Sharon D. Herzberger, Ph.D.
President

Sharon D. Herzberger became Whittier College's 14th president on July 1, 2005. Since then, she has led successful initiatives to identify, affirm, and articulate the values and aspirations of Whittier College; focus on student success both within and beyond the campus environs; improve and enhance the physical plant; invigorate Poet athletics and other student life programs; and deepen and broaden connections to the City of Whittier and the greater Los Angeles area.

Early in her tenure, Dr. Herzberger launched the Lessons on Leadership program, which brings leaders in business, government, and not-for-profit organizations -- many of whom are Whittier College alumni and parents -- to campus to engage with students and share their "secrets to success." Recognizing opportunities to learn from our connections to the College's most notable alumnus, Dr. Herzberger attracted funding to create the Richard M. Nixon Fellowship Program to prepare exceptional students for informed citizenship and public service. In the summer of 2007, she joined colleagues throughout the nation in signing the American College & University President Climate Commitment and working towards the goal of climate neutrality on campus. Under her leadership, a dramatic renovation and expansion of the Campus Center is underway and renovation of our science facilities and expanded science offerings are in the planning stages.

Dr. Herzberger's career in academe spans more than 30 years and is marked by a variety of successive leadership roles and professional achievement, affording her experience in virtually every aspect of campus life and administration. After teaching at Northwestern University, Dr. Herzberger began her longtime association with Trinity College in 1980, when she joined the faculty of the psychology department, eventually serving as department chair. By the time she left to join Whittier, she also had served as special assistant to the president for affirmative action, associate vice president for the college's campaign, vice president for student services, and vice president for institutional planning and administration. She also founded the Consortium on High Achievement and Success (CHAS), a group of 36 highly selective, private liberal arts colleges and universities dedicated to building healthy campus environments where students of all backgrounds may reach their highest potential as scholars and leaders. She served as chair of the CHAS steering board until 2005, when she left to assume the Whittier College presidency.

In addition to publishing numerous research articles, Dr. Herzberger has co-authored two books: Affirmative Action: The Pros and Cons of Policy and Practice and Violence within the Family: Social Psychological Perspectives. She holds a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University and her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois.

Dr. Herzberger resides in Wardman House with her husband David, a professor of Spanish literature at the University of California, Riverside. The Herzbergers have two sons, Ben and Jeff, and daughter-in-law, Amanda."

Contact

Office: Mendenhall, First Floor
Tel: 562.907.4200, ext. 4201
E-mail: president@whittier.edu