Laura Skandera Trombley
{{short description|American academic administrator}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Laura Skandera Trombley
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| order = 16th
| title = President of Southwestern University
| term_start = July 1, 2020
| term_end =
| predecessor = Edward Burger
Dale T. Knobel (interim)
| successor =
| order1 = 10th
| title1 = President of University of Bridgeport
| term_start1 = July 1, 2018
| term_end1 = April 2, 2020
| predecessor1 = Neil Albert Salonen
| successor1 = Stephen Healey (interim)
| order2 = 8th
| title2 = President of the Huntington Library
| term_start2 = July 1, 2015
| term_end2 = March 28, 2017
| predecessor2 = Steven S. Koblik
| successor2 = Steve Hindle (acting)
Karen R. Lawrence
| order3 = 5th
| title3 = President of Pitzer College
| term_start3 = July 1, 2002
| term_end3 = June 30, 2015
| predecessor3 = Marilyn Chapin Massey
| successor3 = Thomas Poon (interim)
Melvin L. Oliver
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| birth_name = Laura Elise Skandera
| citizenship =
| nationality = American
| website = {{URL|https://lauratrombley.com/}}
| module =
{{Infobox academic | child=yes
|discipline = English Literature
|work_institution = {{unbulleted list| Huntington Library | Pitzer College | Coe College | SUNY Potsdam}}
|alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|Pepperdine University | University of Southern California}}
| thesis_title = The charmed circle: Mark Twain, women and the integration of imagination
| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/1560876093/
| thesis_year = 1989
| doctoral_advisor = Jay Martin
| academic_advisors =
| doctoral_students =
| notable_students =
}}
}}
Laura Skandera Trombley is an American academic administrator and scholar of Mark Twain. She is the Chair Emerita of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board{{cite web |url=http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/communications/2013/02/12/pitzer-college-president-laura-skandera-trombley-joins-j-william-fulbright-foreign-scholarship-board/#page=1 |title=Pitzer College President Laura Skandera Trombley joins the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board |publisher=Pitzer College |date=February 12, 2013 |first=Anna |last=Chang |access-date=April 21, 2017 |archive-date=April 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422134818/http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/communications/2013/02/12/pitzer-college-president-laura-skandera-trombley-joins-j-william-fulbright-foreign-scholarship-board/#page=1 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/12/250192.htm#page=1|title=J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Elects Laura Skandera Trombley as Chair, Jeffrey Bleich as Vice Chair for 2016 |publisher=U.S. Department of State |date=December 1, 2015|first=Catherine |last=Stearns |access-date=April 21, 2017}} and was the fifth President of Pitzer College in Claremont, California, and the eighth President of the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-13-me-3656-story.html |title=President-Elect Named for Pitzer College |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=November 13, 2001 |first=Rebecca |last=Trounson |access-date=October 28, 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/arts-and-entertainment/20141202/the-huntington-to-hire-its-first-female-president|title=The Huntington to Hire Its First Female President |newspaper=Pasadena Star-News |date=December 2, 2014 |first=Zen |last=Vuong |access-date=October 28, 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/museums/la-et-cm-new-huntington-president-20141203-story.html#page=1 |title=Laura Skandera Trombley is Named New President of Huntington Library |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=December 3, 2014 |first=Mike |last=Boehm |access-date=October 28, 2015}} In March 2018, she was named as the tenth president of University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut.{{cite web |url=https://westfaironline.com/100104/university-of-bridgeport-names-laura-skandera-trombley-as-new-president/ |title=University of Bridgeport names Laura Skandera Trombley as new president |publisher=Fairfield County Business Journal |date=March 12, 2018 |access-date=March 13, 2018}} On April 2, 2020, Skandera Trombley was named the 16th president of Southwestern University.{{cite web |url=https://www.southwestern.edu/live/news/14007-southwestern-university-names-laura-e-skandera |title=Southwestern University Names Laura E. Skandera Trombley 16th President |date=April 2, 2020 |access-date=April 2, 2020 |publisher=Southwestern University (Texas)}}
Early life and education
Born Laura Elise Skandera to an elementary school principal and second-grade teacher, she enrolled in Pepperdine University at the age of 16 and earned a B.A. in English and humanities by age 20.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} She graduated summa cum laude with a master's in English from Pepperdine University. From 1985 to 1988 she was a research associate in the American Studies department at the University of Eichstätt in Germany.{{cite web |url=http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=11328 |title=General Press Kit |publisher=Huntington Library |date=July 2015 |access-date=April 21, 2017 |archive-date=April 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422124043/http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=11328 |url-status=dead }}{{cite journal|url=http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/members.fulbright.org/resource/resmgr/Feb__March_14.pdf|title=Alumna of the Month |publisher=Fulbright Edge |volume=1 |issue=11 |date=February 2014 |access-date=October 28, 2015}} She received a Ph.D. in English from the University of Southern California.{{cite web |url=http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=17786 |title=Press Release-Laura Skandera Trombley Named President of The Huntington |publisher=The Huntington |date=December 2, 2014 |access-date=April 21, 2017 |archive-date=April 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422124853/http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=17786 |url-status=dead }}
Career
After the completion of her Ph.D., Trombley accepted a teaching position at the State University of New York at Potsdam where she earned tenure as an associate professor of English. Trombley also served as assistant provost there.{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/20/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts|work=whitehouse.gov|title=President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts|via=National Archives|date=20 December 2012}} In 1997, she assumed the post of vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Coe College, the first woman to hold that title. She was named President of Pitzer College at age 40. She was chosen, in 2015, as the first woman President of the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Trombley became an advisor to the Board of Trustees at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in 2017 and a consultant to the Libra Foundation and Schiff Foundation.{{cite web|url=https://sanmarinotribune.com/dr-laura-trombley-president-of-the-huntington-steps-down/|title=Dr. Laura Trombley, President of The Huntington, Steps Down - San Marino Tribune|website=sanmarinotribune.com}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.thelibrafoundation.org/about-us |title=About Us - the Libra Foundation |access-date=2017-05-16 |archive-date=2017-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512070543/http://www.thelibrafoundation.org/about-us |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.artic.edu/collections/schiff-foundation-fellowships|title=Schiff Foundation Fellowships - The Art Institute of Chicago|website=The Art Institute of Chicago}} She is an adjunct professor of the practice of English at the University of Southern California.{{cite web|url=https://dornsife.usc.edu/cf/faculty-and-staff/faculty.cfm?pid=1069390|title=Faculty Profile > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences|website=dornsife.usc.edu}}
Trombley began her Mark Twain scholarship while a USC doctoral student, with the largest find of Twain letters to date.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-nov-17-me-twain17-story.html|title=Her New Take on Twain|first=Rebecca|last=Trounson|date=17 November 2005|publisher=|via=LA Times}} At SUNY Potsdam, she was a recipient of the 1994 SUNY Potsdam President's Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities Award.http://prometheus.potsdam.edu/offices/hr/upload/Copy-of-Pres-AWards-Recipients-Oct-2011.pdf{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=Pitzer College presidency=
Trombley was inaugurated as president of Pitzer College in February 2003. In her first year in office, she made the SAT an optional criterion for admission to the college.{{cite web|url=http://www.fairtest.org/pitzer-college-makes-sat-optional|title=Pitzer College Makes SAT Optional |publisher=FairTest|access-date=October 28, 2015}}
During Trombley's presidency, Pitzer founded the Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability,{{cite web|url=http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/divestment-climate-action-model/2014/04/12/pitzer-college-robert-redford-announce-breakthrough-fossil-fuel-divestment-climate-action-model/|title=Pitzer College - A Member of the Claremont Colleges|website=Pitzer College|access-date=2017-05-16|archive-date=2015-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911073544/http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/divestment-climate-action-model/2014/04/12/pitzer-college-robert-redford-announce-breakthrough-fossil-fuel-divestment-climate-action-model/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.pitzer.edu/redfordconservancy/photos-graphics.asp |title=Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability |access-date=2017-05-16 |archive-date=2016-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925212504/http://www.pitzer.edu/redfordconservancy/photos-graphics.asp |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/20/local/la-me-redford-conservancy-20121120|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122211943/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/20/local/la-me-redford-conservancy-20121120|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 November 2012|title=Pitzer College, Robert Redford form conservancy|first=Dalina|last=Castellanos|date=20 November 2012|publisher=|via=LA Times}} the Firestone Center for Restoration Ecology in Costa Rica,{{Cite web|title = Firestone Center for Restoration Ecology at Pitzer College|url = https://www.pitzer.edu/offices/firestone_center/happening.html|website = www.pitzer.edu|access-date = 2015-11-19|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151119233355/https://www.pitzer.edu/offices/firestone_center/happening.html|archive-date = 2015-11-19|url-status = dead}} and the Vaccine Development Institute's partnership with the University of Botswana.{{Cite web|title = Pitzer College to Ratify Vaccine Development Collaboration in Botswana|url = http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/communications/2012/03/pitzer-college-ratify-vaccine-development-collaboration-botswana/|website = Office of Communications|access-date = November 19, 2015|archive-date = November 20, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151120001106/http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/communications/2012/03/pitzer-college-ratify-vaccine-development-collaboration-botswana/|url-status = dead}}
During her tenure, the college's student participation in overseas study increased from 49% to 80% and over 50 student exchanges were established.{{cite web|url=http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/study-abroad/pitzer-students/exchanges-programs/exchanges/|title=Pitzer College - A Member of the Claremont Colleges|website=Pitzer College}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The admission acceptance rate declined from 56 percent to 11 percent, and the college moved up 35 places in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, from no. 70 in 2004 to no. 35 in 2014.{{cite journal|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/pitzer-college-1172|title=Pitzer College|journal=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905134244/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/pitzer-college-1172|url-status=dead}} In 2012, Pitzer was named the 20th most selective higher education institution in the country by Business Insider{{Cite web|url = http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/2012-report-of-excellence-annual-report.pdf|title = Pitzer Annual Report, 2012|access-date = 2015-11-19|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140626210637/http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/2012-report-of-excellence-annual-report.pdf|archive-date = 2014-06-26|url-status = dead}} and Pitzer was the top producer of student Fulbright Fellows for five consecutive years, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.{{Cite news|url=http://chronicle.com/article/Top-Producers-of-US/151607/|title=Top Producers of U.S. Fulbright Scholars and Students|newspaper=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=March 9, 2016}}
While she was president, she completed three fundraising campaigns totaling over $110 million dollars{{Cite web| url=http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/communications/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2014/05/2015_Special_Spring-Summer_Edition_Participant-web.pdf | title=The Participant | volume=48 | number=2 | access-date=2017-05-16 | archive-date=2016-05-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515203142/http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/communications/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2014/05/2015_Special_Spring-Summer_Edition_Participant-web.pdf | url-status=dead}} and the college's endowment grew from $42 million to $133 million.{{cite web|url=http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/2014-summer-news/endowment-growth/|title=Endowment Growth|publisher=Pitzer College|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=November 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119234654/http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/2014-summer-news/endowment-growth/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/03/18/pitzer-college-says-it-saves-its-endowment-temporarily-ending-spending|title=Pitzer's Penny Pinching|newspaper=Inside Higher Ed|date=March 18, 2014|first= Ry |last=Rivard |access-date=October 28, 2015}} Trombley established three endowments: the John Skandera student financial aid fund for first generation students, the Laura Skandera Trombley endowment, and the Laura Skandera Trombley Humanities and Arts Endowed Research and Internship Fund.{{Cite web|title = Named Scholarships|url = http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/advancement/named-scholarships/|website = Pitzer College|access-date = 2015-11-19|archive-date = 2015-11-20|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151120003948/http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/advancement/named-scholarships/|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web|title = Named Endowed Funds|url = http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/advancement/why-giving-matters/named-endowed-funds/|website = Pitzer College|access-date = 2015-11-19|archive-date = 2015-11-20|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151120001535/http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/advancement/why-giving-matters/named-endowed-funds/|url-status = dead}}
Trombley's resignation was announced in December 2014, effective June 30, 2015.{{cite news |last1=Kawar |first1=Chance |title=After 13 Years, Trombley Resigns as Pitzer President |url=http://tsl.news/news/4498 |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=The Student Life |date=5 December 2014}} In June 2015, the faculty made a vote of no confidence, citing concerns about the lack of shared governance during her administration, as a "message to prospective presidential candidates that Pitzer takes issues of shared governance seriously".{{cite news |last1=Ogami |first1=Sean |title=Pitzer Faculty Vote No Confidence On President Trombley |url=http://tsl.news/news/4931/ |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=The Student Life |date=18 September 2015}}Scott Jaschik. "[https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/06/25/no-confidence-vote-pitzer No-Confidence Vote at Pitzer]". Inside Higher Ed, June 25, 2015.
= Huntington Library presidency=
In 2015 Trombley was appointed president of Huntington Library, becoming the library's first female president. In her first year, she raised $39.4 million, a $9 million increase over the previous year.{{Cite web| title=Finances | url=http://www.huntington.org/uploadedFiles/Files/PDFs/AR15_finances.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401174635/http://www.huntington.org/uploadedFiles/Files/PDFs/AR15_finances.pdf | archive-date=2016-04-01}}{{cite web|url=http://www.huntington.org/annualreport/|title=Annual Report|website=www.huntington.org|access-date=2017-05-16|archive-date=2017-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624010030/http://huntington.org/annualreport/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://view.publitas.com/the-huntington-1/annual-report-2016/page/22-23|title=The Huntington - Annual Report 2016 - Page 22-23 - Created with Publitas.com|website=view.publitas.com}} The Huntington also reached a new high of nearly 40,000 member families and 725,759 visitors.{{cite web|url=https://view.publitas.com/the-huntington-1/annual-report-2016/page/4-5|title=The Huntington - Annual Report 2016 - Page 4-5 - Created with Publitas.com|website=view.publitas.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=22896|title=Press Release - The Huntington Launches New Era in Dining, Partnering with Bon Appétit Management Co.|website=www.huntington.org|access-date=2017-05-16|archive-date=2017-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810205815/http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=22896|url-status=dead}} Trombley modified the plan for the final phase of the Chinese Garden, adding a restaurant, outdoor entertainment space, and an art gallery, and completed funding for the 20-year project, with gifts totaling $12 million.{{cite web|url=https://sanmarinotribune.com/planning-commission-supports-modifications-to-the-huntington-chinese-garden-residence/|title=Planning Commission Supports Modifications to The Huntington Chinese Garden, Residence - San Marino Tribune|website=sanmarinotribune.com}} In addition, she planned and received a $2.5 million gift for a Director of Research home to be built on the grounds of The Huntington, its first LEED certified building.{{cite web|url=http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=23395|title=Chinese Garden News - New Year Brings Major New Funding for Chinese Garden|website=www.huntington.org|access-date=2017-05-16|archive-date=2017-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023317/http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=23395|url-status=dead}}
She worked to establish internal sustainability and water conservation efforts;{{cite web|url=https://view.publitas.com/the-huntington-1/annual-report-2016/page/12-13|title=The Huntington - Annual Report 2016 - Page 12-13 - Created with Publitas.com|website=view.publitas.com}}"Huntington's Underground Pipe Systems Highlight Sustainability Efforts" organized the first institutional sustainability summit;{{cite web|url=http://insideedison.com/stories/huntington-librarys-underground-pipe-systems-highlight-sustainability-efforts|title=Huntington's Underground Pipe Systems Highlight Sustainability Efforts|first=Yvonne|last=Lee|website=Inside Edison}} and signed an agreement with the University of California, Riverside to subsidize the hiring of two assistant professors who will research full-time in The Huntington's collections.{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-huntington-uc-20151013-story.html|title=Huntington Library and UC Riverside Teaming Up to Hire Humanities Professors |newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=Larry |last=Gordon |date=October 14, 2015 |access-date=October 28, 2015}}
Trombley created the first institutional dashboard; instituted The Huntington Channel{{cite web|url=http://huntington.org/channel/|title=Huntington Channel|website=huntington.org|access-date=2017-05-16|archive-date=2017-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502074008/http://huntington.org/channel/|url-status=dead}} to archive videos and webcasts for the public; and created the Out of the Vault Series,{{clarify|date=July 2017}} to heighten the Huntington's profile in the southern California region. She instituted San Marino Day and made a $5,000 gift in her father's name to honor San Marino educators.{{cite web|url=https://sanmarinotribune.com/san-marino-day-returns-on-april-11/|title=San Marino Day Returns On April 11 - San Marino Tribune|website=sanmarinotribune.com}}{{cite web|url=https://sanmarinotribune.com/san-marino-day-adds-educational-element/|title='San Marino Day' Adds Educational Element - San Marino Tribune|website=sanmarinotribune.com}} She negotiated a new agreement between The Huntington and USC for The Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West (ICW) and USC-Huntington Early Modern Studies Institute (EMSI).{{cite web|url=http://huntington.org/orbit/|title=Orbit Pavilion|website=huntington.org}} In fall 2016, the Jonathan and Karin Fielding Wing opened, a $10.3 million expansion to the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art designed by Frederick Fisher, along with a major contribution of the Fieldings' collection.{{cite web|url=http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=21566|title=Press Release - New Wing and Entrance to American Art Galleries to Open in October|website=www.huntington.org|access-date=2017-05-16|archive-date=2017-02-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215063841/http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=21566|url-status=dead}}
=University of Bridgeport presidency=
On March 12, 2018, the University of Bridgeport announced Trombley would succeed Neil Salonen as president, effective July 1, 2018. During her time at Bridgeport, Trombley initiated several significant changes, including the implementation of a three-college structure, an increased focus on connecting education to career, and the creation of The Heckman Center for The Bridgeport Plan.{{cite web | url=https://www.bridgeport.edu/news/2020-04-02/university-bridgeport-appoints-new-interim-president | title=University of Bridgeport Appoints New Interim President | publisher=University of Bridgeport | date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 2, 2020}}
=Southwestern University presidency=
On April 2, 2020, Southwestern University of Texas announced Trombley would succeed Edward Burger as president, effective July 1, 2020.
Other activity
Trombley has served on the board of the Chief Executive Organization, has been a member of The Southern California Forum of The Trusteeship of the International Women's Forum, Rotary International,{{cite web|url=https://sanmarinotribune.com/lord-trombley-introduced-to-community-at-rotary/|title=Lord, Trombley Introduced To Community at Rotary - San Marino Tribune|website=sanmarinotribune.com}} the Zamorano Club,{{cite web|url=http://www.zamoranoclubla.org/|title=The Zamorano Club|website=www.zamoranoclubla.org}} the Council on Foreign Relations Higher Education Working group on global issues, the Chronicle of Higher Education/New York Times Higher Education Cabinet{{cite web|url=http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/communications/2008/09/16/pitzer-college-president-trombley-joins-chronicle-of-higher-education-new-york-times-higher-education-cabinet|title=Pitzer College - A Member of the Claremont Colleges|website=Pitzer College}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and the Council of Presidents of the Association of Governing Boards.{{Cite web| url=http://agb.org/sites/default/files/legacy/u16/BP%20Workshop%20Agenda%202011.pdf | title=Workshop for Board Professionals - Preliminary Agenda | date=2011-04-01 | access-date=2017-05-16 | archive-date=2017-11-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024817/http://agb.org/sites/default/files/legacy/u16/BP%20Workshop%20Agenda%202011.pdf | url-status=dead}} In December 2012, President Barack Obama named Trombley to the 12-member J. William Fulbright Commission that was established by the U.S. Congress to supervise the global Fulbright Program.{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/20/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts |title=President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts |date=December 20, 2012 |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |access-date=October 28, 2015}} In 2014 she served as vice-chair of the commission, and on November 12, 2015, the board elected Trombley chair.{{Cite web|title = J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Elects Laura Skandera Trombley as Chair, Jeffrey Bleich as Vice Chair for 2016|url = https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/12/250192.htm|website = U.S. Department of State|access-date = 2015-12-02}} In March 2017 was appointed Chair of The Rhodes Trust, District 16 Committee of Selection for the Rhodes Scholarships.{{cite web|url=http://www.rhodesscholar.org/applying-for-the-scholarship/districts/|title=District Regions - The Rhodes Scholarships|website=www.rhodesscholar.org}}
Honors
In 2002, Pepperdine recognized Trombley with a Distinguished Alumna Award, awarding her an honorary doctorate in 2013.{{cite journal|url=http://colleague.pepperdine.edu/2014/02/honorary-degree-recipients-education-division/|title=Honorary Degree Recipients Education Division|journal=Colleague|publisher=Pepperdine University|date=Fall 2013|volume=30|issue=2|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112141/http://colleague.pepperdine.edu/2014/02/honorary-degree-recipients-education-division/|url-status=dead}}
In 2016, Pitzer named Skandera Hall after her, prompting outrage from students and faculty.{{cite news |last1=Rod |first1=Marc |title=Pitzer Students, Faculty Outraged Over Skandera Hall Dedication |url=https://tsl.news/news5951/ |access-date=11 May 2021 |work=The Student Life |date=16 September 2016}}
She is the 2017 recipient of the Lou Budd Award in recognition of her contributions to the field of Mark Twain studies.{{cite web |url=https://marktwainstudies.com/mark-twain-libation-a-talk-by-the-2017-louis-j-budd-award-winner/ |title="MARK TWAIN & LIBATION": A TALK BY THE 2017 LOUIS J. BUDD AWARD WINNER |website=“MARK TWAIN & LIBATION”: A TALK BY THE 2017 LOUIS J. BUDD AWARD WINNER |date=14 August 2017 |publisher=Mark Twain Studies |access-date=16 June 2021}}
Works
- Edited with Roland Hagenbüche. Epistemology: Turning Points in the History of Poetic Knowledge (1986) {{ISBN|978-3-79-171029-7}}
- Mark Twain in the Company of Women (1994) {{ISBN|978-0-81-221619-6}}
- Edited Critical Essays on Maxine Hong Kingston (1998) {{ISBN|978-0-78-380036-3}}
- Mark Twain's Other Woman: The Hidden Story of His Final Years (2010) {{ISBN|978-0-30-747494-0}}
- Edited with Michael E. Kiskis. Constructing Mark Twain: New Directions in Scholarship (2011) {{ISBN|978-0-82-621968-8}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Pitzer College presidents}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skandera Trombley, Laura}}
Category:Presidents of Pitzer College
Category:University of Southern California alumni