Pitzer Served as Starting Point for Grateful Couple Who Have Chosen to Give Back

For Philippe Cohen and Cindy Stead, Pitzer College holds special memories, not only for the skills they learned as students, but for bringing them together—it’s the place where they met!

Philippe was an Environmental Studies major who transferred from Los Angeles City College to Pitzer, and Cindy majored in Anthropology and Environmental Studies, arriving as a freshman. After meeting at a party, they bonded because of their combined love for nature, the outdoors and the environment.

Something they both agree on about their experience at Pitzer is that their education made the world feel bigger. They remember all their professors with fondness, as well as their classes and projects. Cindy, through her work as a counselor and in development, especially enjoyed learning how to thoroughly research.

“It taught me to think hard,” she says, “how to evaluate information, what to pull together, what to question. They’re all skills I’ve used throughout my career and life.”

Philippe’s experience with running field stations required him to wear multiple hats, but he felt prepared for the challenges, thanks to his time at Pitzer.

“It never felt like we were pressured for specialization,” he says, “but rather being open to different perspectives, with the emphasis on being able to communicate and think critically.”

Due to their wonderful memories as students, they have included Pitzer College in their will, intending to pay forward their experiences. They firmly believe in Pitzer’s future and know how valuable it will be for students to have life-changing opportunities during their time here.

Philippe and Cindy have been together for 49 years and will celebrate their big 50th anniversary in 2024, and it all started at Pitzer College! We are very grateful to them for their support and look forward to learning about their future adventures together.

If you also feel that Pitzer helped you identify and pursue your passions, nurtured your curiosity and prepared you well for life after graduation, you can make the College part of your legacy, just as Philippe and Cindy did. Contact Lily Shin at 909.621.8432 or plannedgiving@pitzer.edu to learn more today.