CSUN University News Clippings

Jonathan Veitch inaugurated as Occidental College president

(October 26, 2009)

L.A. Now
By Larry Gordon
Published: 10/24/09

Jonathan Veitch was inaugurated in a ceremony this morning as president of Occidental College, a 1,900-student liberal arts school in Eagle Rock.

The hiring of the former dean of the New School’s Eugene Lang College in New York City came after several years of administrative flux at the campus.

Veitch, 50, is a literature and history professor with degrees from Stanford and Harvard. He has deep Los Angeles and film industry roots. His step-grandfather was actor Alan Ladd, and his father, John Veitch, was president of Columbia Pictures’ worldwide productions.

Former UCLA Law Dean Susan Prager served as Occidental president for just 17 months, resigning in late 2007 after clashes with trustees over her leadership style. Robert Skotheim, former head of the Huntington Library, then served as interim president.

Publication: Los Angeles Times