CSUB announces 2025 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees

Occupation: Retired psychologist

CSUB degrees obtained: B.A. in psychology, 1972; M.S. in psychology, 1976

Pierucci has a passion for promoting positive mental health that resulted in a long, successful career in the field as a clinical psychologist as well as a marriage and family therapist. She has served patients in Bakersfield in a private practice at Westchester Counseling Center - where she was the founder and managing partner - and in Santa Barbara, where she worked as a clinical psychologist in the Counseling Center at University of California, Santa Barbara and in private practice at Santa Barbara Behavioral Health.

Pierucci's higher education journey spanned the better part of two decades. It started when she earned her AA in 1968 at Bakersfield College and ended with her receiving an MA and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in Fresno in 1984 and 1990, respectively.

Pierucci also earned other credentials and certificates during her career as a clinical psychologist, including becoming a registered hypnotherapist and a diplomate member of the International Academy of Behavioral Medicine Counseling and Psychotherapy.

She spent several years teaching, including at CSUB. From 1972 to 1974, she was a teaching assistant in the Psychology Department. In 1975 and 1976, Pierucci taught courses on personal growth, existential-humanistic psychology as well as several courses and many community presentations on aspects of death and dying.

For four years after her graduation from CSUB, she worked as a program coordinator for Extended Studies designing a variety of courses and seminars for medical professionals and community members. Throughout her career, Pierucci continued to present workshops and seminars on grief, mourning, stress reduction and leadership practices.

Pierucci has been a long-term supporter of CSUB over the course of her career. She served as an adviser to the Psychology Department for more than 20 years. She is a life member of the Alumni Association and established the Leo J. Pierucci Endowment Scholarship Fund, in honor of her late husband, which supports CSUB students.

Pierucci has also supported the Bakersfield community through her volunteer involvement on numerous committees and boards, including the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, Kern County Council on Child Abuse, the Kern County Office on Aging, the Kern County Mental Health Board and the Kern County Grand Jury.

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