Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ

Skip to main content
National Public Radio correspondent Kat Lonsdorf ’09 at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Kat Meets World
From Tel Aviv and Beirut to Minneapolis and Washington, NPR reporter Kat Lonsdorf ’09 follows the news wherever it leads, covering some of the defining stories of our time

Occidental Magazine

Occidental magazine brings you campus news, in-depth features, and profiles of exceptional alumni. For the 2026-27 academic year, the magazine will publish one digital-only issue (Summer 2026) and two print and digital issues (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027).

Bob Winter, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ
Bob Winter cements his Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ legacy posthumously with an endowed faculty fund in history and art
Academic Quad, Fall 2020
As COVID-19 lingers on, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ leadership addresses the economic fallout of a remote fall semester
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Football
Amid a reevaluation of College priorities triggered by the pandemic’s impact, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ football is discontinued
President Harry J. Elam, Jr.
Opening Conversations and Common Threads
Occidental Alumnus, June 1922
A warm welcome for President Elam, and what to expect from Occidental magazine in our centennial year
Miss America, Margot Mifflin
From swimsuit competition to social platform, Margot Mifflin ’82 goes Looking for Miss America
1971 Sylmar Earthquake
A Class Notes extra: As the 50th anniversary of the Sylmar earthquake rumbles near, members of the Class of ’74 remember the moment that shook Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ
Karen and Steve Casner
Steve Casner ’73 and wife Karen ’74 share a love for Occidental—and have endowed a computer science professorship to build on that protocol
Harry J. Elam Jr., Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ President
Harry J. Elam, Jr. prepares to take center stage as Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s 16th president as the College faces a new set of challenges—and he’s ready
Thorne Hall, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Campus
As the novel coronavirus brings campus life to a standstill, Occidental soldiers on
COVID-19
In a race against two calendars—academic and pandemic—how did Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ transform in less than two weeks from a high-touch curriculum to a remote learning model?
Emily Jo Wharry '20
Many special senior moments have been upended by COVID-19—and a traditional Commencement will have to wait. But the Class of 2020 has made memories that no virus can destroy
Jack Kemp Stadium, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Athletics
The SCIAC spring sports season ended abruptly—and these senior student-athletes will miss their Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ families almost as much as the thrill of victory
President Jonathan Veitch and his senior leadership team
When the pandemic turned the College’s operations upside down in March, President Veitch had to throw out the script for his final days in office—but he and his team responded with...
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Squirrels
From the biology department shipping PPE to hospitals to Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Arts making art kits to students in Highland Park, here are nine snapshots of the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ family coming together in a time of need

Features

Professor of Art and Art History Amy Lyford in October 2021.
Postcards From Amy Lyford
After the Eaton Fire upended her life, the longtime Occidental professor reflects on finding a new home, returning to her research, and reconnecting with her community through art
Professor of Politics Emeritus Tsung Chi, photographed in June 2026.
A Round of Applause for Tsung Chi
After 35 years at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, the politics professor looks back on a career shaped by remarkable mentors, devoted students, and a deep belief in a liberal arts education
National Public Radio correspondent Kat Lonsdorf ’09 at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Kat Meets World
From Tel Aviv and Beirut to Minneapolis and Washington, NPR reporter Kat Lonsdorf ’09 follows the news wherever it leads, covering some of the defining stories of our time
Professor of Sociology Emeritus Jan Lin, photographed in June 2026.
Jan Lin’s Street Stories
For 28 years, Occidental’s renowned urban and community sociologist has connected the College with its surrounding neighborhoods through research, teaching, and thoughtful partnerships
Joy Shigaki ’94, president and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Park in Seattle.
Bringing Joy to Her Community
Joy Shigaki ’94 turned her lifelong commitment to social justice and community building into a career dedicated to creating inclusive public spaces—and Seattle’s Waterfront Park is her most...

First Word

From the Quad

Shane Kawakami-Williams ’27
Brewing Up a Comeback
A $1 million gift from Doug Odell ’75 is giving Occidental track and field a boost as it improves its facilities, strengthens its roster, and aims to compete at a higher level
Curb Visiting Fellow Michael Lloyd, far right, and Resident Assistant Professor Max Foreman with Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ students in the Choi Family Music Production Center.
Accelerating the Tempo
New industry partnerships, expanded course offerings, and a reimagined Booth Hall are positioning the Music Department for its second century
From left, Lizzie Friedrich ’25, Lily Calvert ’25, and Hayden Jennings ’25 share a red-carpet moment during the 2026 Slamdance Film Festival.
A Ticket to Slamdance
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ students and alumni find pathways into the Slamdance Film Festival, gaining industry exposure and experience following its move to Los Angeles

Mixed Media

Blue Film director Elliot Tuttle '22, second from left, with the film's stars.
Rhapsody in Blue
Elliot Tuttle ’22’s microbudget debut feature is one of the year’s breakout indie films—but getting there was its own odyssey

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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

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