With the departure of Dr. Loraine Devos-Comby from Pacifica, we wish to recognize her many dedicated contributions, thoughtful and wise leadership, and generous presence as our Interim Provost, VP of Academic Affairs, and VP of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation. Please read below for a letter from Dr. Devos-Comby and words of appreciation from her colleagues.
A message from Dr. Loraine Devos-Comby
Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, and Colleagues,
As my time as interim provost comes to an end, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and pride. These past 18 months have been a period of remarkable growth, collaboration, and achievement, and it is thanks to all of you that we have accomplished so much.
Together, we have laid the foundation for a robust system of shared governance. The inaugural Shared Governance, Institutional Committees, and Decision Matrix can now guide our collective decision-making processes. This collaborative spirit has also brought us our first faculty ranking system, a significant milestone that recognizes the dedication and expertise of our distinguished faculty.
We have also made great strides in our research infrastructure with the implementation of a new Institutional Review Board process. This ensures that our research involving human participants and conducted at Pacifica adheres to the highest ethical standards, fostering an environment of integrity and excellence. Additionally, our efforts were recognized by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), which approved our first two fully online programs, marking a new era of accessibility and innovation in our educational offerings. Leading the reaffirmation of our WSCUC accreditation has been a critical task, and I am proud of the institutional report and the key documents we submitted as part of this process, which will culminate with the October site visit.
State authorizations for distance education have expanded our reach, allowing us to connect with and educate students far and wide. The initiation of digital grading, attendance, and rubrics has begun the modernization of our academic processes, making them more efficient and transparent.
Reflecting on these accomplishments, I am reminded of the collaborative and supportive relationships that have made them possible. Each project, each milestone, has been a reflection of our collective tenacity. I have learned so much from working alongside such passionate and talented individuals, and I am deeply grateful for the support and trust you have shown me.
As I prepare to embark on the next chapter of my professional journey, I carry with me the invaluable lessons and experiences gained here. The spirit of cooperation, the pursuit of excellence, and the commitment to our mission and values will continue to guide me.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your interim provost. It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of this community. I look forward to witnessing the continued growth and success of the Institute, knowing that it is in the hands of such dedicated and capable individuals.
With heartfelt gratitude and warmest regards,
Loraine Devos-Comby, Ph.D.
Interim Provost
Words of Gratitude for Dr. Loraine Devos-Comby from Pacifica Colleagues
“Dr Loraine has been a tremendous support to the Mythological Studies program the past two years. We have been able to onboard two new core/ac faculty members as well as significantly revise the program curriculum with her support and the AAO. My experience of Loraine is an effective and capable decision-maker and administrator. She will be missed.” –David M. Odorisio, PhD, Co-Chair and Associate Core Faculty in Pacifica’s Mythological Studies Program
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Dr. Loraine. She always attends our weekly meetings with a smile, a warm and friendly demeanor, and invaluable advice, support, vision, and leadership. I greatly respect what she has accomplished in her various roles and have been deeply impressed by her commitment to Pacifica. With tremendous gratitude, I wish her well in her exciting new chapter.” –Dr. Mari Schuldt, Director of Online Instructional Design and Pedagogy
“Dr. Loraine has my abiding gratitude for the support she provided for the Myth Program during a time of deep transition in the development of our curriculum and in welcoming two new Core/Associate Core faculty members. Her contributions to Institutional initiatives have also been considerable, including her leadership in and support for enhancing dissertation protocols, promoting faculty affairs and well-being, and undertaking the stewardship of the WASC assessment process. And personally, I will miss Dr. Loraine’s mentorship. Working with her on a number of different committees and initiatives and observing her conscientious and wise approaches to challenging situations has endowed me with much valuable insight. Dr. Loraine sets a strong example for women in academic leadership positions, and I will carry the lessons she has brought me in my work to come.”-Emily Lord-Kambitsch, Ph.D, Co-Chair and Associate Core Faculty of the Mythological Studies Program
“I truly enjoyed knowing and working with Loraine. From the moment I met her, I was impressed by her kindness and calm presence. I have respected her professionalism and integrity and how she has demonstrated a strong capacity for integrating objective and subjective elements. I have also appreciated my conversations with her and how she has always made herself available. She has made valuable contributions to Pacifica. I will miss her.” -Juliet Rohde-Brown, Ph.D., Chair for the Depth Psychology: Integrative Therapy and Healing Practices program
“Loraine has been an absolute joy to work alongside. I admire her strong work ethic, positive and lighthearted energy, and overall confident sense of self, all of which she embodied every day. I appreciate her values and how she demonstrated them at work (i.e., empowering women in the workplace, supporting professional development, promoting work/life balance). Loraine is a wonderful person with a kind heart and an uplifting spirit. I will reflect on working with her and remember how splendid she was!” –Victoria Bernhardt, M.A., Manager of Academic Affairs
“Dr. Devos-Comby brought a fresh perspective to Pacifica, informed by her wide variety of experiences, interests, and education. And when she arrived, she continually wanted to learn, about the institution, the programs, and the people. She displays a combination of mentorship and love for learning, and she will be very missed.” –Brenda Murrow, Ph.D., Core Faculty in the Clinical M.A./Ph.D. Program
“Few people have had more impact over my return home to Pacifica than Dr. Loraine Devos-Comby. She has seamlessly modeled the embodiment of service-oriented leadership, wisdom, humility, and authentic connection with faculty, staff, and our learners across programs. Her dedication to Pacifica and to seeing our faculty thrive and succeed was truly inspiring to behold and motivating to continuously do my part to help build and maintain a robust clinical program. It was an honor and a privilege to have such a remarkable leader willing to listen to uncomfortable truths, improve the things that needed improvement, and maintain the fine line of leader and colleague. I will deeply miss Loraine’s presence, warm smile, and balanced temperament as I wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors. Wherever psyche is taking her next, is blessed and fortunate ground indeed.” –William James Jones, Ph.D., Associate Core Faculty in the Clinical Psychology program
“It has been a great pleasure to work with Loraine in my first year at Pacifica. As a leader, Loraine has an excellent balance of guidance and openness. She always encouraged me to grow and succeed in my role while conveying her immense knowledge of data governance. Her enthusiasm about Pacifica, and how our tasks contributed to the institute’s growth and the quality of our students’ and faculty’s experiences, made me feel that my work was meaningful every day. We also had a lot of fun and celebrated every regulatory deadline met (especially BPPE!). I will truly miss working alongside Loraine and wish her the very best in her next chapter.” –Vanessa Conte, Academic Affairs
“Working with Loraine these past eight months has been a true pleasure. Her kindness, remarkable work ethic, intelligence, and strong moral compass have been inspiring. She will be greatly missed. Wishing her all the best in her new role as Provost—so well deserved!” -Bahara Stapelberg, JD, MBA, Vice President of Policy and General Counsel
“It is not an overstatement to say that Loraine has left a tremendously positive, lasting mark on Pacifica. While here for only a little less than two years, all she was able to accomplish across multiple areas – academic development and assessment, faculty and student support, compliance and accreditation – greatly advanced the health of the Institute for years to come. And she did it with unwavering integrity, care, dedication, expertise, advocacy, and collaboration. Not only is Pacifica better for Loraine’s time here, but so many of us who worked closely with her and learned from her are as well, including myself – as a professional, colleague, and person. Thank you and all the best.” –Nick Sabatino, Chief of Staff
Nick Sabatino, M.P.A., is proud to serve as the Chief of Staff out of the President’s Office at Pacifica. The Chief of Staff’s primary responsibilities focus on managing content and communications to and from the Office of the President, as well ensuring the continual, collaborative analysis and effectiveness of processes and systems that affect the overall performance of Pacifica and the achievement of its mission, vision, and strategic objectives. Through his role, Nick also sits on Pacifica’s Executive Leadership Team, Coordinating-Operations Committee, Communications Team, and Incident Response Team. Starting at Pacifica in 2014, Nick began with Program Administrator roles for the Clinical Psychology and Integrative Therapy and Healing Practices program, before moving on to serve as Co-Director of Academic Affairs and Student Services. His time and experience at Pacifica have allowed him to build positive relationships across the Institute and a strong sense for Pacifica’s mission, potential, and service to learners. Prior to Pacifica, Nick worked in online education after completing his B.A. from Villanova University. He also has earned an M.P.A. (Public Administration with an emphasis in Management) from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Angela Borda is a writer for Pacifica Graduate Institute, as well as the editor of the Santa Barbara Literary Journal. Her work has been published in Food & Home, Peregrine, Hurricanes & Swan Songs, Delirium Corridor, Still Arts Quarterly, Danse Macabre, and is forthcoming in The Tertiary Lodger and Running Wild Anthology of Stories, Vol. 5.
