TEDxSanJoaquin - Pam Eibeck - The Role of Universities in Community Development

Pamela A. Eibeck became the 24th President of University of the Pacific on July 1, 2009, and she is first woman to hold the office. Under her stewardship, the University has enjoyed a $16 million increase in endowment investments. Eibeck has dedicated the $7.5 million Janssen-Lagorio Gymnasium, the $10 million John T. Chambers Technology Center, the $5 million Alex and Jeri Vereschagin Alumni House and the $10 million renovation of the Pacific McGeorge Legal Studies Center. And President Eibeck has made connecting with the community a major priority with her Beyond Our Gates campaign. Through this initiative, University of the Pacific held six community forums to listen to the needs and goals of Stockton and San Joaquin and is now establishing partnerships to address these issues.

Eibeck's Presidency follows a distinguished career as a researcher, teacher, educational reformer, and university administrator. She received her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. She has taught at both University of California Berkeley and Northern Arizona University. In 2004, Eibeck was named dean of the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech, one of the nation's largest engineering colleges with 4,400 students, 156 faculty and five research centers.

An expert in heat transfer, Eibeck conducted experimental research related to electronics cooling and thermal tiles used by NASA on the space shuttles. Her later work focused on engineering educational reform, including early use of multimedia in the classroom, curriculum development and, most recently, ways to attract young people and women to the profession. She has authored or co-authored nearly 50 articles and papers. Eibeck became a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2008. She received the Distinguished Engineering Educator Award from the Society of Women Engineers in 1996 and the Boeing Outstanding Educator Award in 1999.

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