2020-21 Annual Report
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRS Dear Friends, We write to you today with admiration and gratitude for your continued commitment to the Obama Scholars Program at Occidental College. Because of you, our Scholars, Fellows and program leaders were able to pivot during this historic year and continue in their inspiring pursuits to serve the public good. In this report, you will learn about the outstanding work done by our students to promote dialogue around racial justice and cultural inclusivity, and to assist their classmates despite the challenges of remote learning. The impact of all of our Scholars and Fellows has been extraordinary, and we applaud them all for their remarkable achievements during this challenging year. Moreover, we extend our thanks to the 44 donors who joined us on our Day For Oxy on April 20 to support the Obama Scholars Program. This new Oxy tradition helps to provide direct funding for the program and our students. Our Obama Advisory Council also demonstrated insightful leadership throughout the year and we are grateful for their committed engagement. The group, composed of dedicated alumni, parents and friends of Occidental, many of whom also served with President Obama, met multiple times to discuss the developing needs of the program, to assist in building the successful speaker series and to meet with, and advise, current Fellows and Scholars. The advisors were instrumental in discussing upcoming, meaningful program developments, which will be announced soon.
Co-chairs De La Torre and El-Amine
Finally, our deep appreciation goes out to President Harry J. Elam, Jr., whose focus on and excitement about the Obama Scholars Program was apparent from his first days at Oxy. Harry’s vision as well as the strategic input and guidance from our advisors and program leaders will enable this important program to grow and thrive now that Oxy students and faculty have returned to campus this semester. We look forward to what we will be able to achieve together over the next several months. Thank you again for your partnership, generosity and commitment to our students and to this critical program. Wishing you good health, Hector De La Torre ’89 P’20 and Sara El-Amine ’07 H’18
THE OBAMA SCHOLARS
Ima Odong ’21 had to cut her semester abroad plans short when the pandemic hit early in 2020. Now that international travel is once again possible, the writer and art educator who majored in critical liberation studies and praxis is set to spend time in Shanghai through an NYU Global Writing & Speaking Fellowship. Ima received foundational training through Oxy’s Writing Center, developing her own pedagogy for first-year students. As an Obama Fellow, Ima enjoyed mentoring the Scholars as well as meeting with Advisory Council members. Working with the Center for Community Based Learning, she also gained experience in outreach and programming, all of which made the Fellowship a natural next step. While working with NYU Shanghai students, Ima also plans to pursue creative writing projects and looks forward to meeting colleagues and students from around the world.
Noa Richard ’22 has been sharing stories often left out of the cultural conversation. Through her Humanity in Action Fellowship, she created “The In-Between Project,” a podcast for people who feel caught “in-between” races, cultures, languages, and selves. The comparative studies in literature & culture major advocates for racial justice and cultural inclusivity with a special spotlight on the experience of multiracial people, immigrants and refugees. The podcast aims to create catalysts for listeners to disrupt a social discourse that is often founded on a homogeneous experience. Noa was chosen as one of Oxy’s inaugural Obama Scholars due to “her creativity and her sensitivity to issues of social and environmental injustice,” and this latest project is the latest example of her passion at work. Listen in on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
THE OBAMA SCHOLARS FELLOWSHIP Each year, rising seniors at Occidental are chosen as Obama Fellows based on their achievements at Oxy both inside and outside of the classroom, faculty recommendations and their commitment to supporting the mission of the Obama Scholars Program—to contribute to the public good. Because of your support, Obama Fellows receive a generous grant to assist them in their postgraduate careers. We’re excited to announce the Obama Fellows for the 2021-22 academic year:
Mary Ambriz ’22 is a critical theory and social justice major and first-generation student from Fontana, Calif. At Oxy, she has made impactful strides to build spaces and networks for marginalized students. As a mentor to students of color and as a community organizer, Mary hopes to introduce others to opportunities and empower them to accomplish their goals.
Angelina Lee ’22 is a media arts and culture major from Naperville, Ill., who understands the power of positivity. She plans to use her media-making skills to share affirming human narratives as a means to catalyze environmental activism and create a sustainable ecostystem—an endeavor she pursues in myriad ways at Oxy.
Alejo Maggini ’22 arrived at Oxy from Argentina intent on using education as a tool for connection, collaboration and community. Through leading English language workshops for Oxy’s Latino staff, promoting restorative justice practices and helping to find Oxy’s 16th President, the diplomacy and world affairs and economics double major always strives to find new opportunities to promote the public good.
Micah Wilson ’22 was inspired to improve access to education for low-income, underrepresented students like himself from a young age. As an economics and politics double major from Lincoln, Neb., the student-athlete transfer aims to study economic mobility and diminish gaps in education differences.
THE OBAMA SCHOLARS PROGRAM
SPEAKER SERIES
Thanks to the ongoing commitment of the Obama Scholars Advisory Council and President Elam, this year we were privileged to invite distinguished alumni of both Oxy and the Obama Administration to have meaningful discussions around art and social change, the state of the U.S. education system, and leadership and service. Our deepest gratitude to the members of the Obama administration who joined us—Valerie Jarrett, president of the Obama Foundation and former senior advisor to President Obama, and Arne Duncan, managing partner of Chicago CRED and former U.S. Secretary of Education under President Obama. Special thanks to Oxy community members who also gathered with us for these insightful events: Bob Johnson ’77, Roger Guenveur Smith ’77, OxyArts Director Meldia Yesayan, Oxy President Emeritus Ted Mitchell and Lande Ajose ’87.
Lade Ajose ’87
Arne Duncan
Valerie Jarrett
Ted Mitchell
OUR SUPPORTIVE ADVISORS CO-CHAIRS
Jane Hickerson Community Leader
Hector De La Torre ’89 P’20 Public Policy Leader
Bob Johnson ’77 Entertainment Attorney
Sara El-Amine ’07 Political Strategist
Chris Johnson ’83 Business Executive
MEMBERS
Jeh Johnson H’15 P’17 Former Secretary of Homeland Security
David H. Anderson ’63 Environmental Attorney
Rob McKay ’86 H’03 President, McKay Family Foundation
Denise Campbell Bauer ’86 U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco
Ian McKinnon ’89 Investment Manager
Ann Blume P’14 Community Leader
Ted Mitchell H’07 President, American Council on Education
Bruce Blume P’14 Community Leader
Steve Olson Attorney
John Branca ’72 Entertainment Attorney
David Plouffe Campaign and Policy Advisor
Bill Davis ’80 Former Public Radio Executive
Prof. Ryan Preston-Roedder Faculty Mentor
Laurent Delanney ’82 Global Sports Marketing Executive
Ben Rhodes Writer and Political Commentator
Dr. Susan DiMarco P’17 Civic Leader
Joel and Eve Riley P’17 Mentors
Fred DuVal ’76 Policy Consultant
Janette Sadik-Khan ’82 H’10 Urban Transportation Planner
Mark Fabiani P’21 Political Strategist
John Brooks Slaughter H’99 Professor of Engineering and Education
Alan G. Freeman ’66 M’67 P’89 P’91 Theater Director and Writer
Roger Guenveur Smith ’77 H’11 Actor, Director and Writer
Maurine and Philip Halperin P’16 Education Leaders
Joe Solmonese Corporate Consultant
Wahid Hamid ’82 H’11 International Investor
Maya Soetoro-Ng H’18 Matsunaga Institute for Peace, University of Hawaii
Octavio Herrera ’98 Software Entrepreneur Glenn Hickerson Marketing and Management Consultant
obamascholars.oxy.edu
Vinai Kumar Thummalapally Former Ambassador Jonathan Veitch Occidental President Emeritus
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS
WHY I GIVE “Pamela and I feel strongly that education, and especially higher education of the caliber offered by schools like Occidental, can address so many of the challenges, struggles, and inequities we’re encountering in today’s world. When we decided to contribute to the future of the school’s mission and its future students, creating endowed scholarships made the most sense to us. A private education has become formidably expensive; even for candidates who manage to access the funds to attend, student loan debt can have a major influence on career choices. A talented graduate might be compelled to choose a path based on the need to pay off monstrous student loans rather than on what might be the best use of his or her talent, or what might best benefit society. Scholarships can have a profound effect. Naturally, most of us are in support of what a fine education can do for our careers, our society, and the world. But it’s important to remember the great benefits to be gained in our personal lives from an education at an institution like Occidental. Oxy trains us to reason, to think, and to be stimulated to be perpetual students. During the inevitable challenges and rough patches in life we all experience as humans, being able to access the tools, extra dimensions, and interests we gained from our education can be critical to our health, well being, and resilience. So, for graduates who feel that they have benefitted from the multiple and varied lifelong gifts that their stay in the oasis of Eagle Rock has bestowed on their lives: please consider the school as an eminently worthy beneficiary of your Pamela and Michael recently documented an philanthropy.” estate gift to Occidental College to support the Obama Scholars Program and the EdgertonOccidental Merit Scholarship Program. Pamela Gerard and Michael J. Fields, D.D.S. ’70
FOUNDING DONORS We are grateful to these leaders who have made cumulative gifts of $1,000,000 and above since the inception of the Obama Scholars Program.
Uzma Husain and Imad Husain ’83 Gertrude Leachman ’67 M’69 and Ronald Leachman ’68 P’04 Diane Schinnerer ’60 and Dr. Donald Schinnerer ’59
David H. Anderson ’63 and Linda L. Anderson
Gifts of $1,000 and above
Ann and Bruce Blume P’14
Doris Z. Calian and Carnegie S. Calian, Ph.D. ’55
Helen* and Carl Craig P’63*
John C. Collinson ’89
Janice C. Gonzales ’63 and Joe Gonzales*
Lakshmi K. Dastur ’88 and Willan L. Johnson ’86 P’21
Jane Fortune Hickerson* and Glenn Lindsey Hickerson
Virginia L. Ellis ’66 and Dr. William D. Ellis ’65
Aileen Isaksen and Leif Isaksen ’62
Ferial Hamid and Wahid S. Hamid ’82 H’11
Lyssa Axeen and Dr. David Axeen H’07
Dr. Diane L. Evans ’76 H’12 Melody L. Malmberg ’79 and Joseph M. Rohde ’77
We appreciate and recognize the following donors who made generous gifts and/or pledge commitments to the Obama Scholars Program from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
Rondal D. Tobler ’84 P’17 The Rev. Jon S. West ’61 and Marcia West
Gifts up to $1,000 Dana Alhadeff
Gifts of $500,000 and above Michael J. Fields ’70 and Pamela D. Gerard
Gifts of $25,000 and above John G. Branca ’72 Susan M. DiMarco and Jeh C. Johnson H’15 P’17 Rob McKay ’86 H’03
Gifts of $10,000 and above Liz B. Blackman ’80 and Victor M. Mason ’81 Nina J. Gutin, Ph.D. ’85 Barbara Johnson and Christian M. Johnson ’83 Janette I. Sadik-Khan ’82 H’10 and Mark Geistfeld Elsa G. Stewart ’53 and Charles S. Stewart ’53
Gifts of $5,000 and above Linda Brandenburger ’60 Keli P. Carico and Christopher D. Carico ’83 Nancy J. Gordon ’68 P’01 Dr. Greta J. Mandell ’72 and Peter Mandell P’92 Leni Richardson ’56 P’85 Anonymous
Gifts of $2,500 and above Sandra Santana and Manuel H. Bernal ’87 Kathie Freeman ’65 M’72 and Prof. Alan Freeman ’66 M’67 P’89 P’91
Heather L. Alhadeff ’97 Daniel L. Arkin ’11 Paul J. Barquinero ’71 Catherine Barrett Amb. Denise C. Bauer ’86 Charles H. Bennett ’11 Dr. Brita A. Bruemmer ’82 and Steve Bruemmer Aubree D. Cedillo ’95 and Prof. Brian A. Fitzmorris P’12 P’19 Hedy N. Chang ’86 and Jack Chin Robin A. Craggs and Garret R. Keith P’21 Judith A. Everitt ’68 and Carl E. Everitt Greg Fishwick, Ph.D. ’72 Denise Frost and Saul S. Gonzalez P’19 Lisa J. Garcia and Mark D. Garcia ’87 Nathan R. Genung ’07 Victoria G. Harding ’87 Charlene Ho ’01 Prof. Maryanne Horowitz and Prof. Ellis Horowitz Sharon S. Jones ’67 and Robert D. Jones ’67 Craig J. Justman ’90 Carly Kaufman Kimberly Kelling and R. Todd Engstrom P’20 Gail Kemper and Dr. Lawrence B. Kemper ’57 Amy Kinch and Ashby M. Kinch ’92 Debra F. Kipp ’76 Ryan J. Kluthe ’06
*Deceased While great care has been taken in preparing this honor roll, occasionally mistakes may occur. Please inform the College of any errors or omissions by contacting the Office of Donor Relations at donorrelations@oxy.edu.
Gifts up to $1,000 (continued) Jonathan A. Lanning, Ph.D. ’99 Harold R. Lentzner ’65 Kimberly J. Leong ’80 Charles E. Letts, III ’73 Hampden T. Macbeth ’07 Charles McClintock, Ph.D. ’68 and Carol A. Wilburn Joan H. McCulloch ’76 Barbara J. Miller ’68 Stephanie L. Negin ’04 Jeanne Nelson ’72 and Brad W. Nelson ’72 Jordan D. Parkhurst ’05 David S. Peritz ’87 Kyle K. Pierce ’84 Bonnie E. Regan ’96 and Scott Regan Ann E. Rendahl and Paul E. Sachs P’21 P’23 Katelyn N. Rowe ’13
Erica C. Shinohara ’02 and Paul M. Harper ’02 Anita C. Smith ’65 and Ken Bonus Nancy C. Stephens ’47 and Glen E. Stephens Jane Storm ’71 Kathryn F. Sturdevant ’85 Erin D. Swezey and Timothy P. Leary, Ph.D. P’18 Jill A. Thompson ’86 and Steve Horn Lorraine Toly ’68 Kimberly M. Uribe John L. Vigorita ’05 Linda S. Warren ’81 Sherry A. Winn ’82 Goetz Wolff ’65 Daniel M. Woodruff ’85 Whitney Worster ’00 and Brian L. Worster ’97 William S. Yee ’86 Anonymous
PRESIDENT HARRY J. ELAM, JR. “ Over this last year I have had the privilege of working closely with our talented Obama Scholars and Fellows, the Advisory Council, and with our Obama Scholars guest speakers. It is an honor to witness our community’s collective pride in this program. As we develop a new strategic plan for Occidental, this program will play a key role in defining what makes Oxy special while also strengthening Oxy’s leadership in the liberal arts.”
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