Pacific Oaks College Welcomes Lifelong Educators as New Board Members

Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School (PO) announces the appointment of two new members to the Board of Trustees, Renatta Cooper and Priscilla Burgess Gamb. Cooper and Gamb are longstanding community members of PO and the community is honored to welcome appointees so deeply involved with the institution.

“Our Board of Trustees connects Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School with the best thinking about our future and the best practices to assure that we achieve it. All of our Board members bring wisdom and experience to our community. The leadership that Renatta Cooper and Priscilla Gamb bring is also shaped by a long-standing commitment to our mission and our community. We are so grateful that they continue to care about Pacific Oaks and trust that we will make great strides together,” said Dr. Patricia A. Breen, president of Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School.

Renatta Cooper’s commitment to PO spans over 25 years and began when she was a student, where she earned a Masters degree in Human Development, with a specialization in Multicultural Studies at the college. At PO, she helped develop the Hixon Institute for Early Childhood Education, served as a faculty member for the Human Development department and as a teacher at the Children’s School, where she created the Saturday Infant/Toddler program.

A proud alumna of PO, Cooper is known as a leader in the field of early childhood education. She was a member of the Board of Education for Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) and tirelessly served for 8 years. During her Board of Education tenure, Cooper focused on promoting early childhood education, fostering stronger engagement between parents and the community, and closing the achievement gap between diverse groups of students and English learners.

Priscilla Burgess Gamb’s lifelong relationship with PO harkens back to the university’s roots. Gamb’s mother, Evangeline Burgess, served as the first president of Pacific Oaks College. Gamb attended Pacific Oaks Children’s School when she was a child, as did her own son and daughter. She would go on to fulfill administrative and teaching roles at the Children’s School. Additionally, Gamb has previously served on the Board of Trustees for PO, including her involvement with the Pacific Oaks Preservation Organization Advisory Council since 2009.

Gamb’s extensive experience in education includes 19 years of teaching and administration at the elementary school level, as well as significant advisory roles with local organizations such as the Junior League of Pasadena, PUSD, Pasadena City College Child Development Center, and Pasadena Community Foundation.

About Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School

Founded more than 70 years ago by a small group of Quaker families, Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School (PO) is a non-profit, accredited higher education institution offering Bachelor’s-completion and Master’s programs in human development, organizational leadership and change, marriage and family therapy, education, early childhood education, and teacher credentialing. Pacific Oaks Children’s School provides early childhood education programs for children ages 6 months through 5 years and has pioneered achievements in the areas of anti-bias education, emergent curriculum, and peaceful conflict resolution.

PO remains dedicated to the fundamental Quaker principles of inclusion, social justice, and the valuing of each individual. The school has a long history of serving non-traditional and adult students and is known for its experiential and culture-centered approach to education. PO offers classes at its main campus in Pasadena, its San Jose Campus, and at instructional sites throughout California. PO is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU). For more information, visit www.pacificoaks.edu.

Pacific Oaks College is an affiliate of TCS Education System, a non-profit system of colleges advancing student success and community impact.