Caltech Welcomes Ray Jayawardhana as Tenth President

On July 1, 2026, Caltech welcomed renowned astrophysicist, acclaimed author, and transformative leader, Ray Jayawardhana, as the Institute’s tenth president, Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair, and professor of astronomy. “Today, I’m honored to begin my service as Caltech’s 10th president,” Jayawardhana wrote in his first message to the Caltech community. “Long before this day appeared on the horizon, Caltech and JPL have held a special place in my mind as beacons of humanity’s most ambitious acts of exploration and discovery.” Jayawardhana joins Caltech with a focus on leading the I