History

Palo Alto University has served its students, faculty, staff, and community for over 49 years as a psychology and counseling focused education institution. Learn more about the growth and evolution of the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology & PAU:

1975 - Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (PGSP) founded in Palo Alto by prospective students and faculty who wanted to develop their professional knowledge of clinical psychology; Robert Kantor is its first president.
1984 - Dr. Allen Calvin joined PGSP as president.
1986 - PGSP accredited by Western Association of Senior College and University Commision (WSCUC).
1988 - PGSP campus moves to East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto, CA.
- The Kurt and Barbara Gronowski Clinic opens in Palo Alto, CA.
- PGSP PhD program receives APA accreditation.
2002 - PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium program begins.
2005 - Gronowski Clinic moves to Los Altos, CA.
2006 - PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium receives APA accreditation.
2006 - The PAU Bachelors degree program in Psychology & Social Action (PSA) approved by WSCUC in the Spring and started at De Anza Community College in the Fall.
2009 - Second major in Business Psychology (BP) approved by WSCUC and enrolled its first cohort at Foothill Community College in the Fall of 2009. The MA Counseling (originally MA Mental Health Counseling) program begins.
2011 - The Business Psychology and Psychology Social Action Hybrid (Evening/Online) format approved by WSCUC and started in Fall 2011. Both programs' evening classes are conducted at PAU campus. The MA Counseling Psychology program begins. The MA Counseling program begins serving students in China.
2013 - PAU developed a new partnership with the College of San Mateo, to offer both its Bachelors degree programs.
2016 - Dr. Maureen O'Connor became the third president of PAU.
2017 - The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) awarded eight years of accreditation to both emphases in the MA in Counseling program; Marriage, Family and Child emphasis and Clinical Mental Health emphasis.
2022 - Mountain View Campus opens. The Gronowski Center moves to the new campus.
2023 - The PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision degree program (CES) approved by WSCUC.
2024 - The Masters in Social Work degree program (MSW) approved by WSCUC