Jack Scott (California politician)

On May 8, 2008, Scott was selected to be the 14th Chancellor of the California Community Colleges System, the largest system of higher education in the world. Serving over two million students on 112 college campuses, the statewide system is divided into 72 community college districts, overseen by locally elected Boards of Trustees. Retiring from that position in late summer 2012, Scott became a scholar in residence at Claremont University on September 17, 2012.

California State Term Limits prevented Scott from seeking reelection in 2008.

In 2000 he ran for the California State Senate seat vacated by Democrat Adam Schiff. He faced off against fellow assemblyman Scott Wildman from neighboring Glendale in the Democratic primary. Considered more of a gadfly and complainer, Wildman was not supposed to be much of a match for the savvier Scott. He nevertheless made the race close, scoring 46.7% of the vote to Scott's 53.3%. Scott then had little trouble winning the general election and didn't even have a major party opponent in 2004.

In 1996 Scott was recruited by state Democrats to run for California State Assembly against vulnerable incumbent Bill Hoge (R-Pasadena). He ousted him and won an easy reelection in 1998.

In 1973 Scott became Dean of Instruction at Orange Coast College. Five years later he became president of Cypress College, serving from 1978 to 1987. Scott became president of Pasadena City College in 1987 and served there until 1995. He is the first President Emeritus of that school.

Scott was born in Sweetwater, Texas. He received a Bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, and a Ph.D. degree in American history from Claremont Graduate University. Scott joined the faculty at Pepperdine University, after moving to California in 1962.

Scott and his late wife, Lacreta (1934-2021), have five children, eleven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

Jack Alan Scott (born August 24, 1933) is an American educator and former Democratic politician. Currently, a scholar in residence at Claremont Graduate University, Scott earlier served as president at two California community colleges, member of the California State Assembly and California State Senate and Chancellor of the California Community Colleges System.