By Jorge Mercado Sunday, June 1st, 2025

Editor’s note: This story was updated on June 6 to reflect that Dr. Leonie Mattison did not confirm to the Business Times that she is departing. She had no comment and referred us to Pacifica.

Pacifica Graduate Institute will be looking for a new CEO to steer the ship after current president/CEO Dr. Leonie Mattison steps down later this summer.

Mattison, who is currently on leave, will be departing her post once the academic year ends in August, according to Pacifica’s Board of Trustees, which announced the move in late April and confirmed the details on May 28.

“Dr. Mattison’s leadership and innovative spirit have left a meaningful impact on Pacifica, and her contributions are deeply appreciated. In keeping with our core values, seeded in the depth tradition, we respect and honor her privacy during this time and extend our best wishes for the future,” Pacifica said in a statement to the Business Times. 

Pacifica also praised Mattison’s efforts toward the launch of the 2030 Onward Together Strategic Plan, the Pacifica Promise Program to expand the mental health workforce, the faculty pay and ranking structure, and a shared governance model.

Mattison said she had nothing to add about her departure and any future plans.

Pacifica is an accredited graduate school offering master’s and doctoral degree programs in the traditions of depth psychology.

It is in the process of consolidating its operations from two locations into one Santa Barbara campus.

The institute said that  Dr. Colin Marlaire, current provost and vice president for academic affairs, has been appointed Interim President and CEO while the board begins the leadership transition process.

In a statement, Pacifica’s Board of Trustees said Marlaire “has a distinguished career spanning 19 years in higher education and a proven track record of developing and implementing innovative strategies to enhance student experiences, educational delivery, faculty well-being and development, curriculum design, and educational technology.”

Marlaire said in a statement that it is “a profound honor to be entrusted with this responsibility.”

“In this interim role, I remain focused on what matters most: great teaching and great learning made possible through a culture that is increasingly positive and collaborative. My commitment is to being transparent, communicative, and dedicated to acting in the best interests of Pacifica, its students, faculty, and staff. I am also committed to Pacifica’s mission, values, and roots in depth psychology, as we grow and work on uplifting them each day,” he said.

Earlier this year, Pacifica also announced that it would be transitioning to a one-campus institute. In late January, Pacifica announced it would not be renewing its lease of the Lambert Road Campus located in Carpinteria.

Currently, Pacifica Graduate conducts operations in two locations: Lambert Road Campus, a 13-acre operation that houses faculty and administrative offices, the Graduate Research Library and the Ladera Lane Campus, located in Santa Barbara which houses a conference center, classrooms, administrative offices, and branches of both the Graduate Research Library and Pacifica Bookstore.

In a letter to the public, Pacifica’s Board of Trustees said that it will not renew its lease of the Lambert Road Campus following its expiration in April 2027 after over 35 years of operations.

Students in coursework at Lambert will remain there for the remainder of this current academic year and for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Pacifica will move all operations and on-campus programs to the Ladera Campus starting in the Fall 2026 quarter.

“We understand and share how this announcement evokes a range of emotions and questions, reflecting the deep and personal significance of the beloved Lambert Campus in shaping the Pacifica experience for so many over the years,” the letter read.

“This marks a transformative moment, bridging Pacifica’s storied history with its bright future as we commemorate our 50th anniversary in 2026. The Lambert campus has been more than merely a place – it has been a significant symbol to all those who have been on its land, and it will be honored as such.”

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