Current Position and Past Experience
Laura Skandera Trombley is the 16th President of Southwestern University and the first woman to serve in the institution’s top leadership role. Since assuming the presidency in July 2020, she has led the development of two comprehensive five-year tactical plans, overseen major campus modernization initiatives, and secured significant funding for new residential, academic, and athletic facilities. Under her leadership, the university has experienced improved student outcomes and increased national recognition among liberal arts and sciences institutions.

Prior to joining Southwestern University, Dr. Trombley served as President of the University of Bridgeport, where she helped elevate the institution’s profile and strengthen its academic and operational performance. She is also President Emerita of Pitzer College, having served as its president for 13 years, and President Emerita of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Earlier in her career, she served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Coe College. Throughout her leadership career, she has been recognized for advancing institutional growth, fundraising, student success, diversity initiatives, and operational excellence.

In addition to her administrative leadership, Dr. Trombley is a tenured professor of English and an internationally recognized scholar of American literature and Mark Twain studies. She is the author of five books and is regarded as one of the leading Mark Twain scholars of her generation.

Education, Honors, and Achievements
Dr. Trombley earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English from Pepperdine University, graduating summa cum laude. She later received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Southern California, where she was recognized as a Virginia Barbara Middleton Scholar and received the Lester and Irene Finkelstein Fellowship for Outstanding Humanities Student.

A distinguished scholar and higher education leader, Dr. Trombley has received numerous honors for her academic contributions. In 2017, she received the Louis J. Budd Award for excellence in scholarly achievement and contributions to Mark Twain studies. In 2019, she was recognized as a Legacy Scholar by The Mark Twain Journal for her work highlighting the contributions and influence of the women in Mark Twain’s life and intellectual circle. She has also received the Professor of American Literature Award from The Huntington Library.

Throughout her career, Dr. Trombley has achieved several historic milestones, becoming the first woman to serve as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Coe College, the first woman president of The Huntington Library, and the first woman president of Southwestern University. Her leadership and scholarship have earned widespread recognition for strengthening institutions, advancing student success, and championing the value of liberal arts education.