Lori E. Varlotta

Varlotta was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A first-generation college student, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, Master of Science in Cultural Foundations of Education from Syracuse University, and PhD in Educational Leadership and Feminist Philosophy from Miami University.[1]

Varlotta took office as president of California Lutheran University, a private Hispanic-Serving Institution, in September 2020, becoming the first female president in Cal Lutheran’s 61-year history. Varlotta is an established leader with broad experience in academic affairs, enrollment management, budget and planning, student affairs and fundraising. She is a champion of shared governance with experience in change management, curriculum reform and student success and inclusion.

Cal Lutheran is based in Thousand Oaks, California, with additional locations in Woodland Hills, Westlake Village, Oxnard, Santa Maria and Berkeley. With an enrollment of about 4,000 students, Cal Lutheran offers undergraduate and graduate programs through its College of Arts and Sciences, School of Management, Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Psychology, School of Professional and Continuing Studies and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Varlotta previously served for six years as the 22nd president of Hiram College. Before coming to Hiram, Varlotta spent 11 years at California State University, Sacramento, ultimately serving as senior vice president of planning, enrollment management and student affairs. She also held senior leadership roles at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of San Francisco.