Dr. Scott W. Thayer

President, Cypress College

Dr. Scott W. Thayer arrived as the 13th President of Cypress College in January, 2024. Dr. Thayer has 24 years of higher education experience in a variety of administrative roles. He is an advocate for historically underrepresented students and was integral in establishing a food pantry, housing support, and basic needs resources in prior roles. He also is a part-time faculty member, teaching in the San Diego State University Community College Leadership Program and serves on doctoral dissertation committees. 

Prior to his selection as Cypress College’s president, he served as the Vice President of Student Services at San Bernardino Valley College from 2017-2023, where he also served as Interim President. Previously, he was the Vice President of Student Services at Cuyamaca College and was the Dean of Student Affairs at Pasadena City College.

Throughout his career, Dr. Thayer has advocated for equity in higher education. He has served as a Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) coach through the state Chancellor’s Office Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI) and as a member of the Partnership Resource Teams that provide technical assistance in support of student access, retention, K-20 partnerships and equity and success initiatives. He is an established grant writer and has secured over $15M in TRIO grant and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) funding to assist students in their pursuit of a higher education. 

Dr. Thayer is a founding member of two non-profit organizations: Have Faith, Be Strong (HFBS), a non-profit organization for childhood cancer awareness, and the African American Male Education Network and Development (A²MEND), an organization established to foster institutional change within the community college system to increase the success of African American male students.

Dr. Thayer received his doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Southern California. He completed his Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance degree from Point Loma Nazarene University in California, his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Rollins College in Florida, and his Associate of Arts degree from Normandale Community College in Minnesota.

He and his wife Maria are proud parents of their daughters Maya Xochitl and Marisol.