ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ

Skip to main content
Occidental alumni Eric Chen, Tammy Bird, Mike Schmidt, and Jenny Dean Schmidt
Catalysts for the Public Good
From uplifting inner-city scholars in South Central L.A. to prison moms in Colorado to a Monterey Park community in need, ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ alumni embrace the College's mission

Occidental magazine brings you campus news, in-depth features, and profiles of exceptional alumni. For the 2025-26 academic year, the magazine will publish one digital-only issue (Summer 2025) and two print and digital issues (Fall 2025 and Spring 2026).

President Elam at the podium on May 19, 2024.
As he prepares to depart from Occidental, President Harry J. Elam, Jr. shares three insights into leadership that he will carry away with him
Author Susan Coll '81, photographed at Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C.
Susan Coll ’81’s latest comic novel, Professor Amy Lyford’s examination of the art and life of Dorothea Tanning, and more
Rebecca Solnit and Paul Holdengraber onstage at an ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ Live! event at ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ
ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ Live!—the College’s new conversation series featuring a world-class lineup of artists—engages audiences in dialogues about culture and society
Occidental’s women's basketball team after winning the 2024 SCIAC Post­season Tournament championship.
Playing through injuries, fatigue, and in front of opposing crowds, ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ’s ‘relentless’ women’s hoops team wins its way into the NCAA tourney
Spectators view the OCLAA oral history gallery in the Academic Commons in February 2024.
Realizing a long-standing goal of Occidental’s Latino Alumni Association, two dozen alumni share their stories with students for an oral history project
Max Podemski '06
In his first book, city planner and architecture buff Max Podemski ’06 traces the DNA of urban housing
Sebastian Lechner '24, Patt Morrison, Larry Mantle, Occidental
Patt Morrison ’74 shares a curated collection of books with Special Collections—and 50 years of words and wisdom in conversation with Larry Mantle
Professor of Mathematics Tamás Lengyel
A internationally renowned scholar in the math community, a mathematical constant and a sequence of numbers were named in his honor
ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ GOLD reception
A new mentorship initiative looks to bridge the gap for young alumni between academic life and the professional world
Occidental students at OCLAA's Bienvenidos reception in fall 2022
OCLAA aims to boost the José F. Silva ’84 Endowed Scholarship Fund to commemorate a pioneering graduate's commitment to his community
Jon Keates, vice president for institutional advancement at ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ from 1999 to 2007
Jon Keates, vice president for institutional advancement at ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ from 1999 to 2007, died April 19, 2024, at his home in Altadena. He was 80.
Coach Rod Lafaurie and members of the 2023 men's soccer team
From its first SCIAC championship to a berth in the Sweet 16, ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ men’s soccer soared to new heights this season. But Coach Rod Lafaurie and his players are hungry for more
President John Brooks Slaughter in 1988
Occidental's 11th president arrived on campus in 1988 amid national fanfare and great expectations—and in the 11 years to follow, John Brooks Slaughter brought out the best in ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ
Dean of Students Emerita Brig Knauer
Over 25 years of leadership in Occidental’s Office of Student Affairs, Brigida Knauer (1935-2023) shepherded residential life into the modern era
Professor of History Emeritus Wellington Chan
An estate commitment from Gary Kaplan ’71 honors Professor Emeritus Wellington Chan—whom he helped bring to Occidental more than 50 years ago

Features

Occidental biology major Hannah Tawadrous '26
Lessons in Biology
ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ’s biology program blends exploration and experimentation, empowering students to uncover and explain life’s diverse ecosystems
Members of Delta Omicron Tau spannng five decades raise a glass at the Delta House one last time on October 19.
Change Comes to Delta House
After 124 years, Delta Omicron Tau raises a glass to its history with a farewell toast—but its legacy will continue as a cornerstone of the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ community
Occidental alumni Eric Chen, Tammy Bird, Mike Schmidt, and Jenny Dean Schmidt
Catalysts for the Public Good
From uplifting inner-city scholars in South Central L.A. to prison moms in Colorado to a Monterey Park community in need, ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ alumni embrace the College's mission

First Word

From the Quad

Current year scholarship recipients Alyssa Zatarain '29 and Sunny Tuazon '29
Unlocking the Future
For first-generation college students Alyssa Zatarain ’29 and Sunny Tuazon ’29, current-year scholarship support opened the doors to an ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ education

Mixed Media

Filmmaker Thom Harp '92
Fertile Imagination
Thom Harp ’92 waited for years to direct his first movie—and after a long birthing process, he’s the proud father of two features
Detail from The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter
Mixed Media
This roundup has everything: a pair of memoirs, a literary farce, a coming-of-age story, a writer’s guide to romantasy, and the legendary Miss Britney Spears

ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ Talk

2025-26 Kemp Lecturer Tim Miller with Occidental Professor Caroline Heldman.
Miller’s Crossing
Former GOP operative Tim Miller recounts his own political reckoning—and offers pearls of hope in the face of despair—as the 2025-26 Jack Kemp '57 Distinguished Lecturer
Occidental Board of Trustees Chair Art Peck '77
The Occidental Imperative
Business veteran Art Peck ’77 brings his leadership acumen to the Board of Trustees at a critical juncture in higher education when the College’s mission—and messaging—are more important...

Last Page

Dale and Shirley Morter photographed on January 1, 2000.
A Couple’s Legacy
A scholarship gift honoring Shirley and Dale Morter ’56 will bring students from southwestern Pennsylvania to Occidental
Contact Occidental Magazine
Arthur G. Coons Administrative Center


Office of Communications F-36
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles CA 90041-3314