Salk Institute appoints Michelle Chamberlain as Vice President of External Relations

March 11, 2025

Salk Institute appoints Michelle Chamberlain as Vice President of External Relations

March 11, 2025

LA JOLLA—The Salk Institute has named Michelle Chamberlain as Vice President of External Relations. She will assume the role on April 2, 2025.

As Salk’s VP of External Relations, Chamberlain will serve on the Institute’s Executive Leadership Team and oversee all fundraising efforts, communications, community engagement, education outreach programs, foundation relations, and stewardship activities.

“Michelle brings a wealth of experience, energy, and vision to this role,” says Salk President Gerald Joyce. “She is well-known for her ability to inspire confidence and build strong, lasting donor relationships. Her unique approach and passion for our mission mark the beginning of an exciting new era in our fundraising efforts, one that will enhance our capacity to do what we do best: high-impact science. I’m also grateful to members of Salk’s Board of Trustees Executive Committee, Executive Leadership Team, Academic Council, and Office of Community & Engagement for providing valuable input throughout this recruitment process.”

Since 2008, Chamberlain has served in various leadership roles at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, where she was most recently Vice President for Advancement and Student Opportunities and Dean of the Robert Day Scholars Program. In her VP role, she led a fundraising campaign that surpassed the original goal of $800 million, ultimately raising more than $1 billion in eight years—a national record among liberal arts colleges.

“I am honored to join the Salk Institute and contribute to its world-renowned mission of groundbreaking scientific discovery,” Chamberlain says. “I am incredibly grateful for my years at Claremont McKenna College, where I had the privilege of working alongside dedicated colleagues and inspiring students. The experiences and relationships I built there have profoundly shaped my approach to leadership and philanthropy. I look forward to bringing that same spirit of collaboration and innovation to Salk as we advance its vital work.”

Prior to Claremont McKenna College, Chamberlain was an attorney at O’Melveny & Myers, LLP in Los Angeles. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California, a Master of Arts in Education from Claremont Graduate University, and a Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School.