Saybrook’s Annual Gala Honors Supporters of the Saybrook Mission

On November 9, 2022, Saybrook hosted its Annual Awards and Spotlight Gala at the University Club of Pasadena to celebrate the community and honor the generosity of those who support Saybrook initiatives. The event was Hollywood-themed with live jazz music performed by Sir Henry on Sax. Almost 200 participants attended in person and around 50 joined online.

Event host Daniel Sieberg, a member of the Saybrook Board of Trustees, began the evening by introducing President Nathan Long, Ed.D., who delivered opening remarks. Dr. Long thanked donors for their generosity and reiterated the university’s legacy and values.

“Saybrook is known as a pioneer both in its unique humanistic heritage, as well as its approach to distanced learning and education. By taking a concept that increases access to graduate education and supercharging it with outstanding faculty, mentors, scholars, and practitioners, students receive, in my estimation, one of the finest educations out there today,” Dr. Long said.

Dr. Long also discussed the larger context of the Saybrook mission and how it addresses some of society’s greatest challenges.

“Our country today is in great need. A mental health crisis looms large. Not enough therapists populate our communities to provide the mental health support that’s needed,” he said. “I’m asking you to join me tonight to help Saybrook answer the various needs of our nation.”

Saybrook faculty and students are constantly engaged in innovative work and research that remain vital to the university’s history and legacy. Donations help enable this work to create long-term sustainability for Saybrook’s progressive, humanistic programs. Additionally, many of the scholarships offered by Saybrook directly further its mission, provide access to a graduate education that otherwise might not be possible.

Dr. Long’s opening remarks were followed by Board of Trustee members Michael Horowitz, Ph.D., and Gloria Chance, Ph.D., both of whom have contributed to scholarships at Saybrook.

Dr. Horowitz, president of TCS Education System, stressed his confidence in Saybrook’s mission and his admiration for its values. “I have a deep appreciation for this institution. There’s nothing like it,” he said. “Over recent years, we’ve been growing by leaps and bounds because I think the world needs more and more of Saybrook University.” At Saybrook, Dr. Horowitz and his wife, Jeannie Gutierrez, Ph.D., established the Dr. Michael Horowitz & Dr. Jeannie Gutierrez Immigrant / First Generation Scholarship program.

Dr. Chance, chair of the Institutional Advancement Committee, announced the Marlene Chance Scholarship in honor of her late sister and former Saybrook faculty member. The scholarship is intended to bring more practitioners to the field of mental health who support incremental innovation.

“We need to be able to bring solutions to populations in the way that they need them,” Dr. Chance said. “Whether it’s the homeless population, BIPOC communities, or others, through the Marlene Chance Scholarship we want to fund opportunities for people to heal that are non-traditional.”

After dinner, faculty and staff presented Saybrook’s 2022-2023 scholarships and awards to the distinguished recipients.

The Annual Awards and Spotlight Gala is Saybrook’s signature fundraising event and important to maintaining university programs. By the end of the evening, this year’s event raised $40K through donations, tickets, raffles, and auction items. All proceeds will be used to fund Saybrook student scholarships, innovative research, fellowships, and other initiatives.