Investing in Future Leaders

Guided by an unwavering commitment to our founding mission, Claremont McKenna’s evolution, growth, and success will endure for future generations of responsible leaders in business, government, and the professions. The College seeks to build upon the incredible foundation of its record-breaking Campaign for CMC: Responsible Leadership and further elevate the CMC experience, expand opportunities, and impact the lives of our students.

The continued support of our community is incredibly powerful—and there is still so much to be done. Here are a few recent highlights from major strategic and philanthropic efforts across the College.

Kravis Department of
Integrated Sciences: “A Big Moment for CMC”

The Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences (KDIS) continues to reach important milestones. The latest during the fall semester: students from the Class of 2028 are the first to major in Integrated Sciences, with opportunities to explore deeper learning in one of three thematic areas—Health (Genomics, Systems Biology, and Health); Brain (Brain, Learning, and Decision Sciences); and Planet (Climate, Energy, and the Environment).

“This is a big moment for CMC,” said Heather Antecol, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty. “With this new class, we truly mark the beginning of our innovative approach to teaching science in the context of contemporary challenges and opportunities that are imperative to today’s generation.”

The Class of 2028 will also be the first to fulfill CMC’s lab science general education requirement with “Codes of Life.” This KDIS course, first offered in spring 2023, explores issues of global health using both laboratory and computational methods while preparing students to communicate to broad audiences about science and its relationships with society.

Two new upper-division courses also began in the fall: “Oceans” with Professor Branwen Williams and “Neurobiology of Eating and Eating Disorders” with Professor Diana Williams. These courses represent the Planet and Brain themes.

Joining KDIS faculty this academic year are Diana Williams (neuroscience), Shaun Lee (molecular biology and microbiology), Zeynep Enkavi (neuroscience), and Colin Rathbun (chemistry). Nia Walker (biology) and Emily Ho (developmental biology) are set to arrive next year. KDIS also hired Risa Purow-Ruderman as its lab manager.

“This is a group of stars: The KDIS faculty and staff are enormously energetic and creative,” said Ran Libeskind-Hadas, Founding Chair of KDIS. “We’re excited to be expanding access to our existing courses and launching new ones—all with an eye on next year’s opening of the Robert Day Sciences Center.”

Backlit silhouette of an exposed wall at the Robert Day Sciences Center.

To learn more about how to contribute to these opportunities, visit cmc.edu/giving

Construction of the Robert Day Sciences Center is on schedule and moving closer to becoming enclosed with exterior glass and glass fiber reinforced concrete. Interior framing is progressing, and by December, all glass and drywall should be installed. Also to come in winter: Elevators and a complete roof!
Photos by Anibal Ortiz

Worldmeet 2024:
Powerful Exploration in Singapore

Members of the CMC community explored Singapore for the third annual Worldmeet, which was focused on the island nation’s global significance. Nearly 50 CMCers—including alumni and trustees with their families, recent graduates and incoming students, President Hiram Chodosh and Priya Junnar, and friends of the College—dug deeply into the learning experience, which included a lively, engaging discussion on U.S.-China relations led by Professor Minxin Pei P’12.

Worldmeet’s itinerary also included dinner with Murali Pillai, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, who was invited by Ted Gover ’98.

In addition, National University of Singapore Professor Yuen Foong Khong ’80 gave a timely talk, “The Importance of Singapore and Southeast Asia in Global Politics,” while Casey Mace, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, provided a thorough briefing on U.S. relations with Singapore and the region. Additional highlights: visiting the Marina Bay Sands with Ian Feldman ’07, the hotel’s Vice President of Strategic Planning and Analysis, and a talk on “The Future of Singapore” by former Ambassador Tommy Koh at a special lunch hosted by Shiok Fu Teo ’89 at the historic Tanglin Club.

Next up … Buenos Aires! CMC is thrilled to invite alumni, families, faculty, and students to Worldmeet IV in Argentina, June 11-15, 2025. Learn more at www.cmc.edu/events/worldmeet

Kravis Department ofIntegrated Sciences: “A Big Moment for CMC”

Worldmeet 2024:Powerful Exploration in Singapore

Kravis Department of
Integrated Sciences: “A Big Moment for CMC”

Worldmeet 2024:
Powerful Exploration in Singapore