Who's in Charge?
Robert Corrigan, Ph.D.
Dr. Robert Corrigan is President of San Francisco State University. In 1995, he founded the SFSU Presidential Scholars Program to support highly talented first-time freshman students. He continues to provide oversight for the program, making policy judgments, deciding on the scholarship awards and renewals, and regularly interacting with the scholarship students.
Dr. Corrigan received his B.A. degree from Brown University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been President of San Francisco State University since 1988.
Gail Whitaker, Ed.D.
Dr. Gail Whitaker is Associate Vice President for Academic Program Development. She is the Administrator of the Presidential Scholars Program, responsible for:
- Coordinating the application process;
- Serving as liaison with the President regarding the program (e.g., conveying the President’s decisions regarding the awarding and renewal of the scholarship);
- Authorizing and coordinating the work of various University offices in conducting the program; and
- Maintaining files and records concerning the program.
Dr. Whitaker received her B.S. degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, her M.S. from Smith College, and her Ed.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has been at San Francisco State University since 1980.
Raymond Pestrong, Ph.D.
Dr. Raymond Pestrong is a Professor of Geology. He is the Faculty Director of the Presidential Scholars Program, responsible for:
- Participating in the selection and orientation of new Presidential Scholars;
- Providing regularly and individually scheduled advising for Presidential Scholars;
- Planning and managing a schedule of co-curricular and extracurricular enrichment events; and
- Conducting periodic meetings of the Presidential Scholars to provide information, discuss relevant issues, and promote meaningful interactions among and between the Scholars.
In his own words, some details of Dr. Pestrong's teaching career and philosophy:
I am a professor of geology in the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University. I teach majors' courses in geomorphology and engineering geology, and a great variety of general education courses in introductory geology. My prime interest, at the moment, is "Geosciences and the Arts." I have authored a number of college texts, have produced geologic videos, published the requisite number of articles in professional journals, and done those things expected of a university professor. What I love most, however, is teaching, and the exciting interactions possible through that venture.
For the past 25 years I have led rafting trips on the Colorado, through the Grand Canyon. When we return from that extraordinary experience, and I have a paycheck waiting, I know I must have done something right (perhaps in another life).
Dr. Pestrong holds a B.S. (Geology) from City College of New York, an M.S. (Geology) from University of Massachusetts; (Minor - Civil Engineering), and his Ph.D in Geology from Stanford University. He has been at San Francisco State University since 1966.