Jewel Plummer Cobb, Ph.D.

President Emerita, California State University, Fullerton
Executive Director, ACCESS Center
Trustee Professor, California State University, Los Angeles

Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb became the third President of California State University, Fullerton on October 1, 1981. As President and Professor of biology, she was the Chief Executive Officer of the sixth largest campus in the California State University system. Dr. Cobb is currently serving as President Emerita, California State University Fullerton and Trustee Professor, California State University, Los Angeles, where her office is now located. She is currently the Principal Investigator of the ACCESS Center; a program designed to encourage economically disadvantage middle and high school students to pursue careers in mathematics, the sciences and engineering.

Dr. Cobb is known for her work in cell physiology, her promotion of the advancement of women in scientific fields, and her activities on behalf of minorities. She has published 36 articles in the area of factors, which influence growth, morphology and genetic expression of normal cancer pigment cells. In addition, nine articles have been published dealing with the advancement of women in scientific fields as well as the advancement of minorities. She has received 22 honorary doctorates and was the recipient of many awards including the 1999 Achievement in Excellence Award from the Center for Excellence for her contributions to science and education.

Dr. Cobb earned her bachelor's degree from Talladega College, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, both in cell physiology, from New York University. In October 1989, Douglass College at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey dedicated the Bunting-Cobb Math and Science Hall at Douglass College of Rutgers University in honor of Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb and Dr. Mary Ingraham Bunting, former Deans of Douglass. In October 1991, California State University, Fullerton dedicated the Jewel Plummer Cobb Residence Halls in honor as its outgoing president.

Dr. Cobb is currently a board member of California Science Center; COMAP, Inc.; Quality Education for Minorities Network; 21st Century Foundation; Board of Trustees of the California Institute of Technology, Talladega College and Board of Fellows, Claremont Graduate University. She also served six years as a member of the National Science Board. She is a retired Board of Directors of First Interstate Bancorp; Georgia Pacific Corporation; Drew University College of Medicine & Science, CPC International, Inc. and former chair of the National Committee on Women in Science & Engineering (CWISE) of the National Academy of Sciences.

Prior to her appointment as President of California State University, Fullerton, Dr. Cobb served as Dean of Douglass College at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Before her Douglass appointment she was Dean of Connecticut College and Professor of Biology at Sarah Lawrence College.