Marian Miner Cook
Athenaeum

A distinctive
feature of social and
cultural life at CMC

 

Students, Faculty, and Staff: 
Please sign up using the “Register for this event” button. This will register you for the reception and meal. 

Alumni and Parents:
Please visit the alumni and parent engagement website to register. 

 

Mon, March 31, 2025
Dinner Program
Beth Murphy

Award-winning journalist, filmmaker, author, and changemaker Beth Murphy has built her career on the belief that empathy fuels action—and that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools to inspire both. Her documentary, Afghan Dreamers (MTV Films/Paramount+), tells the remarkable story of teenage girls who defy expectations, mastering robotics, competing on the global stage, and becoming a powerful symbol of resilience and hope in Afghanistan and around the world. Her impact work with this film is ongoing—from leading dramatic evacuations during the United States’ chaotic withdrawal to today’s collaboration with CMC alum William Menard '09, a leading immigration attorney. 

SPECIAL SCHEDULE: Dinner will be served at 5:45 pm. Film will be screened during dinner starting at 6:00 pm and will be followed by comments from Beth Murphy and audience Q & A. 

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Beth Murphy’s connection to Afghanistan spans over two decades. She first filmed in the country in December 2001, just after the fall of the first Taliban regime, and has since chronicled both the struggles and triumphs of Afghan women and girls through the critically acclaimed documentaries Beyond Belief (Tribeca Film Festival, Sundance Channel, Netflix) and What Tomorrow Brings (HotDocs, PBS-POV), as well as through reporting for many national and international news outlets. Following the most recent Taliban takeover, Murphy returned to Afghanistan to document the rapidly unfolding crisis, bearing witness to the devastating impact on women and girls.

Murphy is founder of Principle Pictures. Her honors include: Emmy Awards, World Press Photo Award, Overseas Press Club Award, Scripps Howard Award, National Headliner Award, Webby Award, RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award, AWRT’s Gracie Allen Award, One Shared World International Outreach Award, and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards.

Her podcast series with UNICEF, Hidden Heroes, is about women and girls finding solutions and saving lives.

Ms. Murphy is the keynote speaker for the 2025 Women and Leadership Alliance.

SPECIAL SCHEDULE: Dinner will be served at 5:45 pm. Film will be screened during dinner starting at 6:00 pm and will be followed by comments from Beth Murphy and audience Q & A. 

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Tue, April 1, 2025
Lunch Program
Beth Murphy and Izzy Murphy
Join us to explore the power of social impact storytelling in conflict and post-conflict societies with case studies of Beth Murphy’s media campaigns that move audiences from outrage and inspiration to action. One powerful example is young changemaker IzzyMurphy, whose work in rural Afghanistan through her organization GLAM - the Global Local Athletic Movement - fosters hope and resilience for girls navigating life under Taliban rule.
Read more about the speaker

Award-winning journalist, filmmaker, author, and changemaker Beth Murphy has built her career on the belief that empathy fuels action—and that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools to inspire both. She is founder of Principle Pictures. Her honors include: Emmy Awards, World Press Photo Award, Overseas Press Club Award, Scripps Howard Award, National Headliner Award, Webby Award, RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award, AWRT’s Gracie Allen Award, One Shared World International Outreach Award, and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards.

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Wed, April 2, 2025
Dinner Program
Rob Henderson, in conversation with Jon Shields

How do childhood adversity, social class, and elite institutions shape the trajectory of an individual’s life? Growing up in foster care, enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, and later attending Yale and earning a Ph.D. at Cambridge University, Rob Henderson has lived a life that defies expectations. His bestselling memoir Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class explores these questions through the lens of his own remarkable journey. In a moderated conversation with Jon Shields, professor of government and chair of the government department at CMC, Henderson will examine the structural and cultural forces that influence social mobility, the role of family instability in shaping life outcomes, and his concept of “luxury beliefs”—status-signaling ideas embraced by the privileged that often impose real costs on those with fewer resources. 

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Rob Henderson is a writer and social commentator whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and more. He is a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a columnist for The Free Press and The Boston Globe. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he earned his undergraduate degree from Yale and completed a Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Scholar. His research focuses on social class, psychology, and cultural divides.

Shaped by his firsthand experiences, Henderson's memoir has sparked national discussion on class and opportunity, with The Wall Street Journal highlighting his critique of how affluent individuals often promote ideals they do not live by, and The Washington Post describing Troubled as “a mystifying book about hypocrisy.” 

Jon Shields, moderator, teaches American politics and chairs the government department at CMC. He has authored many books on American conservatism including Trump’s Democrats and Passing on the Right: Conservative Professors in the Progressive University. Notably, his American Culture Wars class dives deep into matters of marriage, sex, and gender.

Mr. Henderson’s Athenaeum program is co-sponsored by the Dreier Roundtable at CMC.

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Fri, April 4, 2025
Other
David Almström, Arnaud Blandin, Brian Huff, Oskar Lund, Vanessa Scott, John Shrewsberry ’87 P’24, Anna Skarborg, and Todd Thomas ‘89

This inaugural symposium on climate innovation and finance organized by the Financial Economics Institute (FEI) will feature an exclusive panel of distinguished guests including thought leaders, industry experts, and emerging voices to explore the critical intersection of climate action and financial innovation. The morning panel will highlight climate innovations in clean energy and the afternoon panel will feature a discussion on climate finance, including early-stage venture capital. Vanessa Scott of Scripps Oceanography will deliver keynote remarks in the morning session on Climate Innovation while Arnaud Blandin, founder of the Beyond, will be the keynote speaker in the afternoon session on Climate Finance. This program offers a unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders, alumni, and fellow students for insightful conversations, valuable networking, and an insider perspective on the very pressing issues around climate innovation and climate finance.

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Panelists include:

Climate Innovation in Clean Energy: David Almström, Brian Huff, and Todd Thomas ‘89; moderated by Joe Tell

Climate Finance: Oskar Lund, John Shrewsberry ’87 P’24, and Anna Skarborg

Please note a SPECIAL SCHEDULE for this program:

10:00 AM | Opening Remarks
10:30 AM | Panel Discussion: Climate Innovation in Clean Energy
11:30 AM | Keynote: Climate Innovation, Vanessa Scott
12:30 PM | Lunch
1:15 PM | Student Presentations 
2:00 PM | Keynote: Climate Economics, Arnaud Blandin
3:00 PM | Panel Discussion: Climate Finance, including early stage venture capital


 


 

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Mon, April 7, 2025
Dinner Program
Murhaf Jouejati

The unexpected fall of the Assad regime at a time that many observers believed it had survived Syria’s long and bloody civil war have raised questions about old assumptions and about both Syrian politics and the distribution of power in the region, elevating both hopes and concerns. Part of "The Middle East: What Now?" series, Murhaf Jouejati, professor of international relations and Middle East studies, will discuss the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, its regional and international consequences, and what might lie ahead.

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Murhaf Jouejati, Ph.D., specializes in Syrian and Middle East political affairs—both as an academic and as a practitioner. He is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Middle East studies and Global Affairs and Chair of the Class of ’55 (both History and Political Science departments) at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Jouejati taught International Relations and Middle East studies at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi (2015-2020); the National Defense University’s NESA Center for Strategic Studies (2005-2015); the George Washington University (2000-2015), and the American University in Washington DC (2003-2005). He was the resident scholar at the Middle East Institute (1998-2000).

As a practitioner, Jouejati served as political advisor to the European Commission Delegation in Damascus (1998-2000); National Program Officer for Syria with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); Presidential envoy to the Syria-Israel peace talks; and previously advisor to the Syrian peace delegation.

Jouejati holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Utah and an M.A. in Arab area studies from Georgetown University. He is the author of several book chapters and journal articles on Syrian foreign policy and other related Middle East security issues. 

Professor Jouejati's Athenaeum presentation is part of the “Middle East: What Now?” series, co-sponsored by the President’s Leadership Fund.

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Tue, April 8, 2025
Lunch Program
Ioannis (Yannis) D. Evrigenis, in conversation with Vernon C. Grigg III

Ioannis (Yannis) D. Evrigenis, the Alice Tweed Tuohy Professor of Government and Ethics, will join moderator Vernon C. Grigg III, J.D., Executive Director of the Kravis Lab for Civic Leadership, for a unique discussion on whether the US is a democracy or a republic. Focusing on what is at stake in the difference and the consequences for presidential elections, the Electoral College, the Senate, the Supreme Court, and the limits of executive power, the discussion  will show how ancient political theories can shed light on our modern politics.

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Civitas Sessions is an Athenaeum lunch series designed to build real-world civic skills and the knowledge needed to live thoughtful, productive lives as responsible community members and leaders. Each session will deliver practical knowledge and discuss how the subject matter applies to important current issues. With a welcoming ‘come-as-you-are’ atmosphere, the Civitas Sessions focus on the stuff you need to know before it becomes the stuff I wish I had known… 

Ioannis (Yannis) Evrigenis, the Alice Tweed Tuohy Professor of Government and Ethics, teaches courses on ethics and international relations and the social contract, and is the author of books and articles on a wide range of topics in political thought, including Fear of Enemies and Collective Action, for which he received the Delba Winthrop Award for Excellence in Political Science. Before joining CMC, he taught at Tufts University, where he served as Director of the International Relations Program and co-founded Tufts' Civic Studies major, along with Erin Kelly and Peter Levine, with whom he also co-taught Introduction to Civic Studies. In addition to grants and fellowships for his research, he has received several grants for civic education and has led a number of civics seminars for K-12 teachers, early-career scholars, and community college faculty. Evrigenis is the incoming director of The Open Academy at CMC.

Vernon C. Grigg III is a seasoned trial lawyer and educator dedicated to education, inclusion, and public service. Holding degrees from Yale Law School (J.D.), the London School of Economics (G.SC.), and the University of Michigan (BA), Grigg has served as CEO & President of Up with People, where he led a global team through challenging times. His legal career includes representing diverse clients, from government officials to Fortune 100 companies, and significant pro bono work in civil rights. He has taught at Golden Gate University School of Law and has international experience, including groundbreaking roles in South Africa and Israel. Certified in intergroup dialogue, Grigg aims to advance CMC’s mission in civic engagement and civic leadership as executive director of Kravis Lab. 

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Tue, April 8, 2025
Dinner Program
AJ Matheson-Lieber, Mikey Barrios, Daisie Ye, Jason Bao, Athena Ke, and Jake Detrinidad

Join the Gould Center for a night of theatrical fun as research assistants from the Gould's special project on The Impact of AI on the Humanities present a legal theatre performance on AI and human creativity. In this parody trial, the prosecution—led by an expert inspired by a well-known CMC professor who is vocally critical of AI—argues that AI is stripping away the crucial human quality of creativity. On the defense stand, AI itself takes the stage, sharing its own stories and making the case for its value in enhancing human creativity. The performance is filled with humor and mischief, drawing from the group's past year of research. As part of the jury, you’ll evaluate compelling arguments on both sides and even have the chance to speak up as the jury spokesperson. Don’t miss this engaging and thought-provoking evening!

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Wed, April 9, 2025
Dinner Program
Nyree Gray and Isabela Cabrera '27

Join the Diversity Committee for a conversation about the recent diversity-related executive orders and their potential impacts on CMC. The program will start with a presentation led by Nyree Gray, Vice President for Human Relations and Chief Diversity Officer, and Isabela Cabrera ’27, 2024-25 ASCMC Diversity and Inclusion Chair, that will provide an overview of the orders, how other campuses have responded, and also how CMC has responded.  The presentation will be followed by student questions and discussion with members of the Diversity Committee.

Attendance at this event is limited to CMC students. 
 

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Nyree Gray is the Vice President for Human Relations and Chief Diversity Officer at CMC and Isabela Cabrera ’27, 2024-25 is the ASCMC Diversity and Inclusion Chair.

Attendance at this event is limited to CMC students. 

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Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum

Claremont McKenna College
385 E. Eighth Street
Claremont, CA 91711

Contact

Phone: (909) 621-8244 
Fax: (909) 621-8579 
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