Since its earliest days, Pacific Oaks has been recognized for its pioneering approach to education and its contributions to a rapidly evolving field. The unwavering commitment to social justice championed by the College's Quaker founders has been documented throughout its history—in its curriculum, its pedagogy, and its work with and for the community.
Evidence of our influence can be found in the federal government's Head Start program, where Pacific Oaks was invited to serve as one of the first training centers, and in the groundbreaking anti-bias curriculum, which was developed by PO faculty as a classroom teaching tool and later earned the College special recognition by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Throughout the country, thousands of alumni credit their Pacific Oaks education with giving them the skills, insight, perspective, and confidence to assume positions of leadership in the fields of human development, education, and marriage and family therapy—and to play an integral role as thought-leaders and advocates in their respective professional areas.