One of Pitzer’s First Graduates Opens Doors for Future Students

Louise Thornton is part of the Charter Class of 1968—the first freshman class to enter Pitzer, where she majored in English Literature. She continues to be, to this day, an engaged community member.

When Louise is not advocating for the College as a member of the Board of Trustees, you will find her engaging with her Women of the Sixties classmates. This group has some amazing stories about Pitzer’s early years which they have shared during various College events, such as last year’s Founders Day and Alumni Weekend.

This remarkable group of women has enjoyed seeing the growth of the campus and the enrichment and expansion of educational pursuits and student life.

Having first seen Pitzer as a “field of rocks and dirt,” Louise and her classmates were able to look beyond and see the multiple opportunities ahead.

“It was a blank slate inviting us to create a college and ourselves.”

She also has positive memories of her interview process. “It was fascinating to me that they wanted to know about me, what I liked to do, what I was reading at the time. It was the opposite of other interviews. This cemented it for me.”

Louise firmly believes Pitzer changed her life. From her experiences at Pitzer and beyond, her advice to students today, is “if you wish to learn, be curious and look to the other side of your question.”

Education is very important in Louise’s family, and it continues to be something especially dear to her. As an alumna, she is deeply committed to the institution and believes in the mission of Pitzer College. It changed her life, and she knows it will continue to do the same for others in the future.

Through her planned gift and generous support throughout the years, she hopes to foster opportunities for students to enjoy the Pitzer experience for many years into the future.