Extending a family legacy, creating one of her own

In keeping with a family legacy that has long supported education, especially when it relates to the sciences, Claudia Skaggs Luttrell works to enrich and expand the notable opportunities at Scripps Research. In 2018, she joined her siblings in making a substantial lead gift from her family’s foundations toward endowing the institute’s nationally ranked graduate program. Then she added a personal contribution of her own. To honor that family commitment, the program was renamed the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences.

Besides serving on the institute’s Board of Directors, Luttrell also chairs a joint doctoral program with the University of Oxford. The Skaggs-Oxford Program invites top-tier young scientists to pursue intensive research on both campuses, emerging with two doctoral degrees. Graduates regularly go on to garner wide recognition and awards.

While modestly crediting her father for his influence as a philanthropic role model, Luttrell has set her own high standard for giving back. Her leadership and generosity are inspiring other women to make a positive mark on the future.