward to seeing what Occidental looks like from the other end of the telescope,” Veitch told the Occidental Magazine. (To read the full piece, click here.)
Occidental is a nationally renowned private liberal arts college located in Eagle Rock, nestled in between the cities of Pasadena and Glendale. Notable Occidental College attendees include 44th President of the United States Barack Obama and Academy Award-winning actor Ben Affleck.
Veitch, who was appointed the 15th president in Occidental College history in 2009, achieved much during his tenure. He oversaw the implementation of new academic programs in computer science, music production, Black studies and media arts and culture, as well as the launch of the Barack Obama Scholars Program, which aims to “empower the next generation of leaders to actively pursue the public good.” The program covers more than $250,000 in tuition, room, board, books and other expenses, and so far, the college has already raised $10 million in funds.
“On June 30, 2020, after 4,018 days on the job, Veitch will step down as Occidental’s 15th president. In an era where the average tenure of a college president has shrunk to 6.5 years, his 11-year tenure is atypical.”
Veitch graduated from Loyola High in 1977 and went on to attend Stanford for his undergraduate studies. He later earned his MA and Ph.D. from Harvard University. More recently, Veitch served as a member of Loyola High School’s Board of Directors from 2015-19. When he leaves his post in 2020—11 years after he was first appointed—Veitch will have been the fourth-longest tenured president in Occidental history.
