Priscilla A. Scotlan, born and raised in Oakland, California, was a prominent and influential educational leader in the Bay Area. She earned a BA degree in Sociology at the University of San Francisco, and a secondary teaching credential at UC Berkeley.
Her career at Berkeley began in 1971 as a placement adviser in the Office of Educational Career Services. Concurrently, she taught and served as dean of students in the University Demonstration Secondary Summer School. In 1990 Ms. Scotlan became the first Black female to direct the Career Planning and Placement Center, and subsequently she directed the Career and Graduate School Services in 1993.
Over a span of 25 years, Ms. Scotlan was the lead person on numerous committees and boards, including President of the California Educational Placement Association and the Association for School, College and University Staffing; President of the Bay Area School Personnel Association; President of the National Phi Delta Kappa; and co-chair of the Western Association of Colleges and Employees Annual Conference. She also served on the Board of Trustees for the University of San Francisco from 1987-1996.
Ms. Scotlan received many awards for her contributions to the campus and the larger community, such as the Certificate for Excellence in Management by the Berkeley Staff Assembly; the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Consortium of Hope for Oakland Inner-City Catholic Education; and the Phi Delta Kappa Award for distinguished service to the campus. In honor of her contributions to the University of San Francisco, a center was dedicated in her name (the Priscilla A. Scotlan Career Center), as well as a distinguished staff award (the Priscilla A. Scotlan Award for Distinguished Service). In 1996, Ms. Scotlan received the Berkeley Citation, UC Berkeley’s highest honor awarded to individuals or organizations whose contributions go above and beyond the call of duty, and whose achievements exceed the standards of excellence in their fields.
Courtesy of Gloria Burkhalter
