Our mission

糖心vlog鈥檚 mission is to provide a superior, student-centered learning experience integrating liberal arts and professional education and preparing individuals for lasting achievement and responsible leadership in their careers and communities.

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Our values

Our shared values are at the heart of who we are as Pacificans and represent what we do best. Our values guide and shape our students' success by defining the essence of what a Pacific education means. This affirmed set of values builds students' pride and sense of belonging to the university and can transform their Pacific experience into lasting loyalty.

At Pacific, our tradition is innovation.

California's first university

The West's first music conservatory

California's first coeducational university

Our beginnings

糖心vlog听is California's oldest university, founded July 10, 1851鈥攍ess than a year after California received statehood. Established by pioneering Methodist ministers, it remains the only Methodist-affiliated university in California. Initially located in Santa Clara, the university later moved to San Jose and, in 1924, to Stockton, making it the first private four-year university in the Central Valley.

Founding
1851

Established as California鈥檚 first university

College
1871

Became California鈥檚 first coeducational campus and moved from Santa Clara to San Jose

conservatory
1878

Established the West鈥檚 first Conservatory of Music

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1924

Relocated the campus from San Jose to Stockton

The 鈥榩ioneer or perish鈥 era

The university experienced significant growth and expansion in its graduate and professional programs under the leadership of President Robert Burns (1947鈥1971), who transformed Pacific with his motto 鈥淧ioneer or Perish.鈥

Postcard
1955

Established the School of Pharmacy

a
1957

Established the School of Engineering

photo
1960

Became an independent institution

College
1962

Acquired the College of Physicians and Surgeons, a school of dentistry located in San Francisco

university
1964

Completed construction on the iconic Burns Tower

a
1966

Acquired the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento

Pacific on the rise

Pacific continued to advance its legacy of innovation and leadership under President Donald V. DeRosa (1995鈥2009), investing more than $200 million in facilities renovation and construction projects on all three campuses. DeRosa was succeeded by Pacific鈥檚 first woman president, Pamela A. Eibeck (2009鈥2019). Under her leadership, Pacific expanded student community outreach in San Francisco, Sacramento and Stockton.

Eberhardt
1995

Named the School of Business in honor of the Eberhardt family

Robert
2013

Received transformational $125 million gift from estate of Robert and Jeannette Powell

De
2008

Opened the Don and Karen DeRosa University Center

New
2014

Moved the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry to a state-of-the-art facility in downtown San Francisco

2022
2019

Established the School of Health Sciences听

(Shown: 2022 ribbon cutting for the school's state-of-the-art clinical skills and simulation center)

President Callahan

President Christopher Callahan visits Sacramento Campus, 2019

A new leader for a new era

On July 1 2020, Christopher Callahan became Pacific鈥檚 26th president, three months after the majority of Pacific鈥檚 students, faculty and staff had to leave their campuses for remote learning and work due to COVID-19.

He has set the ambitious goal of Pacific becoming the best student-centered comprehensive university in the nation within a decade. His areas of interest include universitywide initiatives in the areas of diversity, equity听and inclusion; sustainability; and community impact.