Poets Laureate

Poets Laureate include alumni, parents, friends, foundations, corporations and other organizations that have completed charitable commitments totaling at least $1,000,000 to Whittier College.

Because of the transformational nature of their philanthropy and their belief in the College and its unique position in American higher education, the Poets Laureate are accorded our highest recognition, including:

  • A named plaque on the beautiful Poets Laureate Wall in A.J. Villalobos Hall
  • An engraved Poet Laureate glass book to display on a desk or shelf
  • A copy of a book written by a Whittier College faculty member, distinguished alumnus/a, visiting scholar or dignitary
  • An invitation to the honorands dinner at Wardman House during Commencement

The following individuals and organizations are recognized as members of the Poets Laureate for their leadership contributions to Whittier College.

  •  Anonymous donors honoring Professor Paul Schroeder
  •  Fred ’66 and Marilyn Anderson
  • The Ahmanson Foundation
  • The Annenberg Foundation
  • Banco Popular
  • Ellen S. Berger ’65 *
  •  Marian K. Bewley *
  • Ila T. and Victor C. Brock *
  • James M. ’71 & Joyce (Eakin) Brown ’71
  • Shirley Bunker *
  • John R. ’45* and Janet L. Cauffman
  • California Community Foundation
  • Ward R. Cooper ’30 *
  • Richard H. ’49* and Billie (Beane) Deihl ’50
  • Rayburn S. ’53* and Joan (Erreca) Dezember ’56, P ’78, P ’86, P ’94*
  • The Fletcher Jones Foundation
  •  Kenneth J. ’65* and Verena M. Florence*
  • C. R. Galbraith ’38 *
  • Ronald C. George ’64 *
  • Richard I. ’68 & Nina (Newsom) Gilchrist ’69
  • Alfred J. Gobar ’53, M.A., ’55, Ph.D., L.H.D. ’05*
  • Charlotte (Smith) Graham '52, LHD '99* and John A. Fusco*
  • David E. and Barbara (Ondrasik) Groce ’57
  • Clinton O. Harris ’34 *
  • Willard V. ’55* and Harriet Harris P ’80, P ’87
  • John Randolph & Dora Haynes Foundation
  • Donald J. ’74 and Sheryl Herrema
  • Les Howard '62*
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute 
  • Caroline Ireland ’43*
  • Independent Colleges of Southern California
  • The James Irvine Foundation
  • W.M. Keck Foundation
  • Alan H. ’71 and Irene Lund
  • B. C. McCabe Foundation
  • Chester M. ’40* and Olive (Jordan) McCloskey ’44* (Norac, Inc.)
  • Ross McCollum *
  • Don and Sharon (Ettinger) McLaughlin P ’85, P ’88, P ’90
  • Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
  • James E. '62, Esq. AB '62 JD '65* and Michael Ann Mitchell '63 
  • W.D. Bert '59 and Mary P. Newman
  • James R. and Jennifer Parks*
  • Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
  • The Rose Hills Foundation
  • MacKenzie Scott
  • E. L.* and Ruth (Boggs) Shannon, L.H.D. ’92*
  • John* and Beverly Stauffer*
  • Keith and Judith (Kjellberg) Swayne ’63*
  • George E., Jr.* and Maxine (Murdy) Trotter ’47* (Murdy Foundation)
  • Lucele H. Turner Testamentary *
  • Wallace R. Turner ’27 *
  • Roberta (Garrett) Veloz ’57*
  • Alfred J. Villalobos ’65, P ’99*
  • Susan Wang and Family
  • Weingart Foundation
  • Jan and Donald E. "Bill" Wood, L.H.D. ’98*
  • The Yao Yuan Sze Foundation
  • Tien P. Zee '61, Zee Foundation

* deceased