Majorie Gelus ’65 Reflects on Scripps’ “Faith in the Full Humanity of Women”

Marjorie Gelus ’65, professor of German at California State University, Sacramento, never set out to enroll at a women’s college. But what she gained—an experience embedded in the liberal arts, discourse centered on women’s voices, and teaching that urged students to think for themselves—remains with her still.

Her journey through academia was only possible with help from others, Marjorie says. That’s why she’s chosen to do the same for future students by making a planned gift to Scripps College.

Below, Marjorie shares reflections on her experience at Scripps and why she’s paying it forward for others.

Scripps has been in my will for so long that I have lost track of what moved me to put it there. My education was pure gold, crowned by the three-year, double-humanities course unique to Scripps, taught by teams of professors in different specialties: art, history, music, philosophy, religion, and literature. Such immersion, in such wealth! But I also packed in courses in German, French, art, dance, and choir, and worlds opened up to me.

Then there was the ideal balance of shelter and freedom. Scripps shepherded and cocooned me as much as was necessary to keep me from going totally off the rails in my first venture away from home, which let me feel safe enough to explore my new world.

And finally, the care given to women. The transformative faith in the full humanity of women that helped us transcend barriers. Thank you, Scripps College.