CMC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Scholar Community Programming for the Robert Day Scholars Program
- Coordinator, Scholar Community Programming
Adilene is the Coordinator of Scholar Community Programming for the Robert Day Scholars Program and Scholar Communities. Her role with the Robert Day Scholars Program focuses on supporting the facilitation of a co-curricular class that benefits scholars in their personal and professional development. Adilene's role within the Scholar Communities allows her to coordinate student support activities as well as assist the Director of Scholar Communities with the Sponsored Internships and Experiences Program. She studied at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona where she earned her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and Behavioral Sciences. Adilene has a strong devotion for assisting and uplifting those within her community. Prior to joining us, she volunteered and worked for numerous nonprofits throughout the Los Angeles area. As a proud first generation college graduate, she plans to further her professional growth within higher education at CMC. In her free time, she enjoys attending music festivals with friends and reading.
Job Titles:
- Director, Robert Day Scholars and Scholar Communities
As the Director of the Robert Day Scholars Program and Scholar Communities, Amy oversees the day-to-day activities of the program, which include career services functions, curricular programming, and alumni relations. In her role, Amy works closely with current students to provide them with personal and professional development opportunities and connects them with resources to support their growth. She also works closely with alumni and parents of CMC to identify opportunities that help them connect with students and strengthen relationships on and off campus. Amy is originally from San Luis Obispo, California. She graduated from CMC in 2011 with a dual degree in history and international relations. After graduation, Amy joined Teach For America and moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. She taught kindergarten for 3 years at Sylvanie Williams College Prep and then coordinated intervention efforts school-wide for 2 years. Following that, Amy served as the Operations Manager for Crocker College Prep, working with 550 students and 75 staff members. After moving back to California, she coordinated on-campus recruitment for Teach For America at many Southern California colleges, including CMC. In her spare time, Amy loves to eat, cook, and be outside.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean for Mentorship Programs and Student Development
- Assistant Dean of Students for Mentorship Programs
Anh serves as the Assistant Dean of Students for Mentorship Programs and Student Development. Within her role, she works closely with our peer mentorship organizations, Asian Pacific American Mentors (APAM), 1GEN (First-Generation), and iConnect (International Students) to provide guidance and support for to our student leaders, ensuring the success and effectiveness of the mentorship programs. Anh also supports the Associate Dean of Students for Diversity & Inclusion and CARE Director to develop programs that promote an inclusive environment for underrepresented student populations, with an emphasis on Asian Pacific Islander and Desi-American (APIDA) student experiences.
Anh brings to CMC both community college teaching experience and multicultural student affairs experience, having formally served as an adjunct counseling instructor at Pasadena City College and as the Asian Pacific Islander Coordinator at the California State University, Los Angeles. Anh earned her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside, and her Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Counseling from the University of Southern California.
When Anh isn't working, she is still drinking coffee! As a Los Angeles resident, Anh enjoys visiting and trying new L.A. coffee shops and nearby cities in Arcadia, Alhambra, and San Gabriel for all the delicious Asian food in the area.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Founder & Chair ( Deceased )
Brian Davidson '08 is an international educator, researcher, and librarian who is devoted to mentoring and advising students on how to secure competitive grants and awards around the world. As Director of Fellowships Advising at the Center for Global Education, he supports CMCers as they apply to programs such as Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Gates-Cambridge, and many others. Beyond just helping students with their applications, Brian strives to make the application process one of self-discovery and reflection.
As a student at CMC, he majored in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and served as a Buzz Woolley Fellow at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum. Brian later earned an MA in European and Russian Studies from Yale University, and an MS in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois. He has conducted research and given presentations on the British book trade in the late eighteenth century, the history of libraries in the Atlantic world, and the cultural history of books, reading, and advertising in Britain. His CMC study abroad experience in Nantes, France, first ignited his passion for intercultural education and led him to a position as Study Abroad Advisor in CMC's Office of Off-Campus Study from 2008 to 2010, and his further research on the history and culture of Britain has sustained this enthusiasm. Brian is delighted to return to Claremont and work with CMCers once again.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management
Brian is a military and law enforcement veteran with an extensive safety and security background, ranging from threat assessment/force protection to proactive Community Oriented Policing strategies. He served in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Commander/Chief of Police and was recognized as the first USAF reservist to deploy after 911 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Brian retired from the Beverly Hills Police Department in November 2016. During his multi-faceted career, he served as operator/team leader within the framework of SWAT, specializing in Defensive Tactics, WMD, K-9 operations, narcotics/counter-surveillance, active shooter/rapid response engagements and dignitary protection, assisting US Secret Service in the protection of multiple US Presidents and other globally known protectees. Brian holds a Master's Degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Air University and is a proud Aggie from Texas A&M University, graduating with a BS in Sociology. In his off time, Brian enjoys trying to hone his golf game and spending time with his beautiful family. Brian is excited about the traditions, unique cultures and family like atmosphere at CMC, where mutual support and respect allows a safe, work hard-play hard approach. Brian and his team are so excited to meet you and be an integral positive part of your unforgettable college experience at Claremont McKenna.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of External Relations
As the Assistant Director of External Relations to the Robert Day Scholars Program, Brooke provides individual career coaching for students within the Robert Day Scholars Program where she delivers professional development workshops to contribute to the personal and professional development of Robert Day Scholars. Brooke works collaboratively toward developing strong campus and external relationships designed to drive networking and placement opportunities for Scholars. She also facilitates and manages access to experiential funding. Brooke earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 2019. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and playing with her two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of External Relations to the Robert Day Scholars Program
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of HEALTH PROMOTION and STUDENT SUPPORT
Chantal joined the Dean of Students in 2022 to help build a new foundation for health education and promotion programming for the campus community. As CMC's health educator, Chantal implements and evaluates health promotion programs, events, and workshops that educate and empower students to make healthy lifestyle choices. In this role, she works closely with students experiencing personal challenges and offers referrals to mental health resources. She also oversees the inaugural peer health ambassador program, a group that provides peer-led educational programming within the areas of mental health and health promotion.
Chantal is originally from Los Angeles and is a graduate of California State University, Chico where she studied Health Science Education and Spanish. During her time at Chico State, she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and spent a semester abroad in Madrid, Spain. Upon graduating with her bachelor's, she served as a Graduate Assistant at Western Kentucky University where she oversaw the university's Health Education and Promotion program and obtained a Masters of Public Health. In her free time, Chantal loves to travel and go hiking with her dad. The two regularly summit Mount Baldy and enjoy visiting national parks. She is very excited to be a part of the CMC community where she strives to create avenues towards health and social equity by driving change through education, outreach, and advocacy.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Student Engagement
- Director of Student Engagement
As the Assistant Director of Student Engagement, Chrishelle provides support to all students as they explore their experience outside of the classroom and engage with the campus community. She is passionate about being a resource for students as they develop all the skills needed to be compassionate and effective leaders at CMC and beyond. In her role, she advises the College Programming Board (CPB) and all CMC clubs and student organizations. Additionally, she assists the Director of Student Engagement with Orientation and First Year Programs.
Chrishelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Sociology at the University of La Verne in 2016. In 2020, she graduated from California State Fullerton with a Master's of Science in Higher Education with experience in Student Life and Student Conduct. Before joining the Dean of Students team at CMC, Chrishelle was an academic advisor at the University of Southern California. When she isn't in the office, Chrishelle loves to get lost in a book and huge mug of tea or take a drive to explore SoCal. She also is a life-long Dodgers fan, Ravenclaw, and Disney Adult.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant for Student Affairs and Clery Compliance Coordinator
Cynthia assists the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Dean of Students and oversees the management of the Dean of Students Office. She serves as the primary contact on behalf of the Vice President and the Dean of Students and provides support in the daily operations of each department within the office. Cynthia supervises the DOS Student Assistants, supports the Student Affairs Committee for the Board of Trustees, and makes arrangements for Commencement. Cynthia also serves as the College's Clery Compliance Coordinator, ensuring compliance with all laws under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. She earned her bachelor's degree in integrative studies from Arizona State University. Stop by to see her anytime and you will always be greeted with a warm smile and a positive attitude, provided she has had her morning coffee and has a full candy bowl.
Job Titles:
- Member of the SVP Staff and Faculty Team
- Academic Director of the Silicon Valley Program / Professor of Economics
- Director of the Randall Lewis Center for Innovation
Darren Filson is the Director of the Randall Lewis Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Academic Director of the Silicon Valley Program, and the James G. Boswell Professor of Economics and George R. Roberts Fellow at Claremont McKenna College. Professor Filson received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Rochester in 1996, and he has taught at the Claremont Colleges since 1997. Most of his research and teaching focuses on the intersections of industrial organization, finance and strategy with an emphasis on industry evolution and innovation.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Student Affairs
During her more than two decades on the CMC staff, DT has always put the student experience first, dedicated to making sure every CMCer has the opportunity to thrive. Before assuming the role of Vice President of Student Affairs, DT was Dean of Students and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. Prior to joining the Dean of Students office, she served as the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, collaborating with students, faculty, staff, and trustees on CMC's institutional priorities.
Job Titles:
- SPECIAL ASSISTANT to the PRESIDENT
Job Titles:
- Assistant Faculty Member / Professor of Leadership Studies
- Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant
Dr. Sara Thompson brings a distinctive blend of academic and theoretical experience to the Silicon Valley classroom. That, combined with her professional focus as a leadership consultant in coaching her clients to develop their leadership skills and potential, makes her an excellent fit for the Silicon Valley Program (SVP). Students in SVP are working full time and value coursework that has practical implications for understanding workplace dynamics, team performance, and leadership. The applicable concepts and frameworks for guiding one's personal and professional development that she brings to SVP courses are immediately useful to them. Students emerge with actionable steps towards developing their leadership capabilities.
Within the Silicon Valley Program, Dr. Thompson co-teaches Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (LEAD 150) with Professor Ron Riggio. In addition, she serves as a faculty member for the internship course (INT 30) providing curricular and co-curricular expertise to support students' learning in their pre-professional internship.
Outside the Silicon Valley Program, Dr. Thompson is an executive coach and leadership consultant to individuals and teams in corporate (e.g., Google), higher education (e.g., University of Illinois), law (e.g., Paul Hastings), and entrepreneurship fields ranging from serving the public sector to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultants to creative and interior design. Her clients include top companies as well as entrepreneurs who are addressing ever-changing complexities in today's workplace - developing leaders and leadership skills in a remote work environment, building high performance teams who understand how to embrace diversity and inclusion, continuing to act with integrity, and navigating the positive and negative aspects of hybrid work environments. She works with clients as their trusted advisor, facilitator, team-builder, change agent and paradigm shifter as they chart a new course and redefine what it means to be a leader in today's world.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Board Relations and Office of the General Counsel
Erika Hongo was born and raised in Toyama, Japan, and holds a B.A. in International Studies from Meiji Gakuin University in Yokohama, Japan. She studied at the University of California, Santa Barbara as an exchange student and fell in love with Southern California. Before joining the DOS team, she worked at International Place, a shared resource center for international students across the 7Cs, for three years. She loves cats (owns two), ballet (both watching and doing - practiced for over ten years), reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. If you want to know good Japanese restaurants in the area, she is the person to ask.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Robert Day Scholars Program
Erin is the Administrative Assistant for the Robert Day Scholars Program and supports the team and student Scholars alike. She mainly works on experiential funding, coordinating purchases, reconciling expenses, and planning events. Prior to joining Claremont McKenna College, she worked in the video game industry as a narrative designer and also taught elementary and middle school students at an afterschool program. Erin studied at the University of Southern California where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. While in college, she was a member of the Trojan Archery team. In her free time, Erin enjoys writing, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- VICE PRESIDENT of BUSINESS and CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Freya (she/her/hers) works with students, employers, and alumni associated with the following interest clusters: Accounting & Financial Services; Government, Law & Public Policy; and Non-Profit & Social Enterprise. She also serves as the Pre-Law Advisor for students and alumni, provides guidance for those applying to MBA programs, and supports the Claremont Colleges students on the Washington Program. Prior to joining Career Services, she worked in data analytics and operational efficiency in the energy utility space. Freya graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a degree in Economics, Mathematics, and the Financial Economics Sequence, and she has her MBA from the Walter A. Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. Freya enjoys cooking and baking for others, traveling, playing strategic board games, solving puzzles, watching Broadway productions, and reading novels.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director for the Sponsored Internships
Garineh is the Associate Director for the Sponsored Internships and Experiences Program. She is a career development professional with a passion for counseling and empowering students so they can achieve their full potential academically and professionally. She has several years of experience working within Student Affairs in a Higher Education setting and continues to serve by being resourceful and guiding each individual in their career journey. Prior to joining CMC, she worked at UCLA and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) as a career counselor and internship advisor working with students from undergraduate to Phd/Post-Doc levels. She received her BA in English Literature from UC Irvine and her MA in Guidance and Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. In her free time she enjoys cooking, listening to podcasts, cheering on the Lakers and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Career Services
Gary works with students, employers, and alumni associated with the following interest clusters: Medicine, Biotech & Health Services; Consulting; and Science & Environment. Gary has extensive experience in higher education and leadership. Prior to joining CMC, Gary spent extended time with The Princeton Review, working his way from SAT instructor to Executive Director of the Los Angeles Office. He found his way to higher education with an admissions start up, Joined, Inc. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of California, San Diego.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Grace meets with students and alumni in the Creative & Entertainment and Technology & Entrepreneurship clusters and also supports the Silicon Valley Program. She has worked in higher education in career services since 2007. She has worked at UCLA, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Mount Saint Mary's University and taught a freshmen summer career development course at UCSB. She has worked with students ranging from freshmen to doctoral students in all majors from arts to science. Her work history spans a wide spectrum of experiences including television post-production, radio and college/campus recruitment at Disney and Shire (biotech). She received her BA in Film Studies from UCSB and her MSW from UC Berkeley and is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach.
Job Titles:
- VICE PRESIDENT for ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Hiram E. Chodosh is president of Claremont McKenna College, a top liberal arts college in the country.
Widely recognized for his innovations and scholarship in higher education, comparative law, and international justice reform, President Chodosh has led CMC's efforts to broaden and deepen its singular mission to prepare students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions.
Hiram E. Chodosh is the president of Claremont McKenna College, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. President Chodosh is widely recognized for his innovations and accomplishments in both higher education and institutional legal reform with a focus on the structural improvement of emerging legal systems.
Under President Chodosh's leadership, Claremont McKenna has excelled across several important domains, including dramatic results in access and affordability, low debt, expanded experiential and advanced research programs, strong post-graduate outcomes, and the financial strength of the institution. Claremont McKenna has also been recognized nationally for its commitments to freedom of expression and the high quality of an integrated student life and rigorous academic experience, including a top-ten NCAA Division III student-athletics program that has produced eight national championships since 2016.
President Chodosh entered law practice at the New York City headquarters of the international firm Cleary Gottlieb, where he specialized in transnational practice. In 1993, he left the firm to join the faculty at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland. He served as the Hostetler Professor, Director of the Frederick K. Cox International Law Center, and Associate Dean, before leaving Case to become Dean of the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in 2006. During his tenure there, he served as the Hugh B. Brown Endowed Presidential Professor of Law and the university's Senior Presidential Advisor on Global Strategy. Under his leadership, the College of Law established several new university centers to address law and bioscience, global justice, educational innovation, and research on veterans, and began construction on an award-winning new law school facility.
Throughout his academic career, President Chodosh has worked on major legal reform projects in more than a dozen countries. He has served in advisory positions on justice reform for the World Bank Justice Reform Group, the International Monetary Fund Legal Department, and several court systems, non-profit organizations, and national commissions throughout the Middle East and Asia. He founded and directed Global Justice Project: Iraq under a $10.4 million grant (2008-10) from the U.S. Department of State and served as the primary author of The Palestinian Legal Study (the first attempt to bring West Bank and Gazan lawyers and judges together to develop a blueprint for an integrated Palestinian legal system). President Chodosh also contributed to judicial reform in Indonesia, Egypt, and several other countries. In 2011, he was named a recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award. In 2013, he was recognized as one of the 25 most influential legal educators in the United States.
As an expert in comparative and international law, with a focus on the reform of legal systems, President Chodosh's academic publications include Judicial Independence: Cornerstone of Democracy (with Shimon Shetreet, eds., Brill Nijhoff, 2024); Uniform Civil Code of India: A Blueprint for Scholarly Discourse (with Shimon Shetreet, 2016), Law in Iraq: A Document Companion (with Chibli Mallat, eds., 2013), both published by Oxford University Press, and Global Justice Reform: A Comparative Methodology (NYU Press, 2005).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- VICE PRESIDENT and CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER for CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE PRESIDENT and CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER for CLAREMONT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Job Titles:
- ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT for ADMISSION and FINANCIAL AID
Job Titles:
- Senior Assistant Dean of Students for Residential Life and Student Engagement
Jenny is a graduate of Drew University where she studied history and psychology. She earned her master's degree from Springfield College, majoring in psychology and counseling with a concentration in higher education administration. She is currently ABD in her doctoral program at New England College, focusing on completing her dissertation. Jenny has had a variety of experiences in student affairs. She has worked in admissions, student activities/community service, academic advising, orientation, and residential life. She has also served as adjunct faculty at other institutions. Jenny is passionate about the liberal arts education. Her main areas of interest include positive psychology, issues around access and equity, partnering with parents and family, and creating a strong sense of community within the residence halls. Originally from New York City, Jenny is thrilled to be on the west coast! When not in the office, she spends her free time on the Pellie (her bike), running, checking out new beaches, teaching or practicing yoga, reading, kayaking, skiing, watching new movies and documentaries, exploring California, and spending time with her beloved dogs Sharkbait and Cali.
Job Titles:
- Case Manager
- Senior Assistant Dean of Students for Mental Health and Health Promotion
As Case Manager, Jess provides support to students who may experience personal challenges during their time at CMC, while also contributing to the care of the mental health and wellness of the campus community. Jess works with students to identify their current needs and coordinates support through an ongoing partnership, including referrals to campus and community resources and monitoring of personal progress. Her goal is to help students engage in effective problem-solving by navigating supportive options together. She received her B.A in music from Skidmore College in her home state of New York and her M.A in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University. Jess has a background in residential life and disability support services within higher education as well as experience as an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist. She has been a Seattle Seahawks fan since before she could walk and is an avid outdoorswoman who is passionate about the therapeutic benefits of spending time in nature.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Student Accounts
Jimmy Doan is thrilled to have joined the CMC community in July 2024 as the Dean of Students. A thoughtful and collaborative leader, Jimmy partners with the Dean of Students team and CMC leadership to make sure that every student can tap into the vibrant academic and social cultures at CMC and is prepared to be a responsible leader in the world and work towards their best version of themselves. Jimmy prioritizes wellbeing as essential to everyone's success and works with students, faculty, staff, and trustees to support CMC's culture of excellence where wellbeing and success go hand-in-hand.
An East Coast native, Jimmy spent over 10 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) serving in progressive roles in residential education, student support, and wellbeing, most recently the Associate Dean and Senior Director of Wellbeing, Belonging, and Special Projects. At MIT, Jimmy created residential peer mentorship programs, was a founding member of the CARE team, created the Office of Student Wellbeing, and managed strategic projects for the Division of Student Life. Prior to working at MIT, Jimmy worked in student engagement at Bentley University. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross and his Master of Education in Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont.
When he's not in Heggblade you'll find Jimmy exploring beautiful Southern California with his husband and pup Grady. While he's thrilled for New England winters and shoveling to be a thing of the past, you'll probably find him back in Boston on winter break visiting his parents, four sisters and eight nieces and nephews. As a new West Coaster, Jimmy is keeping an eye out for some good running routes and day hikes, the best restaurants and tasty treats, and any hidden gems in the area so be sure to share your favorites!
As an Administrative Assistant, Joe provides a broad range of administrative functions for and clerical support to the Dean of Students Office, directly supporting the departments of Student Engagement, Activities, Orientation, and Health and Wellness. He oversees the reservations for on campus student events, ticket sales sponsored by DOS, and the DOS motor pool. He manages the Board Game inventory for student use, the Campus Digital Signage email account, and the Dean of Students Office petty cash system. In his free time, Joe enjoys motorcycle touring, backpacking, camping, vegetable gardening, baking artisanal sourdough bread, cooking and ballroom dancing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- SECRETARY of the COLLEGE and DIRECTOR of PUBLIC ART
Job Titles:
- Director of Global Education
Kristen Mallory entered the field in 1999 when she received her MA degree in International Education from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT. As Director of Global Education, Ms. Mallory manages all study abroad academic opportunities as well as CMC's Washington Internship Program and the Silicon Valley Program. She has held additional International Education positions at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and with the Forum on Education Abroad (ForumEA). She is a NAFSA Trainer Corps Member, and co-wrote the NAFSA CEP Workshop Health and Safety in International Education. She is currently a member of the ForumEA Council, the ForumEA Data Committee, and the IFSA Butler National Advisory Committee Executive Council. She has previously held positions as a QUIP Reviewer for the ForumEA, as the Chairperson for the ForumEA Annual Conference, on the National Advisory Board for the College of Global Studies, Arcadia University, as a member of the Academic Council for IES Abroad, and she has chaired the IES Abroad Nominations Committee. Her international experience includes Peace Corps, Chad, and study abroad Paris. She has led many workshops on the topics of Health and Safety, Home Institution and Program Provider Relationships, and Language Policy in Study Abroad. She was an accountant for the U.S. federal government prior to entering the field.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Global Education
Lea Harper, a Pitzer College graduate, received her MA from the Department of Linguistics at UC Santa Barbara, with her thesis "The Representation of African American Vernacular English in the Media" and her C.Phil with dissertation work entitled "You're not my friend!": Gender and Exclusionary Practices in a Multilingual California Preschool Classroom." She studied abroad in Paris during her undergraduate work at Pitzer College, spending time in Central France during her semester abroad. She traveled extensively throughout Mexico while conducting research with Indigenous communities. She has journeyed in Japan with her two sons and readily shares that should she win the lottery she would buy herself a small home and would spend the rest on international travel! Lea arrived at CMC in 2002 and has worked extensively with CMC students in multiple capacities through her time with The Children's School and the Student Accounts Office.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Residential Life
As the Assistant Director of Residential Life, Luke supports students as they navigate CMC's vibrant living and learning community. Luke is passionate about empowering students to grow and have agency throughout their college experience. In this role, Luke supervises the Resident Assistant staff and supports the development of CMC's residential life program. He is thrilled to walk alongside each student during their time at CMC.
Luke holds a B.A. in Political Science and Business from Hope College and a Master of Education from Harvard University. Luke is a proud Michigander, but is thrilled to be living in a warm climate for the first time. He loves to snow ski, watch/read the Lord of the Rings, spend time at the beach, and scour Wikipedia for obscure information.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Lyn supports the Residential Life team and supports some elements of first-year orientation. Lyn is your first point of contact if you need assistance with housing, dorm damage, meal plan changes, health insurance, or questions regarding the first-year student portal. A native Californian, Lyn is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton with a B.A. in Communication. She hopes you will drop by Heggblade Center DOS South, if you have any questions regarding life at CMC. Even if you don't have a question, stop by and visit ‘Wilson,' our motion activated red candy "robot" who cheerfully dispenses handfuls of Peanut Butter M&M's, Skittles, or jelly beans.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Scholar Communities
Lyn is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine where she received her bachelor's degree in English Literature and International Studies. During her time at UCI, she was a peer advisor for the Study Abroad Center where she helped students navigate programs offered through UCEAP. Additionally, she was involved with UCI's Asian American Studies department assisting in research to develop historical archives of the Vietnamese refugee community in Orange County. Upon graduation, Lyn took some time off to travel throughout Vietnam and when she returned, she taught a creative writing class as well as managed the academic enrichment program at an arts and music center based in Irvine. In her free time, she likes to hike, cook, and explore as many national parks as possible!
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor of Economics / ECON 199 CM: Special Topics in Silicon Valley - the Silicon Valley Regional Economy
- Professor
Professor Keil received his Ph. D. in Economics from the London School of Economics and has been working at Claremont McKenna College since 1995. He is a Professor of Economics and former Chair of the Faculty in the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance, and typically lectures in Macroeconomics, Statistics, and Econometrics. Prof. Keil also is the Associate Director of the Lowe Institute for Political Economy and leads a relatively large research staff of student RAs to provide forecasting analysis for the Inland Empire.
He has previously taught in the Silicon Valley program and spends his summers typically in Seoul, South Korea, lecturing at the CMC-Yonsei University summer program. His research interest lie in comparative economic performance and economic forecasting.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean of Students for Student Engagement
As the Assistant Dean of Student Engagement, MaryKate Jacobs works to ensure that all students are empowered to create their own unique and fulfilling CMC experience beyond the classroom. She believes that by engaging with the campus community through co-curricular opportunities, students are able to further develop their skills and become even more capable and confident individuals. She serves as the advisor to the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College. She also oversees Orientation and WOA and approves student events on campus. In 2017, MaryKate earned her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Political Science. She later graduated from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville with her master's degree in College Student Personnel in 2019. In her free time, MaryKate loves battling California heat to try to grow something in her garden, visiting coffee shops, and walking her dog, Brandi.
Job Titles:
- Senior Assistant Dean of Students for Academic Success
Matt Layman provides support to students and their academic success, ensuring students are aware of and take full advantage of the all the tools and resources available to them at CMC, including the Romero Success Coaches, a peer mentorship group he oversees. Having worked a variety of roles for over a decade in higher education, he assists students with prioritization and time management to adequately balance all of their commitments. Matt always makes time for his students, whether that is through a scheduled meeting, cheering them on at a team or group competition/event, or just a random pop in to his office for conversation and/or coffee. He received his Master of Arts Degree in Education from Heidelberg University and his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Manchester University, where he was also a three-sport college athlete. Loves coffee shops, houseplants, his garden, cooking his Italian family recipes, and can often be seen walking through campus with his wife and their two dogs Koa and Millie.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Employer Relations
Mia works with employers, alumni, and parents to coordinate recruitment activities and logistics. She also oversees the Experiential Funding process for conferences & networking events, research, and graduate school. Prior to starting at CMC, Mia worked in Professional Recruitment Services for roles within accounting and finance. She collaborated with job seekers ranging from new graduates to tenured professionals to revise resumes, prepare for interviews, and close employment offers. Mia is a first-generation graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of La Verne. While in college, she played on the Women's Soccer team and served as a team captain. In her free time, she loves going to Disneyland, playing with dogs (especially corgis), and listening to Christmas music year-round.
Job Titles:
- VICE PRESIDENT for ADVANCEMENT & STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
- Vice President for Advancement Dean of the Robert Day Scholars Program
Michelle is responsible for leading the Soll Center for Student Opportunity, which houses Career Services, the Sponsored Internship Program, and the Scholar Communities, which includes the Robert Day Scholars Program. In this capacity, Michelle interacts with internal and external constituencies to connect students to the many resources and opportunities offered at CMC through programming and counseling. Previously, Michelle was an attorney with O'Melveny & Myers LLP, focused on structured finance and private equity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California, a Master of Arts degree in Education Administration from Claremont Graduate University, and a Juris Doctor from Southwestern School of Law. She resides in Claremont and is active in her community, as a member of the Southwestern School of Law Board of Visitors and Mt. San Antonio Gardens Corporation Board.
As Dean of the Robert Day Scholars Program, Michelle provides focused leadership and direction to both the program and its scholars. She has been able to leverage her extensive skill set and experience to create a highly refined program that effectively funnels resources and opportunities directly to the students who need them most. She finds purpose in making meaningful connections with students that further enhances both their personal and professional development. Michelle previously excelled as an attorney with O'Melveny & Myers LLP, focused on structured finance and private equity. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California, a Master of Arts degree in Education from Claremont Graduate University, and a Juris Doctor from Southwestern School of Law. She resides in Claremont and is active in her community as a member of the Southwestern School of Law Board of Visitors and Mt. San Antonio Gardens Corporation Board.
Job Titles:
- Member of the SVP Staff and Faculty Team
- Associate Director for the Silicon Valley Program
Nereida Moussa serves as Associate Director for the Silicon Valley Program, working with the Executive Director, students, CMC staff on campus and professional community to lead the Program's initiatives and prepare students for their arrival. Additionally, she organizes the annual Evans ITAB Networking Trip to Silicon Valley each January. Nereida worked at the College Board's San Jose regional office as Assistant Director of Professional Development and Operations. She held other positions at the College Board, as well as at Cisco. Nereida earned a professional certificate in event and meeting planning from San Francisco State, and a B.A. in theatre arts with an English concentration from San Jose State.
Job Titles:
- VICE PRESIDENT for HUMAN RELATIONS and CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER
Job Titles:
- ASSISTANT DEAN of STUDENTS for ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Patty is dedicated to empowering students to achieve their potential using empathy, humility, and integrity. As Assistant Dean of Students for Academic Progress, she is responsible for helping students transition into college and build a meaningful campus experience through one-on-one coaching and responsive programming designed to address the needs of students experiencing challenges. Dedicated to fostering growth, she strives to create a supportive space where each student can thrive and cultivate a sense of authorship over their learning experiences.
Patty is a native Angeleno and first-generation college student passionate about connection and collaboration with the campus community. She received her B.A. in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, and her MSW from California State University, Dominguez Hills. In her previous roles, she served to improve the lives of foster youth, low-income families, and disabled populations. She has a background in program development and improvement, dedicated to utilizing evaluation to improve outcomes among diverse populations. When she isn't working, she enjoys hiking the loop at the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park and spending time at Crystal Cove Beach with her spouse and two children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of First Year Programming
Priscilla is the Assistant Director of First Year Programming. Her role at the Soll Center focuses on engaging with all first-year students at CMC to introduce them to the resources within Career Services, coach them on a successful transition to college, and guide them in their early career exploration. She is a first-generation Pitzer College alum and majored in Sociology and Spanish and minored in Chicanx/ Latinx Studies. After a short time working in start-ups Priscilla returned to Pitzer as a Residence Director and Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator. Before coming to CMC, she completed a Fulbright fellowship in Mexico, teaching English at a teacher's training college and engaging students in a wellness and self-development workshop. Priscilla is excited to work with first years at CMC and help students navigate their time in college. During her free time, Priscilla enjoys drinking tea, rewatching Grey's Anatomy, eating popcorn, traveling, and cuddling with her cats.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- School of Economics and Finance
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the SVP Staff and Faculty Team
- Entrepreneur in Residence & Executive Director of the RANDALL LEWIS Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Job Titles:
- INT 030 CM: Silicon Valley Program Internship
Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D. is the Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology at Claremont McKenna College. He also co-teaches the new Leadership course in Silicon Valley with Professor Conger and Adjunct Professor Thompson. Dr. Riggio's research interests center on charismatic and transformational leadership, nonverbal and verbal communication skills, and the development of leadership potential across the lifespan.
He has published nearly two-dozen authored or edited books and more than 150 articles and book chapters. He has also served as a consultant to dozens of organizations, large and small, across the business, education, and non-profit sectors. He is the co-editor, along with Georgia Sorenson, of the Routledge/Taylor & Francis book series: Leadership: Research and Practice.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator, Civil Rights, Title IX, and CARE Center
Seyha assists the CARE Center, Office of Civil Rights, and Title IX. He takes care of the logistics of CARE Center programming and is the point person when it comes to the CARE Center Book loan. He currently has a 100% approval rating from everyone in his household. He loves watching basketball and boxing. When he isn't quoting the Simpsons or bad action movies he can be found at his desk, twirling his moustache, plotting the growth of the CARE Center.
Job Titles:
- CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
- EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Job Titles:
- ASSISTANT DEAN of STUDENTS for INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES and ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Taivna Mills is originally from Mongolia and has immigrated to the U.S. 20 some years ago to pursue graduate studies as an international student at Iowa State University in Iowa. After earning her bachelor's degree in Russian Studies and Linguistics in Mongolia, she decided to pursue a graduate degree outside of Mongolia which she then landed in Ames, Iowa to attend the Iowa State University. After receiving her graduate degree in International Development Studies, she had the opportunity to work in the International Student and Scholar Services at the University of Iowa in providing support to international students in the last nine years. In her new role as an Assistant Dean of Students for International Students and Academic Success at CMC, she continues to serve international students by providing immigration advising and supporting in cultural adjustments and academic success.
In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her husband and three daughters exploring and trying new cuisines and traveling to different places. Her family has travelled to Mongolia, Jamaica, China, some European countries, Costa Rica, and Colombia and many U.S. states. Her family has the ambition to travel and explore African continent. She also enjoys playing volleyball and watching track and field with her family. She is enjoying Southern California - being away from cold and snow, but misses Iowa that has been home to her in the last 20 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR for STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
Ursula leads the Career Services team at Claremont McKenna College. She is passionate about helping students and alumni construct and navigate their own career paths. During the past 20+ years of her career, she has worked as a leader, administrator, and educator in the fields of higher education, healthcare, financial services, and consulting. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London, a Master of Arts degree in Psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Higher Education from New York University.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Dialogue and Diversity
Vince Greer is Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Dialogue and Diversity. In his role, Vince partners with campus stakeholders to develop and deliver a four-year comprehensive and scaffolded learning program for CMC students to acquire critical skills in difficult conversations and constructive dialogue across difference and in building social connection, belonging, and community. He is a skilled diversity and inclusion professional who has also held leadership roles at Pitzer College (AVP/Dean of Students) and DePauw University (Assistant Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion & Director Of Multicultural Student Services). Vince first joined CMC in July 2016 to lead the CARE Center as its inaugural director. He made an immediate impact, and quickly ascended to the role of Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion and Residential Life while holding multiple leadership roles at CMC and across the consortium, including serving as co-chair of the 7C Inclusive Excellence Committee. Beyond his outstanding campus and committee work, Vince's thoughtful and compassionate approach to student and staff outreach embody DOS' self-authorship ethos. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Claremont McKenna College Exceptional Service Award. He is a true connector; a mentor, advisor, and friend to many.
Originally from the South Side of Chicago, Vince is a proud Posse Scholar alumnus who enjoys traveling, DJing, reading, and playing sports. He holds a BA in English Writing from DePauw University and received his Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Life and Honorary Trustees Team
- Distinguished Fellows
Yi Shun Lai '96 is the Assistant Director for Fellowships Advising at CMC.
She's taught postgraduate courses on pedagogy, writing, and publishing, and has delivered inclusivity workshops to everyone from triple-A video game studios to global humanitarian agencies. At CMC she was a Literature/French dual major. Later, she earned her MFA in Creative Writing--Fiction from the Northwest Institute for Literary Arts; and two certificates in diversity and inclusivity.
Yi Shun is dedicated to helping students through the rigorous, rewarding process of applying to fellowships.
In her spare time, she volunteers for ShelterBox, an international disaster-relief agency. Her next novel, A Suffragist's Guide to the Antarctic, comes out in February 2024 from Simon & Schuster's Atheneum imprint. She is a 2017 Thurber Prize semi-finalist for her debut novel, Not a Self-Help Book: The Misadventures of Marty Wu.
Yolanda is the Administrative Associate for Career Services Center. Prior to joining Career Services, she has worked for Center for Global Education, CMC Payroll, TCCS Payroll, International Place, and CMS Athletics. In Career Services, she assists with processing supplier invoices, experiential funding, reconciling expenses, and planning events. Prior to joining the Claremont Colleges, she worked as a Purchasing Agent, Payroll Specialist and a Bookkeeper assistant. In her free time, she enjoys taking her granddaughters to movies & plays and assisting them with fun projects. She also likes making time to spend with extended family members around the holiday time. And every Sunday during football season you can find her cheering for her favorite NFL teams, especially the Los Angeles Chargers.