Pacific Oaks' President Pat Breen, Ph.D., Announces Retirement

President Patricia A. Breen, Ph.D., is retiring from Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School’s after nine years of working with the school. Dr. Breen, who has worked in the higher education field for more than 40 years, leaves behind a legacy of excellence and innovation.
“I leave Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School full of pride, and grateful for all we have achieved together,” Dr. Breen says. “Sharing in the marvelous journey of Pacific Oaks has been a great honor, and I will never forget my time here.”
Dr. Breen discovered the Pacific Oaks’ community when the college affiliated with TCS Education System in 2010. As the then-senior vice president of academic affairs at TCS Education System, Dr. Breen played a key role in helping to recreate the strong academic and financial infrastructure Pacific Oaks needed to survive the changing economic and regulatory demands at that time. She became Provost of Pacific Oaks College in 2014 before officially becoming Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School’s 10th president in 2015.
Under her leadership, the San Jose branch campus opened in 2016 and Pacific Oaks solidified its roots in Pasadena with its property purchase in 2017. Dr. Breen also helped to usher in new programs at Pacific Oaks, starting with the Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Change program in 2017—the first program to incorporate coursework from each of PO’s three academic areas—followed by Advocacy & Social Justice later that year and Community Psychology in 2018.
“We thank Pat for her exemplary service to Pacific Oaks over the last five years,” says Fred Marcus, J.D., the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Pacific Oaks. “During her tenure, both the College and Children’s School have flourished and grown under her leadership and guidance. She’ll be missed.”
Dr. Jack Paduntin, the previous Chief Academic Officer for TCS Education System, is currently serving as Pacific Oaks’ Interim President through May 31, 2019. The Board of Trustees at Pacific Oaks are currently assessing the needs of the College and the Children’s School and developing a formal plan for the hiring of a new president.
About Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School
Founded more than 70 years ago in 1945, Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School (PO) is a non-profit, accredited higher education institution offering Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in human development, marriage and family therapy, education, early childhood education, teacher preparation, advocacy & social justice, community psychology, and organizational leadership and change. 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. The Children’s School is designated as an outdoor classroom demonstration site.
PO is dedicated to the 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, online, 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 Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). 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.