Occidental College President John Brooks Slaughter to Retire

Occidental College President John Brooks Slaughter, one of the most prominent African American leaders in higher education, announced Wednesday that he will retire next year after a decade on the job.

Slaughter, 64, said he has no firm plans, other than spend more time with his wife, Bernice, who also works at the college in Eagle Rock as a consultant.

“I’m in good health,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of energy and I’m sure I’ll do something.”

Slaughter, an electrical engineer and former director of the National Science Foundation, said he is most proud of bringing new faces to Occidental.

“People have for a long time believed that if you focus on diversity and equality that you have to sacrifice quality in students and faculty,” he said. “We’ve shown that both can rise at the same time.”